The Tenth Commandment:


Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house,

thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife,

nor his manservant,

nor his maidservant,

nor his ox,

nor his ass,

nor any thing that is thy neighbor's.

Exodus xx:17
KJV
Who covets and what does it mean to “covet”?
When do I covet and where do I covet? And, most importantly, how do I know when I’ve coveted?

But, before we get into these questions, I feel compelled to make this remark:


“Words are a means of communicating ideas.”[1]


One of the tools that I use is available on the web for free and it’s called E-sword[2] [3]. In Hebrew, in Greek and in English, words are different. While I am no, I repeat, NO scholar in the Hebrew, the Greek or even in English, nor do I claim to be; I simply possess the wisdom that God Himself gave me and use the tools that are out there for anyone to use. Therefore, I humbly offer this paper for your use.



T
he Old Testament (in Hebrew) uses the word chamad (for instance) (H2530)[4] in Exodus xx:17. E-BDB[5] demonstrates that chamad has two basic meanings:

1) to desire, covet, take pleasure in, delight in (verb)

1a) (Qal) to desire; 1b) (Niphal) to be desirable; 1c) (Piel) to delight greatly, desire greatly

2) desirableness, preciousness (noun feminine)

The Koine Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures - the Septuagint (e-LXX) - uses the word epithumeo (G1937). I cannot say that is the only word used to translation chamad in every instance; however, it is here. This Greek verb, carries the idea of:

1) to turn upon a thing
2) to have a desire for, long for, to desire3) to lust after, covet

3a) of those who seek things forbidden. (e-Thayer)
So the problem we are dealing with is resolved pretty much from this evaluation of the basic component parts of this discussion. The English term covet can have a range of meaning. Usage (context) is key. The Hebrew and Greek words have similarity in meaning, and also have the same breadth of meaning, which does not automatically mean a evil desire for that which is unlawful; the passage in 1 Corinthians xii:31 comes to mind where ζηλόω (zēloō / dzay-lo'-o ) is translated in the KJV with the English word "covet," but it seems to be the only translation that does so as other translations use such words as: “earnestly desiring” (ALT), “let your desires” (BBE), “desire the best gifts” (CEV), “But be zealous” (DRB), “strive” (EMTV), “zealously strive” (MKJ), “you should be eager for the greater gifts.” (NET) , “eagerly desire” (NIV) and “seek to excel” (WNT) to name just a few. But, with that, the word ‘covet’ is usually intended to show a negative want, i.e.: a sin.
We need to also notice that the English word “COVET” is used for more than one Hebrew words; they, according to Wilson[6], are:

1. ('âvâh H-183 which is tied to ta'ăvâh H-8378)to desire earnestly, a desire for something. ((to explain the Hithpael conjugation of the word would be to akin to this example: the word ‘kill’ would become under the Hithpael to mean “to kill ones’ self.”)))

2. (betsa‛H-1215)to cut and tear away, to plunder; to get by dishonest (covetous) means. (b) rapine, prey –any unjust gain.


3. (châmad H-2530)to desire strongly, to take delight in; used both in a good and bad sense. KAL


Just a few of the usages in the Old Testament (KJV) according to Wilson are:


Exodus xviii:21
2

Exodus xx.17
3
Deuteronomy v:21
1

Joshua vii:21
3
Psalms x:3
2

Psalms cxix:36
2
Proverbs xxi:26
1

Proverbs xxviii:16
2
Isaiah lvii:17
2

Jeremiah vi:13
2
Jeremiah viii:10
2

Jeremiah xxii:17
2
Jeremiah li:13
2

Ezekiel xxxiii:31
2
Micah ii:2
3

Habakkuk ii:9
2
(the numbers correspond with the Wilson’s usage)


Webster’s has two meanings for the English word “covet”, one good one bad:

1. To desire or wish for, with eagerness; to desire earnestly to obtain or possess; in a good sense.

2. To desire inordinately; to desire that which it is unlawful to obtain or possess; in a bad sense.

Oxford’s English dictionary defines ‘covet’ as:

“A burning desire for a thing [anything] that belongs to someone else.”

It means something can be coveted or someone could be coveting something (anything) that someone else had.

Synonyms for the English word “covet” include:

· Lust for
· desire
· want
· wish for
· long for
· hanker after.


