Here are some passages from The New American Bible: “I will drive before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. Take care, therefore, not to make a covenant with these inhabitants of the land that you are about to enter; else they will become a snare among you. Tear down their altars; smash their sacred pillars, and cut down their sacred poles* (*Asterisk from translator: Sacred poles” ‘Ashera’ was the name of the Caananite goddess. In her honor wooden poles (asherot) were erected, just as stone pillars (massebot) were erected in honor of the god Baal. Both were placed near the altar in the Canaanite shrine.).”

American Bible: “You shall not worship any other god, for the Lord is the Jealous One;* (*34,14: The Lord is ‘the Jealous One’: see note on Ex 20:5. Some by slight emendation, render, ‘The LORD is jealous for his name.’ Cf Ez 39:25.)”

My response: The note on Ex 20:5 reveals that God self-describes as a jealous God, and the translator in the footnote, defines Jealous: “demanding exclusive allegiance, such as a wife must have for her husband. God is loyal to his children, so He expects His children to be loyal to him, and I have no major problem with this reasonable form of jealousy, as long as the pagan deities or rival monotheistic deities are not satanic entities. If they are benevolent deities, then Yahweh and all good deities are allies, not competitors, and they will not be jealous of their noble allies. If adherents of different religions of rival good deities go to war with each other, then it is not holy but unholy and wicked, and their deity would not be jealous in a monopolistic way, nor condone bloodshed in his or her name.

American Bible: “a jealous God is he. Do not make a covenant with the inhabitants of that land: else, when they render their wanton worship to their gods and sacrifice to them, one of them may invite you and you may partake of his sacrifice. Neither shall you take their daughters as wives for your sons; otherwise, when their daughters render their wanton worship to their gods, they will make your sons do the same.

You shall not make for yourself molten gods.”

My response: there may have been immoral or forbidden pagan sexual rituals as part of sacrificing to their deities, and this whole system might have been wicked and abominable in the eyes of Yahweh.

Here are these same verses from the Holy Bible (KJV): “Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:

But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves:

For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice.

And thou take the daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods.

Thou shalt make thee no molten gods.”

My response: Yahweh names himself Jealous, so this divine self-identification is extremely significant, and I must spend considerable time scrutinizing His definition and its implication for Judaism, Christianity and Mavellonialism.

Yahweh the faithful and promise-keeper set up a covenant with his chosen people that he would bless, guide, and protect them if they were moral and gave honor to him in prayer and ritual.

Jehovah regarded the pagan, heathen neighbors as worship false gods or demonic gods, so to marry or intermingle with these natives, or not tear down their altars and sacred poles, and smash their graven images, would be to join them, worship their gods, sink into sin, forging a covenant with these sinners and their wicked gods, thus betraying Yahweh and violating their covenant or contract with God.

It appears that Yahweh’s metaphor for covenant between Himself and His Chosen People was metaphorically (not sexually in a literal or mythological sense, but in an innocent metaphorical sense) that Yahweh was the bridge groom married to his Chosen People, his bride, and if they went a whoring and slept with other gods (metaphorically speaking), they have betrayed Yahweh and their marriage vows, a mortal sin of great, grave proportion.

Yahweh was a jealous, Father Sky god who would not tolerate the worship of competing deities. Why was that? As an ontological, veridical, theological, and ethical moderate, I favor moderate stances, not absolutist, jealous, intolerant ones. I declare that there is no one true faith, that there is not only one way to know God and get to heaven. I insist that one requires faith, and God demands worship from else or else, and that is reality and fine, but it is necessary and sufficient that we worship a good deity, but it can be one of several good deities, a couple of them, or all of them. They are all on the same team and they get along and cooperate.

I believe that Jehovah was spiritually and ethically good and speaks and knows the truth, so much, most or all His jealousy was legitimate. He was against Hebrews consorting with pagans, abandoning their worship and covenant with Yahweh, to worship and set up rival covenants with page deities, worshiping these pagan deities (some demons, no doubt). God’s jealousy likely was legitimate, stemming from His knowing hatred towards evil heathen religious practices. There was much immorality, likely, as ancients worshiped demons, who knows. If some of these pagan gods and goddesses were good deities, and Yahweh remained jealous of them, then that strikes me as excessive denial of the worship of competing deities.

I am going to define jealousy generally below, and then I am going to identify, based in my opinion, good jealousy, and bad jealousy, and then apply these two identities to Yahweh’s self-ascription of being a jealous God, if they apply. Later I will explore some online articles which I copied and pasted and draw points from them if relevant. These articles may be slightly edited by me.

My Webster’s Third New International Dictionary (decades old) describes being jealous this way, and they do note that being jealous seems related to being zealous. Here is the dictionary definition of jealous: “ . . . 1 a: intolerant of rivalry or unfaithfulness (shall worship no other God, for the Lord is a jealous God—Exod 34:14 RSV (jealous of the slightest interference in household management—Haverlock Ellis)

b: disposed to suspect rivalry or unfaithfulness (as in love): apprehensive of the loss of another’s devotion (so jealous she wouldn’t let him dance with anyone else)

c: hostile towards a rival or one believed to enjoy an advantage (as a possession or attainment) : envious, resentful (jealous because her coat isn’t as nice as yours)

2: zealous in guarding (as a possession) : vigilant (his jealous love of privacy and independence—J.W. Beach) : solicitous (students . . . were like sons to him, he was jealous of their welfare—Ellwood Hardwick)

3: distrustfully watchful: apprehensive of hard or fraud: suspicious (the jealous caution of New England—Van Wyck Brooks).”

My response:

1: If Yahweh’s intolerance of good deities could be established, then these instances of immoral jealousy would not pass muster. But divine jealousy, expressed as intolerance towards evil deities, would be divine moral godly behavior. I think for those simpler times, Yahweh just needed hold a hard line and being quite exclusive to get his beautiful faith up and running at all, but today Yahweh would likely agree with me that bad jealousy between rival good deities would not be countenanced or practiced by Yahweh or any other good deities.

To use a crude marketing analogy, rival deities are fighting for market share each working to harvest as many human souls to their covenant, faith and cause as possible. Mild jealousy of rival good faiths would be permissible on the part of a good deity as long as they cautioned their followers not to practice intolerance of rival deities and their followers.

Jealousy of an evil rival deity making believers unfaithful is morally acceptable on the part of a good deity.

A good deity will not be jealous in the sinful human way, a form of sick, pawing control of a person, imprisoned by an overly mistrustful, suspicious partner distrusting them all the time. That has nothing to do with God. God will trust us, allow us rope and privacy to betray him or her if we will but then we will be punished accordingly for our faithlessness, having gone a whoring.

2: I can see that God would be nobly jealous or zealous in watching over his faithful to protect them from going astray by strengthening their conscience and resolve without overriding their power to sin and break the covenant if that is what they choose to do. God would be alert, zealous and jealous enough to know right away if they betrayed and abandoned him.

3. This definition of jealousy is negative and cruel, and I cannot see that it relates to God or any good deity at all.

Monotheism could serve as the overarching religion, with including the worship of good goddesses and good gods subsumed under that umbrella.

If Yahweh’s jealous is directed to curb devil worship among ancient Palestinian peoples, or evil there are too close to nature, too tribal, too steeped in altruist morality, Yahweh is right to worry about His Chosen mingling with these people.

Ameriican Bible: “You shall not worship any other god, for the Lord is the Jealous One;* (*Asterisk from the translator: The Lord is ‘the Jealous One’: see not on Ex 20,5. Some by a slight emendation, render, The LORD is jealous for his name Cf Ez, 29, 25.)”

My response: If God is jealous for his name, he does not want his chosen people, to besmirch his name by chasing after evil, pagan deities, which is idolatry.

This entry from Wikipedia I copied and pasted on 4/16/25 about idolatry. It seemed important to have some simple comprehension of what it is about worshiping false idols which enrages Yahweh and triggers His just jealousy.

Wikipedia (Wiki after this): “Idolatry

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Idol worship" redirects here. For the American hip hop group, see Idle Warship.

"False idols" redirects here. For the Tricky album, see False Idols. For the Veil of Maya album, see False Idol (album). . . .

