Definition and Nature:
Envy is a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another's advantages, success, possessions, or qualities. It is often accompanied by a desire to possess what another has. In the biblical context, envy is considered a sin and is frequently condemned as it leads to strife and discord among individuals and communities.

Biblical References:
The Bible addresses envy in various passages, highlighting its destructive nature and the moral imperative to avoid it. In the Old Testament, envy is first seen in the account of Cain and Abel, where Cain's envy of Abel's favor with God leads to the first murder (Genesis 4:3-8). Proverbs 14:30 states, "A tranquil heart is life to the body, but envy rots the bones," illustrating the internal decay envy causes.

In the New Testament, envy is listed among the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21: "The acts of the flesh 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." Here, envy is grouped with other sins that separate individuals from God.

Examples and Consequences:
The Bible provides numerous examples of envy and its consequences. Joseph's brothers envied him for his father's favoritism and his dreams, leading them to sell him into slavery (Genesis 37:11, 28). King Saul's envy of David's success and popularity led to a relentless pursuit to kill him (1 Samuel 18:6-9).

In the New Testament, the chief priests and elders handed Jesus over to Pilate out of envy (Matthew 27:18). This envy led to the crucifixion of Christ, demonstrating how envy can lead to grave injustices.

Moral Teachings:
Scripture encourages believers to rid themselves of envy. 1 Peter 2:1 advises, "Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander." The call to love one another is a recurring theme, as love is seen as the antidote to envy. 1 Corinthians 13:4 states, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud."

Spiritual Implications:
Envy is seen as a barrier to spiritual growth and community harmony. James 3:14-16 warns, "But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such 'wisdom' does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice."

Practical Application:
Believers are encouraged to cultivate contentment and gratitude as remedies for envy. Philippians 4:11-13 speaks to the importance of being content in all circumstances, trusting in Christ's strength. By focusing on their own blessings and the well-being of others, Christians can overcome envy and foster a spirit of unity and love within their communities.1 Corinthians 13:4
Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity braggs not itself, is not puffed up,
Topicalbible.org

James 3:16
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
Topicalbible.org

Galatians 5:26
Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Topicalbible.org

1 Peter 2:1
Why laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, all evil speakings,
Topicalbible.org

Romans 13:13
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
Topicalbible.org

Romans 1:29
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Topicalbible.org

Acts 17:5
But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took to them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
Topicalbible.org

Proverbs 24:1
Be not you envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
Topicalbible.org

James 3:14
But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
Topicalbible.org

1 Corinthians 3:3
For you are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are you not carnal, and walk as men?
Topicalbible.org

1. (n.) Malice; ill will; spite.

2. (n.) Chagrin, mortification, discontent, or uneasiness at the sight of another's excellence or good fortune, accompanied with some degree of hatred and a desire to possess equal advantages; malicious grudging; -- usually followed by of; as, they did this in envy of Caesar.

3. (n.) Emulation; rivalry.

4. (n.) Public odium; ill repute.

5. (n.) An object of envious notice or feeling.

6. (v. t.) To feel envy at or towards; to be envious of; to have a feeling of uneasiness or mortification in regard to (any one), arising from the sight of another's excellence or good fortune and a longing to possess it.

7. (v. t.) To feel envy on account of; to have a feeling of grief or repining, with a longing to possess (some excellence or good fortune of another, or an equal good fortune, etc.); to look with grudging upon; to begrudge.

8. (v. t.) To long after; to desire strongly; to covet.

9. (v. t.) To do harm to; to injure; to disparage.

10. (v. t.) To hate.

11. (v. t.) To emulate.

12. (v. i.) To be filled with envious feelings; to regard anything with grudging and longing eyes; -- used especially with at.

13. (v. i.) To show malice or ill will; to rail.

ENVY

en'-vi (qin'ah; zelos, phthonos):

"Envy," from Latin in, "against," and video, "to look," "to look with ill-will," etc., toward another, 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" (Crabb's English Synonyms). In the Old Testament it is the translation of qin'ah from kana', "to redden," "to glow" (Job 5:2, the Revised Version (British and American) "jealousy," margin "indignation"; in Isaiah 26:11 the Revised Version (British and American) renders "see thy zeal for the people"; Proverbs 27:4, etc.); the verb occurs in Genesis 26:14, etc.; Numbers 11:29 the King James Version; Psalm 106:16 Proverbs 3:31, etc.; in the New Testament it is the translation of phthonos, "envy" (Matthew 27:18 Romans 1:29 Galatians 5:21, "envyings," etc.); of zelos, "zeal", "jealousy," "envy" (Acts 13:45), translated "envying," the Revised Version (British and American) "jealousy" (Romans 13:13 1 Corinthians 3:3 2 Corinthians 12:20 James 3:14, 16); the verb phthoneo occurs in Galatians 5:26; zeloo in Acts 7:9; Acts 17:5, the Revised Version (British and American) "moved with jealousy"; 1 Corinthians 13:4, "charity (the Revised Version (British and American) "love") envieth not."

