Coveting? Wanting?

[chunkofcoal]

Is there a difference between "coveting" and "wanting" something?
Like if your neighbor has a nicer house than you and you wish you could have a house like theirs, but not their house, is that "wanting" and not "coveting" or is it all the same?
But is "wanting" bad, too, because it leads to envy?

 

[Dave-W]

Your example is not coveting.

Yes, it can lead to envy, but just wanting a nice house, even a house just like someone's because the layout or the features, etc. really work for you, is NOT coveting.

BUT: If you daydream about how you can force them out of the house to take it for your own, that would be coveting.

BTW, the word used in Matt 5 for "lust" (epithumeo) is translated elsewhere in the NT as "covet."

 

[timewerx]

It's all the same.

 

[RaymondG]

Is there a difference between "coveting" and "wanting" something?
Like if your neighbor has a nicer house than you and you wish you could have a house like theirs, but not their house, is that "wanting" and not "coveting" or is it all the same?
But is "wanting" bad, too, because it leads to envy?

Coveting is not bad....neither is wanting. To me, they are similar but coveting is stronger....it implies a yearning for something that doesn't go away until the object of the desire is obtained. Wanting can be a passing thought.

What can cause issue is the thing for which one covets after......If it is another mans wife....It's a no go......If it is for a spiritual gift....go for it.

As Paul says:
"But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way."

 

[Heber Book List]

DaveW is right.

If your life comes to revolve around something you can't have, and you finish up scheming how you could get it, whatever it takes, that is coveting.

If it is something you would like, something that you can own ie it is does not belong to someone else, that is wanting.

If wanting comes to mean everything to you, that, in turn becomes greed.

 

[Heber Book List]

Coveting is not bad....neither is wanting. To me, they are similar but coveting is stronger....it implies a yearning for something that doesn't go away until the object of the desire is obtained. Wanting can be a passing thought.

What can cause issue is the thing for which one covets after......If it is another mans wife....It's a no go......If it is for a spiritual gift....go for it.

As Paul says:
"But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way."

Paul is talking about seeking (not coveting), the gifts of the Spirit. In the next chapter he shows the best way of all...

 

[RaymondG]

Paul is talking about seeking (not coveting), the gifts of the Spirit. In the next chapter he shows the best way of all...

Is the OP asking about seeking or coveting? They both use the word covet. How do you determine the heart and meaning behind the writers?

Are you saying that to covet means to seek? Or that, when the bible states to do it, it means to seek, and when it says how not to do it, your definition applies?

"Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues."

I say the meaning is the same, yet the object of the coveting changes. Make coveting, neither good nor bad.

 

[Heber Book List]

Is the OP asking about seeking or coveting? They both use the word covet. How do you determine the heart and meaning behind the writers?

Are you saying that to covet means to seek? Or that, when the bible states to do it, it means to seek, and when it says how not to do it, your definition applies?

"Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues."

I say the meaning is the same, yet the object of the coveting changes. Make coveting, neither good nor bad.

It doesn't say 'covet' it says 'eagerly seek' - you obviously have an 'old fashioned' English version.

BTW Readings are best if you quote where they can be found

 

[RaymondG]

It doesn't say 'covet' it says 'eagerly seek' - you obviously have an 'old fashioned' English version.

BTW Readings are best if you quote where they can be found

OK I understand now. Does the version of the bible you read ever use the work "covet" in it?

 

[Heber Book List]

OK I understand now. Does the version of the bible you read ever use the work "covet" in it?

In the the two reference you quotes, no. I would have to look up the word in all the Bible because I can't remember.

 

[RaymondG]

In the the two reference you quotes, no. I would to look up the word in all the Bible because I can't remember.

This makes sense. My quotes are from KJV. I could tell you exactly where, but i dont think it matters as it seems you go with any version that seem to match your own beliefs.

Yes it would be a good idea for you to research all the versions and know which one your words come from.

 

[chunkofcoal]

DaveW is right.

If your life comes to revolve around something you can't have, and you finish up scheming how you could get it, whatever it takes, that is coveting.

If it is something you would like, something that you can own ie it is does not belong to someone else, that is wanting.

If wanting comes to mean everything to you, that, in turn becomes greed.

That makes sense.

 

[chunkofcoal]

Is the OP asking about seeking or coveting? They both use the word covet. How do you determine the heart and meaning behind the writers?

Are you saying that to covet means to seek? Or that, when the bible states to do it, it means to seek, and when it says how not to do it, your definition applies?

"Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues."

I say the meaning is the same, yet the object of the coveting changes. Make coveting, neither good nor bad.

I was thinking more along the lines of this:

Exo 20:17 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.

Eagerly seeking spiritual gifts can be a good thing; wanting things that belong to one's neighbor is not.

 

[chunkofcoal]

Since Yeshua said if a man looks on a woman to lust after her, the man has already committed adultery in his heart, does that mean if a person covets what belongs to their neighbor they have, in their heart, stolen from that neighbor?

 

[RaymondG]

I was thinking more along the lines of this:

Exo 20:17 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.

Eagerly seeking spiritual gifts can be a good thing; wanting things that belong to one's neighbor is not.

The bible i am most familiar with, KJV, says to covet these gifts. I mentioned it only to show that attention should be given to the thing we covet after, more so than the act.

If you think about it...there is nothing on earth that is free....belonging to noone else. So everything you desire on earth belongs to someone else. You hungry.....you covet after food.... the longer you dont eat, the stronger your desire for food....food that now belongs to McD...... and you go out and take/buy it from him and now it is yours to consume.

We need to look deeper into what it being commanded.

We are to not covet certain things. I do not believe that coveting, in general is good or bad.

 

[Heber Book List]

Why would G_d tell you to break his Law by coveting anything?

My copy of Ferrar Fenton's bible, 1906, in which he translates it as 'earnestly desire' the gifts, So it is not exactly a modern understanding.

My interlinear Bible doesn't have 'covet' in those two places. It says to 'zealously strive after'

The NIV says 'eagerly desire' (Thomson's Study Bible)

I use the Complete Jewish Bible - which contains the Tanach and Christian Testament

 

[visionary]

Since Yeshua said if a man looks on a woman to lust after her, the man has already committed adultery in his heart, does that mean if a person covets what belongs to their neighbor they have, in their heart, stolen from that neighbor?

If I see my neighbor with a new lawnmower and would want something like his, but have no thoughts of taking that which is his, it is wanting and not coveting. We do it all the time, with the newest truck, car, dress, etc.. That is where we get ideas of want... If we see something we like, we want it, then we go about thinking about how we can obtain one like it, not it itself. Now if it is one of a kind, and we want it, we may negotiate to obtain it fairly and legally. If that is not possible, may our hearts be blessed with the strength to move on and not let it dwell in the heart.

 

[chunkofcoal]

The bible i am most familiar with, KJV, says to covet these gifts. I mentioned it only to show that attention should be given to the thing we covet after, more so than the act.

If you think about it...there is nothing on earth that is free....belonging to noone else. So everything you desire on earth belongs to someone else. You hungry.....you covet after food.... the longer you dont eat, the stronger your desire for food....food that now belongs to McD...... and you go out and take/buy it from him and now it is yours to consume.

We need to look deeper into what it being commanded.

We are to not covet certain things. I do not believe that coveting, in general is good or bad.

I don't think you are coveting food if you want something because you are hungry. Maybe it would be considered coveting if you are a food hoarder.

God said we are not to covet "any thing that is thy neighbour's" and you posted: "If you think about it...there is nothing on earth that is free....belonging to noone else. So everything you desire on earth belongs to someone else"
So coveting is bad.

 

[chunkofcoal]

If I see my neighbor with a new lawnmower and would want something like his, but have no thoughts of taking that which is his, it is wanting and not coveting. We do it all the time, with the newest truck, car, dress, etc.. That is where we get ideas of want... If we see something we like, we want it, then we go about thinking about how we can obtain one like it, not it itself. Now if it is one of a kind, and we want it, we may negotiate to obtain it fairly and legally. If that is not possible, may our hearts be blessed with the strength to move on and not let it dwell in the heart.

But if one knows they aren't going to be able to have a lawnmower like their neighbors, doesn't that lead to envy, which can lead to coveting? You are optimistic and that is a good thing, but there are people like Lazarus the begger in the world. Maybe for some - those who aren't going to get that lawnmower - it is especially good to look upon their tzitzit?
Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.
(Num 15:38-40)

 

[tampasteve]

My interlinear Bible doesn't have 'covet' in those two places. It says to 'zealously strive after'

Which is the most literal and best translation, IMO. The Greek in those places reads "ζηλοῦτε" transliterates into "zēloute"or zealous. The KJV (like all other translators) chose where ζηλοῦτε reads "covet" or where it reads another word.