Idolatry is the worship of an idol as though it were a deity.^[1]^[2]^[3] In Abrahamic religions (namely Judaism, Samaritanism, Christianity, Islam, and the Baháʼí Faith) idolatry connotes the worship of something or someone other than the Abrahamic God as if it were God.^[4]^[5] In these monotheistic religions, idolatry has been considered as the "worship of false gods" and is forbidden by texts such as the Ten Commandments.^[4] Other monotheistic religions may apply similar rules.^[6] “

My response: It seems as if a golden calf, a graven image, a pagan altar or sacred pole are all false idols that that they are just material objects, with no deities reached through them, but there are also other times when these idols do serve as an intermediary between a good pagan deity or bad pagan deity who actually exist.

Wike: “For instance, the phrase false god is a derogatory term used in Abrahamic religions to indicate cult images or deities of non-Abrahamic Pagan religions, as well as other competing entities or objects to which particular importance is attributed.^[7] Conversely, followers of animistic and polytheistic religions may regard the gods of various monotheistic religions as "false gods" because they do not believe that any real deity possesses the properties ascribed by monotheists to their sole deity. Atheists, who do not believe in any deities, do not usually use the term false god even though that would encompass all deities from the atheist viewpoint. Usage of this term is generally limited to theists, who choose to worship some deity or deities, but not others.^[4]

In many Indian religions, which include Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, idols (murti) are considered as symbolism for the Absolute but are not the Absolute itself,^[8] or icons of spiritual ideas,^[8]^[9] or the embodiment of the divine.^[10] It is a means to focus one's religious pursuits and worship (bhakti).^[8]^[11]^[9] In the traditional religions of Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Africa, Asia, the Americas and elsewhere, the reverence of cult images or statues has been a common practice since antiquity, and idols have carried different meanings and significance in the history of religion.^[7]^[1]^[12] Moreover, the material depiction of a deity or more deities has always played an eminent role in all cultures of the world.^[7]

The opposition to the use of any icon or image to represent ideas of reverence or worship is called aniconism.^[13] The destruction of images as icons of veneration is called iconoclasm,^[14] and this has long been accompanied with violence between religious groups that forbid idol worship and those who have accepted icons, images and statues for veneration.^[15]^[16] The definition of idolatry has been a contested topic within Abrahamic religions, with many Muslims and most Protestant Christians condemning the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox practice of venerating the Virgin Mary in many churches as a form of idolatry.^[17]^[18]

The history of religions has been marked with accusations and denials of idolatry. These accusations have considered statues and images to be devoid of symbolism. Alternatively, the topic of idolatry has been a source of disagreements between many religions, or within denominations of various religions, with the presumption that icons of one's own religious practices have meaningful symbolism, while another person's different religious practices do not.^[19]^[20] “

My response: Here is an article about Idolatry which I copied and pasted from Topical Encyclopedia

Topical Encyclopedia: “Bible Hub 4162025 The Danger of Idolatry

Topical Encyclopedia

Idolatry, the worship of idols or the elevation of anything above God, is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, consistently portrayed as a grave sin and a significant spiritual danger. The Bible warns against idolatry in both the Old and New Testaments, emphasizing its destructive impact on individuals and communities.

Old Testament Warnings

The Old Testament is replete with admonitions against idolatry. The first of the Ten Commandments explicitly states, "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3). This command underscores the exclusivity of worship that God demands from His people. The Israelites were repeatedly warned against adopting the idolatrous practices of surrounding nations. In Deuteronomy 4:23-24, Moses cautions, "Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that He made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the LORD your God has forbidden. For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God."

The prophets frequently addressed the issue of idolatry, highlighting its futility and the judgment it incurs. Isaiah 44:9-20 vividly describes the absurdity of idol-making, where a craftsman uses part of a tree to warm himself and the rest to fashion a god. Jeremiah 10:5 declares, "Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, nor can they do any good."

Consequences of Idolatry

The consequences of idolatry are severe and multifaceted. Spiritually, idolatry leads to a separation from God, as it represents a breach of the covenant relationship. In Hosea 4:12, the prophet laments, "My people consult their wooden idols, and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of prostitution leads them astray; they are unfaithful to their God."”

My response: It is to be recognized that the practice of idolatry, the worship of rival deities to Yahweh led to the Hebrews breaking and violating their covenant with God, and their going a whoring.

Topical Encyclopedia: “Idolatry also brings about divine judgment. The history of Israel and Judah is marked by periods of idolatry followed by divine retribution, including invasions, exile, and destruction. In 2 Kings 17:7-18, the fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel is attributed to their persistent idolatry and rejection of God's commandments.

New Testament Perspective

The New Testament continues to warn against idolatry, expanding its definition to include not only the worship of physical idols but also the elevation of any desire or pursuit above God.”

My response; This point is significant: Idolatry or covenant breaking between God and humans occurs when we worship physical idols or elevate any desire or pursuit above God.’

Total Encyclopedia: “ In 1 Corinthians 10:14, Paul exhorts believers, "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry." The apostle identifies greed as a form of idolatry in Colossians 3:5, stating, "Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry."

The New Testament also emphasizes the spiritual warfare aspect of idolatry. In 1 John 5:21, believers are urged, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." This call to vigilance reflects the understanding that idolatry is not merely a physical act but a spiritual battle for the allegiance of the heart.”

My response: Jews and Christians are to withstand the worship of idols spiritually and as well as physically.

Total Encyclopedia: “Idolatry in Contemporary Context

While the overt worship of idols may be less prevalent in some modern contexts, the essence of idolatry persists in various forms. Materialism, the pursuit of power, and the elevation of personal desires can all become idols that detract from wholehearted devotion to God. The biblical warnings against idolatry remain relevant, urging believers to examine their hearts and lives for anything that might usurp God's rightful place.

In summary, the Bible presents idolatry as a profound spiritual danger with far-reaching consequences. It calls for exclusive worship of the one true God and warns of the judgment that follows when His people turn to idols. Through both historical examples and timeless principles, Scripture underscores the importance of fidelity to God and the perils of idolatry.

CHRISTIANITY WEBSISTE 51625”

Here is an article on idolatry from the Christianity website: “

What Is Idolatry in the Bible? Its Definition and Significance

Biblical stories of the Old Testament warn us about the sin of idolatry. Discover the significance of idolatry in the Bible and scripture quotes about its meaning.

Christianity.com Editorial Staff

Christianity.com

Idolatry is the worship of idols. It is a recurring and central theme in the Bible, representing a fundamental breach of the commandments delivered to the ancient Israelites. Both the Old and New Testaments address the issue with intense scrutiny, framing idolatry not merely as the worship of physical statues but as any act that places a person, object, or concept above the sovereign position of God. This article explores the various manifestations of idolatry as depicted in Scripture, and the consequences of such practices for believers.

Idolatry Definition

According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, Idolatry is "image-worship or divine honour paid to any created object." Paul describes the origin of idolatry in Romans 1:21-25: men forsook God, and sank into ignorance and moral corruption (Romans 1:28).

The forms of idolatry are,

Fetishism, or the worship of trees, rivers, hills, stones, etc.
Nature worship, the worship of the sun, moon, and stars, as the supposed powers of nature.
Hero worship, the worship of deceased ancestors, or of heroes.

Idolatry in the Bible

In Scripture, idolatry is regarded as of heathen origin, and as being imported among the Hebrews through contact with heathen nations. The first allusion to idolatry is in the account of Rachel stealing her father's teraphim (Genesis 31:19), which were the relics of the worship of other gods by Laban's progenitors "on the other side of the river in old time" (Joshua 24:2). During their long residence in Egypt the Hebrews fell into idolatry, and it was long before they were delivered from it (Joshua 24:14; Ezekiel 20:7). Many a token of God's displeasure fell upon them because of this sin.

The first and second commandments are directed against idolatry of every form. Individuals and communities were equally amenable to the rigorous code. The individual offender was devoted to destruction (Exodus 22:20). His nearest relatives were not only bound to denounce him and deliver him up to punishment (Deuteronomy 13:20-10), but their hands were to strike the first blow when, on the evidence of two witnesses at least, he was stoned (Deuteronomy 17:2-7). To attempt to seduce others to false worship was a crime of equal enormity. An idolatrous nation shared the same fate. No facts are more strongly declared in the Old Testament than that the extermination of the Canaanites was the punishment of their idolatry, and that the calamities of the Israelites were due to the same cause (Jeremiah 2:17). "A city guilty of idolatry was looked upon as cancer in the state; it was considered to be in rebellion, and treated according to the laws of war. Its inhabitants and all their cattle were put to death." Jehovah was the theocratic King of Israel, the civil Head of the commonwealth, and therefore to an Israelite idolatry was a state offense (1 Samuel 15:23), high treason. On taking possession of the land, the Jews were commanded to destroy all traces of every kind of the existing idolatry of the Canaanites.