The power of envy is stated in Proverbs 27:4: "Who is able to stand before envy?" (the Revised Version (British and American) "jealousy"); its evil effects are depicted in Job 5:2 (the Revised Version (British and American) "jealousy"), in Proverbs 14:30 (the Revised Version, margin "jealousy"); it led to the crucifixion of Christ (Matthew 27:18 Mark 15:10); it is one of "the works of the flesh" (Galatians 5:21; compare Romans 1:29 1 Timothy 6:4); Christian believers are earnestly warned against it (Romans 13:13 the King James Version; 1 Corinthians 3:3 the King James Version; Galatians 5:26 1 Peter 2:1). In James 4:5 "envy" is used in a good sense, akin to the jealousy ascribed to God. Where the King James Version has "The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy," the Revised Version (British and American) reads "Doth the spirit which he made to dwell in us long unto envying?"; the American Revised Version, margin "The spirit which he made to dwell in us he yearneth for even unto jealous envy"; compare Jeremiah 3:14 Hosea 2:19; or the English Revised Version, margin "That spirit which he made to dwell in us yearneth (for us) even unto jealous envy." This last seems to give the sense; compare "Ye adulteresses" (Hosea 2:4), the American Revised Version, margin "That is, who break your marriage vow to God."

W. L. Walker

5355. phthonos -- envy
... envy. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: phthonos Phonetic Spelling:
(fthon'-os) Short Definition: envy, a grudge Definition: envy, a grudge, spite ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5355.htm - 7k

5354. phthoneo -- to envy
... phthoneo. 5355 . to envy. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: phthoneo Phonetic
Spelling: (fthon-eh'-o) Short Definition: I envy Definition: I envy. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5354.htm - 6k

1282. diaprio -- to saw asunder, cut to the heart
... diaprio Phonetic Spelling: (dee-ap-ree'-o) Short Definition: I cut to the quick
Definition: (lit: I saw through), I cut to the quick (with indignation and envy ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1282.htm - 7k

3788. ophthalmos -- the eye
... Word Origin from a prim. root op- and an uncertain root Definition the eye NASB
Word Usage envy* (1), eye (29), eyes (68), gaze (1), sight (1). eye, sight. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3788.htm - 7k

4190. poneros -- toilsome, bad
... Word Origin from poneo (to toil) Definition toilsome, bad NASB Word Usage bad (5),
crimes (1), envious (1), envy* (1), evil (50), evil one (5), evil things (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4190.htm - 8k

2206. zeloo -- to be jealous
... From zelos; to have warmth of feeling for or against -- affect, covet (earnestly),
(have) desire, (move with) envy, be jealous over, (be) zealous(-ly affect). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2206.htm - 7k

2205. zelos -- to have warmth of feeling for or against, to be ...
... in a favorable sense, ardor; in an unfavorable one, jealousy, as of a husband
(figuratively, of God), or an enemy, malice) -- emulation, envy(-ing), fervent ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2205.htm - 7k

7068. qinah -- ardor, zeal, jealousy
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition ardor, zeal, jealousy NASB Word Usage
anger (1), envy (1), jealousy (24), passion (1), rivalry (1), zeal (14). ...
/hebrew/7068.htm - 6k

7520. ratsad -- to watch (stealthily)
... 7519, 7520. ratsad. 7521 . to watch (stealthily). Transliteration: ratsad Phonetic
Spelling: (raw-tsad') Short Definition: envy. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/7520.htm - 5k

7065. qanah -- to be jealous or zealous
... Definition to be jealous or zealous NASB Word Usage became envious (1), became jealous
(1), been very zealous (2), envied (1), envious (4), envy (2), jealous ...
/hebrew/7065.htm - 6k

Whether Envy is a Sin?
... OF ENVY (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether envy is a sin? Objection 1: It would seem
that envy is not a sin. For Jerome says to Laeta about ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether envy is a sin.htm

