Covet, Covetousness* — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

The desire to have something for oneself that belongs to another—a craving or passionate desire. Three Hebrew words are translated “covet” in the OT (see rsv). In one recital of the Ten Commandments (Dt 5:21) the text reads, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.” The same Hebrew word occurs in Proverbs 21:26: “All day long the wicked covets.” Another word implies dishonest gain (Hb 2:9). In the Exodus listing of the Ten Commandments, a third word is used for craving a neighbor’s wife (Ex 20:17). The same word is used of Achan’s coveting of the spoils of Ai (Jos 7:21; cf. Mi 2:2). To covet is to desire inordinately, to place the object of desire before love and devotion to God.

Show passage in OET: DEU 5:21

OET-RV DEU 5:21

• 21 Don’t covet your neighbour’s spouse, or their house or land, or their slaves or livestock, or anything else that they own.’

OET-LV DEU 5:21

21 And_not you _must _covet the _wife _of your _neighbour _of_your and_not you _must _desire the _house _of your _neighbour _of_your field _of_his and_his_male_of_servant and_his _female _of_servant ox _of_his and_donkey _of_his and_all/each/any/every that belongs_to_neighbour _of_your.

Show passage in OET: PRO 21:26

OET-RV PRO 21:26

26 All day long, they fantasise their craving,
⇔ ^ but people who do what’s right, give without holding back.

OET-LV PRO 21:26

26 All _of the_day he _craves a _craving and_a _righteous_person he _gives and_not he _keeps _back.

Show passage in OET: HAB 2:9

OET-RV HAB 2:9

9 It won’t end well for anyone who’s used evil gains to furnish his house.
⇔ He wanted to set his nest on high to keep himself safe from the hand of evil,

OET-LV HAB 2:9

9 Woe _to one _who_gains unjust _gain evil for_house _of_his to_set on_places nest _of_his to_deliver _himself from_the_palm _of evil.

Show passage in OET: EXO 20:17

OET-RV EXO 20:17

• 17 You mustn’t covet your neighbour’s house or spouse, or their male or female servants, or their animals, or anything else they own.

OET-LV EXO 20:17

17 Not you _must _covet the _house _of your _neighbour _of_your not you _must _covet the _wife _of your _neighbour _of_your and_his_male_of_servant and_his _female _of_servant and_ox _of_his and_donkey _of_his and_all/each/any/every that belongs_to_neighbour _of_your.

Show passage in OET: JOS 7:21

OET-RV JOS 7:21

21 I saw a beautiful Babylonian cloak and two hundred silver pieces and a tongue-shaped piece of gold (weighing six-hundred grams) there inside Yeriho (Jericho). I wanted them so I took them, and they’re hidden in the ground under my tent, with the silver underneath.”

OET-LV JOS 7:21

21 And among_booty (the)_cloak _of Shinˊār one good and_two _hundreds shekels silver and_(the)_tongue gold one was_fifty shekels weight _of_its and_I_desired _them and_I_took _them and_there_they are_hidden on _the_earth in _the_middle of _(the)_tent _of_my and_the_silver is_under_it.

Show passage in OET: MIC 2:2

OET-RV MIC 2:2

2 They see fields that they’d like and seize them,
⇔ ≈ and houses and they just take them.
⇔ They’ll oppress a man and his household—
⇔ ≈ even taking property handed down in the family.

OET-LV MIC 2:2

2 And_they _desire fields and_they _seize_them and_houses and_they _take_them and_they _oppress a _man and_his/its_house(hold) and_a _man and_inheritance _of_his.

Jump to OET DEU 5:21 section.

Jump to OET PRO 21:26 section.

Jump to OET HAB 2:9 section.

Jump to OET EXO 20:17 section.

Jump to OET JOS 7:21 section.

Jump to OET MIC 2:2 section.

That idea is conveyed in the NT by a Greek word literally meaning “inordinate desire to have more.” The apostle Paul listed that kind of covetousness among earthly attitudes of which Christians are to rid themselves. “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Col 3:5, rsv; cf. Eph 5:3; 1 Cor 6:10).