The history of Israel is clearly outlined in the Bible. For generation after generation, they repeatedly fell prey to being drawn away from the Lord to serve false gods. This did not only happen to the common people, but to their kings, priests, and prophets, as well. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables (2 Timothy 4:4).

The sin of idolatry, or worshiping other gods, is in violation of the Law of God. As a matter of fact, it breaks the first two of the Ten Commandments. It is important to remember that disobedience is the original sin and therefore encompasses all sin. I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth (Ex. 20:2-4).

Excerpt from Beware the Sin of Idolatry by Bible Pathway

Bible Verses about Idolatry

1 Corinthians 10:7-14 - Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.
1 John 5:21 - Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.
Colossians 3:5 - Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
Isaiah 45:20 - “Gather together and come; assemble, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save.
Jonah 2:8 - “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them.

Examples of Idolatry in Scripture

The Golden Calf (Exodus 32): Perhaps the most famous example, this incident occurs when the Israelites, having just been freed from Egyptian slavery, create a golden calf to worship while Moses is receiving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. This act of idolatry angers God, who threatens to destroy the Israelites, although Moses intercedes on their behalf.

The Worship of Baal (1 Kings 18): During the reign of Ahab in the northern kingdom of Israel, idol worship, especially of the Canaanite god Baal, becomes prevalent. The prophet Elijah challenges 450 prophets of Baal to demonstrate whose god is real, which culminates in a dramatic contest on Mount Carmel where God's supremacy is dramatically confirmed by fire from heaven.

Nebuchadnezzar’s Statue (Daniel 3): King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon creates a giant gold statue and commands all his officials to worship it. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to comply, leading to their miraculous survival of being thrown into a fiery furnace, showcasing their steadfast faith and God's power over idolatrous practices.

The Rich Young Ruler (Matthew 19:16-24): In the New Testament, Jesus encounters a man who claims to have kept all the commandments but cannot bring himself to give up his wealth to follow Christ. This story illustrates that idolatry isn't limited to the worship of physical idols but extends to anything that takes priority over God, including wealth and material possessions.

Quotes about Idolatry

"There is nothing so abominable in the eyes of God and of men as idolatry, whereby men render to the creature that honor which is due only to the Creator" - Blaise Pascal

"The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him." - A. W. Tozer

"Verily, we know not what an evil it is to indulge ourselves, and to make an idol of our will." - Samuel Rutherford

"You don't have to go to heathen lands today to find false gods. America is full of them. Whatever you love more than God is your idol." - Dwight L. Moody

"As long as you want anything very much, especially more than you want God, it is an idol." - A. B. Simpson”

My response: The just above examples of idolatry are worshiping anything more than God, which seems immoderate or sinful in a way.

Topical Encyclopedia: “ Similar idol worshipidolatrismfetishism iconolatry

More Definitions, Word Origin & Scrabble

· en.wikipedia.org › wiki › IdolatryIdolatry - Wikipedia

Idolatry is the worship of an idol as though it were a deity. [1] [2] [3] In Abrahamic religions (namely Judaism, Samaritanism, Christianity, Islam, and the Baháʼí Faith) idolatry connotes the worship of something or someone other than the Abrahamic God as if it were God.”

Here is an article from Bible Study on divine jealousy”

Bible Study: “Bible Study

What Does it Mean That God Is a Jealous God?

As our Creator and Father, He knows what is best for us and wants to keep us safely in His fold, where He can love, guide, and protect us. That is...

Jessica Brodie

"Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." (Exodus 34:14)

When we hear the word “jealousy” we might think of someone with an inferiority complex—someone envious of another’s looks, spouse, or status in life. A “jealous woman” is considered to be a rival, a hostile, bitter person filled with petty resentment. A “jealous man” is considered insecure and petulant, perhaps controlling or wildly competitive. But God tells us in the Bible that He is a jealous God. In fact, in Exodus 34, He even claims His name is “Jealous.”

Why and how is God jealous, and what does that mean? Are we supposed to think that our God is bitter and resentful, filled with trifling insecurities like some frail human? How can our “perfect Father” also be a jealous Father?”

My response: I think Jessica Brodie does a decent job in separating immoral, sick human jealousy from God’s special, honorable jealousy against covenant-makers and then becoming covenant-breakers.

Bible Study: “What Does it Mean That God Is a Jealous God?

In Exodus 20:5, when God commands that His people worship no other gods, He acknowledges it is because “I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God" (NIV).

And in Exodus 34:14, God insists His people destroy altars to other, lesser gods, for, He says, “Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”

The word in Hebrew used for these instances of “jealous” is qanna, and not only does it mean jealous but also zealous, as in caring passionately. For we know that God does indeed love us with passion, fervent zeal and wants us to be His people. He does not want us to fall under the spell of any other. As our Creator and Father, He knows what is best for us and wants to keep us safely in His fold, where He can love, guide, and protect us. That is the jealousy God speaks of.”

My response: God is passionate, ardent, and emotional in De’s love of humans, and enjoys De’s relationship with us, and is hurt and disappointed if we betray His/Her trust and offering of friendship and contracted affinity. De wants us to be De’s people, not to go with Satan and Lera.

Bible Study: “

The NIV Quest Study Bible says this jealousy stems from a loving, unselfish concern for those under his care, which is why He demands our exclusive devotion. Indeed, this is a bit like the jealousy the apostle Paul talks about having in his letter to the early church in Corinth, where he says, “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” (2 Corinthians 11:2).

It’s a righteous jealousy Paul is speaking of, protective and in our best interest, and that is the kind of jealousy God reflects—only it is perfect, for God Himself is perfect. God reminds the people of His jealousy in Deuteronomy 5 and again in Deuteronomy 6:14-16, He says this.

"It’s a pure jealousy, meant for our good. God knows that other forces exist in the world to tempt us, from other gods to the devil, the “father of lies” (John 8:44). He created us to be in relationship with Him, and He loves us truly and completely" (Deuteronomy 7:7-8).

God Is Jealous for You Scriptures

Exodus 20:5: "You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me."

Deuteronomy 4:24: "For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God."

2 Corinthians 11:2: "For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ."

Nahum 1:2: "The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and wrathful; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies."

Psalm 78:58: "For they provoked him to anger with their high places; they moved him to jealousy with their idols."

What Does Godly Jealousy Mean in the Bible?

God’s jealousy is different from human jealousy. But we often feel confused because there are so many negative, sinful connotations regarding human jealousy. Human jealousy is selfish; it is fueled by envy. We, humans, are stained by sin. Romans 3:23 reminds us “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Only through Jesus, God’s Son, do we have salvation.

But God is sinless. Jesus tells us our Father God is “perfect” (Matthew 5:48). The original Greek used here is teleios, from telos, which Strong’s Greek Concordance tells us means complete, having reached “the end,” much like the pinnacle. When God declares He is jealous, He doesn’t mean sinful human jealousy but the right, good jealousy that a father feels in claiming his own.

Human jealousy is rooted in anger, envy, pride, and the individual ego. Romans 1:29 includes it among characteristics of wickedness, and Proverbs 6:24 says “jealousy arouses a husband’s fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.”

The apostles were persecuted by Sadducees filled with jealousy (Acts 5:17), and 1 Corinthians 3:3 indicates quarreling accompanies human jealousy. In 2 Corinthians 12:20, Paul says he fears the people will display jealousy along with other wickedness when he finally is able to see them, descending into discord, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

And Galatians 5:19-21 urges us to steer clear of acts of the flesh, which are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.

“I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God,” Paul writes. This, then, is human jealousy. It is far different from God’s pure, proper, righteous, and loving jealousy.

What Hope Can We Draw from This Characteristic of God?

Unlike human jealousy—which shows a person loves themselves more than the object of their jealousy and envy—God’s jealousy shows something beautiful. God’s jealousy points to the fatherly love He has for us and the claim He stakes in our lives. God gave us free will, so when it comes to following Him and choosing to align ourselves with Him, it is indeed a choice. But He designed us in His image (Genesis 1:2) and genuinely wants us to choose Him.

For, as Jesus explained in Mark 16:16, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” There is much at stake. There is great hope in the jealousy God has for us, we know we are wanted. God desires us to be with Him. God selected us. This means we don’t have to fear or worry about anything.

Jesus assures us of this in the Gospel of Matthew, when He says, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:28-31).

God is God, almighty, all-powerful, all-knowing. Indeed, He is the “Great I Am.” So let His words about jealousy sink into your heart with warmth and welcome, for His jealousy is good and right and true. It claims us as His own and tells us we are important and loved.

