Envy

Desire to possess another person’s gifts, possessions, position or achievements.

Top Bible Verses about Envy

Genesis 4:3–5

And in the course of time Cain brought an offering from the fruit of the ground to Yahweh, and Abel also brought an offering from the choicest firstlings of his flock. And Yahweh looked with favor to Abel and to his offering, but to Cain and to his offering he did not look with favor. And Cain became very angry, and his face fell. Read Genesis 4:3–5

Genesis 37:4

When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and were not able to speak peaceably to him. Read Genesis 37:4

Exodus 20:17

“You shall not covet the house of your neighbor; you will not covet the wife of your neighbor or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that is your neighbor’s.” Read Exodus 20:17

1 Samuel 18:6–9

When they were coming back after David had returned from striking down the Philistine, the women went out from all the cities of Israel singing and dancing to meet King Saul with tambourines, with joy, and with three-stringed instruments. And the women sang as they danced, and they said, “Saul has struck down his thousands, but David his ten thousands!” Saul became very angry, and this saying displeased him, and he thought, “They have attributed to David ten thousands, but to me they have … Read 1 Samuel 18:6–9

Proverbs 14:30

A heart of tranquility is life to the flesh, but causes bones of passion to rot. Read Proverbs 14:30

Galatians 5:26

We must not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Read Galatians 5:26

Famous Christian Quotes About Envy

A Resolution to Not Act as One’s Own

Henceforth, I am not to act, in any respect, as my own. I shall act as my own if I ever make use of any of my powers to anything that is not to the glory of God, and do not make the glorifying of him my whole and entire business—if I murmur in the least at affliction; if I grieve at the prosperity of others; if I am in any way uncharitable; if I am angry because of injuries; if I revenge them; if I do anything purely to please myself, or if I avoid anything for the sake of my own ease; if I omit anything because it is great self-denial; if I trust to myself; if I take any of the praise of the good that I do, or that God does by me; or if I am in any way proud.

Jonathan Edwards

Nothing Like the Name of Jesus

There is nothing like the Name of Jesus for restraining anger, assuaging the swellings of pride, healing the wound of envy, restraining the course of wantonness, quenching the flame of lust, moderating the thirst of covetousness, and putting to flight all lasciviousness. For when I name Jesus, I set before myself the image of the Man, meek and lowly, kind of heart, sober, chaste, merciful, peerless in purity and holiness, and at the same time, the Almighty God, who heals by His example, and strengthens us by His help.

Bernard of Clairvaux

Greater Gifts Entail Responsibility

There is no man living who can see all things, neither has God given any man to know everything. One sees more clearly than another, one has more understanding than another, one can utter a thing better than another; but no man ought to envy or despise another. He who can do better than another should not set him at naught who understands less. Indeed, he who has the more understanding ought to remember that the same gift is not his, but God’s, and that God has given it him to teach and inform the ignorant.

Myles Coverdale
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