Verses¶
Primary Commandment Texts¶
Exodus 20:17 (The Tenth Commandment)¶
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that [is] thy neighbour's.
Context (Exodus 20:15-21):
15 Thou shalt not steal. 16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that [is] thy neighbour's. 18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw [it], they removed, and stood afar off. 19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. 20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
Note: Exodus uses chamad (H2530, Qal Imperfect 2ms) for BOTH "covet thy neighbour's house" and "covet thy neighbour's wife." The same verb governs both clauses.
Deuteronomy 5:21 (Deuteronomic Parallel — KEY: different verb for wife)¶
Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any [thing] that [is] thy neighbour's.
Context (Deuteronomy 5:17-29):
17 Thou shalt not kill. 18 Neither shalt thou commit adultery. 19 Neither shalt thou steal. 20 Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour. 21 Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any [thing] that [is] thy neighbour's. 22 These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me. 29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
CRITICAL DIFFERENCE: Deuteronomy uses two different verbs: - "desire thy neighbour's wife" — תִתְאַוֶּה (titavveh), Hithpael of אוה (avah, H183) = "to wish for oneself" — reflexive, internal longing - "covet thy neighbour's house" — תַחְמֹד (tachmad), Qal of חמד (chamad, H2530) = "to desire/delight in" - Deuteronomy also adds "his field" (שׂדהו) to the list, not in Exodus - Deuteronomy reverses the order: wife first, then house
OT Case Studies of Covetousness¶
Genesis 3:1-6 (Eve's Coveting — The First Sin)¶
1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which [is] in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6 And when the woman saw that the tree [was] good for food, and that it [was] pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make [one] wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Note: Gen 3:6 uses נֶחְמָד (nechmad), the Niphal participle of chamad (H2530) — "a tree to be desired." The word taavah (H8378, "longing/desire") is also used in Gen 3:6 in the phrase "good for food" (the LXX uses epithymia-related vocabulary). Three-fold progression: good for food (flesh), pleasant to eyes (eyes), desired to make wise (pride) — compare 1 John 2:16.
Joshua 7:18-26 (Achan's Covetousness)¶
19 And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide [it] not from me. 20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: 21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they [are] hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it. 25 And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones. 26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger.
Note: Josh 7:21 uses וָאֶחְמְדֵם (vaechmedem) — "I coveted them" (chamad, H2530). The progression: "I saw... I coveted... I took" — seeing → desiring → acting. The same pattern as Eve: see → desire → act. Consequence: death for Achan and his household.
2 Samuel 11:1-5,14-15,27 (David and Bathsheba)¶
1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth [to battle], that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. 2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman [was] very beautiful to look upon. 3 And David sent and inquired after the woman. And [one] said, [Is] not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? 4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. 5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I [am] with child. 14 And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent [it] by the hand of Uriah. 15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die. 27 But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.
Note: David's coveting cascades through multiple commandments: 10th (coveting his neighbour's wife), 7th (adultery), 9th (deception of Uriah), 6th (murder of Uriah). The narrative follows the covet-to-sin progression: saw → desired → took.
1 Kings 21:1-16 (Ahab and Naboth's Vineyard)¶
2 And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it [is] near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; [or], if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money. 3 And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. 4 And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him... And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread. 15 And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite... 16 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. 19 Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession?
Note: Ahab's coveting violated the 10th (coveting neighbour's vineyard), 9th (false witness to frame Naboth), 6th (murder of Naboth), and 8th (theft of vineyard). God explicitly links the coveting to killing and taking possession (v.19).
2 Kings 5:20-27 (Gehazi's Covetousness)¶
20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, [as] the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him. 22 And he said, All [is] well. My master hath sent me, saying... 26 And he said unto him, Went not mine heart [with thee], when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? [Is it] a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? 27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper [as white] as snow.
Note: Gehazi's covetousness led to lying (9th commandment) and resulted in leprosy — divine judgment for coveting.
Prophets on Covetousness¶
Micah 2:1-2¶
1 Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand. 2 And they covet fields, and take [them] by violence; and houses, and take [them] away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.
