Coveting
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Topical Encyclopedia
Coveting, as addressed in the Bible, refers to an intense desire to possess something that belongs to another. This concept is primarily discussed in the context of the Ten Commandments, where it is explicitly prohibited. The term "covet" is derived from the Hebrew word "חָמַד" (chamad), which means to desire or take pleasure in. In the New Testament, the Greek equivalent is "ἐπιθυμέω" (epithymeo), which also conveys the idea of longing or desiring.

Old Testament References

The prohibition against coveting is found in the Decalogue, specifically in Exodus 20:17 and Deuteronomy 5:21. The commandment states: "You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor" (Exodus 20:17). This commandment underscores the importance of contentment and respect for the property and relationships of others.

Coveting is often linked with other sins, such as theft and adultery, as it can lead to actions that violate other commandments. The account of Achan in Joshua 7 illustrates the destructive consequences of coveting. Achan coveted and took forbidden items during the conquest of Jericho, leading to Israel's defeat at Ai and his eventual punishment.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, coveting is addressed as a matter of the heart and is often associated with greed and idolatry. Jesus expands on the concept in the Sermon on the Mount, emphasizing the internal nature of sin. In Matthew 5:28, He states, "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart" . This teaching highlights that coveting is not merely an external act but an internal disposition.

The Apostle Paul frequently addresses coveting in his epistles. In Romans 7:7, he acknowledges the role of the law in revealing sin: "What then shall we say? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have been aware of sin if not for the law. For I would not have known coveting if the law had not said, 'You shall not covet'" . Paul also warns against covetousness in Ephesians 5:5, where he equates it with idolatry: "For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God" .

Theological Implications

Coveting is fundamentally a matter of the heart, reflecting a lack of trust in God's provision and a desire to find satisfaction outside of His will. It challenges believers to examine their desires and motivations, encouraging a life of contentment and gratitude. The biblical teaching on coveting calls for a transformation of the heart, aligning one's desires with God's purposes and finding fulfillment in Him alone.

Practical Applications

Believers are encouraged to cultivate contentment and generosity as antidotes to coveting. Hebrews 13:5 advises, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: 'Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you'" . By focusing on God's faithfulness and provision, Christians can resist the temptation to covet and instead live lives marked by thankfulness and trust in God's sovereignty.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Covet.
Greek
4124. pleonexia -- advantage, covetousness
... preferred-will, cf. 2307 ); (coveting). 4124 (a feminine noun) points
to a of covetousness, defined by the context. Word Origin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4124.htm - 7k

1939. epithumia -- desire, passionate longing, lust
... Word Origin from epithumeo Definition desire, passionate longing, lust NASB Word
Usage coveting (2), desire (4), desires (8), earnestly (1), impulses (1), long ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1939.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew
1942. havvah -- desire, chasm, destruction
... From hava' (in the sense of eagerly coveting and rushing upon; by implication, of
falling); desire; also ruin -- calamity, iniquity, mischief, mischievous ...
/hebrew/1942.htm - 6k
Library

Whether the First Man's Pride Consisted in his Coveting God's ...
... OF THE FIRST MAN'S SIN (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether the first man's pride consisted
in his coveting God's likeness? Objection 1: It would ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the first mans pride.htm

Whether Pride was the First Man's First Sin?
... Wherefore it was not possible for the first inordinateness in the human appetite
to result from his coveting a sensible good, to which the concupiscence of the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether pride was the first.htm

Petilianus Said: "It is Written, Thou Shalt not Covet Anything ...
... Otherwise your party might reproach even the first people of God with coveting their
neighbors' goods, seeing that they were driven forth before their face by ...
/.../chapter 59 133 petilianus.htm

Whether the Precepts of the Decalogue are Suitably Distinguished ...
... purpose of possession, belongs to the concupiscence of the eyes; wherefore Augustine
reckons as distinct precepts, that which forbids the coveting of another's ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the precepts of the.htm

Tenth Commandment
... has shown how covetousness leads to the transgression of every one of the commandments,
and I cannot do better than quote his words: "Coveting tempts us into ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/tenth commandment.htm

The Tenth Commandment
... Use. Let us be humbled for the sin of our nature, the risings of evil thoughts coveting
that which we ought not. ... But this sin of coveting servants is common. ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 1 the tenth commandment.htm

