Deuteronomy 5:21 - “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. Neither shall you desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”
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What does "Deuteronomy 5:21" mean?
Deuteronomy 5:21 (and its parallel in Exodus 20:17) is part of the Ten Commandments and addresses the sin of covetousness. Let's break it down:
"You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife...": This is a direct prohibition against desiring another man's wife. It goes beyond simple attraction; it condemns the active longing to possess her.
"Neither shall you desire your neighbor’s house, his field...": This extends the prohibition to possessions. It prohibits the internal lusting after someone else's property. A "house" and "field" were significant assets in an agrarian society, representing stability and livelihood.
"...or his male servant, or his female servant...": Servants represented labor and status. To covet them means to want to take away the labor and status of your neighbor.
"...his ox, or his donkey...": These were valuable livestock, crucial for farming and transportation. Coveting them means desiring to deprive your neighbor of essential resources.
"...or anything that is your neighbor’s.": This is a catch-all phrase that covers anything of value belonging to your neighbor. It makes the commandment comprehensive.
In essence, the verse prohibits the following:
Internal desire: It's not just about acting on your desires. The very act of wanting what belongs to your neighbor is sinful. It attacks the root of sinful behavior.
Jealousy and discontentment: Coveting stems from being dissatisfied with what you have and resenting your neighbor's possessions or circumstances.
Undermining social harmony: Covetousness breeds resentment, envy, and ultimately, can lead to actions that harm your neighbor, their property, and the community.
Respecting boundaries: It acknowledges the right to ownership and the sanctity of personal property. It promotes a society where people are content with what they have and respect the possessions of others.
Key takeaways:
It's a commandment about the heart: It addresses the inner thoughts and desires, not just outward actions.
It emphasizes contentment: It implies that individuals should be content with what they have and not constantly yearn for more.
It protects relationships: Coveting damages relationships, especially in the case of a neighbor's wife.
It's a foundation for ethical behavior: By addressing the root of sinful actions (desire), it aims to prevent those actions from ever occurring.
This commandment serves as a cornerstone of moral and ethical behavior, encouraging inner contentment, respect for others, and a stable society. It recognizes that sinful actions often begin with sinful desires.
Deuteronomy 5:21 - “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. Neither shall you desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”
What does "Deuteronomy 5:21" mean?
Deuteronomy 5:21 (and its parallel in Exodus 20:17) is part of the Ten Commandments and addresses the sin of covetousness. Let's break it down:
"You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife...": This is a direct prohibition against desiring another man's wife. It goes beyond simple attraction; it condemns the active longing to possess her.
"Neither shall you desire your neighbor’s house, his field...": This extends the prohibition to possessions. It prohibits the internal lusting after someone else's property. A "house" and "field" were significant assets in an agrarian society, representing stability and livelihood.
"...or his male servant, or his female servant...": Servants represented labor and status. To covet them means to want to take away the labor and status of your neighbor.
"...his ox, or his donkey...": These were valuable livestock, crucial for farming and transportation. Coveting them means desiring to deprive your neighbor of essential resources.
"...or anything that is your neighbor’s.": This is a catch-all phrase that covers anything of value belonging to your neighbor. It makes the commandment comprehensive.
In essence, the verse prohibits the following:
Internal desire: It's not just about acting on your desires. The very act of wanting what belongs to your neighbor is sinful. It attacks the root of sinful behavior.
Jealousy and discontentment: Coveting stems from being dissatisfied with what you have and resenting your neighbor's possessions or circumstances.
Undermining social harmony: Covetousness breeds resentment, envy, and ultimately, can lead to actions that harm your neighbor, their property, and the community.
Respecting boundaries: It acknowledges the right to ownership and the sanctity of personal property. It promotes a society where people are content with what they have and respect the possessions of others.
Key takeaways:
It's a commandment about the heart: It addresses the inner thoughts and desires, not just outward actions.
It emphasizes contentment: It implies that individuals should be content with what they have and not constantly yearn for more.
It protects relationships: Coveting damages relationships, especially in the case of a neighbor's wife.
It's a foundation for ethical behavior: By addressing the root of sinful actions (desire), it aims to prevent those actions from ever occurring.
This commandment serves as a cornerstone of moral and ethical behavior, encouraging inner contentment, respect for others, and a stable society. It recognizes that sinful actions often begin with sinful desires.