So, just like Hebrew, we can have several words in the English language that could (and do) mean the same as ‘covet’.


Context in the original languages, must be the key determiner in all cases. Check out what Vine’s has to say about the different words for ‘covet’. Here we find that in the Greek, we find at least nine[7] different words that have the English meaning of ‘covet.’ So, we must realize that the Biblical languages MUST take precedence over our English word meanings.

In the preface in Volume #1 of Albert Barnes notes, he included a several page lecture on how with 15 major points and many sub-points on how to ‘read the Bible for all that it’s worth’ (which also happens to be the name of a book by a more modern author). The volume is at home right now but context is at the top of the list. What did the author mean when he wrote the passage? What were the customs at that time, and how did they effect the writing? Who was the message being written to and why? Context determines word usage and interpretation. Scripture interprets scripture and many more, but one major rule was that modern language does not determine how word usage was in the day of writing. For instance when these rules were written (published in 1830’s originally with updates later) gay meant happy.

Some say that translations can sometimes be misleading if they translate several words from the biblical languages with the same word. To be fair, most of the more recent committee translations have done a great deal to minimize this confusion; regrettably, it cannot always be done. And this is probably due to an economy of words - i.e. the attempt to boil down a phrase's translation to the smallest number of words. So as always, the point is: if we have not given the biblical languages proper attention (even a very basic one), then we are bound to have problems in our understanding of a passage - or even our theological constructions.


For example: One of the best known instances is all of the different Greek words that are translated into “Love.” (ADD PROPER WORDING HERE FOR LOVE: EROS, AGAPE, PHILOS, ETC.)

Now, since we know the meaning of the word ‘covet’ and we have also learned that many different words may be used in. not only. English but also in the Greek and Hebrew as well, many words in order to more accurately express the meaning and context so that we may correctly understand the meaning of any particular passage that used a form of the word covet.

Sometimes looking behind the word give many more clues to the meaning of something. Many times we look at something, and we put a meaning on a word because of the context that it is in, only to find out that we were only part right. We had the rest of the context correct, but we also only had a partially correct meaning to the ‘unknown’ word. Knowledge is a good thing. Wisdom is a good thing, but we need to apply wisdom to knowledge and knowledge to wisdom to make it work correctly. That partially correct meaning that I’d given to ‘covet’ some 40 years ago stuck. It stuck until just about two years ago when I became acutely aware of the true meaning of the word ‘covet’ one day while simply reading the passage in Romans that I’ll discuss in a moment. In a ‘twinkling’ of an eye I knew what the total and true meaning was—even without lexicons, for at that time I had none. But to express the meaning to others, I was going to have to ‘prove’ it to them—for I found out that they had the same ill-conceived meaning that I had, and I was going to have to show my proof. Therefore, I purchased the books that are necessary to back up what I say. In science there must be a formula to back up the theory, in religion there must be lexicons and dictionaries to back up the revelation to keep one from heresy! How do we do that? Well, we need to remember that in English class, way, way back there in grade school, that we were taught the six points of investigation, revelation and proof, and they are: “Who, How, What, When, Where and Why.” So: (1)How do we covet? (2)What do we covet? (3)When do we covet? (4)Where do we covet? (5)Who covets? And finally, (6)Why do we covet?
………………………………………….
Lets tackle the last question first, then we’ll look at the rest; So:
Why do we covet?

Here’s that passage in Romans that I was talking about earlier:

“…I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said,
You shall not covet. …”[8]


That’s what the apostle Paul wrote. And, you know what—neither would I! Simply put; “It’s the unbridled, uncontrolled desire for—the unabated lusting for—anything that you don’t already have or possess.”

It’s the uncontrollable urge to go out and acquire something that you really want—to get something that you don’t have. It’s a transgression against the Law of God, and anything that transgresses against the Laws of God is a sin.

I remember way back in the seventh grade, I wanted a pair of walkie-talkies really bad. They were in the “Christmas Catalog” from Sears that year. They were black, they had telescoping antennas and they even had a battery condition indicator! I wanted them so bad I cut out the picture and description of them and carried it around with me for a month. I remember them well and to this day I remember what the crinkled up ad looked like! Now, why did I–a single child–have a need, a desire, a lust for walkie-talkies? Something that you would have to have had someone to share them with. An only child on a farm—miles from nowhere, not even a close neighbor my age. I had no one that I could have talked to. I don’t know why I wanted them so, so bad, all I can say is I just did. Maybe it was a precursor to my ham radio days, I don’t know for sure, but boy-oh-boy did I lust for them! I did not realize then what coveting was, you see, nobody had ever explained that coveting was the burning desire for something. I always thought it was a man’s desire of the neighbors donkey (the bible uses another word here), not having anything to do with my lustful wishing for my walkie-talkies. I realize now how wrong that way of thinking was.

