31 Bible Verses about Covetousness

Most Relevant Verses

Mark 7:22

the thefts, the covetousness, the wickedness, the deceit, the lasciviousness, the evil eye, the slander, the pride, the unwiseness:

Romans 7:8

Then sin, when there was occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of lust. For without the law sin was as if it were dormant.

1 Corinthians 6:10

nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 5:11

But now I have written unto you not to associate with anyone calling himself a brother if he is a fornicator or covetous or an idolater or a railer or a drunkard or an extortioner; with such a one do not even eat.

Isaiah 57:17

For the iniquity of his covetousness I was wroth and smote him: I hid my face and was wroth, and he went on rebelliously in the way of his heart.

Jeremiah 6:13

For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them each one is given to greed; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one deals falsely.

1 Thessalonians 2:5

For we were never flatterers in the word, as ye know, nor tainted with covetousness, God is witness,

Habakkuk 2:9

Woe to him that covets ill-gotten gain by violence for his house that he may set his nest on high, that he may escape from the power of evil!

2 Corinthians 9:5

Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would first go unto you and prepare beforehand your blessing, of which ye had given notice before that the same might be ready as a blessing, and not as of covetousness.

Proverbs 28:16

The prince void of intelligence is also a great oppressor, but he that hates covetousness shall prolong his days.

Luke 12:13

And one of the crowd said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.

From Thematic Bible


Ambition » Connected with » Covetousness

Habakkuk 2:8-9

Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the other peoples shall spoil thee because of human blood and for the robberies of the land, of the cities, and of all that dwell therein. Woe to him that covets ill-gotten gain by violence for his house that he may set his nest on high, that he may escape from the power of evil!

Covetousness » Not coveting

Romans 13:8-9

Owe no one anything, but love one unto another; for he that loves his neighbour has fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not murder, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet, and if there is any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Deuteronomy 5:21

Thou shalt not desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field or his manslave or his maidslave, his ox or his ass or any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Exodus 20:17

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manslave, nor his maidslave, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Covetousness » Punishment of

Isaiah 57:17

For the iniquity of his covetousness I was wroth and smote him: I hid my face and was wroth, and he went on rebelliously in the way of his heart.

Job 20:15

He has swallowed down riches, but he shall vomit them up again; God shall cast them out of his belly.

Jeremiah 22:17-19

But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness and for to shed innocent blood and for oppression and for violence, to do it. Therefore thus hath the LORD said concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother! and Ah sister! they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah lord! or, Ah his glory! He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.

Micah 2:2-3

And they coveted fields and stole them, and houses and took them away; so they oppressed the man and his house, even the man and his heritage. Therefore thus hath the LORD said; Behold, I devise an evil against this family, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye walk haughtily; for the time shall be evil.

Covetousness » Instances of » Judas, in betraying jesus for twenty pieces of silver

Mark 14:10-11

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, came unto the princes of the priests to deliver him unto them. And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.

Luke 22:3-6

Then Satan entered into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went and spoke with the princes of the priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. And they were glad and covenanted to give him money. read more.
And he promised and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.

Matthew 26:15-16

and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Covetousness » Instances of » Money-changers in the temple

Matthew 21:12-13

And Jesus went into the temple of God and cast out all those that sold and bought in the temple and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those that sold doves and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Luke 19:45-46

And he went into the temple and began to cast out those selling and buying therein, saying unto them, It is written, My house is a house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves.

John 2:14-16

and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated; and when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overthrew the tables and said unto those that sold the doves, Take these things away from here; do not make my Father's house a house of merchandise.

Covetousness » The reward for covetousness

Ephesians 5:5-6

For this ye know, that no fornicator nor unclean person nor covetous man, who is also an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with vain words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Colossians 3:5-6

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil lust, and covetousness, which is idolatry; for which things' sake the wrath of God comes on the sons of disobedience,

Covetousness » Excludes from heaven

1 Corinthians 6:10

nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Covetousness » What to covet

1 Corinthians 12:27-31

Now ye are the body of Christ and members in particular. And God did set certain ones in the congregation : first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that faculties, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? do all have faculties? read more.
Do all have gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But earnestly pursue the best gifts, and yet I show unto you a more excellent way.

Covetousness » Who is covetous

Ezekiel 33:30-31

And thou, son of man, the sons of thy people are still talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses and speak one to another, each one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that comes forth from the LORD. And they shall come unto thee as the people come, and they shall be before thee, my people, and they shall hear thy words, but they shall not do them; for with their mouth they flatter, but their heart goes after their covetousness.