Show passage in OET: COL 3:5

OET-RV COL 3:5

5 So put your earthly natures to death: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desires, and greediness which is idolatry,

OET-LV COL 3:5

5 Therefore make _dead your members which are on the earth:
sexual _immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greediness, which is idolatry,

Show passage in OET: EPH 5:3

OET-RV EPH 5:3

3 It’s fitting for dedicated believers to not even entertain thoughts of sexual immorality or impurity or greed.

OET-LV EPH 5:3

3 But sexual _immorality, and all impurity, or greediness, not it _let _be _being _named among you _all, as is _befitting to _holy ones,

Show passage in OET: CO1 6:10

OET-RV CO1 6:10

10 or thieves or the greedy, or drunkards or slanderers or swindlers, will inherit God’s kingdom.

OET-LV CO1 6:10

10 nor thieves, nor coveters, not drunkards, not insulters, not swindlers, the_kingdom of_god will _be _inheriting.

Jump to OET COL 3:5 section.

Jump to OET EPH 5:3 section.

Jump to OET CO1 6:10 section.

Covetousness is pictured as a serious sin that leads to a variety of other sins. The love of money is the root of all evils (1 Tm 6:9-10; cf. Prv 15:27). It was the sin of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-3; cf. 1 Sm 15:9, 19 OET SA1 15:9 · OET SA1 15:19; Mt 26:14-15; 2 Pt 2:15; Jude 1:11). Jesus warned: “Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Lk 12:15, rsv). Another Greek word translated “covet” in the KJB is better translated “earnestly desire” in a positive sense (1 Cor 14:39).

Show passage in OET: TI1 6:9–10

OET-RV TI1 6:9

9 Those who desire wealth fall into temptation. It’s a trap which leads to many foolish and harmful desires, resulting in people sinking into ruin and destruction

OET-RV TI1 6:10

10 because that desire for wealth is the root of all evil. Some who aspired to becoming wealthy wandered away from faith in Yeshua and wounded themselves with many disappointments.

OET-LV TI1 6:9

9 But the ones wishing to _be _being _rich, are _falling _in into temptation, and a_snare, and many foolish and harmful desires, which are _sinking the people into destruction and destruction.

OET-LV TI1 6:10

10 For/Because a_root of _all the evil is the fondness _of _silver, of _which some aspiring, have _wandered _away from the faith, and pierced themselves with_ many _sorrows.

Show passage in OET: PRO 15:27

OET-RV PRO 15:27

27 The person who makes unjust gains, brings troubles on their own home,
⇔ ^ but the one who hates bribes will live.

OET-LV PRO 15:27

27 one _who_gains _unjustly unjust _gain is_troubling house _of_his _own and_one _who_hates gifts he _will _live.

Show passage in OET: ACT 5:1–3

OET-RV ACT 5:1

5 But in contrast, a couple named Hananyah (Ananias; Grk. Hananias) and Sapfira sold a property

OET-RV ACT 5:2

2 but agreed together to hide some of the proceeds. So Hananyah brought a smaller amount and put it down in front of the missionaries.

OET-RV ACT 5:3

3 Then Kefa (Peter; Grk. Petros) said, “Hananyah, why has Satan filled your mind such that you would lie to the holy spirit and keep aside some of the proceeds of the property?

OET-LV ACT 5:1

5 But a_certain man by_the_name Ananias, with Sapfeiraʸ the wife of _him, sold a_property

OET-LV ACT 5:2

2 and embezzled from the value, the wife also having _become _aware, and having _brought a_certain portion, he _laid it before the feet of _the ambassadors.

OET-LV ACT 5:3

3 But the Petros said:
Ananias, because/for_ Why _reason the Satan/(Sāţān) filled the heart of _you, for _you to _lie to _the the holy spirit, and to _embezzle from the value of _the property?

Show passage in OET: SA1 15:9; SA1 15:19

OET-RV SA1 15:9

9 However, as well as sparing Agag, they took the best sheep and cattle

OET-RV SA1 15:19

19 So why didn’t you obey Yahweh’s command? Instead, you headed straight for the plunder and disobeyed Yahweh.”

OET-LV SA1 15:9

9 And_ Shāʼūl and_the_people _he _had _compassion on ʼAgag and_on the _best _of the _sheep and_the_cattle and_the_second and_on the_lambs and_on all _of the_good and_not they _were _willing to_totally _destroy _them and_all the_property despised and_worthless DOM_her/it they _totally _destroyed.

