Examples of Jealousy In The Bible: The Evil and the Good?

Introduction

Let’s talk a bit about jealousy. You know- the thing that we sometimes call the big green-eyed monster. Human jealousy has been around since the fall of man. It came along with the sinful nature that we inherited from Adam. However, in today’s world of social media human beings increasingly live in an environment where jealousy and envy can hamper our lives and hinder our spiritual growth.

Jealousy Defined

I want to borrow these definitions of Jealousy from the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary:

The sin of jealousy can peek its ugly head when you detect a sinful feeling that gnaws at you, making you want what others have. And when it takes hold, it can turn into a real mess – a destructive force that tears relationships apart and leads to some pretty ugly consequences.

However, is jealousy always a sin? Most of the time we would generally think of it as wrong or as a sin. However, we do find righteous jealousy in the Bible as we find God to be a jealous God. However, God does not sin. We will look at examples of righteous jealousy in a moment. There are quite a few examples of jealousy in the Bible both in the Old Testament and New Testament.

Here are some examples of jealousy in the Bible. Take Cain and Abel, for instance. Cain’s jealousy that his offering was not accepted and Abel’s was. We also see much jealousy in the story of Joseph, a cautionary tale about the jealousy of Joseph’s brothers. 

Or how about King Saul’s jealousy, who couldn’t stand the idea of David stealing his spotlight? How about the story of Rachel and her jealousy of her sister, Leah? Or, think about the Jewish leaders who harbored bitter jealousy against Jesus. Yep, jealousy’s no stranger to the pages of Scripture.

So let’s take a more detailed look at some of the examples of jealousy in the Bible. The destructive nature of jealousy can rip apart relationships and ruin lives. However, we may also find examples of jealousy that are not sin and a type of righteous jealousy displayed by God Himself. Let’s have a look.

Examples of Jealousy in the Bible – Cain and Abel

In the story of Cain and Abel from the book of Genesis chapter 4:1-16, we find an early example of jealousy recorded in the Bible. Cain and Abel were brothers, the sons of Adam and Eve, who each made offerings to God. Abel’s offering, from the best of his flock, found favor with God, while Cain’s offering, from the fruits of the ground, did not.

Cain’s jealousy towards Abel began to simmer because he saw his brother receive God’s approval while his offering was rejected. This jealousy festered into an overwhelming resentful feeling and a jealous spirit consumed Cain’s heart. 

The consequences of Cain’s jealousy were dire. Cain went into a fit of rage and murdered his brother, Abel. This terrible act of violence marked the first recorded murder in human history and served as a stark reminder of the destructive power of jealousy. Cain’s sin of jealousy not only resulted in the loss of his brother’s life but also separated him from God’s presence and led to his punishment.

Cain’s story illustrates the terrible consequences of allowing jealousy to rule our hearts. When Cain harbored evil thoughts of jealousy they then spiraled into a rage enough to take his brother’s life. When we let envy and resentment take hold, we not only harm others but also distance ourselves from God and His blessings. Cain’s sinful way serves as a sobering reminder to confront jealousy head-on and seek healing and reconciliation before it leads to irreversible harm.

Joseph and His Brothers (Genesis 37-50)

The story of Joseph and his brothers is quite an amazing account that is initiated by the sin of bitter jealousy and the sin of envy. Joseph was the favorite son of Jacob and also the object of envy for his brothers. The brothers also became angry with Joseph as he shared dreams about his future greatness in life. 

So, Joseph lived with the reality that his own brothers’ jealousy would eventually simmer to the point where we would see the destructive nature of jealousy. They eventually hatched a plot against Joseph. They initially intended to kill him. However, when they came across a chance to sell Joseph into slavery, they chose to do that. They lied to their father, Jacob, and made him believe that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal. 

The brothers’ jealousy blinded them to the consequences of their actions, driving them to commit a grave sin against their own flesh and blood. Their betrayal shattered the family and set into motion a series of events that would shape the course of Joseph’s life. Joseph went through many trials, including being imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. However, in the end, God raised Joseph up into a position of authority and he was able to save his family and be reconciled to them. Because of Joseph’s faithfulness, God allowed the consequences of envy and jealousy that his brothers had to be turned around for His good purposes. 

²⁰ You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

‘”Genesis 50:20

King Saul and David

As we continue to look at examples of Jealousy in the Bible, we have another powerful example in the relationship between King Saul and David.  Saul, who was the first king of the people of Israel, initially welcomed David into his service. He had seen David’s great victory over Goliath.

Unfortunately, since David’s popularity and success in life grew, we see the destructive force of jealous rear its head within King Saul.  and it began to consume him.

