Jealousy: Sinful Envy vs. Holy Zeal. Jealousy is a word that confuses many believers. Scripture warns that jealousy is a sinful work of the flesh, yet the Bible repeatedly describes God Himself as “a jealous God.” The Apostle Paul even speaks of possessing a “godly jealousy.” At face value, this seems contradictory. How can jealousy be both sin and righteousness?

The Jealousy Test: God’s Strange but Serious Defense of Marriage. Numbers 5:11–31 contains one of the Bible’s most unusual rituals: the jealousy test. If a husband suspected his wife of adultery but had no proof, they were to appear before the priest for a dramatic ceremony involving holy water and dust from the tabernacle floor. While strange to modern ears, this passage shows God’s deep concern for marital faithfulness, community justice, and protecting the innocent.