Written By Felicia A. Trecek

Exodus 20:17, "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's."

In Deuteronomy 5:21, this commandment is similarly rephrased; however, the Hebrew word for covet is different than that of Exodus 20. In Exodus 20 the Hebrew word for 'covet' is: khaw-mad. According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance #2530, it's primary meaning is: to delight in. In Deuteronomy 5 the Hebrew word for 'covet' is: aw-vaw. According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance #183, it's primary meaning is: to wish for. Nevertheless, both words also mean covet.

#2530 khaw-mad; a prim root; to delight in:- beauty, greatly beloved, covet, delectable thing (X great) delight, desire, goodly, lust, (be) pleasant (thing), precious (things).

#183 aw-vaw; a prim root; to wish for:- covet; (greatly) desire, be desirous, long, lust (after).