We might not think of a man in a position of power like King Saul would be a jealous person. However, we know that the acts of the flesh can show up in any of us if we aren’t setting our own heart on the truth of God’s word and trusting in His power. Saul’s jealousy towards David stemmed from his fear of losing power and his desire to maintain his position as king. He saw David as a threat to his reign and viewed him with suspicion and envy although David was loyal to Him.

Driven by his jealousy, Saul made several attempts to kill David. He plotted against him, pursued him, and tried to get others to betray him. Saul’s maintained a sinful desire to eliminate the perceived threat to his kingship and maintain his hold on power.

However, Saul’s jealousy and his sin of envy ultimately led to his downfall. He was consumed by his obsession with David, clouding his judgment. His jealousy of David and disobedience to God resulted in tragic consequences and ultimately his death on the battlefield. 

When we allow jealousy to rule our hearts, it can cause us to act irrationally and harm those around us. Saul’s tragic story serves as another of our examples of jealousy in the Bible and urges us to confront jealousy and its consequences before it’s too late.

Haman and Mordecai: (From the Book of Esther)

The story of Haman and Mordecai that we find in the Old Testament book of Esther is another gripping story that displays a destructive example of jealousy in the Bible. However, it is also one in which God used Esther, the cousin of Mordecai, to bring about the circumstances to save the people of Israel. 

Through God’s plan and sovereignty, he had allowed Esther to be chosen as the new queen of Persia. However, when Esther was chosen as the new queen, Mordecai told her not to reveal her Jewish identity. Mordecai was a Jewish man who worked at the king’s gate.

Haman, who was a high-ranking official in the Persian court became consumed with anger and envy. Because of his pride and selfish ambition in his governmental capacity, Haman wanted everyone to bow down to him. However, Haman, a follower of the Lord God refused to bow down to him. 

So, when Haman finally found out that Mordecai was a relative of Queen Esther, who was favored by King Xerxes, his anger and jealousy towards Mordecai intensified. He came up with a plan that would not only destroy Mordecai, but all of the entire Jewish population in the Persian Empire. Haman’s deceived King Xerxes into issuing a decree to annihilate the Jews on a designated day.

However, despite the evil intentions of Haman, his plan ultimately failed tremendously. God intervened as he used the brave Queen Esther. The Queen at that time was not allowed to approach the King without being summoned. The punishment for doing so could be severe, even death.

However, through a message, Mordecai encouraged Esther that perhaps she was in her position as Queen for this special purpose. This is where we see one of the incredible Bible verses of the Old Testament:

⁴ For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

 Esther 4:14

Queen Esther chose to risk her own life and go before the King. As a result, Haman’s jealousy and wickedness became exposed and he experienced his death on the very gallows for which he had prepared for Mordecai. 

The story of Haman and Mordecai is an incredible reminder of the destructive nature of jealousy and the importance of standing up against injustice and oppression.

The Pharisees’ Jealousy Towards Jesus (Throughout the Four Gospels)

The Pharisee’s jealousy of Jesus and His ministry is an interesting and very significant narrative that is woven throughout the Gospels. The teachings of Jesus that were to usher in the New Covenant drew such emotion as those teachings and his following posed a challenge to the religious authorities of that time, particularly the Pharisees and chief priests. They viewed him with suspicion and envy.

Their rejection of the teachings of Jesus was also accompanied by a jealousy that festered in the hearts of the Jewish religious leaders. They saw the growing influence of Jesus of Nazareth.

We can read and imagine how the power of these religious leaders was threatened by the authority and wisdom that Jesus possessed. They saw his supernatural ability to perform miracles and heal the sick. 

Plus, Jesus brought an incredible contrast to what we know as the good news of the Gospel with His message of grace, love, and forgiveness. It was an incredible contrast to the legalistic and rigid religiosity of the Pharisees. They had taken the law of Moses, which included the Ten Commandments, and added additional, man-made burdens to the people of Israel. 

The Pharisees’ jealousy and hatred toward Jesus influenced their opposition to Jesus in many ways. They tried to undermine his authority, challenge his teachings, and trip him up with tricky questions. They wanted to discredit his ministry at every opportunity. 

They were driven by their own way – their sinful desire to keep their power and authority while Jesus was ushering in a new and better way. He came to fulfill the Law of Moses. 

Their hatred, jealousy, and envy helped blind them to the truth of Jesus’ identity as the Messiah and prevented them from experiencing the grace and salvation he offered.

