Lexical Summary qinah: Jealousy, zeal, ardor Original Word: קִנְאָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance envyied, jealousy, zeal From qana'; jealousy or envy -- envy(-ied), jealousy, X sake, zeal. see HEBREW qana' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition ardor, zeal, jealousy NASB Translation anger (1), envy (1), jealousy (24), passion (1), rivalry (1), zeal (14). Brown-Driver-Briggs קִנְאָה noun feminine ardour, zeal, jealousy (from colour produced in face by deep emotion); — absolute ׳ק Numbers 5:14 +; construct קִנְאַת Isaiah 9:6; suffix קִנְאָתִי Numbers 25:11 +, etc.; plural קְנָאֹת Numbers 5:15,18,25,29; — 1 ardour of jealousy of husband Proverbs 6:34; Proverbs 27:4; ׳רוּחַ ק jealous disposition Numbers 5:14 (twice in verse); Numbers 5:30 (P); offering for jealousy, ׳מנחת ק Numbers 5:15.18.25 (P); ׳תּוֺרַת הק Numbers 5:29 (P); of rivalry Ecclesiastes 4:4; Ecclesiastes 9:6; Ephraim against Judah Isaiah 11:13; ardent love, "" אחכה Songs 8:6. 2 ardour of zeal: a. of men for God Numbers 25:11 (twice in verse)(P) 2 Kings 10:26; for the house of ׳י Psalm 69:10. b. of God for his people, especially in battle Isaiah 42:13; Isaiah 63:15; Zechariah 1:14; Zechariah 8:2; ׳מְעִיל ק Isaiah 59:17; תעשׂה וצת ׳י ׳ק Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 37:32 = 2 Kings 19:31. 3 ardour of anger: a. of men against adversaries Psalm 119:139; Job 5:2 ("" כעשׂ), Proverbs 14:30 (opposed to לֵב מַרְמֵּא). b. of God against men, "" חֵמָה Ezekiel 5:13; Ezekiel 16:38,42; Ezekiel 23:25; Ezekiel 36:6; "" עֶבְרָה Ezekiel 38:19; "" אַף Deuteronomy 29:19; Ezekiel 35:11; + אֵשׁ Isaiah 26:11; Ezekiel 36:5; Zephaniah 1:18; Zephaniah 3:8; Psalm 79:5; הַמַּקְנֶה ׳סֵמֶל הַק Ezekiel 8:3 the anger-image provoking to anger; ׳הק ׳ס alone Ezekiel 8:5. Topical Lexicon Definition and Range of Meaning קִנְאָה (qinʾah) embraces ardor, zeal, passionate intensity, jealousy, or envy. Context determines whether the emotion is righteous or sinful, divine or human. The word appears about forty-four times, spanning Torah, Historical Books, Wisdom Literature, and Prophets. Divine Jealousy and Covenant Fidelity God’s קִנְאָה is never capricious; it protects His covenant love and glory. When Israel bows to idols, the LORD responds with a consuming zeal that defends His holy name and restores His people to exclusive loyalty. This jealousy brings both judgment and restoration. In Zephaniah 1:18 the day of the LORD’s wrath is “in the fire of His jealousy,” yet Ezekiel 39:25 promises, “I will be jealous for My holy name” and regather Israel. Divine qinʾah guarantees covenant certainty. Holy Zeal Displayed by God’s Servants When humans mirror God’s righteous jealousy, קִנְאָה becomes a virtue. Such zeal guards true worship and confronts compromise, yet it is always accountable to God’s revealed will, lest it devolve into fanaticism. Sinful Human Jealousy and Envy Unchecked קִנְאָה can be destructive envy or suspicion. Proverbs personifies it as rot to the bones (Proverbs 14:30) and as a ruthless adversary to love (Song of Songs 8:6). Isaiah warns that Ephraim’s jealousy toward Judah and Judah’s hostility toward Ephraim must cease for national healing (Isaiah 11:13). Carnal jealousy fractures relationships, foments violence (Ezekiel 35:11), and invites divine discipline. Jealousy in Marital Law Numbers 5:11–31 legislates the “ordeal of jealousy.” A husband overcome