Luke 16:14-15

And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things, and they derided him. And he said unto them, Ye are they who justify themselves before men, but God knows your hearts, for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

Covetousness » Is never satisfied

Habakkuk 2:5

Even more than he who is given over to wine, the transposer, the proud man, shall not remain, who enlarges his desire as Sheol and is as death and cannot be satisfied, but gathered unto him all the Gentiles and heaps unto him all the peoples;

Covetousness » Exemplified » saul

1 Samuel 15:9

But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fatlings and the lambs and all that was good and would not utterly destroy them, but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

1 Samuel 15:19

Why then didst thou not hear the voice of the LORD but didst fly upon the spoil and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?

Covetousness » What covetousness is

Covetousness » Is idolatry

Covetousness » Covetous people

Luke 12:13-21

And one of the crowd said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses. read more.
And he spoke a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my storehouses and build greater, and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast many goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee; then whose shall those things be which thou hast stored up? So is he that lays up treasure for himself and is not rich in God.

Covetousness » Is vanity

Ecclesiastes 4:8

It is the man who is alone, without a successor, who has neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity and sore travail.

Covetousness » Shall abound in the last days

2 Peter 2:1-3

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who covertly shall bring in destructive sects and shall deny the Lord that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be blasphemed; and in covetousness they shall make merchandise of you with feigned words, upon whom the condemnation from a long time ago does not delay, and their perdition does not sleep.

Covetousness » Is inconsistent » In saints

Covetousness » Exemplified » Ahab

1 Kings 21:2-4

And Ahab spoke unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard that I may have it for a garden of herbs because it is next to my house, and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or if it seems good unto thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money. And Naboth replied unto Ahab, The LORD keep me from giving thee the inheritance of my fathers. And Ahab came into his house, sad and angry, because of the word which Naboth of Jezreel had spoken to him, for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he lay down upon his bed and turned away his face and would eat no bread.

Covetousness » Engrosses the heart

Covetousness » Exemplified

Isaiah 1:23

Thy princes are rebellious and companions of thieves; every one loves bribes and follows after rewards; they do not hear the fatherless in judgment, neither does the cause of the widow come unto them.

Jude 1:11

Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

Nehemiah 5:7

Then I meditated unto myself, and I rebuked the principals and the rulers and said unto them, Does each one of you exact usury of his brother? And I set a great assembly against them.

Isaiah 56:11

And these anxious dogs are insatiable, and even the shepherds did not know enough to understand: they all look to their own ways, each one for his gain, from his quarter.

More verses: Jeremiah 6:13

Covetousness » Leads to » Injustice and oppression

Covetousness » Hated by saints

Covetousness » Woe denounced against

Habakkuk 2:9

Woe to him that covets ill-gotten gain by violence for his house that he may set his nest on high, that he may escape from the power of evil!

Covetousness » Instances of » Balaam, in loving the wages of unrighteousness

Covetousness » Avoid those guilty of

1 Corinthians 5:11

But now I have written unto you not to associate with anyone calling himself a brother if he is a fornicator or covetous or an idolater or a railer or a drunkard or an extortioner; with such a one do not even eat.

Covetousness » Exemplified » Eli's sons

1 Samuel 2:12-14

But the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they did not know the LORD. It was the priests' custom with the people that when anyone offered a sacrifice, the priest's servant would come, while the flesh was being boiled, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand; and he would strike it into the pan or kettle or caldron or pot, and all that the fleshhook brought up, the priest took for himself. Thus would they do in Shiloh to all the Israelites that went there.

Covetousness » Exemplified » Judas

Matthew 26:14-15

Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the princes of the priests and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

Covetousness » Instances of » Laban » In deceiving jacob in wages

Genesis 31:15

Are we not counted of him strangers? For he has sold us and has even devoured all our price.

Genesis 31:41-42

Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters and six years for thy flock; and thou hast changed my wages ten times. If the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, were not with me, surely thou would send me away now empty. God has seen my affliction and the work of my hands and rebuked thee last night.

Covetousness » Leads to » Murder

Proverbs 1:18-19

And they lay in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own souls. So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain which takes away the life of those who possess it.

