Coveting, Envy, and Jealousy

[sccs]

Throughout the Bible, the words for coveting, jealousy, and envy are used. I am wondering if there is a difference between these three concepts or if they are interchangeable?

Second, I am wondering if people have any thoughts on a systematic study of coveting, jealousy, and envy in the Bible. What does the whole of the Bible have to teach us about these concepts? Both in human coveting, jealousy, envy and what it means for God to be jealous?

 

[TheWhat?]

On coveting, epithymeō, the word Paul used in paraphrasing the Decalogue and the law against coveting (Romans 7:7, Romans 13:9), is used in some interesting ways which are not implying unlawful desire elsewhere. Desire isn't always wrong, it would seem, as long as it is not leading one to a wrong, and we are admonished toward thankfulness (1 Timothy 4:4). The flesh lusts against the Spirit, the Spirit against the flesh (Galatians 5:17) and the things of God being spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14), makes complete sense given that you may not be able to see that a particular desire is contrary to love unless you rightly love the person (or even God) who you would be wronging by pursuing said desire.

 

[com7fy8]

coveting, jealousy, and envy

Yeah, I have been trying to figure out the difference between these. And I have added to this problem, by studying Spanish and then trying to figure out words in Spanish for these words. lolollolollolol

And now it is almost four in the morning, here in Massachusetts. And you ask this. Good . . . let me look up some simple definitions on Google and see what I can get for thoughts > in my opinion about what I just looked up >

"covet" can mean you long for something.

"jealousy" can mean being against someone else because he or she has something you don't.

"envy" can mean jealousy, or it can mean you are against someone else having something, but it can be something you don't care about having, yourself. So, that kind of envy is different than jealousy.

"malice" can mean ill will > you wish evil and trouble for a person. This can go beyond envy and jealousy, because you actively desire harm for the person and/or trouble for things the person has.

In my Strong's Concordance Greek dictionary >

"covet" > "long for (rightfully or otherwise)", to breathe heavily with desire

"jealous" > boiling, warm, heated > can be good or bad with zeal of anger or affection, it seems to me

"envy" > ill will, spite, which has you wasting away against another person

"malice" > "badness" > maybe which can have you not only wasting away inside yourself, but acting on your ill will against another person

 

[klutedavid]

Yeah, I have been trying to figure out the difference between these. And I have added to this problem, by studying Spanish and then trying to figure out words in Spanish for these words. lolollolollolol

This part of your post was so funny.

 

[eleos1954]

Throughout the Bible, the words for coveting, jealousy, and envy are used. I am wondering if there is a difference between these three concepts or if they are interchangeable?

Second, I am wondering if people have any thoughts on a systematic study of coveting, jealousy, and envy in the Bible. What does the whole of the Bible have to teach us about these concepts? Both in human coveting, jealousy, envy and what it means for God to be jealous?

Jealousy

“jealous” at Merriam-Webster online (www.m-w.com/dictionary/jealous). Note one definition as being “intolerant of rivalry or unfaithfulness; disposed to suspect rivalry or unfaithfulness.”

The Hebrew word for "jealous," as descriptive of God in the second commandment of Exodus 20, has three outstanding roots, all coming from the same original root word. The first is "purchase" or "ownership;" the second is "zeal;" and the third is "jealousy," as we ordinarily use it. The expression in this commandment is a blending of the three terms. In Zechariah 1: 14 this triple thought is exemplified: "So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy." Possession, zeal, and jealousy are all disclosed in the one term.

https://www.openbible.info/topics/coveting

What Does the Bible Say About Jealousy?

God bless ;o)