Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
You must not desire your neighbor's house, you must not desire your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.
God is commanding us not to desire or long for things that belong to other people.
📚 Historical Context
This commandment was given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai as part of the Ten Commandments, which established the foundational laws for the Israelites' covenant with God. At that time, the Israelites had recently escaped slavery in Egypt and were forming a new society in the wilderness, where coveting could lead to conflicts over limited resources and undermine community trust. The prohibition specifically addressed internal desires to protect social order and encourage contentment within a nomadic, agrarian culture.
Explore Similar Verses
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.