Covetousness » Exemplified » Gehazi

2 Kings 5:20-24

But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master has spared Naaman, this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him and take something from him. So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him and said, Is there no peace? And he said, Peace. My master has sent me, saying, Behold, even now two young men of the sons of the prophets came to me from Mount Ephraim; give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver and two changes of garments. read more.
And Naaman said, If you wish take two talents. And he urged him and bound two talents of silver in two bags with two changes of garments and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bore them before him. And when he came to a secret place, he took them from their hand and bestowed them in the house; and he let the men go, and they departed.

Covetousness » Leads to » Lying

2 Kings 5:22-25

And he said, Peace. My master has sent me, saying, Behold, even now two young men of the sons of the prophets came to me from Mount Ephraim; give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver and two changes of garments. And Naaman said, If you wish take two talents. And he urged him and bound two talents of silver in two bags with two changes of garments and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bore them before him. And when he came to a secret place, he took them from their hand and bestowed them in the house; and he let the men go, and they departed. read more.
But when he went in and stood before his master, Elisha said unto him, From where comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went nowhere.

Covetousness » Leads to » Departure from the faith

Covetousness » Leads to » Domestic affliction

Covetousness » Leads to » Misery

Covetousness » Leads to » Poverty

Proverbs 28:22

He that hastens to be rich has an evil eye and does not consider that poverty shall come upon him.

Covetousness » Those that hate covetousness

Proverbs 28:16

The prince void of intelligence is also a great oppressor, but he that hates covetousness shall prolong his days.

Covetousness » A characteristic of the slothful

Proverbs 21:26

There is one who covets greedily all day long, but the righteous gives and keeps on giving.

Covetousness » To be mortified by saints

Covetousness » Reward of those who hate

Proverbs 28:16

The prince void of intelligence is also a great oppressor, but he that hates covetousness shall prolong his days.

Covetousness » Is the root of all evil

Covetousness » Natural fruits of » Disobedience

1 Samuel 15:9

But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fatlings and the lambs and all that was good and would not utterly destroy them, but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

Covetousness » Natural fruits of » Oppression

Genesis 31:41

Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters and six years for thy flock; and thou hast changed my wages ten times.

Covetousness » Is inconsistent » Specially in ministers

Covetousness » Exemplified » Laban

Genesis 31:41

Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters and six years for thy flock; and thou hast changed my wages ten times.

Covetousness » Leads to » Foolish and hurtful lusts

Covetousness » Being aware of covetousness

Luke 12:13-15

And one of the crowd said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses.

Covetousness » Natural fruits of » Unscrupulousness

2 Kings 5:20

But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master has spared Naaman, this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him and take something from him.

Covetousness » Natural fruits of » Meanness

1 Kings 21:2

And Ahab spoke unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard that I may have it for a garden of herbs because it is next to my house, and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or if it seems good unto thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money.

Covetousness » Natural fruits of » Robbery

1 Kings 20:6

yet I will send my slaves unto thee tomorrow about this time, and they shall search thy house and the houses of thy slaves; and it shall be that whatever is precious in thine eyes, they shall put it in their hand and take it away.

Covetousness » Exemplified » Samuel's sons

Covetousness » Pray against

Covetousness » Comes from the heart

Mark 7:22-23

the thefts, the covetousness, the wickedness, the deceit, the lasciviousness, the evil eye, the slander, the pride, the unwiseness: all these evil things come out from within and defile the man.

Covetousness » Forbidden

Exodus 20:17

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manslave, nor his maidslave, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Covetousness » Natural fruits of » Theft

Joshua 7:21

When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment and two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

Covetousness » Instances of » Demetrius, in raising a riot against paul and silas

Acts 19:24

For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen,

Acts 19:27

so that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought, but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.

Covetousness » Instances of » Eli's sons, in taking the flesh of the sacrifice

1 Samuel 2:13-17

It was the priests' custom with the people that when anyone offered a sacrifice, the priest's servant would come, while the flesh was being boiled, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand; and he would strike it into the pan or kettle or caldron or pot, and all that the fleshhook brought up, the priest took for himself. Thus would they do in Shiloh to all the Israelites that went there. Likewise, before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant would come and say to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest, for he will not take cooked flesh of thee, but raw. read more.
And if the man would say unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat today and then take as much as thy soul desires, then he would answer him, No, but thou shalt give it to me now, and if not, I will take it by force. Therefore, the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for men despised the present of the LORD.

