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 Isa 26:11 the Revised Version (British and American) renders "see thy zeal for the people"; Pr 27:4, etc.); the verb occurs in Ge 26:14, etc.; Nu 11:29 the King James Version; Ps 106:16; Pr 3:31, etc.; in the New Testament it is the translation of phthonos, "envy" (Mt 27:18; Ro 1:29; Ga 5:21, "envyings," etc.); of zelos, "zeal", "jealousy," "envy" (Ac 13:45), translated "envying," the Revised Version (British and American) "jealousy" (Ro 13:13; 1Co 3:3; 2Co 12:20; Jas 3:14,16); the verb phthoneo occurs in Ga 5:26; zeloo in Ac 7:9; 17:5, the Revised Version (British and American) "moved with jealousy"; 1Co 13:4, "charity (the Revised Version (British and American) "love") envieth not."

The power of envy is stated in Pr 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 Pr 14:30 (the Revised Version, margin "jealousy"); it led to the crucifixion of Christ (Mt 27:18; Mr 15:10); it is one of "the works of the flesh" (Ga 5:21; compare Ro 1:29; 1Ti 6:4); Christian believers are earnestly warned against it (Ro 13:13 the King James Version; 1Co 3:3 the King James Version; Ga 5:26; 1Pe 2:1). In Jas 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 Jer 3:14; Ho 2:19 f; 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" (Ho 2:4), the American Revised Version, margin "That is, who break your marriage vow to God."

W. L. Walker

• → General scriptures concerning Job 5:2,3; Ps 37:1,7; 49:16; 73:3,17-20; 112:10; Pr 3:31; 14:30; 23:17; 24:1,19; 27:4; Ec 4:4; So 8:6; Isa 26:11; Eze 35:11; Ro 1:29; 13:13; 1Co 3:3; 13:4; 2Co 12:20; Ga 5:19-21,26; 1Ti 6:4,5; Tit 3:3; Jas 3:14,16; 4:5; 5:9; 1Pe 2:1
• → INSTANCES OF
  • Cain, of Abel Ge 4:4-8
  • Sarah, of Hagar Ge 16:5,6; 21:9,10
  • Philistines, of Isaac Ge 26:14
  • Rachel, of Leah Ge 30:1
  • Leah, of Rachel Ge 30:15
  • Laban's sons, of Jacob Ge 31:1
  • Joseph's brethren, of Joseph Ge 37:4-11,19,20; Ac 7:9
  • Joshua, of Eldad and Medad Nu 11:28-30
  • Miriam and Aaron, of Moses Nu 12:1-10
  • Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, of Moses Nu 16:3; Ps 106:16-18
  • Saul, of David 1Sa 18:8,9,29; 20:31
  • Haman, of Mordecai Es 5:13
  • The princes of Babylon, of Daniel Da 6:4
  • Priests, of Jesus Mt 27:18; Mr 15:10; Joh 11:47
  • Jews, of Paul and Barnabas Ac 13:45; 17:5

• Forbidden Pr 3:31; Ro 13:13
• Produced by foolish disputation 1Ti 6:4
• Excited by good deeds of others Ec 4:4
• A work of the flesh Ga 5:21; Jas 4:5
• Hurtful to the envious Job 5:2; Pr 14:30
• None can stand before Pr 27:4
• A proof of carnal-mindedness 1Co 3:1,3
• Inconsistent with the gospel Jas 3:14
• Hinders growth in grace 1Pe 2:1,2
• THE WICKED
  • Are full of Ro 1:29
  • Live in Tit 3:3
• Leads to every evil work Jas 3:16
• Prosperity of the wicked should not excite Ps 37:1,35; 73:3,17-20
• Punishment of Isa 26:11
• Exemplified
  • Cain Ge 4:5
  • Philistines Ge 26:14
  • Laban's sons Ge 31:1
  • Joseph's brethren Ge 37:11
  • Joshua Nu 11:28,29
  • Aaron, &c Nu 12:2
  • Korah, &c Nu 16:3; Ps 106:16
  • Saul 1Sa 18:8
  • Sanballat, &c Ne 2:10
  • Haman Es 5:13
  • Edomites Eze 35:11
  • Princes of Babylon Da 6:3,4
  • Chief Priests Mr 15:10
  • Jews Ac 13:45; 17:5