What is the 10th commandment?

The last of the Ten Commandments is unique because it focuses not on an action, but on an internal desire. While most of the commandments forbid external acts like stealing or murder, this one targets the feeling of coveting—an intense and wrongful longing for something that belongs to someone else. The biblical text in Exodus lists specific examples, including a neighbor's house, wife, servants, and livestock, before concluding with the all-encompassing phrase "nor any thing that is thy neighbor's," making "anything" a perfectly accurate summary.

This focus on an internal state of mind is often seen as a preventative measure that gets to the root of other sins. The intense desire to possess another's property can lead to theft, just as coveting a neighbor's spouse can lead to adultery. The specific items listed, like an ox or a servant, also offer a fascinating glimpse into the ancient agrarian society where these were key indicators of wealth and status.