παραζηλόω

I make jealous

Definition

Parazēloō means to provoke someone to jealousy or to arouse strong, often competitive, emotion. In the New Testament, it carries the sense of inciting a response by making another party envious or zealous. In Romans 10:19, Paul quotes Deuteronomy 32:21, using it to describe how God will provoke Israel to jealousy through a 'foolish nation' (the Gentiles). In Romans 11:11 and 11:14, the meaning shifts slightly to denote a provocation intended to save—Paul hopes to make his fellow Jews jealous of the Gentiles' inclusion to ultimately bring them to salvation. In 1 Corinthians 10:22, it warns against provoking the Lord to jealousy through idolatry, implying a righteous anger.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used exclusively by the Apostle Paul in his letters to the Romans and 1 Corinthians. In Romans, it appears three times (Romans 10:19; 11:11; 11:14) as a key term in his argument about God's plan for Israel and the Gentiles, describing a strategic provocation to elicit a saving response. In 1 Corinthians 10:22, it is used in a warning context, asking if believers are stronger than God when they provoke Him to jealousy through idolatrous practices. The pattern is theological, focusing on divine-human and inter-community relationships.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition παρά (para, meaning 'beside' or 'alongside') and the verb ζηλόω (zēloō, meaning 'to be zealous,' 'to desire earnestly,' or 'to be jealous'). The prefix παρά intensifies or directs the action, giving the compound meaning 'to provoke to zeal/jealousy.' It is related to the noun ζῆλος (zēlos, 'zeal,' 'jealousy'), which can have positive or negative connotations.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant in understanding Paul's doctrine of salvation history. It reveals a divine strategy where God uses the inclusion of the Gentiles to provoke Israel to jealousy, not out of rejection but as a means to ultimately save them (Romans 11:11-14). It highlights God's passionate, covenantal character—He is a jealous God (1 Corinthians 10:22) who actively works to draw His people back. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by showing that God's 'provocation' is an act of redemptive love, not mere anger.

In the Greco-Roman and Jewish world, 'zeal' (ζῆλος) was a powerful concept. It could denote passionate devotion to God (as in Phinehas or the Zealots) or a negative, envious rivalry. The idea of provoking a deity to jealousy was familiar from the Old Testament (e.g., Deuteronomy 32:21), where idolatry was seen as spousal unfaithfulness, arousing God's jealous love. Paul's audience would have understood this covenantal framework, where jealousy was not petty but a sign of exclusive commitment.

ζηλόω (zēloō, G2206) — The root verb, meaning 'to be zealous or jealous,' often for a person or cause, without the intensive 'provoking' sense. παραπικραίνω (parapikrainō, G3893) — 'To provoke, exasperate'; used in Hebrews 3:16 for rebellion, with a stronger connotation of embitterment rather than jealous provocation.

Word Details

Scripture References