Lo Sachmod-The prohibition against envy, jealousy, and coveting the item of another:[1]

A. Introduction:

The Torah prohibits jealousy and coveting the items of another, as listed as the tenth command of the 10 Commandments. This command is repeated twice in the Torah, once in Parshas Yisro, and the second in Parshas Vaeschanon. The Torah specifies the items which it is forbidden for one to be jealous of, and includes a friend’s house, wife, animal, slave, or any other item of his friend.

Its rampant nature: Jealousy, is arguably one of the most difficult and common emotions that people experience within a society of family and friends and coworkers. Siblings often become jealous of the success, accomplishments, or blessings of other siblings. People often become jealous of the success of their acquaintances, especially in the workforce. People are jealous of other people’s looks, of other people’s career, of other people’s fame, and of other people’s spouses and possessions.

Its trigger: The feeling of jealousy often comes instinctively, without resulting from any prior thought speech or action of the person experiencing the feeling. It is a natural human emotion and instinct embedded within the human psyche and animal soul. It is often triggered simply by seeing or hearing something about the person of whom the feelings of jealousy are targeted. The intensity and level of jealousy that one instinctively experiences is dependent on various factors, including one’s ego and temperament, being an extrovert versus an introvert, one’s social standing and own personal successes, one’s self-esteem and insecurities, having tendencies of OCD and obsessive nature, and other factors. Interestingly, women experience more jealousy than men.[2]

Its danger and consequences: Jealousy, and obsessing over it, is indeed a very dangerous emotion that can trigger hatred to the person who one is jealous of, and cause ruining of relationships, family estrangement, and in more severe cases, can lead to stealing and murder, and in marriage can lead to infidelity. It is no wonder that the Torah included this emotion as the 10^th command, as controlling it is one of the gateways for preventing infidelity, stealing and murder, which is listed as the sixth through eighth command. Furthermore, even if the jealousy does not lead to any of the above due to one’s control of expressing it, or fear of doing so, nonetheless, it certainly causes the person who inhibits the jealousy to suffer and can sometimes even affect his daily life and productivity, almost similar to depression. It is not for nothing that the sages state in the book of ethics, that jealousy can banish a person from this world and ruin his life.[3] Thus, getting rid of jealous behavior and learning how to control the emotion and not even entertain it, is a benefit for the person himself.

The difficulty of getting rid of jealousy: The truth must be asked, is it really possible to get rid of jealousy simply by following the command against jealousy? It’s not like one has a button in his heart to press to turn off the jealous nature. It’s instinctive. How can G-d command us against experiencing an instinct that He embedded within our animal soul? Furthermore, it states in Maimonides that only in the future era will jealousy and competition cease to exist, hence implying that it is here to stay and cannot be ridden of until the future era.[4]

The true definition of the jealousy prohibition: So, in this article we will see that the true halachic definition of the prohibition against jealousy has nothing to do with the emotion of jealousy, but rather with its expression. Indeed, the Torah does not command us not to feel feelings of jealousy, and although it is not virtuous and certainly there are many benefits in working on one’s jealousy, and doing so certainly fulfills the ethical and philosophical spirit of the Torah, it nonetheless does not transgress any prohibition. Linguistically, we can differentiate between jealousy and envy [i.e. Kinah], versus coveting [i.e. Sachmod]. The Torah prohibition against jealousy is specifically against coveting the item of another, and is not a general prohibition against being jealous or envious of another person [i.e. Kinah], which although may not be a proper character trait, is not under any prohibition.

Virtuous jealousy: Furthermore, jealousy and envy of another person’s stature can actually be virtuous if it motivates him to become more productive, and hence it states that “Kinas Sofrim Marbeh Chochmah” that the jealousy and envy amongst Torah scholars and authors of Torah books causes wisdom to increase, as competition is good for productivity.[5] Likewise, it states that even in the future era, and in Gan Eden, people will have envy of others portions in the world to come.[6]

B. The verses in scripture:[7]

Parshas Yisro – Lo Sachmod:[8] Do not covet [i.e. Sachmod] the house of a friend. Do not covet your friends wife, nor his male or female slave, or his ox, donkey, or any of his assets.

Parshas Vaeschanon – Lo Sisaveh:[9] Do not covet the wife of a friend [i.e. Sachmod], nor shall you desire [i.e. Sisaveh] his house, his field, male or female slave, ox, donkey or any of his possessions.

[1] See Admur Hilchos Gezeila Ugeneiva Halacha 5; Michaber C.M. 359:10-12; Tur 359:10; Rambam Gezeila 1:9-12; Bava Metzia 5b; Shemos 20:14; Imrei Yaakov on Admur ibid; Encyclopedia Talmudit Erech “Lo Sachmod” vol. 34 pp. 449-484; Sefer Lereiacha Kamocha; Piskeiy Teshuvos 156:5 p. 328 and 7 p. 328

[2] Females are predominately associated with emotion, which may be why they are thought of as being more jealous than males.

[3] Pirkei Avos 4:24

[4] Rambam end of Hilchos Melachim 5:5

[5] Bava Basra 21a and 22a

[6] Bava Basra 75a; Hayom Yom 19^th Nissan

[7] Differences between the two versions of the command: 1) The first version of the command in Yisro uses the term Sachmod while the second use of the word Sisaveh. 2) The first version mentions wife as its second example, while the second version mentions it as its first example.

[8] Shemos 20:14

[9] Devarim 5:18