Covetousness » Instances of » Lot, in choosing the plain of the jordan

Genesis 13:10-13

And Lot lifted up his eyes and beheld all the plain of the Jordan that it was well watered everywhere, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as a garden of the LORD like the land of Egypt as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed east; and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tents toward Sodom. read more.
But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

Covetousness » Instances of » Gehazi, in taking a gift from naaman

2 Kings 5:20-27

But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master has spared Naaman, this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him and take something from him. So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him and said, Is there no peace? And he said, Peace. My master has sent me, saying, Behold, even now two young men of the sons of the prophets came to me from Mount Ephraim; give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver and two changes of garments. read more.
And Naaman said, If you wish take two talents. And he urged him and bound two talents of silver in two bags with two changes of garments and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bore them before him. And when he came to a secret place, he took them from their hand and bestowed them in the house; and he let the men go, and they departed. But when he went in and stood before his master, Elisha said unto him, From where comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went nowhere. Then he said unto him, Did not my heart go with thee when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money and to receive garments and oliveyards and vineyards and sheep and oxen and menslaves and maidslaves? The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.

Covetousness » Instances of » Ahab, in desiring naboth's vineyard

1 Kings 21:2-16

And Ahab spoke unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard that I may have it for a garden of herbs because it is next to my house, and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or if it seems good unto thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money. And Naboth replied unto Ahab, The LORD keep me from giving thee the inheritance of my fathers. And Ahab came into his house, sad and angry, because of the word which Naboth of Jezreel had spoken to him, for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he lay down upon his bed and turned away his face and would eat no bread. read more.
And Jezebel, his wife, came to him and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad that thou dost eat no bread? And he said unto her, Because I spoke with Naboth of Jezreel and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it; and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard. And Jezebel, his wife, said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? Arise and eat bread and let thy heart be merry; I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth of Jezreel. So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and sealed them with his seal and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city dwelling with Naboth. And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people and set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out and stone him that he may die. And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them. They proclaimed a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people. Then the two men, sons of Belial, came in and sat before him; and those men of Belial witnessed against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth blasphemed God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones that he died. Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth has been stoned and is dead. And it came to pass when Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead that she said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth of Jezreel which he refused to give thee for money, for Naboth is not alive, but dead. And it came to pass when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth of Jezreel, to take possession of it.

Covetousness » Instances of » The rich young ruler

Matthew 19:16-22

And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why dost thou call me good? There is none good but one, that is, God, but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He said unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt not murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, read more.
Honour thy father and thy mother, and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man said unto him, All these things I have kept from my youth up; what do I lack? Jesus said unto him, If thou desire to be perfect, go and sell what thou hast and give it to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that word, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Covetousness » Instances of » The rich fool

Luke 12:15-21

And he said unto them, Take heed and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses. And he spoke a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? read more.
And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my storehouses and build greater, and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast many goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee; then whose shall those things be which thou hast stored up? So is he that lays up treasure for himself and is not rich in God.

Covetousness » Exemplified » Achan

Joshua 7:21

When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment and two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

Covetousness » Instances of » Laban » In giving rebekah to be isaac's wife

Genesis 24:29-51

And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban; and Laban ran out unto the man to the fountain. And it came to pass when he saw the pendant and the bracelets upon his sister's hands, she said, Thus spoke the man unto me; then he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the fountain. And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; why dost thou stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and the place for the camels. read more.
Then the man came into the house, and Laban ungirded his camels and gave straw and fodder for the camels and water to wash his feet and the men's feet that were with him. And they set food before him to eat, but he said, I will not eat until I have told my errand. And he said unto him, Speak on. And he said, I am Abraham's slave. And the LORD has blessed my master greatly, and he is become great; and he has given him flocks and herds and silver and gold and menslaves and maidslaves and camels and asses. And Sarah, my master's wife, bore a son to my master when she was old, unto whom he has given all that he has. And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell; but thou shalt go unto my father's house and to my kindred and take from there a wife for my son. And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me. And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my lineage and of my father's house; then shalt thou be free from this my oath, when thou hast come unto my lineage; and if they give her not unto thee, thou shalt be free from my oath. And I came this day unto the fountain and said, O LORD, God of my master Abraham, if now thou dost prosper my way by which I go, behold, I stand by the fountain of water; let it come to pass, therefore, that the virgin who comes forth to draw water unto whom I say, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink; and if she shall say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels, let the same be the woman whom the LORD has prepared for my master's son. And before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder, and she went down unto the fountain and drew water, and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee. And she made haste and let down her pitcher from her shoulder and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also; so I drank, and she gave to drink unto the camels also. And I asked her and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore unto him. Then I put the pendant over her nose and the bracelets upon her hands. And I bowed down my head and worshipped the LORD and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the way of the truth to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son. And now if ye will deal in mercy and truth with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left. Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceeds from the LORD; we cannot speak unto thee bad or good. Behold, Rebekah is before thee; take her and go and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the LORD has spoken.

