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What does the Bible say about jealous women?

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The Bible teaches that jealousy is a sinful and destructive passion when it grows from envy, rivalry, insecurity, or possessiveness, and women and men alike are called to repent of it and seek love, contentment, and peace in God. Genesis 30:1 portrays Rachel’s envy of Leah, while 1 Samuel 1:6 shows how rivalry can deepen grief. Proverbs 27:4 and 14:30 warn that jealousy is fierce and rots the heart, and James 3:14-16 connects bitter jealousy with disorder and evil practices. Though Song of Solomon 8:6 describes the strength of covenant love, sinful jealousy must not be confused with faithful devotion. By the Spirit, believers are to reject jealousy as a work of the flesh and pursue humble, patient love.

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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Genesis 30:1

    When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister. She said to Jacob, "Give me children, or else I will die."

  • Song of Solomon 8:6

    Set me as a seal on your heart, As a seal on your arm; For love is strong as death. Jealousy is as cruel as Sheol; Its flashes are flashes of fire, A very flame of Yahweh.

  • Proverbs 27:4

    Wrath is cruel, And anger is overwhelming; But who is able to stand before jealousy?

  • James 3:14-16

    [14] But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't boast and don't lie against the truth. [15] This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. [16] For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.

  • 1 Samuel 1:6

    Her rival provoked her sore, to make her fret, because Yahweh had shut up her womb.

  • Proverbs 14:30

    The life of the body is a heart at peace, But envy rots the bones.

  • Numbers 5:14

    and the spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous of his wife, and she is defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous of his wife, and she isn't defiled:

  • Proverbs 6:34

    For jealousy arouses the fury of the husband. He won't spare in the day of vengeance.

  • Galatians 5:19-21

    [19] Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, [20] idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, [21] envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:3

    for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren't you fleshly, and don't you walk in the ways of men?

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