Jealousy refers to a relentless and exclusive passion and attachment.  For Solomon, it is as hard as the grave.  Once someone goes into the grave, the grave doesn’t let him back up; once it takes hold, it doesn’t let go.  Jealousy is like that.  It is “that aspect of love in which love also does not give up what it claims” (Robert Jenson).

Jealousy is an aspect of any genuine, deep love; jealousy reminds us that love always seeks ownership of the other, seeks to know and have the other’s regard and affection in response to our own passion.  But as an adjective or name, “jealous” is used in Scripture only of Yahweh, because He is the only one whose love is undivided and undistracted by the possibility of more attractive lovers.  Only Yahweh’s love really refuses to give up what it embraces as its own.