Note: Micah 2:2 uses chamad (H2530) — "they covet fields." The progression is covet → take by violence → oppress. Same pattern: internal desire leads to external transgression.
Habakkuk 2:5,9¶
5 Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, [he is] a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and [is] as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people: 9 Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!
Proverbs 1:19¶
So [are] the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; [which] taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
Ecclesiastes 5:10-11¶
10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this [is] also vanity. 11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good [is there] to the owners thereof, saving the beholding [of them] with their eyes?
Paul on Coveting and the Law¶
Romans 7:5-14 (Paul's Testimony — Coveting Revealed Sin's Nature)¶
5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 7 What shall we say then? [Is] the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin [was] dead. 9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10 And the commandment, which [was ordained] to life, I found [to be] unto death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew [me]. 12 Wherefore the law [is] holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Note: Paul specifically quotes the tenth commandment ("Thou shalt not covet" — Ouk epithumeseis, G1937). The Greek text uses epithumia (G1939, "concupiscence/lust") and epithumeo (G1937, "covet"). Paul calls the law "holy, and just, and good" (v.12) and "spiritual" (v.14), identifying the Decalogue by its tenth commandment. The tenth commandment exposed internal sin that external commandments could not reach. Already registered in cmd-evidence.db: E020 (law is holy), N007 (Paul identifies the Decalogue by quoting the tenth commandment), E021 (law is spiritual).
Romans 13:9-10 (The Tenth Commandment in Paul's Summary)¶
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if [there be] any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love [is] the fulfilling of the law.
Note: Paul lists the tenth commandment alongside the 7th, 6th, 8th, and 9th, then summarizes all in "love thy neighbour as thyself." The tenth commandment is included in the "love fulfills the law" framework. Already registered as E031.
Covetousness = Idolatry¶
Colossians 3:1-6¶
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Note: Col 3:5 uses pleonexia (G4124, "covetousness/greed") and explicitly equates it with eidololatria (G1495, "idolatry"). The list escalates: fornication → uncleanness → inordinate affection (pathos) → evil concupiscence (epithumia kaken, G1939) → covetousness (pleonexia) which is idolatry. Already registered as E129 and E456.
Ephesians 5:3-5¶
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Note: Eph 5:5 uses pleonektes (G4123, "covetous man") and explicitly identifies the covetous man as "an idolater" (eidololatres). This parallels Col 3:5. Already registered as E130.
The Lust-to-Death Progression¶
James 1:12-16 (Lust Conceives Sin; Sin Brings Death)¶
12 Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
Note: James uses epithumia (G1939, "lust/desire") in both v.14 and v.15. The metaphor is biological: desire → enticement → conception → sin → maturation → death. The source of temptation is "his own lust" (tes idias epithumias) — internal, not external. This maps the mechanism by which coveting produces all other sins.
1 John 2:15-17 (Three Categories of Worldly Desire)¶
15 Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Note: 1 John 2:16 categorizes worldly desire into three types: lust of the flesh (epithumia tes sarkos), lust of the eyes (epithumia ton ophthalmon), pride of life (alazoneia tou biou). These parallel Eve's temptation in Gen 3:6: good for food (flesh), pleasant to the eyes (eyes), desired to make one wise (pride).
James 4:1-3 (Wars from Lusts)¶
1 From whence [come] wars and fightings among you? [come they] not hence, [even] of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts.
Note: James 4:2 uses epithumeo (G1937, "ye lust") and states the progression: desire → cannot obtain → kill. This connects coveting to murder, theft, and warfare.
Contentment — The Positive Antidote¶
1 Timothy 6:5-11 (Godliness with Contentment)¶
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into [this] world, [and it is] certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and [into] many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Note: 1 Tim 6:6 uses autarkeia (G841, "contentment/self-sufficiency"). V.10 uses philarguria (G5365, "love of money") — "the root of all evil" (rhiza panton ton kakon). "Coveted after" uses oregomai (G3713, "reaching for"). The text opposes contentment to covetousness.
Hebrews 13:5-6¶
5 [Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Note: "Without covetousness" (aphilarguros, G866 — "not loving money") paired with "content with such things as ye have." The ground for contentment is God's promise of presence: "I will never leave thee." Contentment is not stoic self-denial but trust in God's sufficiency.
Philippians 4:11-13¶
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Note: Paul uses autarkes (G842, cognate of autarkeia G841) — "content." This is a learned state, not natural. The source: "through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Jesus on Heart-Desire¶
Matthew 5:27-28 (Lust = Heart-Adultery)¶
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Note: Jesus uses epithumeo (G1937, "to lust after") — the same verb used to translate chamad in the LXX of Exo 20:17. Jesus extends the seventh commandment to the internal realm — the very domain of the tenth commandment. Already registered as E423.
Matthew 15:18-20 (Sin Proceeds from the Heart)¶
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20 These are [the things] which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
Mark 7:20-23 (Covetousness Originates in the Heart)¶
20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
Note: Mark 7:22 explicitly lists pleonexia (G4124, "covetousness") among the sins that proceed "from within, out of the heart." Jesus locates covetousness as an internal heart-condition that produces external sins.
Luke 12:13-21 (Parable of the Rich Fool — Beware of Covetousness)¶
13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. 14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? 15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, [and] be merry. 20 But God said unto him, [Thou] fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So [is] he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Note: Luke 12:15 uses pleonexia (G4124, "covetousness"). Jesus warns against it and illustrates with the rich fool who was "not rich toward God." The fool addressed his own soul (v.19) — his treasure replaced God as the object of his trust.
Additional NT References¶
Matthew 6:19-21,24,33¶
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
1 Corinthians 5:11 and 6:10¶
5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Note: 1 Cor 5:11 lists "covetous" (pleonektes, G4123) alongside "idolater" as separate but related categories. 1 Cor 6:10 states the covetous will not inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 10:6-7¶
6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as [were] some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
Note: Uses epithumetes (G1938, "lusters") — "we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted." Connects Israel's wilderness lusting to idolatry.
2 Peter 2:3,14-16¶
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam [the son] of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
Note: Uses pleonexia (G4124) in v.3 and pleonexia again in v.14 ("covetous practices"). Connects to Balaam as an OT instance of covetousness.
Romans 13:14¶
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof].
Note: Uses epithumia (G1939, "lusts"). The antidote to fleshly desire is "put on the Lord Jesus Christ."
Cross-Testament Parallels (from tool output)¶
Exodus 20:17 → OT Parallels: - Deuteronomy 5:21 (0.753) — Deuteronomic parallel, highest match - Leviticus 25:44 (0.441) — handmaid, servant vocabulary - Leviticus 19:11 (0.368) — "fellow" vocabulary, parallel prohibitions
Exodus 20:17 → NT Parallels: - Mark 10:43 (0.396) — desire, servant - James 4:2 (0.329) — desire - Galatians 5:17 (0.324) — desire, flesh vs spirit - Mark 7:22 (0.315) — desire (covetousness in Jesus' heart-sin list) - Romans 13:9 (0.315) — Paul's quotation of the tenth commandment
Romans 7:7 → NT Parallels: - Romans 6:15 (0.515) — law/sin framework - Romans 7:8 (0.493) — covetousness, law - Romans 5:13 (0.448) — sin and law - Romans 3:20 (0.423) — knowledge of sin through law - 1 Corinthians 15:56 (0.413) — sting of death is sin, strength of sin is law - James 2:11 (0.397) — law - Hebrews 13:5 (0.393) — covetousness
Colossians 3:5 → NT Parallels: - Ephesians 5:3 (0.450) — covetousness, immorality, impurity - Mark 7:22 (0.428) — desire, evil - Galatians 5:19 (0.426) — immorality, impurity (works of the flesh) - Mark 7:21 (0.402) — evil, immorality - Romans 1:24 (0.400) — desire, impurity - Romans 7:5 (0.393) — death, members, passion
OT Wisdom on Covetousness (Selected)¶
Psalms 10:3¶
For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, [whom] the LORD abhorreth.
Psalms 119:36¶
Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
Proverbs 15:27¶
He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.
Proverbs 21:25-26¶
25 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. 26 He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.