Pipeline Torah Gem #912 2026-01-27: Envy
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Vaughn Seward
Feb 1, 2026, 9:03:57 PMFeb 1
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Envy
"Wrath is cruelty and anger is torrential, but who can withstand envy?" (Proverbs 27:4)
An envious person may well prefer to endure suffering as long as his fellow will also suffer, rather than enjoy good if that means that others will also prosper. This point is illustrated by the parable of a king who made an offer to two subjects, one a lustful person, and the other a jealous person. The king said that he would fulfill any request that either of the two would make, and whatever that person received, his fellow would receive double. The lustful person was silent, because he wanted to receive double of whatever the jealous person requested. The jealous person would not request a lavish gift because he didn't want his friend to be given double. Instead, he said to the king, "Poke out one of my eyes," thus assuring that his fellow would become blind in both eyes.
The verse warns that hatred born of envy is the worst kind of anger. Ordinarily, hot-headed people can be appeased, but the anger of envious people is uncurable. Teachers of mussar say that there is no cure for three conditions: old age, poverty caused by laziness, and hatred born of jealousy (Meiri).
Adapted from Artscroll's "The Writings; Proverbs" by Rabbi N. Scherman & Rabbi M. Zlotowitz, page 237.
Torah Gem Archives: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/torahtidbits
_________________
Yiddish Corner
Fardayget Anxious A sheynhayt An attractive girl A meyven An authority (on a subject) A mitlmesiger An average person
"Wrath is cruelty and anger is torrential, but who can withstand envy?" (Proverbs 27:4)
An envious person may well prefer to endure suffering as long as his fellow will also suffer, rather than enjoy good if that means that others will also prosper. This point is illustrated by the parable of a king who made an offer to two subjects, one a lustful person, and the other a jealous person. The king said that he would fulfill any request that either of the two would make, and whatever that person received, his fellow would receive double. The lustful person was silent, because he wanted to receive double of whatever the jealous person requested. The jealous person would not request a lavish gift because he didn't want his friend to be given double. Instead, he said to the king, "Poke out one of my eyes," thus assuring that his fellow would become blind in both eyes.
The verse warns that hatred born of envy is the worst kind of anger. Ordinarily, hot-headed people can be appeased, but the anger of envious people is uncurable. Teachers of mussar say that there is no cure for three conditions: old age, poverty caused by laziness, and hatred born of jealousy (Meiri).
Adapted from Artscroll's "The Writings; Proverbs" by Rabbi N. Scherman & Rabbi M. Zlotowitz, page 237.
Torah Gem Archives: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/torahtidbits
_________________
Yiddish Corner
Fardayget Anxious A sheynhayt An attractive girl A meyven An authority (on a subject) A mitlmesiger An average person
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