Exodus 34:14 – A Translation Analysis of “Jealous” as Divine Name and Attribute in the Context of Covenant Renewal

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Translation Fidelity and the Theological Significance of qannāʾ in Exodus 34:14

Exodus 34:14 (UASV)
“for you shall worship no other god, for Jehovah, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”

Exodus 34:14 is a pivotal verse in understanding the nature of Jehovah’s covenantal relationship with Israel and His demand for exclusive worship. The verse presents the divine jealousy not only as an emotional attribute but also as a name—qannāʾ (קַנָּא)—which makes a definitive theological statement about Jehovah’s identity. This analysis will explore the implications of translating qannāʾ literally and consistently as both a divine name (“Jealous”) and a character attribute (“jealous”), in keeping with the highest standards of translation fidelity, grammatical exactness, and theological accuracy.

The Context of Exodus 34:14: Covenant Renewal and the Aftermath of Idolatry

The context of Exodus 34:14 is the covenant renewal following Israel’s apostasy in the golden calf incident (Exodus 32). After Moses intercedes for the people and receives a second set of tablets, Jehovah renews the covenant, commanding Israel again to abstain from idolatry (Exodus 34:10–17). This renewed covenant is set in a legal framework that mirrors ancient Near Eastern treaties, where loyalty to the suzerain deity was non-negotiable.

It is in this renewed framework that Jehovah declares His name is “Jealous.” This is not incidental; the naming happens in the shadow of Israel’s most flagrant breach of loyalty. The placement emphasizes that Jehovah’s identity is defined by His zealous guardianship over the covenant relationship, and His intolerance of spiritual betrayal.

Hebrew Text and Syntax: A Close Reading

Hebrew (Exodus 34:14):
כִּ֣י לֹ֤א תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה֙ לְאֵ֣ל אַחֵ֔ר כִּ֛י יְהוָ֥ה קַנָּ֖א שְׁמ֑וֹ אֵ֥ל קַנָּ֖א הֽוּא׃

Transliteration:
ki lo’ tishtaḥweh le’el aḥer ki JHVH qannāʾ šəmo ’el qannāʾ hû’

Literal Translation:
“for you shall not bow down to another god, for Jehovah—Jealous is his name—is a jealous God.”

In the Hebrew, qannāʾ (קַנָּא) appears twice:

qannāʾ šəmo – “Jealous is his name”
’el qannāʾ – “a jealous God”

The use of qannāʾ in both instances is not stylistic redundancy. The first usage assigns “Jealous” as a proper name, while the second affirms this trait as an active attribute. The parallel structure builds theological emphasis through repetition, affirming both the name and nature of Jehovah.

Lexical and Grammatical Evaluation of qannāʾ

The Root Meaning of qannāʾ

The term qannāʾ is derived from the root q-n-ʾ (ק-נ-א), which means to be zealous, jealous, or to show intense emotion over exclusivity in relationships. It can denote:

Human jealousy (often negative, as in possessiveness or envy)
Marital jealousy (Numbers 5:14, a husband’s suspicion of infidelity)
Divine jealousy (Exodus 20:5; Deuteronomy 4:24; 5:9; 6:15; Joshua 24:19; Nahum 1:2)

In divine usage, qannāʾ always refers to Jehovah’s demand for absolute loyalty. It is a protective, covenantal zeal rather than selfish human envy. It is always used in contexts emphasizing monotheism and prohibiting idolatry.

qannāʾ šəmo – “Jealous is his name”

This phrase structurally functions as a naming clause, where qannāʾ is predicative and šəmo (“his name”) is subject. The syntax resembles name declarations in other Hebrew texts. For example, Isaiah 9:6 uses parallel structures to declare divine names like “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,” etc.

The clause qannāʾ šəmo is not simply a description; it defines the identity of Jehovah. Hence, translating it as “Jealous” (capitalized) properly renders the titular function. Not recognizing this function undermines the theological gravity of the name and shifts the text from a name-declaration to a mere description.