Covetousness » Instances of » Laban » Deceiving » jacob

Genesis 29:15-30

And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art of my brethren, should thou therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall thy wages be? And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. read more.
And Jacob loved Rachel and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel, thy younger daughter. And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee than that I should give her to another man; abide with me. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled that I may go in unto her. So Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a banquet. And it came to pass in the evening that he took Leah, his daughter, and brought her to him, and he went in unto her. And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah, his maid, for a handmaid. And it came to pass that in the morning, behold, it was Leah; and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? Did not I serve with thee for Rachel? Why then hast thou beguiled me? And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country to give the younger before the firstborn. Fulfil her week, and we will give thee the other also for another seven years of service which thou shalt serve with me. And Jacob did so and fulfilled her week; and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah, his handmaid, to be her maid. And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah and served with him yet another seven years.

Covetousness » Instances of » jacob » In defrauding laban of his flocks and herds

Genesis 30:35-43

And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep and gave them into the hand of his sons. And he set three days' journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks. And Jacob took rods of green poplar and of the almond and chestnut tree and peeled white strakes in them and made the white appear which was in the rods. read more.
And he set the rods which he had peeled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink that they should conceive when they came to drink. And the flocks conceived before the rods and brought forth ringstraked, speckled, and spotted sheep. And Jacob separated the lambs, and put with his flock the ringstraked and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put his own flocks by themselves and did not put them together with Laban's sheep. And it came to pass, whenever the stronger sheep conceived, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the sheep in the gutters that they might conceive among the rods. But when the sheep were feeble, he did not put them in; so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's. And the man increased exceedingly, and had many sheep, and maidslaves and menslaves, and camels, and asses.

Covetousness » Leads to » Theft

Joshua 7:21

When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment and two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

Covetousness » A characteristic of the wicked

Covetousness » Natural fruits of » Scoffing

Covetousness » Instances of » Simon magus, in trying to buy the gift of the holy spirit

Acts 8:18-23

And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. read more.
Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray God, if perhaps this thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the prison of iniquity.

Covetousness » Instances of » Saul, in sparing, agag and the booty

1 Samuel 15:8-9

And he took Agag, the king of the Amalekites, alive and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fatlings and the lambs and all that was good and would not utterly destroy them, but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

Covetousness » Instances of » David, of bath-sheba

2 Samuel 11:2-5

And it came to pass one evening, that David arose from off his bed and walked upon the roof of the king's house, and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself, and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah, the Hittite? And David sent messengers and took her, and she came in unto him, and he lay with her. Then she purified herself from her uncleanness, and she returned unto her house. read more.
And the woman conceived and sent and told David and said, I am with child.

Covetousness » Exemplified » Felix

Acts 24:26

He hoped also that money should have been given him from Paul, that he might loose him; therefore he sent for him many times and communed with him.

Covetousness » Instances of » jacob » In defrauding esau of his, father's blessing

Genesis 27:6-29

Then Rebekah spoke unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau, thy brother, saying, Bring me venison and make me savoury food that I may eat and bless thee before the LORD before my death. Now, therefore, my son, hearken unto my voice according to that which I command thee. read more.
Go now to the flock and bring me from there two good kids of the goats, and I will make them savoury food for thy father, such as he loves; and thou shalt bring it to thy father that he may eat and that he may bless thee before his death. And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau, my brother, is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man; my father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon myself, and not a blessing. And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son; only obey my voice and go bring me them. And he went and took them and brought them to his mother, and his mother made savoury food, such as his father loved. And Rebekah took good clothes of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob, her younger son: And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands and upon the smooth of his neck, and she gave the savoury food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. And he came unto his father and said, My father, and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son? And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau, thy firstborn; I have done according as thou didst command me; arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. Then Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me. And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not. And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. And he discerned him not because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands; so he blessed him. And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am. And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank. And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now and kiss me, my son. And he came near and kissed him, and he smelled the smell of his clothing and blessed him and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD has blessed. Therefore let God give thee of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of wheat and new wine. Let the peoples serve thee and nations bow down to thee; be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee; cursed be every one that curses thee, and blessed be he that blesses thee.