God loves us all.

God's Statement and Our Response

Do not worship any other god,
for the Lord, whose name is Jealous,
is a jealous God.
Exodus 34:14

From the Father's Heart: My child, do you crave unswerving devotion from your spouse? The thought of betrayal is enough to fire up every jealous nerve in your body and spirit. Of course I desire all of your attention, all of your time, and all of your self. I am a jealous God, but not because of a fear of being replaced, as you feel. I love you so much that I am not willing for anyone to steal your heart away. I gave My life for you because I want none to perish.

Our Response: Your jealousy is not a flaw in Your character, Lord. Because You love me so much, You demand no less than my total devotion. You tolerate no other loves. In my negligence, I often build idols of my own choosing. But how can my heart truly worship another but You, Lord? Only You satisfy.

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Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach. She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism. Her first novel, The Memory Garden, releases this spring. Learn more about Jessica’s writing and ministry and read her faith blog at http://jessicabrodie.com. She has a weekly YouTube devotional and podcast. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and more. She’s also produced a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When You’re Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed. Copied 4/17/25”

Here is another Christian website on divine jealousy and I copied and pasted this article of 4/16/25.

Got Questions

It is important to understand how the word “jealous” is used. Its use in Exodus 20:5 to describe God is different from how it is used to describe the sin of jealousy (Galatians 5:20). When we use the word “jealous,” we use it in the sense of being envious of someone who has something we do not have. A person might be jealous or envious of another person because he or she has a nice car or home (possessions). Or a person might be jealous or envious of another person because of some ability or skill that other person has (such as athletic ability). Another example would be that one person might be jealous or envious of another because of his or her beauty.

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In Exodus 20:5, it is not that God is jealous or envious because someone has something He wants or needs. Exodus 20:4-5 says, “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God...” Notice that God is jealous when someone gives to another something that rightly belongs to Him.”

My response: Our covenant with God, when we break it, and we often do, offends God, for De has lost what belongs to De. God is self-sufficient, and does not need human loyalty, love, and adoration to survive, but God enjoys the relationship, especially mutual and loving, when it is working. God has a warm heart.

Got Questions: “In these verses, God is speaking of people making idols and bowing down and worshiping those idols instead of giving God the worship that belongs to Him alone. God is possessive of the worship and service that belong to Him. It is a sin (as God points out in this commandment) to worship or serve anything other than God. It is a sin when we desire, or we are envious, or we are jealous of someone because he has something that we do not have. It is a different use of the word “jealous” when God says He is jealous. What He is jealous of belongs to Him; worship and service belong to Him alone, and are to be given to Him alone.

Perhaps a practical example will help us understand the difference. If a husband sees another man flirting with his wife, he is right to be jealous, for only he has the right to flirt with his wife. This type of jealousy is not sinful. Rather, it is entirely appropriate. Being jealous for something that God declares to belong to you is good and appropriate. Jealousy is a sin when it is a desire for something that does not belong to you.”

My response: Jealousy, bad jealousy, is a human trait and it is a sin to be jealous, a desire for something that does not belong to you. I have long felt that jealousy is one of the most savage emotions, the most destructive emotion. We are born in sin, not liking ourselves, so we run in packs and practice altruistic morality. We in the collective mode of living interfere with our neighbors’ independence and happiness all the time. They cannot stand with their heads above the crowd, or they will be lopped off.

If that person materially succeeds and becomes rich, then we become jealous and steal his money illegally through theft and robbery, or we steal it legally by confiscating it from him without his consent—threatening to imprison him if he does not give up his wealth to the government. The government with the approval of the public steals his wealth and redistributes it to those not working as hard so they receive wealth they did not earn and are not entitled too, and this is jealousy at work, class envy.

When we socially ostracize the young artists or individuators to force her to quit being artistic or original, so she ceases striving and slowly slips back into the mediocre collective, this whole undermining of her is a popular, justified, but unjustifiable group jealousy unfolding, and there is hardly a more corrosive, cruel way to cause needless suffering and anti-progress in the world.

Got Questions: “Worship, praise, honor, and adoration belong to God alone, for only He is truly worthy of it. Therefore, God is rightly jealous when worship, praise, honor, or adoration is given to idols. This is precisely the jealousy the apostle Paul described in 2 Corinthians 11:2, “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy...””

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I unloaded this article off the internet on 4/16/25.

Noyes: “Why Is God a Jealous God?

Because God is without sin, God’s jealousy in response to idolatry is righteous and holy. God is jealous for his relationship with his people because he passionately loves them and does not want them to be destroyed by idolatry.”

My response: God is without sin, and God’s jealousy is a rejection of humans worshiping false idols and evil demons, and this jealousy is righteous and holy. God loves us, but not approving of idolatry, and as idolaters, we may not make our ways to the gates of heaven, let alone be let in once we perish.

Noyes: “Penny Noyes

Author

Updated Dec 11, 2020

In the Ten Commandments, God describes himself as a jealous God after giving the command to not make idols. Exodus 20:5-6 continues,

“You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.”

In describing himself as jealous, God contrasts his passion and love for his people to the iniquity of those who hate him by chasing after false gods and idols.”

My response: Those who worship false idols and demons do hate God and seek to grow the powers of darkness in the world.

Noyes: “God’s description of himself as jealous is only given in the context of idolatry. In Exodus 34, God made a covenant with his people. The preferred meaning of an Old Testament covenant is a bond. A covenant refers to two or more parties bound together.

Breaking the bond also breaks the covenant. A covenant is similar to a legal contract today. In a contract, the parties are named, and their duties are explained.

This passage explains that God is a jealous God, and his name is Jealous, “for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” (Exodus 34:14).

God promised to be faithful to his covenant and he expected them to be faithful and to avoid making covenants with the Canaanites.

Forty years after giving the Ten Commandments, God renewed his covenant with the people of Israel. They were about to enter the Promised Land and their leader, Moses, warned them to avoid idols of any kind. Deuteronomy 4:23-24 reminds them,

“Take care, lest you forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make a carved image, the form of anything that the LORD your God has forbidden you. For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”

Deuteronomy 5 restates the Ten Commandments and reminds the people, again, that God is a jealous God. The next chapter of Deuteronomy connects God’s jealous anger in response to idolatry.

“You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you — for the LORD your God in your midst is a jealous God — lest the anger of the LORD your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth” (Deuteronomy 6:14-15).

In the New Testament, Paul explains a similar jealousy for the hearts of new believers. He does not want them to be led away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2).

What Does Jealous Mean in the Bible?

The Hebrew word translated “jealous” in the Ten Commandments is qanna (קַנָּא) It is only used to describe God and is related to another word that means “zeal.” Common synonyms for “zeal” are passion, enthusiasm, and fervor.

God passionately loves his people because he chose them. Deuteronomy 7:7-8 explains, “It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the LORD loves you.”

God’s passion for his people is a result of his love. In the Ten Commandments, God contrasts his passionate love and zeal for his people to idolatry as evidence of their hate (Exodus 20:5-6).

What Is the Difference Between God’s Jealousy and Envy?

In English, we often use the words “jealous” and “envy” interchangeably. A quick search shows a common definition of “jealous” is “feeling or showing envy of someone or their achievements and advantages.”

The Oxford Languages definition of “envy” is “a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else’s possessions, qualities, or luck.””

My response: We need to work to be able to buy our possessions, and we can maverize to build our noble nature of enviable fine qualities, and by working hard and smart, we can become luckier for luck favors the prepared.

Noyes: “The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia explains how they are different: Envy “is an evil strongly condemned in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. It is to be distinguished from jealousy. ‘We are jealous of our own; we are envious of another man’s possessions. Jealousy fears to lose what it has; envy is pained at seeing another have.’”

Two Greek words are translated as jealousy and envy. Examining these words illustrates the difference between the biblical concepts of jealousy and envy.

“Phthónos (“ill-will”) conveys “displeasure at another’s good; . . . without longing to raise oneself to the level of him whom he envies, but only to depress the envied to his own level" (R. Trench, 90).”

This word is often seen in lists of sins to avoid. Romans 1:29 describes ungodly people, “They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,”

Matthew 27:18 and Mark 15:10 both use this word to explain that it was because of envy that Jesus was handed over to Pilate before the crucifixion. The chief priests and elders were resentful of Jesus’ ministry and sought to diminish his influence.

