Lexical Summary pleonektés: Covetous person, greedy person Original Word: πλεονέκτης Strong's Exhaustive Concordance covetous. From pleion and echo; holding (desiring) more, i.e. Eager for gain (avaricious, hence a defrauder) -- covetous. see GREEK pleion see GREEK echo HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 4123 pleonéktēs (a masculine noun derived from 4122 /pleonektéō, "to covet") – used of "a greedy, covetous, rapacious, person; a defrauder, trampling on the rights of others" (Souter). See 4124 (pleoneksia). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the cptv. of polus and echó Definition one desirous of having more NASB Translation covetous (3), covetous man (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4123: πλεονέκτηςπλεονέκτης, πλεονέκτου, ὁ (πλέον and ἔχω); 1. one eager to have more, especially what belongs to others ((Thucydides 1, 40, 1 (cf. Herodotus 7, 158)); Xenophon, mem. 1, 5, 3); 2. greedy of gain, covetous: 1 Corinthians 5:10, 11; 1 Corinthians 6:10; Ephesians 5:5; Sir. 14:9. Strong’s Greek 4123 describes the person whose appetite for gain overrides moral boundaries. It is more than momentary desire; it marks a settled character trait that reaches for what belongs to another and refuses to be satisfied with sufficiency. English renderings include “greedy,” “covetous,” and “extortioner.” The term is always negative, aligned with vice lists and warnings of judgment. Scriptural Occurrences and Context 1. 1 Corinthians 5:10–11 – Paul confronts the church’s laxity toward blatant sin. The “greedy person” (πλεονέκτης) is grouped with sexually immoral, idolaters, drunkards, and revilers. Fellowship with an unrepentant pleonektēs is forbidden, underscoring both the seriousness of the sin and the need to guard the holiness of the congregation. Old Testament Background Covetousness violates the Tenth Commandment (Exodus 20:17) and underlies countless transgressions: Achan’s theft (Joshua 7), David’s sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11), and Ahab’s seizure of Naboth’s vineyard (1 Kings 21). Prophets denounced the exploitation of the poor for material gain (Micah 2:2). Thus the New Testament usage stands in continuity with a longstanding biblical indictment of acquisitive sin. Theological Significance 1. Idolatry: By labeling the greedy person an idolater, Ephesians 5:5 identifies the root issue—trust and delight anchored in possessions rather than God. Pastoral and Church Discipline Implications Corinth’s failure to address a pleonektēs within their ranks reveals how materialism can be normalized in Christian communities. Paul commands separation not to destroy the offender but “that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord” (paralleling 1 Corinthians 5:5). Discipline functions as preventive medicine for the body and restorative therapy for the offender. Relationship to Idolatry Greed redirects worship from the Creator to created things (Romans 1:25). It forges a false security but ultimately enslaves. By pairing greed with sexual immorality and impurity (Ephesians 5:3), Paul shows how desires can intertwine, each feeding the other in a cycle of bondage. Historical and Cultural Background First-century Corinth and Ephesus were commercial hubs where status was measured by wealth and patronage. Patron-client systems, temple commerce, and market districts fostered environments in which covetousness could masquerade as business savvy. Paul’s audiences therefore needed a counter-cultural ethic rooted in contentment and generosity (Philippians 4:11-13; 1 Timothy 6:6-10). Christological Fulfillment Jesus Christ embodies the antithesis of a pleonektēs. Though “existing in the form of God,” He “emptied Himself” (Philippians 2:6-7). His self-giving death secures redemption “not with silver or gold” (1 Peter 1:18) but with His precious blood. The believer’s union with Christ supplies both motive and power to turn from greed to generosity. Eschatological Warning and Hope The exclusion statements (1 Corinthians 6:10; Ephesians 5:5) look forward to the final judgment. Yet they also carry implicit hope: “And that is what some of you were” (1 Corinthians 6:11). Repentance and cleansing remain available through “washing, sanctification, and justification in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” Practical Application • Cultivate contentment through gratitude and trust in God’s provision (Hebrews 13:5). Summary Strong’s 4123 exposes covetousness as an idolatrous orientation incompatible with life in God’s kingdom. The New Testament presents it not merely as a moral flaw but as a decisive spiritual issue, calling individuals and churches to repentance, accountability, and the liberating generosity that flows from union with Christ. Englishman's Concordance 1 Corinthians 5:10 N-DMPGRK: ἢ τοῖς πλεονέκταις καὶ ἅρπαξιν NAS: or with the covetous and swindlers, KJV: or with the covetous, or INT: or with the covetous and swindlers 1 Corinthians 5:11 N-NMS 1 Corinthians 6:10 N-NMP Ephesians 5:5 N-NMS Strong's Greek 4123 |
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