OET-LV SA1 15:19

19 And_for_what not did _you _listen to_the _voice _of YHWH and_did _you _rush to the_plunder and_did _you _do the_evil in/on_both _eyes _of YHWH.

Show passage in OET: MAT 26:14–15

OET-RV MAT 26:14

14 Then one of the twelve named Yehudah (Judas; Grk. Yudas) Iskariot went to the chief priests

OET-RV MAT 26:15

15 and asked, How much are you willing to pay me if I hand him over to you all?” They offered thirty silver coins

OET-LV MAT 26:14

14 Then one of _the twelve who being _called Youdas/(Yəhūdāh) Iskariōtaʸs, having _been _gone to the chief _priests

OET-LV MAT 26:15

15 he _said:
What are _you _all _willing to _give to _me, and _I will _be _giving_ him _over to _you _all?
And they they _set to _him thirty silver _coins.

Show passage in OET: PE2 2:15

OET-RV PE2 2:15

15 They have left the right path and gone astray, following the path of Be’or’s son Bil’am (Balaam) who loved the wages of unrighteousness,

OET-LV PE2 2:15

15 having _left the_straight way, they _were _strayed having _followed _after in _the way of_ the _Balaʼam/(Bilˊām) of_ the _Bosor/(Bəˊōr), who loved the_wage of _unrighteousness,

Show passage in OET: JDE 1:11

OET-RV JDE 1:11

11 Oh dear! Because they’ve followed the actions of Kayin (Cain) and have embraced the deception of Bil’am (Balaam) for monetary gain, so too they’ll perish like Korah’s destruction.

OET-LV JDE 1:11

11 Woe to _them.
Because they _were _gone in _the way of_ the _Kain/(Qayin), and they _were _poured _out to _the deception the of _Balaʼam/(Bilˊām) for _reward, and in _the controversy of_ the _Kore/(Qoraḩ) they _perished.

Show passage in OET: LUK 12:15

OET-RV LUK 12:15

15 Then he told them, “Keep alert to avoid all greediness, because a person’s life is not about gaining lots of possessions.”

OET-LV LUK 12:15

15 And he _said to them:
Be _watching and be _keeping from all greediness, because the life of _him is not in the thing to _be _being _plentiful to _anyone, of the things possessing to _him.

Show passage in OET: CO1 14:39

OET-RV CO1 14:39

39 So brothers and sisters, strive to be able to prophesy, and don’t forbid the speaking of other languages,

OET-LV CO1 14:39

39 So _as, brothers, be _being _zealous which to _be _prophesying, and which to _be _speaking not be _forbidding with with _tongues.

Jump to OET TI1 6:9–10 section.

Jump to OET PRO 15:27 section.

Jump to OET ACT 5:1–3 section.

Jump to OET SA1 15:9 section. · OET SA1 15:19 section.

Jump to OET MAT 26:14–15 section.

Jump to OET PE2 2:15 section.

Jump to OET JDE 1:11 section.

Jump to OET LUK 12:15 section.

Jump to OET CO1 14:39 section.

The translators of the OT who produced the Septuagint used still another Greek word for the three Hebrew words rendered “covet” in English versions. In the NT the verb form of that word is used in both a positive and negative sense. It means “to desire or long for,” whether food (Lk 15:16), the divine mysteries (Mt 13:17; 1 Pt 1:12), some good thing (Phil 1:23; Heb 6:11), or some evil thing (Mt 5:28; 1 Thes 4:5; 1 Jn 2:17). The noun form of the same word generally reflects an attitude of disobedience to the law of God in which desire has given place to an evil impulse that results in sin (Jn 8:44; Rom 1:24; 6:12; 7:7-8; 13:14; Gal 5:16, 26 OET GAL 5:16 · OET GAL 5:26).

Show passage in OET: LUK 15:16

OET-RV LUK 15:16

16 As the pigs were eating their carob pods, their food started to look desirable to him, but he wasn’t given any.

OET-LV LUK 15:16

16 And he _was _desiring to _be _satisfied from the carob _pods which the pigs were _eating, and no _one was _giving to _him.

