What does φθόνος (phthónos) mean in the Bible?
G5355 is the noun commonly rendered envy. Its nine governed forms show desire distorted by another person's place, good, recognition, or advantage.
Greek · G5355
φθόνος
Envy
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
φθόνος G5355
Pronunciation phthónos
What does φθόνος (phthónos) mean in the Bible?
G5355 is the noun commonly rendered envy. Its nine governed forms show desire distorted by another person's place, good, recognition, or advantage.
Reader summary
Full entry for φθόνος (G5355) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G5355?
The BSB source-word alignment has 9 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include envy (6), [and] envy (1), envy [that] (1), of envy (1).
Where does φθόνος (phthónos) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 27:18. Its strongest book concentrations include 1 Peter (1), 1 Timothy (1), Galatians (1), James (1).
What This Word Actually Means
G5355 is the noun commonly rendered envy. Its nine governed forms show desire distorted by another person's place, good, recognition, or advantage. Matthew and Mark identify envy as Pilate's assessment of why the chief priests handed Jesus over; the texts name particular actors and never authorize blame against Jewish people as a whole. Romans, Galatians, Titus, and 1 Peter place envy among destructive patterns that fracture life and community.
Philippians shows that even true proclamation can be driven by envy and rivalry, while 1 Timothy links envy to conceited controversy. James 4:5 is grammatically and interpretively disputed, so it must not control the whole word study or be quoted as though every translation resolves the same subject. Pastoral application should expose comparison, rivalry, resentment, and platform competition without diagnosing motives from appearance, shaming normal grief or desire, or using an envy charge to silence questions about unfairness, abuse, exclusion, or unequal treatment.
How the Bible Uses It
Across nine books, G5355 appears in passion motives, vice lists, ministry rivalry, unhealthy controversy, former social bondage, a disputed James sentence, and a call to put envy away. Each setting supplies the target and moral claim.
- 1Tim.6.4
He is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and disputes about words, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions,
First Timothy 6:4 places envy among the fruits of conceited controversy, beside strife, abusive speech, and suspicion.
- Gal.5.21
And envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:21 includes envy among works opposed to the Spirit's fruit and warns against a practiced pattern, not an isolated feeling disclosed for care.
- Php.1.15
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
Philippians 1:15 shows that Christ may be proclaimed from envy and rivalry, distinguishing a true message from a disordered ministry motive.
Passage contextBook context
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It envy 6× Mark 15:10, Philippians 1:15, 1 Timothy 6:4, Titus 3:3
[and] envy 1× Galatians 5:21
envy [that] 1× Matthew 27:18
of envy 1× Romans 1:29
Show sample aligned rows
Matthew 27:18 φθόνον to envy [that] Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Mark 15:10 φθόνον to envy Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Romans 1:29 φθόνου to of envy Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Galatians 5:21 φθόνοι to [and] envy Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural Philippians 1:15 φθόνον to envy Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular 1 Timothy 6:4 φθόνος to envy Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular Titus 3:3 φθόνῳ to envy Noun - Dative Masculine Singular James 4:5 φθόνον to envy Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular 1 Peter 2:1 φθόνους to envy Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Matthew 27:18
Aligned rows 9
Books represented 9
Matthew 1 Mark 1 Romans 1 Galatians 1 Philippians 1 1 Timothy 1 Titus 1 James 1 1 Peter 1
Source forms
φθόνον 4x phthonon Matthew 27:18, Mark 15:10, Philippians 1:15, James 4:5
φθόνοι 1x phthonoi Galatians 5:21
φθόνος 1x phthonos 1 Timothy 6:4
φθόνου 1x phthonou Romans 1:29
φθόνους 1x phthonous 1 Peter 2:1
φθόνῳ 1x phthonō Titus 3:3
Parsing patterns
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular 4x Matthew 27:18, Mark 15:10, Philippians 1:15, James 4:5
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural 1x 1 Peter 2:1
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular 1x Titus 3:3
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular 1x Romans 1:29
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural 1x Galatians 5:21
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular 1x 1 Timothy 6:4
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Let the passion narratives retain their named actors and refuse anti-Jewish generalization.
- Distinguish confession of envy from an imposed motive diagnosis, especially where power, credit, pay, inclusion, or safety is contested.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim James 4:5 settles the subject, translation, or theology of envy without acknowledging its interpretive difficulty.
- Do not use an envy accusation to discredit whistleblowers, survivors, marginalized people, or anyone naming concrete unfairness.
Passage contextPastoral application
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Malicious resentment at another's good fortune; distinct from mere jealousy by its focus on begrudging others' success.