The Opposite Opinion is Approved by None of the Ancient Doctors of ...
... apostle says he would not, but did, is to lust or desire; but they interpret the
GOOD which he says he would, but did not, by not lusting or coveting; yet they ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/the opposite opinion is approved.htm

The Sermon that the Reverend Father in Christ
... I therefore, not only very desirous to obey the commandment of our Primate, but
also right greatly coveting to serve and satisfy all your expectation; lo ...
/.../sermons on the card and other discourses/the sermon that the reverend.htm

A Continuation of Mr Bunyan's Life; Beginning Where He Left Off ...
... in the last scene of his life, the which, for want of time, or fear, some
over-censorious people should impute it to him as an earnest coveting of praise ...
/.../bunyan/grace abounding to the chief of sinners/a continuation of mr bunyans.htm

Temporal Advantages.
... And it will often happen, that from coveting them before they are gained, and from
making much of them when they are gained, men will be led to take unlawful ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol vii/sermon v temporal advantages.htm

Thesaurus
Coveting (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Coveting (3 Occurrences). ... For I wouldn't have known coveting,
unless the law had said, "You shall not covet." (WEB ASV NAS NIV). ...
/c/coveting.htm - 7k

Ten (234 Occurrences)
... namely, (a) foreign gods, (b) images, (c) name of God, (d) Sabbath, (e) parents,
(f) murder, (g) adultery, (h) theft, (i) false witness, (j) coveting. ...
/t/ten.htm - 60k

Commandments (181 Occurrences)
... namely, (a) foreign gods, (b) images, (c) name of God, (d) Sabbath, (e) parents,
(f) murder, (g) adultery, (h) theft, (i) false witness, (j) coveting. ...
/c/commandments.htm - 65k

Covet (14 Occurrences)
... For I wouldn't have known coveting, unless the law had said, "You shall
not covet." (Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/c/covet.htm - 12k

Kinds (110 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Romans 7:8 But sin, finding occasion through the commandment, produced
in me all kinds of coveting. For apart from the law, sin is dead. (WEB RSV). ...
/k/kinds.htm - 36k

Occasion (53 Occurrences)
... Romans 7:8 But sin, finding occasion through the commandment, produced in me all
kinds of coveting. For apart from the law, sin is dead. (WEB KJV ASV WBS). ...
/o/occasion.htm - 23k

Lies (208 Occurrences)
... Romans 7:8 But sin, finding occasion through the commandment, produced in me all
kinds of coveting. For apart from the law, sin is dead. (See RSV). ...
/l/lies.htm - 35k

Really (100 Occurrences)
... However, I wouldn't have known sin, except through the law. For I wouldn't have
known coveting, unless the law had said, "You shall not covet." (See NIV). ...
/r/really.htm - 35k

Produced (39 Occurrences)
... Romans 7:8 But sin, finding occasion through the commandment, produced in me all
kinds of coveting. For apart from the law, sin is dead. (WEB NAS NIV). ...
/p/produced.htm - 18k

Covetings (1 Occurrence)

/c/covetings.htm - 6k

Resources
What does the Bible say about covetousness? | GotQuestions.org

What is the lust of the eyes? | GotQuestions.org

Why is "You shall not covet" in the Ten Commandments? | GotQuestions.org

Coveting: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Coveting (3 Occurrences)

Mark 7:22
covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness.
(Root in WEB ASV NAS RSV)

Romans 7:7
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? May it never be! However, I wouldn't have known sin, except through the law. For I wouldn't have known coveting, unless the law had said, "You shall not covet."
(WEB ASV NAS NIV)

Romans 7:8
But sin, finding occasion through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of coveting. For apart from the law, sin is dead.
(WEB WEY ASV NAS)

Subtopics

Coveting

Related Terms

Coveting (3 Occurrences)

Covetous (11 Occurrences)

Lewdness (68 Occurrences)

Lustful (10 Occurrences)

Wickedness (232 Occurrences)

Foolishness (30 Occurrences)

Foolish (259 Occurrences)

Railing (9 Occurrences)

Deeds (309 Occurrences)

Deceit (160 Occurrences)

Desires (151 Occurrences)

Malice (24 Occurrences)

Pride (277 Occurrences)

Sensuality (9 Occurrences)

Slander (34 Occurrences)

Blasphemy (15 Occurrences)

Desire (565 Occurrences)

Eye (145 Occurrences)

Evil (1503 Occurrences)

Coveteth
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