Covetousness » Commended by the wicked alone

Covetousness » Abhorred by God

Covetousness » Beware of

Covetousness » Instances of » The unjust steward

Luke 16:1-8

And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? Give an account of thy stewardship, for thou may no longer be steward. Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord takes the stewardship away from me; I cannot dig, and I am ashamed to beg. read more.
I know what I shall do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. So he called each one of his lord's debtors unto him and said unto the first, How much dost thou owe unto my lord? And he said, A hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill and sit down quickly and write fifty. Then said he to another, And how much dost thou owe? And he said, A hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill and write eighty. And the lord commended the unjust steward because he had done discreetly; for the sons of this age are in their generation more prudent than the sons of light.

Covetousness » Instances of » Some jews » Building » Houses

Haggai 1:4-9

Do you have time, all of you, to dwell in your panelled houses, and this house is deserted? Now therefore thus hath the LORD of the hosts said; Consider your ways. Ye have sown much and bring in little; ye eat, but ye are not filled; ye drink, but ye are not satisfied; ye clothe yourselves, but you are not warm; and he that is a hireling receives his wages in a bag with holes. read more.
Thus hath the LORD of the hosts said, Consider your ways. Go up to the mountain and bring wood and build the house; and I will place my will in her, and I will be glorified, said the LORD. Ye look for much and find little; and when ye lock it up at home, I shall blow upon it. Why? said the LORD of the hosts. Because my house is deserted, and ye run each one of you unto his own house.

Covetousness » Instances of » Some jews » In exacting usury from their brethren

Nehemiah 5:1-11

Then there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren, the Jews. For there were some that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many; therefore we have bought grain that we may eat and live. There were also some that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy grain because of the famine. read more.
And there were some that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. Yet now, given that the flesh of our brethren is as our flesh and their sons as our sons, behold, we subject our sons and our daughters to slavery, and there are some of our daughters in bondage already; neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards. And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. Then I meditated unto myself, and I rebuked the principals and the rulers and said unto them, Does each one of you exact usury of his brother? And I set a great assembly against them. And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren, the Jews who had been sold unto the Gentiles; and will ye even sell your brethren? And shall they be sold unto us? Then they remained silent, for they had nothing to answer. Also I said, What you do is not good, do you not walk in the fear of our God, that ye not be the reproach of our enemies the Gentiles? I, likewise, and my brethren and my servants, have lent them money and grain; let us now release them from this burden. Restore, I pray you, to them, today, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, and even the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.

Covetousness » Instances of » The sorcerers, in filing complaint against paul and silas

Acts 16:19

And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers

Covetousness » Instances of » Demas in forsaking paul for love of the world

Covetousness » Instances of » Festus, in hoping for a bribe from paul

Acts 24:26

He hoped also that money should have been given him from Paul, that he might loose him; therefore he sent for him many times and communed with him.

Covetousness » Instances of » Achan, in hiding the treasure

Joshua 7:21

When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment and two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

Covetousness » Instances of » Pharisees

Covetousness » Instances of » Some jews » In following jesus merely for the loaves and fish

John 6:26

Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye have seen the signs, but because ye ate of the loaves and were filled.

Covetousness » Instances of » Some jews » In keeping back the portion of the levites

Nehemiah 13:10

And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them and that the Levites and the singers, that did the work, had fled each one to his inheritance.

Covetousness » Instances of » jacob » In buying esau's birthright

Genesis 25:31

And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

Covetousness » Instances of » Samuel's sons, in taking bribes

Covetousness » Instances of » Eve, in desiring the forbidden fruit

Idolatry » Consists in » Covetousness

Punishment of the The Wicked » On account of their » Covetousness

Isaiah 57:17

For the iniquity of his covetousness I was wroth and smote him: I hid my face and was wroth, and he went on rebelliously in the way of his heart.

Jeremiah 51:13

O thou that dwellest among many waters, rich in treasures, thine end is come, the measure of thy covetousness.

Servants » Characteristics of wicked servants: » Covetousness

2 Kings 5:20

But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master has spared Naaman, this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him and take something from him.

Temptation » Comes from » Covetousness

1 Timothy 6:9-10

For those that desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Topics on Covetousness

Covetousness, Example Of

Genesis 31:41

Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters and six years for thy flock; and thou hast changed my wages ten times.

Covetousness, Nature of

Proverbs 21:26

There is one who covets greedily all day long, but the righteous gives and keeps on giving.

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Theasaurus: Covetousness