Strong's G5355
Lexical occurrences 9 verses Greek text appearances 9 times Word forms 6 forms 9 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Matthew 27:18 Source Gloss
envy
Extended definition Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Malicious resentment at another's good fortune; distinct from mere jealousy by its focus on begrudging others' success.
envy: Rom.1:29, Gal.5:21, 1Ti.6:4, Tit.3:3, 1Pe.2:1; διὰ φθόνον, Mat.27:18, Mrk.15:10, Php.1:15; πρὸς φθόνον ἐπιποθεῖ τ. πνεῦμα (on the meaning, see R, txt., mg. 1, 2; Hort, Ja., 93 f.), Jas.4:5.
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
9 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Matthew 27:18 Noun Accusative Singular Masculine
φθόνον fqonon
envy, a grudge
Read verse Mark 15:10 Noun Accusative Singular Masculine
φθόνον fqonon
envy, a grudge
Read verse Romans 1:29 Noun Genitive Singular Masculine
φθόνου, fqonou
envy, a grudge
Read verse Galatians 5:21 Noun Nominative Plural Masculine
φθόνοι, fqonoi
envy, a grudge
Read verse Philippians 1:15 Noun Accusative Singular Masculine
φθόνον fqonon
envy, a grudge
Read verse 1 Timothy 6:4 Noun Nominative Singular Masculine
φθόνος, fqonov
envy, a grudge
Read verse Titus 3:3 Noun Dative Singular Masculine
φθόνῳ fqonw
envy, a grudge
Read verse James 4:5 Noun Accusative Singular Masculine
φθόνον fqonon
envy, a grudge
Read verse 1 Peter 2:1 Noun Accusative Plural Masculine
φθόνους fqonouv
envy, a grudge
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 6 case and number patterns. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Form patterns 6 Aligned forms 9 Case pattern Accusative (5) Number pattern Singular (7)
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Nominative · Plural · Masculine Gal 5:21 1×
Nominative · Singular · Masculine 1 Tim 6:4 1×
Genitive · Singular · Masculine Rom 1:29 1×
Dative · Singular · Masculine Titus 3:3 1×
Accusative · Singular · Masculine Matt 27:18 · Mark 15:10 · Phil 1:15 · Jas 4:5 4×
Accusative · Plural · Masculine 1 Pet 2:1 1×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Motivation for delivering Jesus to crucifixion, cause of malicious action
Jealous rivalry driving some to preach Christ with wrong motives
Vice listed among serious moral and social transgressions of unrighteous people
Work of the flesh opposed to Christian virtue, conduct to be avoided
Showing 4 selected witnesses from 9 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
φθόνος is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
G5355 reveals envy as a relational and communal vice rather than a harmless private comparison. In the passion narratives, Pilate attributes the chief priests' action to envy, but the judgment concerns named actors and cannot support collective ethnic blame. Vice lists show envy embedded among destructive patterns, while Philippians exposes the unsettling possibility that a true gospel message can be preached from rivalrous motives.
First Timothy joins envy to controversy, abusive speech, and suspicion. Titus recalls it as part of a former way of life, and First Peter calls believers to put it away. James 4:5 remains disputed and should be taught with transparent interpretive limits. Pastoral care must invite repentance and gratitude without mind-reading, shame, or using an envy accusation to silence legitimate concerns about credit, access, justice, safety, or power.
Anchor passage
Matthew.27.18
Doctrinal connections
- Matthew.27.18 and Mark.15.10 - Pilate attributes the chief priests' action to envy; the actor-specific claim forbids collective ethnic blame.
- Romans.1.29 and Galatians.5.21 - envy appears among destructive patterns that oppose righteous and Spirit-shaped life.
- Philippians.1.15 - a true proclamation may coexist with envy and rivalry in the preacher's motive.
- 1Timothy.6.4 - conceited controversy produces envy, strife, abusive speech, and suspicion.
- Titus.3.3 and 1Peter.2.1 - grace moves believers from an envious former life toward putting envy away.
- James.4.5 - the difficult sentence requires transparent handling of translation and subject uncertainty.
The nine governed masculine noun forms occur once each in nominative singular, nominative plural, genitive singular, and dative singular, plus four accusative singulars and one accusative plural. The stable noun identity does not remove James 4:5's syntactic and interpretive difficulty.
From Old to New Testament
Cain, Joseph's brothers, Saul, and wisdom texts show the wider destructive pattern of resentful comparison, while the New Testament calls communities toward gratitude, neighbor love, truthful motives, and grace. Those parallels support rather than replace the nine direct uses.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain