Footnote

b The use of the term “jealousy” shows how seriously Jehovah views the matter of faithfulness to him. We may think of the jealous indignation a husband would feel if his wife were to become unfaithful. (Prov. 6:34) Like such a husband, Jehovah rightly became indignant when his covenant people proved unfaithful by taking up image worship. One reference work notes: “God’s jealousy . . . proceeds from His holiness. Because He alone is the Holy One . . . , He will tolerate no rival.”​—Ex. 34:14.