"envy, jealously, spite, Mt. 27:18; Mk. 15:10; Rom. 1:29; Gal. 5:21; Phil. 1:15; 1 Tim. 6:4; Tit. 3:3; Jas. 4:5; 1 Pet. 2:1*"
Definition and meaning
envy, jealously, spite, Mt. 27:18; Mk. 15:10; Rom. 1:29; Gal. 5:21; Phil. 1:15; 1 Tim. 6:4; Tit. 3:3; Jas. 4:5; 1 Pet. 2:1*
In the original Greek the word is written: φθόνος
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of phthonos (G5355) across the King James Bible.
For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
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Common questions
Strong's G5355 (phthonos) is a Greek word that means: envy, jealously, spite, Mt. 27:18; Mk. 15:10; Rom. 1:29; Gal. 5:21; Phil. 1:15; 1 Tim. 6:4; Tit. 3:3; Jas. 4:5; 1 Pet. 2:1* It appears 9 times in the King James Bible.
The word phthonos (G5355) appears 9 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G5355 is phthonos, a Greek word defined as: envy, jealously, spite, Mt. 27:18; Mk. 15:10; Rom. 1:29; Gal. 5:21; Phil. 1:15; 1 Tim. 6:4; Tit. 3:3; Jas. 4:5; 1 Pet. 2:1*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
phthonos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.