"Jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire"

Jealousy has long been recognized as one of the most intense and destructive human emotions. The biblical poet Solomon Ibn Gabirol draws upon vivid imagery to convey its depth and severity. Comparing jealousy to the grave invokes the notion of something relentless and inescapable. The grave does not discriminate; its inevitability and finality highlight the merciless nature of jealousy. When someone experiences jealousy, it consumes their thoughts and emotions, much like the grave consumes all that enters it. There is a sense of enclosure, suffocation, and powerlessness in the clutches of jealousy, mirroring the constriction and darkness associated with death itself.

Further elaboration comes with the metaphor of “the coals thereof are coals of fire.” Here, jealousy is linked to flames, hot, relentless, and unquenchable. Burning coals continue to radiate heat and destruction long after the initial spark has faded, suggesting that jealousy sparks a lasting burn within the soul. The imagery of fire indicates the pain, restlessness, and self-destruction that jealousy can inflict. Unlike fleeting emotions, jealousy simmers, smolders, and spreads, capable of both tormenting its host and reaching outward to harm others.

The parallel to the grave and fire suggests that jealousy is not merely painful but transformative and consuming. It can strip individuals of peace, compassion, and perspective, leading them to act irrationally or destructively. Such emotions can erode relationships, foster resentment, and bring about harm that endures well beyond the origin of jealousy itself. Despite its immaterial nature, jealousy leaves very real scars. The poet’s choice of analogies elevates jealousy from a simple feeling to a profound existential threat, an inner force as unavoidable as death, and as destructive as an unending blaze. Ultimately, these images serve as caution, urging reflection and self-mastery in the presence of this fierce, consuming emotion.