Ten Commandments part 10?

Question

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife. thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house"

This is probably the most interesting as it prohibits thought.

Is this trying to wipe out legal problems before they happen by suggesting to people that thoughts are equal to deeds?

How far is term covet meant to go?

Is it wrong to look at your neighbor's house and aspire to have the same?

Is it an attempt to prevent crimes of passion by trying to make people punish themselves for thinking about another person's partner?

Where is the line drawn between recognising beauty and coveting?

.........or aspiration and envy?

Answer 1

I would think the line should be drawn at "disharmony". - And, we are all qualified to know the meaning of that term.

Answer 2

To fully answer this you'd have to look at the original Hebrew wording and understand the connotations of the word that was translated as "Covet". Interestingly, if you just take this law you could covet your neighbor's mother, aunt, daughter or sister, cow, fields, car, etc.... Also interestingly it would indicate that a wife is about the same value as a house. This definitely highlights the problem of trying to make morality a rule based system without clearly specifying the intent of the rule.

As to aspiration and envy or desire... I think that the line better wanting something similar versus wanting another's possessions is fairly clear.

Answer 3

You're reading far too much into this. On a very basic level, it's saying two things. First, don't waste time wishing you had what others have. It prevents you from living your own life to the fullest. Second, the line between recognizing beauty and craving to possess it is a very firm and apparent one. To give you an example, most normal people can recognize the beauty in a small child, but would not wish to attain it, if you follow. The ten commandments were guidelines for living, not statutes, and should be viewed as such, I think.

Answer 4

cov·et

VERB:
cov·et·ed , cov·et·ing , cov·ets
VERB:
tr.

To feel blameworthy desire for (that which is another's). See Synonyms at envy.
To wish for longingly. See Synonyms at desire.
VERB:
intr.

To feel immoderate desire for that which is another's.

VERB is an action word. Hence it's an ACTION, not a passive fancy.

It is a relative of LUST

The Psudo-Science Psychology does not view ENVY at a particularily "normal" behavior pattern.

People caught up in envious lust are not doing anything practical.

You look at your neighbor and say, I think I need a wife and need to improve my house a little, and then you go do those things it becomes constructive.

Comparing your wife to his wife is not constructive.

Wanting to have his wife as your wife or lover is not constructive and taking actions in those areas is considered, by and large, antisocial.

Some socieities have found ways around this. Native Americans, for example, had a policy of giving their wives to visitors for brief companship and relief.

I don't know how well the Western wife will take to your annoucing that she has to bed down your visting best friend from the other coast.

Answer 5

Yeah, I like the Muslim approach for its extreme approach - tell the neighbor he should get his wife to cover up. That is, it's HIS problem, not yours, and no, not hers, she's just a woman, she can barely own an opinion much less property. And now I *really* am starting to see why the middle east is so messed up. Seriously. Simple "problem" but nobody can even agree on who's problem it is!

And I think you're missing the point by averting your own gaze from the man's wife to his house. If they had barbecue pits or cars or power tools in biblical times they would have mentioned those. Ox and ass were as close as they could get and they did mention those. Manservant too, that's like a power tool.

Answer 6

When you covet, you really badly want something of someone elses and many times you are envious and jealous of those who have what you want--see the negative already coming from coveteousness? Again guidelines for the individual--God wants you to have life abundantly he says--but no need to get greedy--after all that was the downfall of satan--to me that is the ultimate sin--started our lives with sin as well when Eve was tempted by greed herself.
When people marry, they make vows to one another that are sacred before God--God hates divorce--think about that and perhaps you will understand why one should not interefere in another's marriage.

Answer 7

you nevertheless are not getting it do you pal? Did you hardship to study verses a million-4 of a similar financial ruin? My guess is not any. It for sure says that the 2nd 2 stones have been cut back like the 1st 2. which might recommend that the final commandment is "Thou shalt no longer covet..." in case you pick a actual argument try giving some extreme thought and analyze into it first. The verse you gave are in connection with be conscious to no longer fall into the snares and traps of the inhabitants of the land they have been approximately to very own. conserving Holy days and dinner occasion days. additionally to no longer persist with after different gods or supply sacrifices unto them or eat (partake) of the sacrifices. Shall I proceed or are you happy with this answer?

Answer 8

"Where is the line drawn between recognising beauty and coveting?"

I would say that the line is drawn in the hearts of men. God puts this on our heart, and when a person becomes born-again it is more recognizable.

Answer 9

Aspiring and coveting are very different.

If you wish for someone to not have something they already have, and you wish to have it instead, thats coveting ^^

but if you hope them the best and still wish you had what they had, is aspiring.

Answer 10

What book of the Bible are you reading? In Exodus 34 when Moses comes down from the mountain with the 2 tables that God instructed him to write upon, the 10th commandment clearly states, "Thou shalt not boil a baby goat in it's mother's milk."

This couldn't be one of those contradictions that Christians say don't exist, could it?