The Bible Difficulties and Answers Podcast

Exodus 20:5a – "God's Jealousy Unveiled: A Divine Drama of Love"

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In this engaging episode of the Bible Difficulties and Answers podcast, host Lance Smith delves into the intriguing question of God's jealousy, focusing on Exodus 20:5a. Is jealousy a divine flaw or a profound reflection of God's covenant love? Discover the nuances behind the Hebrew word "qanna" and learn how God's jealousy is rooted in holiness and love, aimed at protecting our relationship with Him. Join as we explore why God's jealousy is different from human envy and how it calls us to fidelity in our spiritual walk. Get ready for a journey through scripture and scholarship, wrapped in humor and heart, as we uncover the depth of God's devotion.

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  1. Geisler, Norman L., and Thomas Howe. The Big Book of Bible Difficulties. Baker Books, 1992. Available at: https://a.co/d/7shn4hI
  2. Eliazar, K. N. (2024). “Demystifying the Jealousy of God: An Exegesis of Exodus 20:1-6.” Journal of Sociology, Psychology & Religious Studies, 4(6), 58-66.
  3. GotQuestions.org. “What does it mean that God is a jealous God?” https://www.gotquestions.org/jealous-God.html
  4. DesiringGod.org. “God Is Jealous for Your Joy” by John Piper. https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/god-is-jealous-for-your-joy
  5. TheGospelCoalition.org. “The Jealousy of God.” https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/the-jealousy-of-god/
  6. TopicalBibleStudies.com. “God Is Jealous: What Does That Mean?” https://topicalbiblestudies.com/god-is-jealous-what-does-that-mean/
  7. Bible-Blog.org. “Exodus 20:5-6: The DNA of Sin.” https://bible-blog.org/2011/08/20/exodus-205-6-the-dna-of-sin/
  8. Oaks2b.com. “How Can One Reconcile Exodus 20:5-6 with Deuteronomy 24:16 and Ezekiel 18?” https://www.oaks2b.com/2010/11/04/how-can-one-reconcile-exodus-205-6-with-deuteronomy-2416-and-ezekiel-18/
  9. CARM.org. “Anthropomorphism: God Relates to Us in Human Terms.” https://carm.org/open-theism/anthropomorphism-god-relates-to-us-in-human-terms/
  10. Hamilton, V. P. (2000). Exodus: An Exegetical Commentary. Baker Publishing Co.
  11. Grudem, W. (1994). Systematic Theology. Zondervan.
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