A similar situation occurred in Genesis 37 when Joseph’s brothers were resentful of their father’s affection for Joseph, so they sold him into slavery. Acts 7:9 summarizes this, “And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him.”

The Greek word translated “jealous” in this passage is derived from the Greek word zelos. “The root (zē-, “zeal”) literally means “hot enough to boil.” It is metaphorically used of “burning anger, love, zeal” (A-S) — i.e. to burn (in spirit). It can refer to “boiling anger, love, zeal, for what is good or bad (J. Thayer)”

The brothers were jealous for their father’s affection. Since this word denotes both passionate anger and love, Bible translators often use the word “jealousy” when they translate it in a negative sense and “zeal” in a positive sense.

In John 2:13-21, Jesus drives the moneychangers and livestock merchants out of the temple. Jesus rebuked them saying, “Do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” Verse 17 explains, “His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’”

In this verse, zeal is translated from the Greek word zelos. John is referencing Psalm 69:9, “For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.”

The Hebrew word translated “zeal,” in this passage, is related to the qanna, the same word God used to describe himself in the Ten Commandments.

How Is God’s Jealousy Different Than Human Jealousy?

Human jealousy is often tainted by sin and quickly morphs into destructive anger and envy. In Proverbs 6:34, a father is warning his son to avoid having sex with a married woman because it would make her husband enraged, “For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge."

Because God is without sin, God’s jealousy in response to idolatry is righteous and holy. Idolatry is a cancer in our relationship with God. God’s desire to remove the sin of idolatry is for our good.

When surgeons remove cancer, they cause short-term pain by cutting into the cancerous flesh to remove that which is destroying the body for a long-term benefit.

God is jealous for his relationship with his people because he passionately loves them and does not want them to be destroyed by idolatry.

Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/aapsky

Penny Noyes, M.Ed. is the author of Embracing Change - Learning to Trust God from the Women of the Bible and two books about Hezekiah. You can follow Penny on her blog and on Instagram @pennynoyes.”

TGC is The Gospel Coalition, an association of evangelical churches in the Reformed tradition, and I coped and pasted one of their articles online about divine jealousy. Here is the article.

TGC: “

U.S. Edition

The Jealousy of God

An Essay By Kirk Wellum

The jealousy of God is his holy commitment to his honor, glory, and love that manifests itself in the salvation of his people and the just condemnation of all who stand in opposition to him.”

My response: I like this definition of divine jealousy, a holy commitment to God’s honor, glory, and love, as De seeks to increase the numbers of people who obey the God-human covenant, and to speak out against those that fight God and make covenants with anti-godly spirits or causes. To some degree, it seems to be and has been hinted elsewhere that God is justifiably jealous of De’s good name, not wanting it dragged through the mud by scandalous misbehavior by rebels and backsliders, wantonly and rebelliously sinning. Such misbehavior is socially contagious, and if enough people abandon the God-human covenant, then the world becomes chaotic hell on earth.

TGC: “Summary

In this essay we begin by defining jealousy more generally before turning to the Scriptures to see what they teach regarding the jealousy of God. Moving from text to concept we explain what the Bible means by God’s jealousy before tracing out the necessary entailments for Christians.

Often when people think of jealousy, they think of a powerful human emotion that can do a great deal of harm unless harnessed and kept under control. Jealousy is not something that immediately comes to mind in connection with God unless people have carefully read through the Bible. When we read about God’s covenant relationship with the nation of Israel and then see how it is ultimately fulfilled in his relationship with the church, we discover that the jealousy of God is an important theme and a necessary aspect of God’s majestic, holy, and loving character. As James Montgomery Boice has said, “Rightly understood, the idea of jealousy is central to any true concept of God” (Boice, The Sovereign God, vol. 1 of Foundations of the Christian Faith [Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1978], 164). However, to understand and appreciate what Boice’s statement, we must examine what the scriptures say about divine jealousy and then explore how this doctrine relates to our lives.

Definitions of Jealousy

Dictionary definitions of jealousy are consistently uniform and often distinguish the human variety of jealousy from that which is said to characterize God. Human jealousy is described as a “feeling of resentment against someone because of that person’s rivalry, success, or advantages. It is characterized by or proceeds from suspicious fears or envious resentment” (Dictionary.com). Another definition speaks of “a feeling or showing an envious resentment to someone or their achievements, possessions, or perceived advantages” (Oxford Dictionary of English, Second Edition, 929). Both definitions highlight the negative aspects of jealousy.

At the same time these same dictionaries also recognize that human jealousy is not always negative. So, for instance, they speak of jealousy as “being solicitous or vigilant in maintaining and guarding something” (Dictionary.com) or of being “fiercely protective of one’s rights or possessions” (Oxford Dictionary) or of “zealous vigilance” (Merriam Webster). This further component of jealousy moves us closer to jealousy as it applies to God, which they explain as his “intolerance of unfaithfulness or rivalry” (Dictionary.com) or “demanding faithfulness and exclusive worship” (Oxford). As helpful as these definitions are as a starting point, they require us to go back to the scriptures and take note of how God speaks of his jealousy and what exactly it means for human beings generally and Christian believers in particular.”

My response: God demands faithfulness and exclusive worship from humans.

TGC: “Biblical Context and References

The first time we encounter jealousy by name in the Bible it is sinful human jealousy. In Genesis 30:1, Rachel is jealous of her sister Leah in their ongoing battle for the affections of their husband Jacob. Later in Genesis 37:11 we are told that the sons of Jacob were jealous of their brother Joseph because of the way he favored his favorite wife’s first son. This sibling jealousy played a significant role in the treacherous betrayal of Joseph by his brothers and his resulting slavery in Egypt even though God was at work to save the entire family. What is significant for our study of God’s jealousy is that jealousy, even though human and sinful, first appears in the context of family relationships that are dysfunctional because the main characters have rebelled against the God’s will for marriage and the family as revealed in Genesis 2:24. Following this basic pattern, what is subsequently revealed about God’s jealousy will be tied to human sin and the violation of a marriage covenant relationship just as it will transcend these realities by God’s sovereign grace.

The first reference to God’s jealousy comes in Exodus 20:5-6: “You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.” This revelation of God’s jealousy comes at Mt. Sinai where God makes a covenant with the children of Israel whom he has redeemed from Egypt. In this part of the covenant law it is given as the reason they are to turn away from idolatry and love the Lord exclusively and obey his commandments.

The next time we read of God’s jealousy he is renewing his covenant with Israel after they had violated it by their idolatrous worship of a golden calf it was still being inaugurated (Exod. 34:14 cf. Exod. 32). Because of their outrageous betrayal God threatened to destroy Israel, but Moses interceded, and God forgave their sin and agreed to go up among them, even though he initially refused. Moses was encouraged by his experience of God’s grace and emboldened to ask for a vision of God’s glory. God graciously agreed to let Moses see his glory and to rewrite the law of the covenant on tablets of stone and thus reestablish the covenant (cf. Exod. 33-34). As in the original covenant the Lord warns Israel about idolatry and forbids his covenant people from following the way of the nations. They are not to worship any other god, “for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”

In Deuteronomy Israel is reminded of the jealousy of God at the beginning and end of the book. In Deuteronomy 4 Moses is preparing a new generation of Israelites to enter the Promised Land after his death. He urges them not to forget the covenant the Lord their God made with them by making a craved image in the form of anything that God has forbidden, “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God” (v. 24). The same thing is said in Deuteronomy 6:14-15 about going after the gods of the people around them “for the Lord your God in your midst is a jealous God, lest the anger of the Lord your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth.” Near the end of the book Moses returns to this theme this time warning the people to watch their hearts as well as their conduct. If they walk in the stubbornness of their hearts, “the Lord will not be willing to forgive them, but rather the anger of the Lord and his jealousy will smoke against that man, and the curses written in this book will settle upon him, and the Lord will blot out his name from under heaven” (29:20). God’s jealousy is mentioned a final time in the Song of Moses once again connected to idolatry, “They stirred him to jealousy with strange gods; with abominations they provoked him to anger…; they have made me jealous with what is no god; they provoked me to anger with their idols” (32:16, 21).

At the end of his life, Joshua, reminds Israel of an inconvenient truth they do not want to hear: “You are not able to serve the Lord for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good” (Josh.24:19-20).

