Chapel Hill Church of Christ

קַנָּא (qannāʾ), from the root קנא (q-n-ʾ)

• Never used of casual relationships
• Used in covenant relationships

Ancient Near East

The king declares who he is
He reminds the people what he has done
He demands exclusive loyalty
He promises blessings for faithfulness and curses for betrayal

God is still jealous—not because He is threatened, but because divided loyalty destroys souls.

God is saying: “I chose you. I redeemed you. I am committed to you. And I will not let you destroy yourself by giving your heart to something that cannot save.”