Biblical Answer

Understanding God's Jealousy

The Bible says a good deal about God's jealousy. In the Old Testament, God is referred to as a jealous God (Exodus 34:14; Deuteronomy 4:24; 5:9). God's jealousy is not like human jealousy, which is often associated with negative emotions. Instead, God's jealousy is a holy and righteous attribute that seeks to protect His honor and uphold His covenant love for His people.

The Nature of God's Jealousy

God's jealousy is an aspect of His covenant love for His people. It is not a negative emotion, but rather a personal element that reveals God's regard for His holy name, will, and government. When people provoke God to jealousy, such as by sacrificing to demons or worshipping idols, it leads to judgment and destruction. God cannot tolerate idolatry, and His jealousy is a response to this kind of sin. In Ezekiel 8:3, an idol worshipped in Jerusalem is called the image of jealousy, which provokes God to jealousy.

Protecting God's Honor

God's jealousy means that He continually seeks to protect His own honor. He commands His people not to bow down to idols or serve them, saying, "for I the Lord your God am a jealous God" (Exodus 20:5). God desires to protect His people from sin and idolatry, and His jealousy is a response to this desire. When we understand God's jealousy in this way, we can see that it is not a negative attribute, but rather a holy and righteous one that seeks to uphold God's covenant love and protect His people from harm.