Show passage in OET: MAT 13:17

OET-RV MAT 13:17

17 because I can assure you guys that many prophets and godly people wanted to see what you’re seeing, but they didn’t see, and they wanted to hear what you’re hearing, but they didn’t hear it either.

OET-LV MAT 13:17

17 For/Because, truly I _am _saying to _you _all that many prophets and righteous men desired to _see what you _all _are _seeing, and they_ not _saw, and to _hear what you _all _are _hearing, and they_ not _heard.

Show passage in OET: PE1 1:12

OET-RV PE1 1:12

12 It was shown to them that they weren’t just serving themselves, but were serving you as they declared all the same things that have been preached to you by the holy spirit who was sent from heaven. Even God’s messengers in heaven wanted to know more about those things.

OET-LV PE1 1:12

12 To _whom it _was _revealed that they _were_ not _serving unto _themselves, but unto _you _all the_same things, which now was _declared to _you _all, by the ones having _good _message _preached to _you _all by_the_ holy _spirit, having _been _sent _out from heaven, into which things messengers are _desiring to _investigate.

Show passage in OET: PHP 1:23

OET-RV PHP 1:23

23 I feel squeezed between the two: the desire to depart from here and be with Messiah which would be much better,

OET-LV PHP 1:23

23 I _am _being _pressed and by the two, the desire having in _order that to _depart and with chosen _one /messiah to _be, because/for by _much more better,

Show passage in OET: HEB 6:11

OET-RV HEB 6:11

11 And our desire is for each of you to be displaying the same earnestness and the full assurance of hope until the end

OET-LV HEB 6:11

11 And we _are _desiring each of _you _all the same to _be _displaying earnestness, toward the full _assurance of _the hope until the_end,

Show passage in OET: MAT 5:28

OET-RV MAT 5:28

28 but I’m telling you that if you look at a woman lustfully then you’ve already committed adultery in your mind.

OET-LV MAT 5:28

28 But I am _saying to _you _all that everyone which looking at_a_woman in _order that to _lust for _her, already committed _adultery with _her in the heart of _him.

Show passage in OET: TH1 4:5

OET-RV TH1 4:5

5 Don’t fill them with lustful passions like those who don’t know God,

OET-LV TH1 4:5

5 not in the_passion of _lust, just _as also the pagans which not having _known the god,

Show passage in OET: JN1 2:17

OET-RV JN1 2:17

17 And the world will come to an end along with the desire for it, but the person obeying God’s desires will continue to live.

OET-LV JN1 2:17

17 And the world and the desire of _it is _being _passed _away, but the one doing the will of_ the _god is _remaining for the age.

Show passage in OET: JHN 8:44

OET-RV JHN 8:44

44 is because you come from your father, the devil, and you want to do what your father wants. But he was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stick to the truth because there’s no truth in him. Whenever he tells lies, he’s speaking from his own nature, because he’s a liar and the source of lying.

OET-LV JHN 8:44

44 You _all are of the father the devil, and you _all _are _wanting to _be _doing the desires of _the father of _you _all.
That one was a_murderer from the_beginning, and has_ not _stood in the truth, because truth is not in him.
Whenever he _may _be _speaking the falsehood, he _is _speaking from his own, because he _is a_liar, and the father of _it.

Show passage in OET: ROM 1:24

OET-RV ROM 1:24

24 Therefore God reluctantly let their lusts lead to impurity and the dishonouring of their bodies among themselves,

OET-LV ROM 1:24

24 Therefore gave _over them the god in the desires of _the hearts of _them to impurity, which to _be _dishonouring the bodies of _them in themselves,

Show passage in OET: ROM 6:12

OET-RV ROM 6:12

12 So therefore don’t let sin rule over your mortal bodies in such a way that you’re submitting to its lusts.

OET-LV ROM 6:12

12 Therefore not let _be _reigning the sin in the mortal of _you _all body, in _order that to _be _submitting in _the lusts of _it.

Show passage in OET: ROM 7:7–8

OET-RV ROM 7:7

7 So what will we say then? That the law is sin? Not on your life! I wouldn’t have known what sin was if it wasn’t for the Law. For example, I wouldn’t have known what coveting was if the Law hadn’t told me not to covet.

OET-RV ROM 7:8