by qinʾah without evidence submits his wife to a priestly trial. This protects the woman from vigilante vengeance, placing the matter under divine adjudication: “If a spirit of jealousy comes over him and he becomes jealous of his wife” (Numbers 5:14, 30). The ritual underscores marriage as covenant and safeguards both partners through God-centered justice. National and Eschatological Zeal Qinʾah often accompanies prophetic visions of the end. Zephaniah, Ezekiel, Joel, and Nahum link the LORD’s jealousy to cosmic upheaval and final triumph. Isaiah 9:7 anchors messianic hope: “The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.” Likewise Isaiah 37:32 affirms that Jerusalem’s preservation against Assyria springs from divine zeal. Eschatologically, God’s jealousy culminates in a renewed creation where His honor is uncontested. Messianic Fulfillment The Messiah’s ministry is propelled by קִנְאָה. Isaiah 59:17 pictures the Servant wearing “zeal as a cloak.” This anticipates Jesus Christ, whose cleansing of the temple recalls, “Zeal for Your house will consume Me” (John 2:17 quoting Psalm 69:9). The incarnate Son perfectly embodies divine jealousy, purifying worship and purchasing a people “eager to do good works” (compare Titus 2:14). Practical and Ministry Implications 1. Worship Purity: Churches must guard corporate worship from idolatry, reflecting God’s jealous love for His glory. Summary קִנְאָה is a double-edged passion. In God it secures holiness and redemption; in the obedient it fuels courageous fidelity; in the flesh it corrodes community. Scripture’s forty-plus occurrences trace a consistent theme: the LORD’s jealous love both judges sin and saves sinners, urging His people to echo His holy zeal while rejecting selfish envy. Forms and Transliterations בְּקִנְאָתִ֔י בְּקִנְאָתִ֣י בְּקִנְאָתִֽי׃ בְּקַנְא֥וֹ בְקִנְאָתִ֤י בקנאו בקנאתי בקנאתי׃ הַקְּנָאֹ֑ת הַקִּנְאָ֥ה הקנאה הקנאת וְקִנְאָֽה׃ וְקִנְאָתוֹ֙ וּבְקִנְאָתִ֥י וּכְקִנְאָ֣תְךָ֔ ובקנאתי וכקנאתך וקנאה׃ וקנאתו קְנָאֹ֖ת קְנָאֹת֙ קִנְאַ֛ת קִנְאַ֣ת קִנְאַת־ קִנְאָ֑ה קִנְאָ֖ה קִנְאָ֛ה קִנְאָ֣ה קִנְאָ֥ה קִנְאָֽה׃ קִנְאָֽתְךָ֙ קִנְאָה֙ קִנְאָת֔וֹ קִנְאָתִ֑י קִנְאָתִ֔י קִנְאָתִ֖י קִנְאָתִ֜י קִנְאָתִ֥י קִנְאָתֶֽךָ׃ קִנְאָתָ֖ם קנאה קנאה׃ קנאת קנאת־ קנאתו קנאתי קנאתך קנאתך׃ קנאתם bə·qan·’ōw bə·qin·’ā·ṯî ḇə·qin·’ā·ṯî bekanO bekinaTi bəqan’ōw bəqin’āṯî ḇəqin’āṯî hakkenaOt hakkinAh haq·qə·nā·’ōṯ haq·qin·’āh haqqənā’ōṯ haqqin’āh kenaOt kinAh kinAt kinaTam kinaTecha kinaTi kinaTo qə·nā·’ōṯ qənā’ōṯ qin’āh qin’aṯ qin’aṯ- qin’āṯām qin’āṯeḵā qin’āṯəḵā qin’āṯî qin’āṯōw qin·’ā·ṯām qin·’ā·ṯe·ḵā qin·’ā·ṯə·ḵā qin·’ā·ṯî qin·’ā·ṯōw qin·’āh qin·’aṯ qin·’aṯ- ū·ḇə·qin·’ā·ṯî ū·ḵə·qin·’ā·ṯə·ḵā ūḇəqin’āṯî uchekinAtecha ūḵəqin’āṯəḵā uvekinaTi vekinAh vekinaTi vekinaTo wə·qin·’ā·ṯōw wə·qin·’āh wəqin’āh wəqin’āṯōwLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 5:14 HEB: עָלָ֧יו רֽוּחַ־ קִנְאָ֛ה וְקִנֵּ֥א אֶת־ NAS: if a spirit of jealousy comes over KJV: And the spirit of jealousy come INT: over A spirit of jealousy is jealous of his wife Numbers 5:14 Numbers 5:15 Numbers 5:18 Numbers 5:25 Numbers 5:29 Numbers 5:30 Numbers 25:11 Numbers 25:11 Numbers 25:11 Deuteronomy 29:20 2 Kings 10:16 2 Kings 19:31 Job 5:2 Psalm 69:9 Psalm 79:5 Psalm 119:139 Proverbs 6:34 Proverbs 14:30 Proverbs 27:4 Ecclesiastes 4:4 Ecclesiastes 9:6 Songs 8:6 Isaiah 9:7 Isaiah 11:13 44 Occurrences |
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