Covetousness

A strong desire after the possession of worldly things (Col. 3:5; Eph. 5:5; Heb. 13:5; 1 Tim. 6:9, 10; Matt. 6:20). It assumes sometimes the more aggravated form of avarice, which is the mark of cold-hearted worldliness.

kuv'-et-us-nes: Has a variety of shades of meaning determined largely by the nature of the particular word used, or the context, or both. Following are some of the uses:

(1) To gain dishonestly (batsa`), e.g. the King James Version Ex 18:21; Eze 33:31.

(2) The wish to have more than one possesses, inordinately, of course (pleonexia), e.g. Lu 12:15; 1Th 2:5.

(3) An inordinate love of money philarguros, the King James Version Lu 16:14; 2Ti 3:2; philarguria, 1Ti 6:10; negative in Heb 13:5, the King James Version.

Covetousness is a very grave sin; indeed, so heinous is it that the Scriptures class it among the very gravest and grossest crimes (Eph 5:3). In Col 3:5 it is "idolatry," while in 1Co 6:10 it is set forth as excluding a man from heaven. Its heinousness, doubtless, is accounted for by its being in a very real sense the root of so many other forms of sin, e.g. departure from the faith (1Ti 6:9,10); lying (2Ki 5:22-25); theft (Jos 7:21); domestic trouble (Pr 15:27); murder (Eze 22:12); indeed, it leads to "many foolish and hurtful lusts" (1Ti 6:9). Covetousness has always been a very serious menace to mankind, whether in the Old Testament or New Testament period. It was one of the first sins that broke out after Israel had entered into the promised land (Achan, Jos 7); and also in the early Christian church immediately after its founding (Ananias and Sapphira, Ac 5); hence, so many warnings against it. A careful reading of the Old Testament will reveal the fact that a very great part of the Jewish law--such as its enactments and regulations regarding duties toward the poor, toward servants; concerning gleaning, usury, pledges, gold and silver taken during war--was introduced and intended to counteract the spirit of covetousness.

Eerdmans maintains (Expos, July, 1909) that the commandment, "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house" (Ex 20:17), meant to the Israelite that he should not take anything of his neighbor's possessions that were momentarily unprotected by their owner. Compare Ex 34:23 ff. Thus, it refers to a category of acts that is not covered by the commandment, "Thou shalt not steal." It is an oriental habit of mind from of old that when anyone sees abandoned goods which he thinks desirable, there is not the least objection to taking them, and Ex 20:17 b is probably an explanation of what is to be understood by "house" in Ex 20:17 a.

Examples of covetousness: Achan (Jos 7); Saul (1Sa 15:9,19); Judas (Mt 26:14,15); Ananias and Sapphira (Ac 5:1-11); Balaam (2Pe 2:15 with Jude 1:11).