Simply put: “When we want anything that we don’t have; we covet.”

How, what and who covets?

Do we covet today? Is coveting still in effect for us Christians? Paul wrote in Romans xiii:9 “…Thou shall not covet…” To me this means that the 10th commandment is still in effect today for those who live under the law, for it is written in the New Testament.

Do you realize that advertisers makes us all covet! We covet anything from ‘Big Macs’ and ‘Whoppers’ to shrimp and lobster dinners. Did this happen in the Bible?

Open your Bibles to Numbers xi and follow along. Verses four through six:


“And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting[9]
and the children of Israel also wept again, and said,
Who shall give us flesh to eat?
We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely;
the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks,
and the onions, and the garlic:
But now our soul is dried away:
there is nothing at all,
beside this manna, before our eyes.”[10]


The LORD had given them manna, and the Hebrews wanted more. They lusted for something more than what they had. What happened to them that lusted? Lets see (same chapter verse thirty-four:

And he called the name of that place Kibroth-hattaavah:
because there they buried the people that lusted.[11]

They died because they had broken the law. Breaking of the law is sin and the wages of sin is death[12].


We covet everything from underwear to the latest fashions. We covet toys when we are children…we covet toys when we’re adults. Remember this saying: “The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys!”? We covet cars, computers, PDA’s and cell phones. We covet CD’s, DVD’s and Ipod’s ®! This is what it means to break the 10th commandment: “We simply desire something!”

Therefore, to ‘covet’ is to desire something—the wanting of whatever it is—really, really bad.


When and where do we covet?

When did we first covet? Eve was tempted by Satan in the Garden of Eden. How did Satan tempt Eve to sin? By making her want something she didn’t have. He made Eve covet! She ate and then told her husband, Adam, about what she now knew, and made him covet for the same thing. Then they lied about it to the LORD and hid from Him. So the original sin was that of coveting what they didn’t have.

Do we sin when we want something we don’t have? After all, that is what coveting means! Does watching television make you covet? Let’s take simple commercials for example. Does that car commercial (no matter what brand) make you wish for a new car? Does anyOld Testamenther commercial make you desire for the product that they’re selling? After all, that is what commercials are designed to do—to make us want something (anything) that we don’t have. To make us hunger for, to want, to wish for that product, no matter what it is; from a Big-Mac to a Lexus to an I-pod and everything and everything in-between. We covet a bowl of Cheerio’s, and therefore we sin without even knowing it. We covet, we sin; we covet, we sin it’s a never ending cycle over something as simple as the burning desire for stuff we don’t have.

We covet, we sin; we covet, we sin; we covet, we sin; it’s an endless cycle!

My wife asked, “Are you sure wanting a ‘Big-Mac’ is a sin?”
I answered, “To be hungry is not a sin, to eat to survive is not a sin. To go and make something in the kitchen is not a sin. The induced ravenous desire for the ‘Big-Mac’ that you saw on television, however, is indeed a sin, for it becomes an unbridled desire for something that you don’t possess and that is covetousness in it’s most basic form!”
But we who have professed Jesus as our Saviour, we are now under Grace and so we are no longer under the law[13]! And, what does that mean? Does that mean that we can covet that Big-Mac and not worry about it? Heaven forbid, for that Big-Mac will make you fat! But, what about all theOld Testamenther stuff; the Lexus’, the I-pod’s? They are all still sins under the law! But Jesus takes us away from the law! We no longer live under the law, but under Grace! Do we still sin? Yes, we do! But, sin is no longer our master, for our master is now Jesus[14]. We are given freedom from the Law by Christ’s sacrifice for us on the Cross[15]. We are assured of that because of the love that God has for us. He demonstrated that love for us when He gives us His unmerited gift of forgiveness called Grace[16].