Paul’s Teaching on Jealousy

In the New Testament letters of the Apostle, Paul addresses the topic of jealousy in several places. He discusses the issue when writing to the church at Corinth. He talks about how jealousy can lead to envy and strife that can undermine the unity that should be found in the fellowship of the body of Christ – His Church. For example, we have this passage in 1 Corinthians 3:3:

In 1 Corinthians 3:3, Paul tells them, 

“For you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?” 

1 Corinthians 3:3

Here, Paul identifies jealousy that comes from a fleshly, worldly mindset. He contrasts it with the spiritual mindset that believers should have.

Paul also addresses jealousy in his letter to the Galatians. In Galatians 5:19-21, he includes jealousy in a list of sins – the works of the flesh. However, Paul gives the solution to the sin of jealousy.

He writes about the fruit of the Spirit which includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

As Christians allow the indwelling Holy Spirit to live through them in their thoughts and actions, they can overcome envy and jealousy while cultivating the positive qualities that the Holy Spirit brings.

The teachings of the Apostle, Paul, give us great instruction about jealousy as well as other sinful behaviors. He emphasizes how important it is for believers to let Christ live through us since the Holy Spirit is within us, pursuing love and unity within the body of Christ.

He teaches us to turn away from jealousy and allow the Spirit of God to transform our minds and hearts so that we will reflect the character of Christ. 

Righteous Jealousy – 

As we begin to wrap up our brief look at examples of jealousy in the Bible, it could be easy to conclude that the word “Jealousy” is always associated with sinful behavior. Although most of the time in Christian discipleship we do find it in that context, there is another aspect of jealousy that is righteous and aligns with God’s character.

God Is a Jealous God

First, let’s take a look at the concept of God as a jealous God. He is jealous – yet God’s jealousy is without sin. In Exodus 34:14 (NIV), God declares, 

“Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” 

This verse teaches us that God has a passionate desire for His people to remain devoted to Him only. As an all-wise Creator God He knows that there is no other option – no other true God who can love you, redeem you, and meet your needs.

The type of jealousy that is attributed to God is rooted in His love and commitment to His people, seeking their exclusive devotion to Him. If God didn’t display this righteous form of Godly jealousy when He knows the truth about our only hope would be wrong, and God does not do wrong. So, to know that God is a jealous God is greatly to our benefit.

Righteous Jealousy as Humans

We must be careful with this one and not allow it to become sinful jealousy. However, there are situations when humans may experience “righteous jealousy” if they are under the control and direction of the Holy Spirit.

 In 2 Corinthians 11:2, the apostle Paul writes, 

“I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.” 

Here, Paul expresses his concern for the spiritual well-being of the Corinthians and his desire for them to remain faithful to Christ. This highlights that, on certain occasions, there is a potential for humans to experience Godly jealousy under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, rooted in love and a desire for spiritual purity and fidelity.

Righteous jealousy or Godly jealousy can be understood as a spiritually minded response to situations that align with God’s heart and desires. It is rooted in love, justice, and a desire for restoration. It does not have a motive of selfishness or insecurity, but a genuine concern for the well-being of others and for what is right, good, and just. 

In the context of relationships, righteous jealousy may arise when there is a breach of trust or a response to infidelity or unfaithfulness. It must, however, accompany a genuine concern for the restoration of the relationship and a desire for faithfulness to prevail.

However, even in these cases, the person who feels the negative emotions that can be associated with jealousy should submit to God and allow the Holy Spirit to work to keep them from crossing into a sinful type of jealousy.

In both of these cases where jealousy is shown not to be sinful, this type of jealousy is characterized by a fervent passion for God’s glory and the well-being of His people. It is not about selfishness but a desire for the righteousness, faithfulness, and justice of God to prevail.  

Wrapping It Up

Okay, that was a bit of a flyover of some of the examples of jealousy in the Bible. We have looked at several narratives that reveal the ungodly and destructive characteristics of the sin of jealousy. We have seen that there can be tremendous consequences of letting jealousy rule in your heart.

For those of us who trust the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, we want the Holy Spirit of God to work through us helping us love one another and develop our spiritual gifts for the kingdom of God. For the most part, we want jealousy to be kept away from us.

However, we have also glimpsed moments of righteous jealousy – a jealousy rooted in love, justice, and a desire for restoration. We saw God’s passion for His people is in God’s jealousy. We also noted the Apostle, Paul’s statement about his Godly jealousy for God’s people.

So, in the cases when it’s jealousy aligned with God’s heart and guided by His Spirit, it can bring healing and reconciliation.

I desire that we can reflect on what we have seen from God’s word and allow our hearts to be challenged and encouraged as we allow Christ to live through us for His glory. Let’s allow Him to give us contentment, joy, and peace as we live life and pursue relationships with others.