Whether Envy is a Mortal Sin?
... OF ENVY (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether envy is a mortal sin? Objection 1: It would
seem that envy is not a mortal sin. For since envy is ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether envy is a mortal.htm

Whether Envy is a Capital vice?
... OF ENVY (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether envy is a capital vice? Objection 1: It
would seem that envy is not a capital vice. For the capital ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether envy is a capital.htm

Whether Envy is a Kind of Sorrow?
... OF ENVY (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether envy is a kind of sorrow? Objection 1:
It would seem that envy is not a kind of sorrow. For the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether envy is a kind.htm

Whether Hatred Arises from Envy?
... OF HATRED (SIX ARTICLES) Whether hatred arises from envy? Objection 1: It seems
that hatred does not arise from envy. For envy is sorrow for another's good. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether hatred arises from envy.htm

Of Envy (Four Articles)
... OF ENVY (FOUR ARTICLES). We must now consider envy, and under this head there are
four points of inquiry: (1) What is envy? (2) Whether it is a sin? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/of envy four articles .htm

Whether Only the Sin of Pride and Envy Can Exist in an Angel?
... THE MALICE OF THE ANGELS WITH REGARD TO SIN (NINE ARTICLES) Whether only
the sin of pride and envy can exist in an angel? Objection ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether only the sin of.htm

January the Twenty-Sixth the Fire of Envy
... JANUARY The Twenty-sixth THE FIRE OF ENVY. ... The deadly draught is the minister of
deceptive chaos. And envy is like that potion when it is drunk by the spirit. ...
/.../my daily meditation for the circling year/january the twenty-sixth the fire.htm

Treatise x. On Jealousy and Envy.
... Treatise X. On Jealousy and Envy. Argument. [3642] "After Pointing Out
that Jealousy or Envy is a Sin All the More Heinous in ...
/.../cyprian/the treatises of cyprian/treatise x on jealousy and.htm

Psalm 37 Part 1 the Cure of Envy, Fretfulness, and Unbelief; Or ...
... THE PSALMS OF DAVID PSALM 37 PART 1 The cure of envy, fretfulness, and unbelief;
or, The rewards of the righteous and the wicked; or, The world's hatred and ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/psalm 37 part 1 the.htm

Envy (56 Occurrences)
... with some degree of hatred and a desire to possess equal advantages; malicious grudging;
-- usually followed by of; as, they did this in envy of Caesar. ...ENVY. ...
/e/envy.htm - 28k

Envious (16 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Feeling or exhibiting envy; actuated or directed by, or proceeding from,
envy; -- said of a person, disposition, feeling, act, etc.; jealously pained ...
/e/envious.htm - 11k

Fighting (201 Occurrences)
... Romans 1:29 Being full of all wrongdoing, evil, desire for the goods of others,
hate, envy, putting to death, fighting, deceit, cruel ways, evil talk, and ...
/f/fighting.htm - 37k

Rivalry (8 Occurrences)
... another. (WEY). Philippians 1:15 Some indeed preach Christ even out of envy
and strife, and some also out of good will. (See RSV NIV). ...
/r/rivalry.htm - 8k

Jealous (43 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient and kind. Love knows neither envy nor jealousy.
Love is not forward and self-assertive, nor boastful and conceited. ...
/j/jealous.htm - 20k

Pride (277 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is never tired of waiting; love is kind; love
has no envy; love has no high opinion of itself, love has no pride; (BBE). ...
/p/pride.htm - 37k

Jealousy (54 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient and kind. Love knows neither envy nor jealousy.
Love is not forward and self-assertive, nor boastful and conceited. (WEY). ...
/j/jealousy.htm - 29k

Eye (145 Occurrences)
... 34); Mark 7:22). In the Bible the expression is synonymous with envy, jealousy
and some forms of covetousness. In comparing Romans ...
/e/eye.htm - 54k

Evil (1503 Occurrences)
... 34); Mark 7:22). In the Bible the expression is synonymous with envy, jealousy
and some forms of covetousness. In comparing Romans ...
/e/evil.htm - 47k

Vanish (21 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 11:13 And the envy of Ephraim will be gone, and those who make trouble for
Judah will come to an end: Ephraim will have no more envy of Judah, and there ...
/v/vanish.htm - 12k

What does the Bible say about envy? | GotQuestions.org

What is the difference between envy and jealousy, biblically speaking? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that love does not envy (1 Corinthians 13:4)? | GotQuestions.org

Envy: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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