Jealousy



Fury is cruel, and anger a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
-Proverbs 27:4

The Hebrew term translated “jealousy” here probably has the negative sense of “envy” rather than the positive sense of “zeal.” It is a raging emotion that defies reason, destructive. (NET Bible notes)

Jealousy:

-Can never be fully put to rest. (John Ellicott)
-Is worse than wrath or anger because it is unjust and unreasonable, unprovoked, malignant; one is grieved by another's happiness instead of rejoicing; deep rooted, implacable, secret, & mischievous. (Benson, Poole)
-Is unappeasable (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown)
-For the envious are obstinate, and cannot be reconciled. (Geneva Bible)
-Note the envy of the Devil, Cain, Joseph's brothers, and the chief priests of the Jews who handed Jesus over to be crucified. Envy works insensibly. (Gill)

Healthy jealousy?

Jealousy in Scripture is seldom the unhealthy jealousy-of; normally it is jealousy-for; i.e., it is a proper intolerance of disruptive intrusion, and is thereby a mark of love (as the opposite of indifference). See also Proverbs 6:32-35; Song 8:6,7; Exodus 20:5; 1 Kings 19:10; Zechariah 8:2. (Kidner)

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Artwork: Edvard Munch (1863–1944) - Jealousy (1907)

Bibliography:

Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

Geneva Study Bible

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Derek Kidner, Proverbs

Matthew Poole's Commentary

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