What Is the Tenth Commandment?

There are few things as fundamental to the Bible as the Ten Commandments. Yet, there are major denominations teaching different lists of these essential laws. What exactly is the Tenth Commandment as described by the Bible?

The Bible provides two listings of the Ten Commandments. They are found in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5. It should also be noted that the discrepancy between the two prominent lists only directly impacts a few of the commandments. Of course, this is not to say it is a small issue as Christ taught in Matthew 5:19 that even the most minor of God's laws is of extreme importance. This is an essential point because if one incorrectly divides one commandment into two, and still arrives at ten, then another commandment must effectively be removed. Examining some lists of the ten commandments, this is exactly what happens with the command forbidding the use of graven images in worship not appearing.

The issue arises over the commandment often abbreviated as "You shall not covet." Some create a division based on exactly what is being coveted listed the commands as "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife" and "You shall not covet your neighbor's house."

What really is the tenth commandment? Are there separate commandments depending on what one is coveting? What commandment gets removed in favor of splitting the 10th commandment into two?

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