Deuteronomy 5:21 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 5:21 mean?

Deuteronomy 5:21 commands people not to desire or covet anything that belongs to their neighbor, including their neighbor’s wife, house, field, servants, or animals. This verse sets a boundary against longing for or scheming to get what is not rightfully yours, emphasizing respect for others’ relationships and property.

In Deuteronomy 5:21, Moses is speaking to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the land God promised them. He is repeating the Ten Commandments, reminding the people of God’s expectations for how they should live together. This particular commandment addresses not just outward actions but also inward attitudes and desires, highlighting that even wanting what belongs to someone else is out of bounds.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 5:21

• The word "desire" (חָמַד, chamad) is used here for longing after someone else’s wife. This word often points to a strong craving or attraction, not just a passing thought.
• The word "covet" (אָוָה, avah) is used for wanting a neighbor’s house or possessions. This word often carries the sense of an intense wish or yearning, showing that the commandment covers both emotional and mental wanting, not only actions.
• The repeated use of "neighbor's" (רֵעַ, re'a) stresses that the command is about respecting the boundaries between people living close together, not just strangers.

Why Deuteronomy 5:21 matters

• Deuteronomy 5:21 makes clear that God’s law is concerned with inner desires, not just outward behavior, showing that thoughts and intentions matter as much as actions.
• By listing specific things—wife, house, field, servants, animals—Deuteronomy 5:21 shows that no part of another person’s life is open to envy or scheming, setting a high standard for community life.
• This verse connects to the wider passage by rounding out the Ten Commandments, showing that living rightly involves both how people treat each other and what they allow themselves to want.