Other Old Testament references (e.g., 1Kgs. 14:22; Psa. 78:58; 79:5; Ezek. 8:3-5; 16:38, 42; 23:25; 36:5ff.; 38:19; 39:25; Joel 2:18; Nahum 1:8; Zeph. 1:18; 3:8 are consistent with antecedent references to God’s jealousy, although in the prophets a new theme emerges. This emerging theme is seen in Ezekiel where the Lord goes from indicting Israel for her outrageous sins and adulteries (8:3-5; 16:38, 42; 23:25) to burning with zeal against Edom and the nations who have made his land their possession and plundered its pastureland (36:5ff). In his zeal and fiery wrath, the Lord will come to the aid of his land and his people (38:19), and he will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have compassion on all the people of Israel, and he will be zealous for his holy name (39:25). Joel 2:18, Nahum 1:8, Zephaniah 1:18; 3:8 all speak of the judgment of God as an expression of his jealous wrath that goes hand in hand with the ultimate salvation of his people.

In the New Testament God’s jealousy is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 10:22 and James 4:5 in connection with idolatry and spiritual adultery, and believers are exhorted to avoid those things that contradict all that God has done for them in Christ. Instead they are to be devoted to God who wants them to walk in humility and holiness before him and to worship and serve him alone.

Theological Meaning of God’s Jealousy

What does the Bible mean when it says that God is a jealous God? Whatever it means, it cannot refer to or imply anything sinful in God. He is a holy God and is never sinfully jealous. He is never jealous because he is needy, greedy, or covetous, or because he is lazy and unwilling to put forth the effort necessary to accomplish his purposes. God is not jealous because he takes a petty dislike to certain individuals and begrudges their achievements, or because he is frustrated with his position in the universe. Such suggestions are absurd!”

My response: God’s jealousy seems reasonable and is based on human misbehavior and defiance.

TGC: “Wayne Grudem defines God’s jealousy as “God continually seeking to protect his own honor” (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000], 205). For J. I. Packer, “it is his holiness reacting to evil in a way that is morally right and precious…; it is a praiseworthy zeal on his part to preserve something supremely precious” (J. I. Packer, Knowing God, [London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1973], 189. Both explanations capture important aspects of the biblical doctrine of God’s jealousy. Building on their statements, I would like to suggest that we can think of God’s jealousy in 3 ways: (1) God’s jealousy related to his honor and glory, (2) God’s jealousy and his holiness, and (3) God’s jealousy and his love.

God is jealous for his honor and glory.”

My response: God is jealous for his honor and glory but as an egoist and individuators, yet loving God, when humans rebel and go a whoring, they are not seeking their own honor and glory (They seek their own honor and glory when being faithful and indviduating which adds to God’s honor and glory.)

When humans go a whoring, their sinful rebellion is seeking dishonor and shame, and this detracts form their own honor and glory, or the upholding of God’s honor and glory.

TGC: “When human beings seek their own honor and glory, they are denying their creatureliness and heading in the wrong direction because they were made to glorify God and to enjoy him forever (cf. Westminster Shorter Catechism). But this is not the case with God. He is infinitely glorious and worthy of our praise and adoration. There is no one like God. He is completely self-sufficient. He is the uncreated creator who ought to be worshipped by all that he has made. He has the right to command our obedience, love, and devotion and, therefore, he is rightfully jealous when we do not worship and serve him, which is the very best thing we can do for ourselves and for others. To worship anything, or anyone, other than the Triune God of the Bible rightly provokes the Lord to jealousy and it cannot be any other way.

God’s jealousy is also linked to his holiness.

God does not conform to a standard outside of himself; he is the standard of what is pure and holy. God is in a class by himself, not only in terms of his ontological being, but also in his moral purity. He is undefiled by sin and he knows what is right and good because he knows himself. When he encounters that which is a contradiction of his holiness, he reacts in wrath and he is jealous that what is right and good be pursued instead. God’s jealousy is not indicative of weakness or a character flaw on his part, but it is a part of his holy omnipotence. He will pursue his holy purposes, and, in his zeal, he will accomplish all the set out to do.

God’s jealousy is linked to his love.

This is where the marriage analogy reappears. Holy, righteous love without jealousy is an oxymoron. Even at a human level if a husband and wife truly love each other they will feel jealousy if that intimate love relationship is threatened. In a marriage this kind of jealousy – which is a necessary by-product of love (Packer, 189-191) – is evoked as a way of protecting the relationship and keeping it intact. It wants to preserve that which is valuable and beautiful. Human marriage is patterned after the relationship that exists between God and his people in the Old Covenant and Christ and his church in the New Covenant. Just as a husband is properly jealous for the love his wife, so the Lord is jealous for the love of his covenanted people—the Israel of God.

The Implications of God’s Jealousy

Because God is a jealous God, Christians should turn away from all that provokes his jealousy. It is disingenuous to say that we love him and then live contrary to the rightful demands that he makes on our lives. Believers in all generations are required to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, and might (Deut. 6:4-6 cf. Matt. 22:37-38). The experience of God’s gracious redemption does not mean that we can live carelessly or in rebellion to his will for our lives. His deep love and commitment to us should continually fuel in us a desire to please him in everything.
Because God is a jealous God, we should worship him in spirit and truth as Jesus instructed us (John 4:24). One of the many problems with false teaching is that it misrepresents God. All doctrines are connected to our view of God, and when we go astray in any area of Christian truth – the authority of the scriptures, the triune nature of God, the person and work of Christ, the application of salvation to the believer, the doctrine of the church, and the future triumph of our Lord – we rob God of his glory and we invite his rebuke and discipline. While our understanding of scripture will never be perfect until we stand before him in glory, that does not excuse lazy thinking and self-styled worship that is man-centered rather than God-centered.
Because God is a jealous God, we should be passionately committed to his cause. We have many examples of passionate commitment in the Bible. In the Old Testament Phinehas (Num. 25:11-13) and Elijah (1Kgs. 19:10, 14) were zealously committed to the Lord in a time of moral and spiritual compromise. In the New Testament the apostle Paul faithfully served the Lord who rescued him by his grace. He was so transformed that he told the church in Ephesus that “he did not account his life of any value nor as precious to himself, if only he may finish his course and the ministry that he received for the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). Surpassing all others is our Lord Jesus Christ whose commitment to his Father fulfilled Psalm 69:9, “Zeal for your house has consumed me” (cf. John 2:17). He taught his disciples to pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come; your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’ (Matt. 6:9-10). It is not surprising, then, that Christians are “zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14). We must not be like the Laodicean church that was nauseatingly lukewarm and in danger of being spit out (Rev. 3:14-21). Instead, knowing who God is, and all that he has done for us, we should serve the Lord with gladness and come before his presence with singing knowing that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and are his, we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture (Psa. 100).”

My response: Zeal is useful and worthy if it does not transform the human heart over into fanaticism and ultraism: at that point, the human breaks the covenant between God and human, and these true believers worship a religiofied ideology, and that is not the worship of God, nor covenant-abiding, nor covenant enforcement.

My response: Jealousy is human and unproductive when it is misbehavior growing out of altruist morality and groupist games: when humans are individualistic and rationally self-interested, they are quite unlikely to be jealous of God’s power and seek to overthrow God—a impossible undertaking anyway—and seek to usurp God’s throne and rule the world for their demonic friends running hell.

Here are my notes on an online video which I copied out on 4/17/25, and it is narrated by a British pastor (?); the video is produced by Reading Between the Lines, 60, entitled, I am a Jealous God. Here is the video:

Pastor: “Our 60^th phase (sp?) as we travel through the Bible Reading: Exodus 20:4-6; Corinthians 11:1-3 Get the RBTL (Podcast and Vodcast, 9 years ago): Speak Life, IK . . . YouTube, a 5.34-minute-long video.

It’s right there in the midst of the ten words from Mount Sinai, Exodus, Chapter 20, Verse 5: You shall not bow down to the idols or worship them.

What a horrible idea we might think, a jealous God. What kind of God gets jealous. Well, Mount Sinai is not an unguarded moment of candor. The Lord is very open about His jealousy.

At a glance I found 34 times in the Bible where the Lord has said this.”

My response: If God repeats this warning to humanity, that He is a jealous God, repeating it 34 times in His holy book, this is a patent warning to pay attention, straighten out, and stay on the path of righteousness, worship God, not demons, false gods or physical objects. This concept of divine jealousy was a concept which is my hunch that we need to heed, figure out, and then do as God commands us to do.

Pastor: “This is not something He seems to be embarrassed about, and here in Exodus 20, it serves as a justification his word, his commandment against graven images, which we saw yesterday.

The Lord is saying don’t go to other gods, because I am jealous. Well, again, we have to ask what kind of God gets jealous? Answer: a God of love. You see jealousy implies a context of committed relationships.”

