The Dangers of Envy: Lessons from the Torah on Pride, Jealousy, and True Happiness

Envy does not spare even Torah scholars. If you studied three pages of Talmud today, you will feel great satisfaction, until your study partner tells you that he managed to complete seven pages. Suddenly, your three pages feel small and insignificant. Instead of rejoicing that God granted you the incredible privilege of learning even a single word of Torah which carries unfathomable greatness, you feel unsatisfied.

Should Envy Increase Wisdom?

The Talmud (Bava Batra 21a) teaches: “Envy among scholars increases wisdom.”

This type of envy is only positive if it comes from genuine joy in another’s success and a sincere desire to also bring pleasure to God. It must never come from resentment, wishing to diminish another, or from jealousy over the honor your fellow receives. Sadly, in most cases, envy manifests in this destructive way.

If you truly want envy to help you grow in wisdom, first thank God for your friend’s success. Rejoice that another Jew is bringing joy to the Creator, and even pray for him to continue succeeding. Only then should you pray that you too may merit the privilege of Torah study and teaching others.

When Envy Breeds Gossip and Hatred

Too often, people come to me speaking ill of others. Beneath their words, I hear envy and resentment at another’s success, compared to their own failures. Such envy can lead to slander, which the Sages taught (Derech Eretz Rabbah 13): “Those who speak lashon hara (evil speech) have no share in the World to Come.”

Biblical Examples of Envy’s Destruction

• The Serpent: The very first example of envy. The primordial serpent coveted Eve, causing death to enter the world. In the end, it lost even what it had, cursed to crawl and eat dust forever (Bereishit 3:14).

• Kayin (Cain): He envied Hevel (Abel) because Hevel had two twin sisters as wives while Kayin had only one, and because God accepted Hevel’s offering but not his. Envy drove Kayin to kill his own brother, losing both this world and the next.

• Korach: Wealthy, brilliant, and even gifted with prophetic insight, but he could not tolerate Moshe's and Aaron’s leadership. His jealousy blinded him to the obvious truth everyone else saw — that Moshe spoke directly with God and radiated divine light. Still, Korach rebelled, and as the Talmud (Sanhedrin 109b) says, he lost his portion in the World to Come.

• Yerovam ben Nevat (Jeroboam son of Nebat): A Torah genius so great that the Talmud says all the sages of Israel were like grass before him, but his envy led him astray. Even when God appeared to him and said, “Return, and you, I, and the son of Yishai (David) will walk together in Paradise,” Yerovam  asked, “Who will go first?” God answered, “The son of Yishai.” Yerovam refused, unable to accept David’s greatness. His pride and envy cost him both this world and the next.

• Avshalom (Absalom): The son of King David, brilliant in Torah and piety, yet consumed by envy of his father’s throne. He led a rebellion, even violating David’s wives publicly, and sought to kill his own father. Ultimately, Yoab struck him down. Were it not for David’s prayers, Avshalom would have remained in the depths of hell.

The Pattern Across History

Throughout the generations, envy has ruined even the most gifted individuals. It blinds, it distorts judgment, and it can drive a person to rebel even against God Himself.

The Sages taught (Pirkei Avot 4:21): “Envy, lust, and honor drive a person out of this world.”

The Path Forward: Replacing Envy with Love

If we truly want to bring joy to the King of kings and live lives filled with meaning and happiness both in this world and in the next,, we must do all we can to uproot envy from our hearts.

In its place, we must cultivate love for our fellow Jews and a generous eye that celebrates the success of others. Only then can we rise above the destructive cycle of jealousy and merit true blessing.