Every man did that which was right in his own eyes; Part 4 Covetousness

Cyclopedia of Biblical Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Covetousness

(בֶּצִע, be'tsa, rapine, lucre; πλεονεξία, a grasping temper), in a general sense, means all inordinate desire of worldly possessions, such as undue thirst for honors, gold, etc. In a more restricted sense, it is the desire of increasing one's substance by appropriating that of others. It is a disorder of the heart, and closely allied to selfishness. We here consider it under its more restricted aspect.

1. Covetousness (πλεονεξία, φιλαργυρία) is a strong, sometimes irresistible desire of possessing or of increasing one's possessions.