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Exodus 20:17

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
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.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

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.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

God is commanding us not to desire or long for things that belong to other people.

📚 Historical Context

This is the tenth and final commandment given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. Unlike the other commandments that focus on outward actions, this one addresses the heart and mind - the internal desires that often lead to breaking the other commandments. In ancient Israel, a person's household included their family, servants, and livestock, which represented their livelihood and security.

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