Envy is a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another's advantages, success, or possessions. It is often considered a destructive emotion that can lead to further sin and discord among individuals and communities. The Bible addresses envy in various contexts, warning against its dangers and encouraging believers to cultivate contentment and love instead.

Old Testament References

1. Genesis 4:4-5 · The account of Cain and Abel illustrates the destructive power of envy. Cain's envy of Abel's favorable offering led to the first murder. "And Abel brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. And the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell."

2. Proverbs 14:30 · Envy is described as rottenness to the bones, highlighting its corrosive nature. "A tranquil heart is life to the body, but envy rots the bones."

3. Ecclesiastes 4:4 · The pursuit of success driven by envy is deemed futile. "I have seen that every labor and every success is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind."

New Testament References

1. Mark 15:10 · Envy is identified as the motive behind the chief priests' actions against Jesus. "For he knew it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Him over."

2. Romans 1:29 · Envy is listed among the sins that characterize those who have turned away from God. "They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice."

3. Galatians 5:19-21 · Envy is included in the works of the flesh, which are contrary to the Spirit. "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."

4. James 3:14-16 · Envy is associated with disorder and every evil practice. "But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice."

Exhortations Against Envy

1. 1 Corinthians 13:4 · Love, the highest Christian virtue, is contrasted with envy. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud."

2. 1 Peter 2:1 · Believers are urged to rid themselves of envy. "Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander."

3. Philippians 2:3 · Christians are encouraged to act out of humility rather than envy. "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves."

The biblical perspective on envy is clear: it is a harmful emotion that leads to sin and discord. Believers are called to reject envy and instead embrace love, humility, and contentment, reflecting the character of Christ in their lives.Job 5:2,3
For wrath kills the foolish man, and envy slays the silly one.
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Psalm 37:1,7
Fret not yourself because of evildoers, neither be you envious against the workers of iniquity.
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Psalm 49:16
Be not you afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
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Psalm 73:3,17-20
For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
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Psalm 112:10
The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.
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Proverbs 3:31
Envy you not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
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Proverbs 14:30
A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
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Proverbs 23:17
Let not your heart envy sinners: but be you in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
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Proverbs 24:1,19
Be not you envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
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Proverbs 27:4
Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
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Ecclesiastes 4:4
Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
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Songs 8:6
Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which has a most vehement flame.
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Isaiah 26:11
LORD, when your hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yes, the fire of your enemies shall devour them.
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Ezekiel 35:11
Therefore, as I live, said the Lord GOD, I will even do according to your anger, and according to your envy which you have used out of your hatred against them; and I will make myself known among them, when I have judged you.
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Romans 1:29
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
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Romans 13:13
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
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1 Corinthians 3:3
For you are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are you not carnal, and walk as men?
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1 Corinthians 13:4
Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity braggs not itself, is not puffed up,
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2 Corinthians 12:20
For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found to you such as you would not: lest there be debates, contentions, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, arrogance, tumults:
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Galatians 5:19-21,26
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
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1 Timothy 6:4,5
He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof comes envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
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Titus 3:3
For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
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James 3:14,16
But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
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James 4:5
Do you think that the scripture said in vain, The spirit that dwells in us lusts to envy?
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James 5:9
Grudge not one against another, brothers, lest you be condemned: behold, the judge stands before the door.
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1 Peter 2:1
Why laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, all evil speakings,
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Verse the Seventeenth
... it is well known to be a very general practice to ... or to dwell, is very often used
in the Scriptures. ... in vain, The Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/verse the seventeenth.htm

On the Words Incarnate, and Made Man.
... was disporting himself in Paradise, the envy of the ... Are not the Holy Scriptures our
salvation? ... to denote the Incarnation in a perfectly general way, without ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture xii on the words.htm

Concerning the Ministry.
... the proposition concerning the Scriptures is shown more at large. Sec. . XIV. From
all this then we do firmly conclude, that not only in a general apostacy it ...
/.../proposition x concerning the ministry.htm

Of Passages from the Holy Scriptures, and from the Apocrypha ...
... religion which is delivered in the Scriptures, and which ... deny it to have been a general
Council, though ... Some preached the gospel through envy and strife, not ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/of passages from the holy.htm

Scriptures Showing the Sin and Danger of Joining with Wicked and ...
... Scriptures Showing The Sin And Danger Of Joining With Wicked And ... of the quarrel,
or choose a better general(396) for ... But when it is joined with envy and malice ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/section v scriptures showing the.htm

Of Creation in General.
... a particular attribute of God, but is the general nature of ... to it, would be the very
gnawing envy of the ... regenerated in the soul; so the scriptures say nothing ...
/.../law/an appeal to all that doubt/of creation in general.htm

Concerning Lowliness of Mind.
... this he said, "Some indeed through envy and strife ... to correct those who use the
Scriptures without reference ... Gibbon, using this is the general sense, has the ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/concerning lowliness of mind.htm

Messiah's Easy Yoke
... The general name of Christians, which was first ... the tyranny of pride, passion,
sensuality, envy, and malice ... commentary on what the Scriptures teach, concerning ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon xv messiahs easy yoke.htm

Concerning the Lord's Supper
... contemptuousness of the rich and the envy of the ... that neither he, nor even a general
council, has ... opportunity of evading the teaching of the whole Scriptures. ...
/.../luther/first principles of the reformation/concerning the lords supper.htm

Joseph
... so happen; that is part and parcel of the Holy Scriptures. ... surely, know the
story"How Joseph's brethren envy him and ... not to be needed for the general plan of ...
/.../kingsley/the gospel of the pentateuch/sermon vii joseph.htm

Why is "You shall not covet" in the Ten Commandments? | GotQuestions.org

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Envy: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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