Meaning of Exodus 20:17?

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danieldemol

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Hi,
I’m wondering how Catholic’s interpret Exodus 20:17;

Exodus 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 ***, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.”

Does it mean that you can look but you can’t touch?

If not acceptable to look does this apply to married women only?

Are there other verses which add clarification?
 
In the context of the original expression of this commandment, in the original time and culture in which it was expressed, this is a commandment about property. Since society was patriarchal at that time, it really speaks (solely) to a man, and tells him about improper behavior vis-a-vis his neighbor’s property.

In a more Catholic understanding of this commandment, there is a distinction made between property and marital relationships; therefore, from a Catholic perspective, there are actually two commandments here: don’t covet your neighbor’s spouse, and don’t covet your neighbor’s goods. This is a commandment to all (not just to men, vis-a-vis women).

Hope that helps!
 
If I said, “I like my neighbor’s sports car and I would like to have one like it”, ok.
If I said, “I like my neighbor’s sports car and I would like to have that one”, not ok.

If I said, “I like my neighbor’s wife and I would like to have someone like her”, ok.
If I said, “I like my neighbor’s wife and I would like to have her”, not ok.

If I looked at a woman and turned my eyes into Superman’s eyes, then not ok.
If I looked at a woman and noticed her beauty only with no untidy thoughts, then ok.
If I looked at a woman and was bothered by it and continued to look, then not ok.

Just a few tidy thoughts.
 
fred_conty said:
If I said, “I like my neighbor’s sports car and I would like to have one like it”, ok.
If I said, “I like my neighbor’s sports car and I would like to have that one”, not ok.

If I said, “I like my neighbor’s wife and I would like to have someone like her”, ok.
If I said, “I like my neighbor’s wife and I would like to have her”, not ok.

If I looked at a woman and turned my eyes into Superman’s eyes, then not ok.
If I looked at a woman and noticed her beauty only with no untidy thoughts, then ok.
If I looked at a woman and was bothered by it and continued to look, then not ok.

Just a few tidy thoughts.
Click to expand...
Clarity personified by “well said Fred” 👍
 
po18guy said:
Clarity personified by “well said Fred” 👍
Click to expand...
Yes, Fred is well said.

There is benign envy and invidious envy. Benign envy is that which desires to emulate or admire. Invidious envy not only wants something that another has but but wishes to take it from another so that the other does not have it.

Coveting is not admiration or emulation. Coveting is a disordered desire, a desire beyond what is normal and correct. Coveting does not respect the rights of others. Coveting is the same as lusting - desiring something only to gratify oneself, without regard to anyone or anything else.

“I want to have sex with his wife. Maybe I’ll go talk to her.”… covet. 😦

“Wow, what a lucky man to have such a beautiful wife. I should really work out more.”… not covet. 😉

-Tim-
 
Gorgias said:
What does this mean?
Click to expand...
It means sexual arousal in thought. Or “If a man look after a woman, he has already
commited adultery in his heart.” The largest sexual organ in the body is the brain.

This is more than just a thought.
 
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