William Evans

• → General scriptures concerning Ex 18:21; 20:17; De 5:21; Ne 5:7; Job 20:15; 31:24,25,28; Ps 10:3; 119:36; Pr 1:19; 11:24,26; 15:27; 21:25,26; 22:16; 23:4,5; 30:8,9; Ec 1:2-8; 4:8; 5:10,11; Isa 1:23; 5:8; 56:11; 57:17; Jer 6:13; 8:10; 17:11; 22:17; 51:13; Eze 22:12,13; 33:31; Ho 4:18; 10:1; Mic 2:2; 3:11; 7:3; Hab 1:15,16; 2:5-9; Hag 1:6; Mal 1:10; Mt 6:19-21,24,25,31-33; 13:22; 16:26; 19:23,24; 22:1-14; Mr 4:19; 7:21-23; Lu 7:14; 12:15-21,33,34; 14:16-24; 18:24,25; Joh 6:26,27; Ro 1:29; 13:9; 1Co 5:11; 6:10; Eph 5:3,5; Col 3:2,5,6; Php 3:18,19; 1Th 2:5; 1Ti 3:3; 6:5-11,17; 2Ti 3:2; Tit 1:7,11; Heb 13:5; Jas 4:2,13-17; 1Pe 5:2; 2Pe 2:3,14-16; 1Jo 2:15-17; Jude 1:11
• → See AVARICE
• → See RICH
• → See RICHES
• → See WORLDLINESS
• → INSTANCES OF
  • Eve, in desiring the forbidden fruit Ge 3:6
  • Lot, in choosing the plain of the Jordan Ge 13:10-13
  • Laban
• In giving Rebekah to be Isaac's wife Ge 24:29-51
• In deceiving Jacob when he served him seven years for Rachel Ge 29:15-30
• In deceiving Jacob in wages Ge 31:7,15,41,42
  • Jacob
• In defrauding Esau of his, father's blessing Ge 27:6-29
• In defrauding Laban of his flocks and herds Ge 30:35-43
• In buying Esau's birthright Ge 25:31
  • Balaam, in loving the wages of unrighteousness 2Pe 2:15; with Nu 22
  • Achan, in hiding the treasure Jos 7:21
  • Eli's sons, in taking the flesh of the sacrifice 1Sa 2:13-17
  • Samuel's sons, in taking bribes 1Sa 8:3
  • Saul, in sparing, Agag and the booty 1Sa 15:8,9
  • David, of Bath-sheba 2Sa 11:2-5
  • Ahab, in desiring Naboth's vineyard 1Ki 21:2-16
  • Gehazi, in taking a gift from Naaman 2Ki 5:20-27
  • Some Jews
• In exacting usury from their brethren Ne 5:1-11
• In keeping back the portion of the Levites Ne 13:10
• In building fine houses while the house of the Lord lay waste Hag 1:4-9
• In following Jesus merely for the loaves and fish Joh 6:26
  • Money-changers in the temple Mt 21:12,13; Lu 19:45,46; Joh 2:14-16
  • The rich young ruler Mt 19:16-22
  • The rich fool Lu 12:15-21
  • Judas, in betraying Jesus for twenty pieces of silver Mt 26:15,16; Mr 14:10,11; Lu 22:3-6; Joh 12:6
  • The unjust steward Lu 16:1-8
  • The Pharisees Lu 16:14
  • Simon Magus, in trying to buy the gift of the Holy Spirit Ac 8:18-23
  • The sorcerers, in filing complaint against Paul and Silas Ac 16:19
  • Demetrius, in raising a riot against Paul and Silas Ac 19:24,27
  • Festus, in hoping for a bribe from Paul Ac 24:26
  • Demas in forsaking Paul for love of the world 2Ti 4:10
  • See AVARICE
  • See BRIBERY
  • See RICH
  • See RICHES

• Comes from the heart Mr 7:22,23
• Engrosses the heart Eze 33:31; 2Pe 2:14
• Is idolatry Eph 5:5; Col 3:5
• Is the root of all evil 1Ti 6:10
• Is never satisfied Ec 5:10; Hab 2:5
• Is vanity Ps 39:6; Ec 4:8
• IS INCONSISTENT
  • In saints Eph 5:3; Heb 13:5
  • Specially in ministers 1Ti 3:3
• LEADS TO
  • Injustice and oppression Pr 28:20; Mic 2:2
  • Foolish and hurtful lusts 1Ti 6:9
  • Departure from the faith 1Ti 6:10
  • Lying 2Ki 5:22-25
  • Murder Pr 1:18,19; Eze 22:12
  • Theft Jos 7:21
  • Poverty Pr 28:22
  • Misery 1Ti 6:10
  • Domestic affliction Pr 15:27
• Abhorred by God Ps 10:3
• Forbidden Ex 20:17
• A characteristic of the wicked Ro 1:29
• A characteristic of the slothful Pr 21:26
• Commended by the wicked alone Ps 10:3
• Hated by saints Ex 18:21; Ac 20:33
• To be mortified by saints Col 3:5
• Woe denounced against Isa 5:8; Hab 2:9
• Punishment of Job 20:15; Isa 57:17; Jer 22:17-19; Mic 2:2,3
• Excludes from heaven 1Co 6:10; Eph 5:5
• Beware of Lu 12:15
• Avoid those guilty of 1Co 5:11
• Pray against Ps 119:36
• Reward of those who hate Pr 28:16
• Shall abound in the last days 2Ti 3:2; 2Pe 2:1-3
• Exemplified
  • Laban Ge 31:41
  • Achan Jos 7:21
  • Eli's sons 1Sa 2:12-14
  • Samuel's sons 1Sa 8:3
  • Saul 1Sa 15:9,19
  • Ahab 1Ki 21:2-4
  • Gehazi 2Ki 5:20-24
  • Nobles of the Jews Ne 5:7; Isa 1:23
  • Jewish people Isa 56:11; Jer 6:13
  • Babylon Jer 51:13
  • Young man Mt 19:22
  • Judas Mt 26:14,15; Joh 12:6
  • Pharisees Lu 16:14
  • Ananias &c Ac 5:1-10
  • Felix Ac 24:26
  • Balaam 2Pe 2:15; Jude 1:11