When we covet, we must repent[17], just as if we had committed adultery or stolen something. We must ask God for forgiveness, and we must try our best not to do that again. So many have been taught that even though they are Christians they will STILL go to hell because of sin(s) that they commit. They are taught that they must live "perfect" lives--as their master lived, and if they don't then they must repent for each and every transgression. This kind of teaching puts salvation upon the sinner and their ability to purify themselves. This ‘confession of sins’ then becomes 'work'--the 'work' of repentance![18]We learned from the Old Testament that this was not possible, for man kept on sinning no matter what.We learn from the N.T. that it's not works that saves ourselves, but we are saved by the love of our Father. That love is called Grace![19]We learn from the N.T. that we no longer have to pay a price for our sins, that we are saved through His love.I still sin, of course I do (we all do)[20], but now my sins are not because I love sin--for sin is no longer my master! But, I still sin because I can't help it. Sin is indwelt in my human nature. However, my fellowship with God is not put to the test because of my sins, for He knows me and has already forgiven me of each and every sin that I have done, am doing or the sins that I ever will do! Jesus did that some one thousand nine hundred and thirty odd years before I was born!
[1] Some might say that I have overstate the case about words, because vulgar words or bad words are inherently wrong; however, I would simply like to observe that bad words were given such a meaning by usage. For example, there have been words in the Bible to describe a donkey, that have by usage become relegated to vulgarity; i.e. Balaam’s ass. (Numbers chapter xxii), or, the name of an illegitimate child given the name "bastard" - however, “bastard” is hardly commonly used to mean such. It is usage by society and culture that I view as the leading influence for a word's vulgarity or rudeness, not the words themselves. Having said that, such usage for certain words is, unfortunately, necessary, at times, to make one’s point because, quite simply, there remains noOld Testamenther way to make some people understand outside of being just plain rude, crude, blunt and vulgar.

[2] Available for free download at: http://www.e-sword.net/

[3] Granted some of the tools on E-Sword are abridged in the extreme with no examples of certain meanings, particularly in the lexional material, but, using E-sword led me to purchase the full printed copies of Brown Driver Brigg’s Hebrew to English Lexicon, Thayer’s Greek to English Lexicon, Smith’s Biblical Dictionary, Nave’s Topical Bible as well as many, many more reference books that allow me to make full use of these materials as originally intended by the the original authors of these reference materials. Because of e-sword’s abridgement some errors can creep in, this is where the use of the printed version is mandated for the serious student, but for a quick, on-the-go type of study they function in a rudimentarily sort of way.


[4] Numbers inside the ( ) are those keyed to Strongs, which in turn is usually keyed to a large group of lexicons. G = Greek and H= Hebrew.

[5] All tools taken from E-Sword will be pre-fixed by an "e-" for electronic.
[6] Wilson’s Old Testament Word Studies; William Wilson; Hendrickson Publishers; Peabody, Massachusetts 01961; ISBN 0-917006-27-5; p. 101 (strangely enough, this book has no copyright date.).
[7] The New Strong’s Concise Concordance & Vine’s Concise Dictionary of the Bible, Two Bible Reference Classics In One Handy Volume; C. 1997, 1999 Thomas Nelson, Inc; Nashville, Tennessee. ISBN 0-7852-4254-6. p. 74 of the Vine’s Dictionary half of the volume which includes: epithumeo, zeloo, orego, epithumetes, epithumia, pleonexia, pleonektes, philafguros and aphilarguros all of which are definitions of the Greek words that have been translated as “Covet, Covetous and/or Covetousness in the New Testament.

[8] Romans vii:7b, paraphrased (HCSB)

[9] (H8378 ta'ăvâh (tah-av-aw') ((we might remember that this was one of the words discussed earlier)) BDB p. 16: a physical appetite, longing for dainty food. cf. Job xxxiii:20; ):

[10] (cf. Psalms xvi:14)
[11] (cf. Psalms cvi:26)

[12] Romans vi:23
[13] Romans vii:6
[14] Romans vi:14-15; Romans viii:1-2
[15] Romans vi:18
[16] Ephesians ii:8-9
[17] Matthew iii:2
[18] Romans iv:4-5
[19] Ephesians ii:8-9
[20] Isaiah lix:7-8; Psalms xiv:1-3; Psalms liii:1-6; Psalms cxlvii:20; Romans iii:9-18