Topical Bible: God: Jealous

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The attribute of God as "jealous" is a significant aspect of His character as revealed in the Bible. This term, when applied to God, conveys His deep commitment to His people and His intolerance of idolatry and unfaithfulness. The concept of divine jealousy is rooted in God's covenant relationship with His people, where He demands exclusive devotion and worship.

Biblical References:

1. Exodus 20:5 : "You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me." This verse is part of the Ten Commandments, where God explicitly states His jealousy in the context of idolatry. His jealousy is a protective zeal for His people, ensuring that they remain faithful to Him alone.

2. Exodus 34:14 : "For you must not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." Here, God's jealousy is so integral to His nature that it is described as His name. This emphasizes the seriousness with which God views the worship of other deities and His desire for an exclusive relationship with His people.

3. Deuteronomy 4:24 : "For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." This passage highlights the intensity of God's jealousy, likening it to a consuming fire. It underscores the idea that God's jealousy is not a petty emotion but a profound aspect of His holiness and righteousness.

4. Deuteronomy 6:15 : "For the LORD your God in your midst is a jealous God. Otherwise the anger of the LORD your God will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth." This warning to the Israelites serves as a reminder of the consequences of turning away from God. His jealousy is portrayed as a protective force that seeks to preserve the sanctity of His covenant relationship.

5. Nahum 1:2 : "The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and full of wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on His foes and reserves wrath for His enemies." In this prophetic context, God's jealousy is linked with His justice and vengeance against those who oppose Him and harm His people.

Theological Implications:

God's jealousy is often misunderstood when compared to human jealousy, which can be rooted in insecurity or envy. In contrast, divine jealousy is an expression of God's love and commitment to His people. It reflects His desire for their well-being and His intolerance of anything that would lead them away from Him. God's jealousy is a protective attribute, ensuring that His people remain in a relationship that is life-giving and true.

This attribute also underscores the exclusivity of worship that God demands. The biblical narrative consistently portrays God as the one true God who alone is worthy of worship and devotion. His jealousy is a reminder of the covenantal relationship He has established with His people, calling them to faithfulness and obedience.

In summary, the jealousy of God is a profound and complex attribute that reveals His passionate commitment to His people and His desire for their exclusive devotion. It is a reflection of His holiness, love, and justice, ensuring that His relationship with His people remains untainted by idolatry and unfaithfulness.

Nave's Topical Index

Exodus 20:5,7
You shall not bow down yourself to them, nor 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 them that hate me;
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Exodus 34:14
For you shall worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
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Deuteronomy 4:24
For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.
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Deuteronomy 5:9,11
You shall not bow down yourself to them, nor 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 them that hate me,
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Deuteronomy 6:15
(For the LORD your God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD your God be kindled against you, and destroy you from off the face of the earth.
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Deuteronomy 29:20
The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie on him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.
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Deuteronomy 32:16,21
They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.
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Joshua 24:19
And Joshua said to the people, You cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.
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2 Chronicles 16:7-10
And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him, Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD your God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of your hand.
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Isaiah 30:1,2
Woe to the rebellious children, said the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:
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Isaiah 31:1,3
Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not to the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!
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Ezekiel 23:25
And I will set my jealousy against you, and they shall deal furiously with you: they shall take away your nose and your ears; and your remnant shall fall by the sword: they shall take your sons and your daughters; and your residue shall be devoured by the fire.
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Ezekiel 36:5
Therefore thus said the Lord GOD; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey.
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Ezekiel 39:25
Therefore thus said the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;
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Joel 2:18
Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
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Nahum 1:2
God is jealous, and the LORD revenges; the LORD revenges, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserves wrath for his enemies.
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Zechariah 1:14
So the angel that communed with me said to me, Cry you, saying, Thus said the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.
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1 Corinthians 10:22
Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
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Greek

2205. zelos -- to have warmth of feeling for or against, to be ...
... to have warmth of feeling for or against, to be zealous or jealous. Part of Speech ...
in an unfavorable one, jealousy, as of a husband (figuratively, of God), or an ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2205.htm - 7k

Library

God a Jealous God.
... Homily XI. Chapter IX."God a Jealous God. "But, you say, we do better when
we are thankful at once to Him and to all others. Now ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter ix god a jealous god.htm

A Jealous God
... Not that God is jealous so as to bring him down to the likeness of men, but that
this is the nearest idea we can form of what the Divine Being feels"if it be ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 9 1863/a jealous god.htm

How God is Jealous of Us.
... CHAPTER XIII. HOW GOD IS JEALOUS OF US. ... [464] The Lord his name is jealous.
[465] God is jealous then, Theotimus, but what is his jealousy? ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xiii how god is.htm

Love of God and Man
... And then thou wilt find that God is a jealous God, and will take from thee what
thou lovest, because He will not have His honour given to another. ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xvii love of god.htm

The Unchangeableness of God
... never leave thee. Oh trust in this unchangeable God! God is jealous of
two things; of our love, and of our trust. He is jealous ...
/.../watson/a body of divinity/4 the unchangeableness of god.htm

The National Oath at Shechem
... Ye cannot serve the Lord: for He is an holy God; He is a jealous God;
He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.20. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the national oath at shechem.htm

God Distinguished from Idols, that He May be the Exclusive Object ...
... This proved, 1st, By the etymology of the term.2d, By the testimony of God himself,
when he declares that he is a jealous God, and will not allow himself to be ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 12 god distinguished from.htm

Whether Also Other Sins of the First Parent or of Nearer Ancestors ...
... God . . . jealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto
the third and fourth generation." Furthermore, according to human law, the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether also other sins of.htm

The Decalogue: I --Man and God
... or that is in the water under the earth: 5. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them,
nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the decalogue iman and god.htm

What is the Law of God?
... Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I the LORD thy God
am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto ...
/.../various/the heidelberg catechism /question 92 what is the.htm