WORD STUDIES
G5355 ENVY
Phthonos φθόνος
First, let’s look at how and when G5355 ENVY is used by God in His Word!
A depraved mind … being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful …
he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth
For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying ...
Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife ...
Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander …
For he (Pilate) was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.
Second, let’s see how G5355 ENVY is defined by Bible translation scholars!
Zodhiates, Spiros. The Complete Word Study Dictionary, New Testament. Chattanooga, TN:
AMG Publishers, 1992.
Vine, W. E., Merrill F. Unger, William White, and W. E. Vine. Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Nashville: Nelson, 1985.
Envy, Envying:
"envy," is the feeling of displeasure produced by witnessing or hearing of the advantage or prosperity of others; this evil sense always attaches to this word.
According to Vine, the distinction [with jealousy] lies in this, that "envy" desires to deprive another of what he has, "jealousy" desires to have the same or the same sort of thing for itself.
Finally, let’s note how it is defined by a reliable and thorough lexicographer!
Webster, Noah. “Webster’s Dictionary 1828.” American Dictionary of the English
Language. 1828. Accessed October 4, 2019. http://webstersdictionary1828.com/
EN'VY, verb transitive
1. To feel uneasiness, mortification or discontent, at the sight of superior excellence, reputation or happiness enjoyed by another; to repine at another's prosperity; to fret or grieve one's self at the real or supposed superiority of another, and to hate him on that account.
2. To grudge; to withhold maliciously.
EN'VY, noun
Pain, uneasiness, mortification or discontent excited by the sight of another's superiority or success, accompanied with some degree of hatred or malignity, and often or usually with a desire or an effort to depreciate the person, and with pleasure in seeing him depressed.
envy springs from pride, ambition ... mortified that another has obtained what one has a strong desire to possess.
“All human virtue, to its latest breath, finds envy never conquered, but by death.”
1. Rivalry; competition. [Little used.]
2. Malice; malignity.
Just a quick peek at “jealousy” ...
G2205 JEALOUSY
Zelos ζῆλος
Zodhiates, Spiros. The Complete Word Study Dictionary, New Testament. Chattanooga, TN:
AMG Publishers, 1992.
Webster, Noah. “Webster’s Dictionary 1828.” American Dictionary of the English
Language. 1828. Accessed October 4, 2019. http://webstersdictionary1828.com/
1. That passion of peculiar uneasiness which arises from the fear that a rival may rob us of the affection of one whom we love, or the suspicion that he has already done it; or it is the uneasiness which arises from the fear that another does or will enjoy some advantage which we desire for ourselves.
A man's jealousy is excited by the attentions of a rival to his favorite lady. A woman's jealousy is roused by her husband's attentions to another woman.
The candidate for office manifests a jealousy of others who seek the same office.
The jealousy of a student is awakened by the apprehension that his fellow will bear away the palm of praise.
JEALOUSY is the apprehension of superiority.
Whoever had qualities to alarm our jealousy had excellence to deserve our fondness.
2. Suspicious fear or apprehension.
3. Suspicious caution or vigilance, an earnest concern or solicitude for the welfare or honor of others. Such was Paul's godly jealousy for the Corinthians.
4. Indignation. God's jealousy signifies his concern for his own character and government, with a holy indignation against those who violate his laws, and offend against his majesty. Psalms 79:5.