Question: The Bible says God is a jealous God. Isn't jealousy a sin?

Answer: Yes, God is a jealous God. He has told us that Himself...

    (From the ten commandments:) Exodus 20:3-5a

    "You shall have no other gods before me. (4) "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. (5) You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God... (NIV)

    Exodus 34:14

    Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. (NIV)

Since God is perfect, and can only do what is perfect, obviously there is a type of jealousy that is not a sin...

    2 Samuel 22:31a

    "As for God, his way is perfect... (NIV)

Paul spoke of being jealous as well, a godly jealousy...

    2 Corinthians 11:2

    I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. (NIV)

Being zealously devoted to God, that no one should worship any other, or pervert worship of Him, is godly jealousy. God, Himself, is jealous of this very thing - that no one would worship any other. We too are to follow his example (Matthew 5:48) and be jealous of serving Him with our whole heart (Matthew 22:37).