’el qannāʾ – “a jealous God”

Here, qannāʾ is clearly an adjective modifying ’el (God). It describes Jehovah’s nature: He is a God, and the essential characteristic He manifests is jealousy—a passionate zeal for covenant faithfulness. The repetition from the naming clause is deliberate and serves as rhetorical reinforcement.

Theological Implications: Divine Jealousy as a Covenant Attribute

Jehovah’s jealousy is not petty or possessive. It is a righteous and necessary outworking of His exclusive covenant relationship with His people. Theologically, it is comparable to marital fidelity. When Israel worships other gods, the metaphor is spiritual adultery. Jehovah’s response is not indifference—it is emotional, covenantally intense, and protective.

This is confirmed elsewhere:

Exodus 20:5 – “you shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I, Jehovah your God, am a jealous God…”
Deuteronomy 6:15 – “for Jehovah your God in your midst is a jealous God…”

To dilute this theological stance by rendering qannāʾ as “passionate” or by failing to treat it as a name undermines the very character of God as revealed in Scripture. While human jealousy can be sinful, divine jealousy is just, protective, and morally perfect. A translation that avoids “jealous” due to discomfort with anthropopathic language fails to convey the theological and emotional force intended by the original Hebrew text.

Translation Evaluation: Comparison of English Versions

Correct and Faithful Translations: These translations properly distinguish the divine name “Jealous” (capitalized) from the attribute “jealous” (lowercase), preserving both linguistic precision and theological intent:

UASV: “for Jehovah, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”
ESV: “for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”
NASB (1995/2020): “for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”
NIV: “for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”
LEB: “for Yahweh, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”
CSB: “for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”

These translations capture:

The divine name “Jealous” as a titular statement
The attribute “jealous” as a description of God’s relational stance
The parallel and repetitive structure of the Hebrew for emphasis

Incorrect and Theologically Dilutive Translation:

NLT: “for the LORD is a God who is passionate about his relationship with you.”

This dynamic translation:

Replaces qannāʾ entirely with “passionate”
Omits the divine name clause
Recasts divine jealousy into modern relational language
Softens the emotional intensity and specificity of the term
Fails to preserve the covenantal and legal structure of the Hebrew

Such a rendering, though perhaps intended to aid readability, ultimately removes the theological and linguistic integrity of the original text.

Literary and Rhetorical Considerations: Emphasizing Divine Exclusivity

The Hebrew construction in Exodus 34:14 is deliberate:

Negative command: “Do not worship another god”
Causal clause: “for Jehovah, whose name is Jealous”
Affirmative declaration: “is a jealous God”

This progression leads the reader from prohibition to justification. The identity of God as “Jealous” gives weight to the command. His jealousy is not an optional trait but a defining reality that governs Israel’s obligations. The repetition of qannāʾ builds literary intensity and closes the rhetorical loop, grounding the legal prohibition in God’s nature.

Why Capitalizing “Jealous” Matters: Naming and Theological Precision

Capitalizing “Jealous” in qannāʾ šəmo is not stylistic preference—it reflects:

The Hebrew syntax, which uses a naming clause
The theological intent, as divine names reveal character
The translation principle of preserving names as titles

In the same way we capitalize “Jehovah” or “Most High,” so must “Jealous” be capitalized when functioning as a name. To do otherwise introduces inconsistency and undermines the name’s authority and identity.

Conclusion: Literal Translation Is Essential to Faithful Rendering

In Exodus 34:14, qannāʾ functions both as a divine name and an attribute. Any faithful translation must reflect this dual role:

qannāʾ šəmo – “Jealous is his name” (capitalized)
’el qannāʾ – “a jealous God” (lowercase)

Translators who obscure this by omitting the name or replacing “jealous” with vague terms like “passionate” fail to render the text with its full covenantal, emotional, and theological weight. A literal translation preserves both the integrity of the Hebrew and the authority of Scripture, ensuring that readers grasp the seriousness of Jehovah’s demand for exclusive worship.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).