My response: Virtuous jealousy, be it divine jealousy or human jealousy, is based on faithful mutual commitment, to honor one’s past agreement to a covenant, a relationship, and sometimes marriage between willing partners.

Pastor: “God is jealous because He is faithful—unlike his people. The reason he’s a God of jealousy because he is a God of love.”

My response: God cares and loves us, so He disciplines and corrects us when we go astray.

Pastor: “Let us notice a few things about the Lord’s jealousy. Firstly, the word for jealousy could just as well be translated zealous. In fact both English words have come to us from the same Greek translation of this Greek word zealous. In Hebrew it is derived from the word for zeal.

It’s the idea for hot-blooded commitment and we can think of lots of examples of good jealousy in this world in human life.”

My response: Good divine jealousy and good human jealousy correspond and track together as admirable and worthy if one is enthusiastic and gung-ho in promoting the maintenance and expression in thought, word, and behavior, personally exemplifying the evidence celebration of the God-human covenant.

Bad divine jealousy would be satanic, and, in humans, bad jealousy is collective, envious, and emotionally mis-expressed as so passionate about a holy cause as a true believer, that if anyone is with the cause, but not 100%, all the time, as the guru in charge defines pure l the dissident’s lack of total, unswerving loyalty, then the deviant is criminal and to be destroyed. If an unbeliever from a rival cause or sect, be it a noble cause or a corrupt cause, it makes not difference, the jealous true believers will put them to the sword every time, and this jealous denial and any nonconformity and independence is pure wickedness. God would propose that De’s children of light wander over into such enthusiastic, passionate, hysterical, violent, melodramatic excess, but groupist human religions believers, even those serving a good faith and a good deity, can be so jealous of unbelievers, sinners, other-believers that they put them to the sword out of a mood of bad jealousy. We always want to be judicious, tolerant, temperate, and sober while passionately promoting our cause or cherished religious faith. Remember the Devil is fanatical and enthusiastic in a hateful, destructive way.

Pastor: “There’s a good, appropriate, hot-blooded, protective, possessive, zealous ardor in fact in the human realm of jealousy from a relationship. You may also wonder whether true love is also missing.”

My response: Yes, and no, some level of jealousy or objection is inevitable, healthy, natural, and even permissible if one’s partner is being pulled away from one or is willing to be pulled away from one. But it is important to be careful.

Covenants between humans, and between humans, collectively and individually, between them and their favorite good deity worshiped, should be mutually honored, and some jealous possessiveness and fear over losing that special relationship is condonable by all interested, covenanted parties.

Jealousy as an emotion obsessive, sick, controlling and unduly possessive when one partner assumes they own the other covenanter body and soul. Jealousy sickens and corrupts whenever one covenanter seeks to consume her partner, and such disregard for the other individual’s morality, dignity and separation is not wise or sustainable.

Negative or human jealousy leads to more wicked behaviors, and we should all be wary of it: we do not love others if we do not respect their individuality, that they can have other friends, and separate lives, hobbies etc. On the other hand, one should be jealous enough to have one’s partner in a religious relationship or personal relations be personal and perhaps primary.

Pastor: “If a husband is simply uninterested in the amorous advances of a man that it makes approaches to his own wife, we should start to question that husband’s true love. Is he really that bothered with her if he’s not starting to feel jealous, so we can see jealousy can be a good thing on a human level.

Now let’s think of the jealousy of God’s. You see He tells his people you shall have no other gods before my presence, my son. We saw this yesterday. He, he jealously covets his people’s affections, and he wants them whole-heartedly to their true bridegroom, Christ.”

My response: God wants His people’s wholehearted, all-in devotion, love, attention, and allegiance. Either they are loyal to God completely or not at all. Either their exclusive covenant is with Jesus or not at all.

I think one’s allegiance to God can be whole-hearted without being unconditional (for a moderate to hold unconditional love for anyone, even a deity—this unconditional should be mutually understood between humans, or the human and her God, to mean mostly unconditional but not completely unconditional, and the holding back is not to enjoy a covenant with another deity usually—or to go a whoring. This is dishonorable but slightly conditional love when the unfaithful human is chasing after bad deities after pledging oneself to Jesus. If the human is faith to his spouse, and to Jesus, then this rather conditional or moderate love is real love because each human covenanter should retain his individual personhood and dignity, though worshiping and loving God unreservedly. This is what good deities expect from us, and this is how they love us, thought that seems blasphemous. Unconditional love easily transmutes into unconditional hatred, and nothing violates the covenant between human and good deity faster than coming to hate the good deity. No party to the covenant should be burdened by the promise of unconditional loyalty a love, which is not a noble or achievable ideal for imperfect human beings. We never desire that the well-meant covenant relationship deteriorates into a holy cause expressed with excessive fervency.

Pastor: “Here is God with his heart on His sleeve. I am jealous he says in fact in Exodus 34 verse 14, he will say my name is jealous. God loves with a burning, faithful marital love”

My response: One can be rationally passionate and display and feel sincere, deep emotion but this felt expression of affection for others or for a good deity is nothing like super-exuberant, theatrical, public spectacles of loyalty declared, completed with mass pageantry, drums and trumps blazing, with mob parades and dances to intimidate individual in that society, awed by such mass displays like Hitler would stage to remind the individuals that they were small and insignificant; that their power, relationships and talent expressions are controlled by the partner or by the faith—that control is tyrannical jealous possessive and hateful, we do not want to be so passionate but be heartfelt and freely shared but restrained and polite almost always.

Pastor: “First of all, the Father loves His son in the power of His Almighty spirit. It is a marriage of God as the bridegroom and humans as the woman-like love, it is rightly possessive and jealous.”

My response: I realize that this sexual metaphor (God is the bridegroom enjoying a covenant with His people, his followers, and brides.) is innocent, but I am still uncomfortable with it and would like to move on from it. I do not like to see men as the dominant covenanter, and the woman, his co-covenanter, as his possession, his property, his to dominate and do with as he will.

If its meaning and intent are transmogrified, at its worst, pardon my French, and a new, lithe handsome young convict came into the prison and a burly, violent older convict looked at him and said, you are my bitch from now on. and I own your body and soul, sexually and otherwise. I will be insanely jealous if you are attractive to anyone, get attention from anyone, or if another man approaches you to make you his bitch. I will kill you both before I let you go free because I own you and never release what I down.

As a macho heterosexual male, I am uncomfortable with being anyone’s woman, whether I enter into a covenant with a human woman or enter into a organized religious covenant/relationship/marriage with a good deity. I do not want the god or goddess to be the bridegroom in the relationship, and for me to be the bride. This Biblical metaphor was and is very innocent, but I in Mavellonialism going forward would like to move away from this sexual metaphor; it is just too loaded with sinister or potentially sinister implications, besmirching and casting a pall upon a decent, sweet innocent relationship between a human and the good deity she worships, and their admirable, shared covenant.

Pastor: “And then He loved His people, those who are married to his son. He loves the Bride of Christ with that same ardent love and throughout the Bible God’s people for their part, they respond badly to God’s zealous love.”

My response: If one loves anyone or anything with too much zeal or jealousy smothering, it is a turn-off; love and covenant should be passionate offered, without degrading, downplaying the dignity and free choice of the target of the offer. The relationship should be mutually courteous and respectful, and freely entered into by both parties knowing their obligations and willing to sustain them for a lifetime.

I do not like this work jealous to express displeasure on God’s part when God is displeased with human unfaithfulness and covenant violation by going whoring after bad deities or false gods. God’s love for, commitment to and unending concern for De’s children are whom De loves.

I do not like emotional extremes, for it lets loose the id, demons, natural impulses, and temptations out upon society, with irrationalism, extremism, groupism, altruism, tyranny and injustice resulting, all driven by that mostly destructive emotion jealousy, undergirding, and contextually applying to all these negative traits. Humans are born wicked, pack creatures and jealously of others and God leads to mob violence intolerance, and malevolence. No good deity wants that at all.

Some conflate hysterical exhibitions of passionate sentiment or jealousy melodramas by individuals in the public space as preferable, but these loud, violent expressions of love and caring, referred to as virtuous but they are mostly satanic.

Extremism and excessive emotion are not sincere and healthy. Extreme emotion is not the same as purity of belief, commitment or intellectual excellence, or the highest ethical standard. Rather they are positions either excessive or mean, which is evil and jealousy smacks of these warped attitudes: no standard too high, impossibly strict—or the opposite that anything goes--too jealous, or too wishy-washy so the offended human or good deity feels or expresses no righteous jealousy at all.

