The meaning of Jealousy in the Bible
(From International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)
jel'-us-i (qin'ah; zelos): Doubtless, the root idea of both the Greek and the Hob translated "jealousy" is "warmth," "heat." Both are used in a good and a bad sense—to represent right and wrong passion.
When jealousy is attributed to God, the word is used in a good sense. The language is, of course, anthropomorphic; and it is based upon the feeling in a husband of exclusive right in his wife. God is conceived as having wedded Israel to Himself, and as claiming, therefore, exclusive devotion. Disloyalty on the part of Israel is represented as adultery, and as provoking God to jealousy. See, e.g., Deuteronomy 32:16, Deuteronomy 32:21; I Kings 14:22; Psalms 78:58; Ezekiel 8:3; Ezekiel 16:38, Ezekiel 16:42; Ezekiel 23:25; Ezekiel 36:5; Ezekiel 38:19.
When jealousy is attributed to men, the sense is sometimes good, and sometimes bad. In the good sense, it refers to an ardent concern for God's honor. See, e.g., Numbers 25:11 (compare I Kings 19:10; II Kings 10:16); II Corinthians 11:2 (compare Romans 10:2). In the bad sense it is found in Acts 7:9; Romans 13:13; I Corinthians 3:3; II Corinthians 12:20; James 3:14, James 3:16.
The "law of jealousy" is given in Num. 5:11-31. It provided that, when a man suspected his wife of conjugal infidelity, an offering should be brought to the priest, and the question of her guilt or innocence should be subjected to a test there carefully prescribed. The test was intended to be an appeal to God to decide the question at issue.
See ADULTERY; SACRIFICE.
E. J. Forrester
See more on the meaning of Jealousy in the Bible:
Jealousy {Easton's Bible Dictionary}
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