Coveting, or envying what someone else has, is a sin according to the Bible. Here is an overview of some key Bible verses about coveting and an explanation of what they teach us:
The Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:17 state plainly: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” This foundational commandment forbids coveting anything that belongs to your neighbor.
Exodus 20:17
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” (Exodus 20:17 ESV)
This key verse is part of the Ten Commandments given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai. It specifically prohibits coveting your neighbor’s possessions or relationships. This includes coveting your neighbor’s spouse, servants, animals, or any other item that does not belong to you. The focus is on being content with what God has given you and not desiring what He has given to others.
Deuteronomy 5:21
“’And you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. And you shall not 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.’” (Deuteronomy 5:21 ESV)
Deuteronomy 5 contains a retelling of the Ten Commandments. This verse parallels Exodus 20:17, reiterating that coveting your neighbor’s possessions and relationships is forbidden by God. The heart attitude of wanting what is not yours is the crux of coveting.
Romans 7:7-8
“Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.” (Romans 7:7-8 ESV)
In this passage, Paul explains that he would not have understood sin without God’s law. The command not to covet opened his eyes to the presence of all kinds of covetous desires in his heart. This shows that prohibiting coveting reveals our inclinations to sin.
Luke 12:15
And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15 ESV)
Jesus warned against covetousness because desiring material wealth does not lead to meaningful life. He taught that life is more than accumulating possessions. This reminds us to avoid covetousness by being content with God’s provision for our needs.
Ephesians 5:3-5
But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (Ephesians 5:3-5 ESV)
Paul associates covetousness with idolatry, sexual immorality, and impurity. He urges Christians to avoid these sins and instead be thankful for what they have. Covetousness reveals a lack of trust in God’s provision and a desire to obtain things through sinful means.
James 4:1-3
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. (James 4:1-3 ESV)
James traces fights and quarrels among Christians back to covetous desires that lead to murder and conflict when unfulfilled. He advises bringing these desires to God in prayer instead of acting on them sinfully. Covetousness springs from wrong motives and results in further sin.
Hebrews 13:5
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5 ESV)
This exhortation encourages being content with what God has provided. Covetousness and loving money are linked, but with God’s promise to always be with us, we can be satisfied in Him rather than seeking fulfillment in possessions and wealth.
Colossians 3:5-6
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. (Colossians 3:5-6 ESV)
Paul again links covetousness to immorality and evil desires, labelling it idolatry that deserves God’s judgement. As Christians we are called to put sinful coveting to death through the power of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 ESV)
Paul warns that those whose lives are characterized by coveting and greed will not inherit God’s kingdom. Covetousness is a mark of unrighteousness alongside other sins like sexual immorality, idolatry, and drunkenness.
1 Timothy 6:6-10
But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. (1 Timothy 6:6-10 ESV)
Paul contrasts covetousness and desire for riches with godly contentment. He teaches that coveting wealth leads to temptation, harm, ruin, and wandering from the faith. But living simply with food, clothing, and godliness brings great gain.
Exodus 34:24
For I will cast out nations before you and enlarge your borders; no one shall covet your land, when you go up to appear before the Lord your God three times in the year. (Exodus 34:24 ESV)
God promised to protect Israel’s land from coveting enemies when they obeyed His command for annual feasts and pilgrimages. Coveting can occur between nations regarding resources and assets, but God guards what He has allotted.
Micah 2:1-2
Woe to those who devise wickedness
and work evil on their beds!
When the morning dawns, they perform it,
because it is in the power of their hand.
They covet fields and seize them,
and houses, and take them away;
they oppress a man and his house,
a man and his inheritance. (Micah 2:1-2 ESV)
The prophet Micah rebukes those who covetously take land and houses through violence and oppression. This demonstrates how unchecked covetousness leads to acting out sin against others.
Acts 20:32-35
And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:32-35 ESV)
Paul uses his own example of avoiding covetousness and laboring to provide for the needy. He recalls Jesus’ words that giving is more blessed than receiving. Generosity counters covetousness.
Joshua 7:20-26
And Achan answered Joshua, “Truly I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and this is what I did: when I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, then I coveted them and took them. And see, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath.” So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and behold, it was hidden in his tent with the silver underneath. And they took them out of the tent and brought them to Joshua and to all the people of Israel. And they laid them down before the Lord. And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver and the cloak and the bar of gold, and his sons and daughters and his oxen and donkeys and sheep and his tent and all that he had. And they brought them up to the Valley of Achor. And Joshua said, “Why did you bring trouble on us? The Lord brings trouble on you today.” And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones. (Joshua 7:20-26 ESV)
When Achan coveted and took devoted items during Jericho’s destruction, it brought judgement on Israel. His covetousness cost his life and the lives of his family. This illustrates the national impact and serious consequences of individual covetous sin.
Genesis 3:6
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3:6 ESV)
Eve’s covetousness for the forbidden fruit led her to take and eat it along with Adam. This first covetous act of human history resulted in the Fall and introduced sin, death, pain, and separation from God into the world.
Proverbs 21:25-26
The desire of the sluggard kills him,
for his hands refuse to labor.
All day long he craves and craves,
but the righteous gives and does not hold back. (Proverbs 21:25-26 ESV)
Covetous cravings lead to laziness, addiction, and destruction, while righteous generosity leads to freedom and life. Choosing contentment and diligence counters covetous cravings.
Habakkuk 2:9
“Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house,
to set his nest on high,
to be safe from the reach of harm! (Habakkuk 2:9 ESV)
The prophet pronounces judgement on those who covetously gain wealth and power while oppressing others. Position and security cannot protect from God’s judgement.
Job 31:24-25
“If I have made gold my trust
or called fine gold my confidence,
if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant
or because my hand had found much, (Job 31:24-25 ESV)
Job affirms he has not covetously trusted in his wealth or taken pride in his possessions. Placing faith in God rather than riches guards against covetousness.
Coveting is a serious sin that the Bible consistently warns against from Genesis to Revelation. These verses illustrate the forms it can take, its close ties with idolatry and immorality, and the harm it causes. They instruct us not to covet anything that God has given to others, but instead develop godly contentment, gratitude, generosity, and diligence. The good news is that through Christ, covetous desires can be overcome and godly characteristics developed in their place by the power of the Holy Spirit.