If jealousy is sin, how can God be jealous?

Scripture describes God as jealous and jealousy, as sin. Hank Hanegraaff, the host of the π˜‰π˜ͺ𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘈𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳 π˜”π˜’π˜― broadcast and the 𝘏𝘒𝘯𝘬 𝘜𝘯𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘦π˜₯ podcast, notes that the second commandment explicitly says that God is a jealous God (Exodus 20:4–5; cf. 34:14); yet in Galatians, Paul condemned jealousy in the same breath as idolatry (Galatians 5:19–20). How can this be? First, there is such a thing as sanctified jealousy. As such, jealousy is the proper response of a husband or wife whose trust has been violated through infidelity. Indeed, when an exclusive covenant relationship is dishonored, sanctified jealousy is the passionate zeal that fights to restore that holy union. The jealousy of God for His holy name and for the exclusive worship of His people as such is sanctified. Just as there is sanctified jealousy, so, too, there is sinful jealousy. In this sense, jealousy is painfully coveting another’s advantages. Accordingly, the apostle Paul listed jealousy as an act of the sinful nature: β€œThe acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissentions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like”, as God personifies sanctified jealousy, so those who reflect His character must be zealous for the things of God.


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