I admit that my views on jealousy may be more visually impeeding than others that read verses with the phrase, ‘jealous God’. When I hear the word ‘jealous’, I instantly see an abusive boyfriend in a wife-beater representing nothing of quality about love. Clearly, the term does not have to mean this when referencing God; But, I decided to remix the scripture verses that reference a jealous God with the definitions of jealous and zeal.

I also took Blake Ostler’s explanations of commandment, sin, and repentance from Fire on the Horizon: A Meditation on the Endowment and Love of Atonement to help with the remix of the verses.

The definitions

• Jealous: fiercely protective or vigilant of one’s rights or possessions.
• Zeal: great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective.
• Commandment: The word commandment does not refer to a command or military order that must be followed to avoid punishment; rather, the word comes from the Latin comanere, which means to “give assistance” or literally to “work hand in hand.”¹
• Sin: A life lived in endless repetition. We continue to do the same self-destructive behaviors that decimate our relationships and happiness.¹
• Repentance: The turning to God with an open heart, with a willingness to do whatever it takes to repair the damage to the relationship caused by our decision to hide.¹

Old Testament

1 Kings 19:10, 14

King James Version

Remix

And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. … And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

And he said, I have been [fiercely protective of] the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. … And he said, I have been [fiercely protective of] the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

Zechariah 8:2

King James Version	Remix
Thus saith the Lord of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury.	Thus saith the Lord of hosts; I was [fiercely protective of] Zion with great [energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of her], and I was [vigilant] for her with great fury.

Exodus 34:14

King James Version	Remix
For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:	For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is [enthusiastic pursuit of love], is a [fiercely protective] God:

Nahum 1:2

King James Version	Remix
God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.	God is [fiercely protective], and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.

Deuteronomy 6:15-17

King James Version	Remix
(For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth. Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God, as ye tempted him in Massah. Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.	(For the Lord thy God is a [fiercely protective] God among you) lest the anger of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth. Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God, as ye tempted him in Massah. Ye shall diligently [work hand in hand with] the Lord your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath [giveth assistance to] thee.

Joel 2:18

King James Version	Remix
Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people.	Then will the Lord be [iercely protective or vigilant of] his land, and pity his people.

Exodus 20:5

King James Version	Remix
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;	Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a [fiercely vigilant] God, visiting the [lack of protection and enthusiasm] of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that [show great energy and vigilance against] me;

Dueteronomy 5:9-10

King James Version	Remix
Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.	Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a [fiercely vigilant] God, visiting the [lack of protection and enthusiasm] of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that [show great energy and vigilance against] me; And shewing [great energy and enthusiasm] unto thousands of them that love me and keep my [hand].

Joshua 24:19-20

King James Version	Remix
And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the Lord: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. If ye forsake the Lord, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.	And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the Lord: for he is an holy God; he is an [enthusiastic] God; he will not forgive your [repeated self-destructive behavior]. If ye forsake the Lord, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.

Deuteronomy 4:24

King James Version	Remix
For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.	For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a God [of great energy and enthusiasm].

Ezekiel 39:25

King James Version	Remix
Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;	Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be [fiercely protective] for my holy name;

Zechariah 1:14-16

King James Version

Remix

So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction. Therefore thus saith the Lord; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the Lord of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.

So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; I am [entusiastically vigilant] for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great [protective energy]. And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction. Therefore thus saith the Lord; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the Lord of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.

New Testament and Book of Mormon

2 Corinthians 11:2

King James Version	Remix
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.	For I am [vigilant and protective] over you with godly [engery and enthusiasm]: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Mosiah 12:13-14

Book of Mormon	Remix
And again: Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generations of them that hate me; And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.	And again: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a [fiercely vigilant] God, visiting the [lack of protection and enthusiasm] of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that [show great energy and vigilance against] me; And showing [great energy and enthusiasm] unto thousands of them that love me and keep my [hand].

Mosiah 11:23-25

Book of Mormon

Remix

And it shall come to pass that they shall know that I am the Lord their God, and am a jealous God, visiting the iniquities of my people. And it shall come to pass that except this people repent and turn unto the Lord their God, they shall be brought into bondage; and none shall deliver them, except it be the Lord the Almighty God. Yea, and it shall come to pass that when they shall cry unto me I will be slow to hear their cries; yea, and I will suffer them that they be smitten by their enemies. And except they repent in sackcloth and ashes, and cry mightily to the Lord their God, I will not hear their prayers, neither will I deliver them out of their afflictions; and thus saith the Lord, and thus hath he commanded me.

And it shall come to pass that they shall know that I am the Lord their God, and am a [vigilant] God, visiting the [repetitive self-destructive behaviors] of my people. And it shall come to pass that except this people [repair the relationship damage] and [work hand in hand] with the Lord their God, they shall be brought into bondage; and none shall [give assistance to] them, except it be the Lord the Almighty God. Yea, and it shall come to pass that when they shall cry unto me I will be slow to hear their cries; yea, and I will suffer them that they be smitten by their enemies. And except they [turn to me with an open heart willing to do repair our relationship] in sackcloth and ashes, and cry mightily to the Lord their God, I will not hear their prayers, neither will I deliver them out of their afflictions; and thus saith the Lord, and thus hath he [assisted] me.

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