Humans always need to be cautious and humble and wary because they are born evil, and easily are led astray. Humans love to deceive each other and oneself and love meting out slavery and living in slavery and bad jealousy permeates these poor living arrangements, so we need to be careful of too passionate belief, overly affectionate, sky-high or the wrong kind of jealousy or commitment, lest we turn to the devil and work for him and hurt people and God. Cool it down and express quiet, heartfelt loving faithful to one’s covenant with God will suffice and that sensible approach is likely what God prefers.

Pastor: “But instead of being called to be obedient again and again, God’s people are called to be faithful. And when they sin, they’re not just called transgressors, they are called adulterers. There’s meant to be this marriage relationship. To be on the inside of God’s jealous love is a wonderful thing.

It’s to be rightly possessed and secure, it is the sunshine of His love. To be on the wrong side of His jealousy is a terrible thing because those who demean, threaten, or harm the objects of his love, either his son or His people, those people will feel that jealousy as a consuming fire of his wrath. The same jealous love will be experienced in two very different ways: for some, it’s the sunshine of his love. For others, the blazing fire of his judgment. But it’s the same love, the same jealous God.”

My response: Yes, a fiery loving deity will reward those faithful and just and burn those disloyal and unjust. It is the same love, the same deity.

Pastor: “What kind of God is this? Certainly, it is no cold, calculating clockworks God. He is not a God to be tamed or taken for granted. Here on Mount Sinai, we see a passionate God entering into committed covenant relationships with us.

He is not afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve, but it’s on the mountain of Calvary that we see the full depths of his passion there. There on the cross his heart was not simply there, but pierced by his jealous love, which was not merely named but demonstrated for all time with his arms outstretched for the world. He does not approach us as a cosmic lawgiver. On the cross we his deepest, truest nature. He comes to us a jealous, zealous lover and as he makes himself vulnerable to us. The question that defines every human being is not how can you disobey this lawgiver. The question is: How can you spurn this love? Speaklife.org UK”

My response: This pastor speaks like Kierkegaard, not a rational, cool, cerebral vicar, quiet Quaker, or rational theist.

Here is my last YouTube video, hand copied by me off the internet on 4/17/25, and its title is: The LORD is jealous for his name, from Necessary Food: The Lord whose name is jealous—Exodus 39:12-16.

Here is the Narrator (N after this): “Well, good morning. I am reading from the book of Exodus. We are talking about our jealous God. Now, for some people that’s been a big problem but as we read this morning you will understand better what God is saying.

He says to the children of Israel, to Moses, Chapter 34, Verse 12 of the book of Exodus: ‘Take heed of thyself lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whether thou goest lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee, but you shall destroy their altars, break down their images, cut down their groves. Thou shall worship no other go for the Lord whose name is jealous is a jealous God. ”

My response: It could be that, at that time, the time of Exodus, there was so much demonic paganism at work among the Gentiles, that God had to take a radical, severe line just to shock and to motivate his Chosen People to worship himself (Yahweh). It all seems drastic to me, but it might well be merited.

N: “lest thou make a covenant with the land and they go whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods. One will call thee and thou eat of his sacrifice and they’ll take care of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and they make thy sons whoring after their gods.

Now the key to understanding this jealousy of the God’s is the way that he refers to idolatry that can happen. So Israel is not to intermarry with the Canaanite tribes. The reason: Because you will wind up worshiping their false gods and God calls it whoring.

Now for it to be whoring we’ve got to understand the metaphor that God is using here. God sees Himself as the husband of his people, Israel. And they have entered a covenant with him—just like a marriage covenant. When a man and his wife enter into a marriage covenant they enter into this covenant and they say you know forsaking all others till death do us part.

That means they do not have eyes for somebody else. A husband whose wife has eyes for another man, well, he’s caring to experience jealousy, and rightly so because he has entered into a covenant with her. And she has made him a promise and a wife whose husband has eyes for another woman—she’s going to be jealous for him because they’ve entered into a covenant, and he made a promise, and now he’s breaking that promise.”

My response: God is faithful, but many humans are not, to their marriage vows and their covenant vow to remain faithful to God, who is always faithful and loyal to us, more than we deserve.

N: “And that’s what God is telling his people: don’t break this promise because when you go and you worship the gods of the Canaanites, it’s going to be like committing adultery. You’re going whoring after some other lover that’s not your husband, and when we think of God being jealous a jealous God we need not to read onto him our human sinful condition.

This is a definition of jealousy among us as sinful, fallen creatures. Jealous resentment against a rival person enjoying success or advantage, and so, so what we many times, what we experience as jealousy is you know we are jealous you know because they have an ice cream cone and I don’t.”

My response: As a moderate ethicist and egoist moralist, and individualist, I avow that jealousy of our neighbors cause more human suffering—the malevolent kind—than anything else. We do not own others; we can mildly envy their success, but we must blame ourselves every time for being less smart, talented, popular, rich, or smart, and then we must work hard and innovatively to improve our lot. The failure is ours. The power to fix it is ours. The responsibility is ours. We have the free will to do something about it if we will, and we must quit interfering with neighbors to make all of this happen. We must celebrate and reward them for their success, not punish, rob, attack, or destroy them for bettering themselves, while we do nothing but take it easy.

Collectivist jealousy is the emotion back of most evil in the world, so I detest jealousy, and really do not like using it to describe the emotional frustration of an all-good or nearly all perfect deity, upset due to human leaving God to worship false gods.

I would replace the phrase that God is a jealous God with a phrase like God is displeased and disgusted and justifiably angry at human betrayal and covenant-breaking, especially repeatedly.

N: “I wish I had their ice cream cone and they had a pink feather. Well, that’s not the way that God is. You see God is; there’s nothing to compare with God. God is truth. God is light. God is he, he is the most incredible, awesome (being, added by Ed) being that there is so, and so for you to look straight at God, and to have this covenant relationship with God And then say, ‘yah,’ I think I’ll go worship the gods of the Canaanites, or, boy, that girl’s pretty—I like her, and she worships the gods of the Canaanites. So maybe I’ll just go with her to the sacrifice that she’s going to.

You seek that causes God to be jealous for his people because they are turning their backs on the truth. And they are walking straight into a lie.

And the Lord Jesus Christ: He is referred to as the bridegroom and his church is the bride. And he’s jealous for his bride because once again there is nothing in all of the universe that would be better or more powerful or merciful or true or kind or righteous than the Lord Jesus Christ.

And so for us to turn our back on the bridegroom and to follow after other idols, well, that’s, that’s just foolish.

So God says that He’s a jealous God. He, he wants for us to worship Him because he is the truth, and for us to worship something else, well, that is just foolishness on our part.

Listen, I want to encourage you this morning. He is worthy of our worship. God bless you. I hope you have a great day.”

My response: Judaism and Yahweh are monotheist religions, a Father Sky religions. Because Judaism is a faith that advocates humans living apart from nature and owning and dominating nature to make their living, this somehow implied that humans were slowly to awaken, become rational, individualistic, moderate, and unnatural, slightly egoist.

Yahweh exemplified these values, and when He chose the Hebrews as His chosen people, his covenant with them was predicated on the agreement that they would be faithful and worship Him solely, not the pagan gods of neighboring peoples.

Many of these pagan sects likely were evil but most or all of them would be natural, tribal, groupist, collective, altruistic, animistic, and pushing low self-esteem. These traits, patterns and behaviors track with, and evil expressed among humans in society, so it is natural that Yahweh loving good and love, would steer his people not to worship as the heathens and pagans did.

My axiom of moderation in most things ethical, spiritual, and metaphysical laws of nature and supernature, command and entail that there is no one, true faith, absolutely superior to all others, though Judaism and Christianity rank highly.

A faith becomes a sacred ideology, a form of devil worship, once its prophets and priests insist that it is the only faith that the good to be saved can worship, that all others will burn necessarily. These devil worshipers are most jealous of unbelievers and dissenters.

There are many good faiths and many good deities and none of them should excluded the worship of competing good deities and their faiths, and this is the commandment from the Father and the Mother. If people would enjoy Mavellonialism, they will invite in all rival good deities, and the worship of other good deities.

To worship good and minor deities need not rob the monotheistic deities of their worshipful due to pray to other, perhaps minor good deities.

Philosophy from a Working Man

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Exodus 34:20

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Exodus 34:12-17