What the Bible says about jealousy and envy

The 15 verses readers most often turn to for this topic, quoted in full from the Berean Standard Bible.

Prov 14:30A tranquil heart is life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

Jas 3:16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.

Prov 27:4Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?

Gal 5:19–21The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Cor 3:3for you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and dissension among you, are you not worldly? Are you not walking in the way of man?

1 Cor 13:4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

Jas 3:14But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.

Exod 20:17You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, or his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Jas 4:2–3You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask. And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures.

Job 5:2For resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.

Eccl 4:4I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

Prov 23:17Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.

Acts 7:9Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him

Gal 5:26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another.

1 Pet 2:1Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.

These are the verses readers most often turn to for this topic — not a teaching on it. Read each in its chapter.

Sources

The verses of each topic and their order: OpenBible.info topical data, by readers’ votes: OpenBible.info · CC BY 4.0

Berean Standard Bible · Public domain