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Biblical Definition of Lust in the New Testament

In the New Testament, the concept of "lust" primarily refers to sinful longing or evil desire, often originating in the heart [1, 2]. The Greek term for lust, epithymia (ἐπιθυμία), carries a broad semantic range, encompassing both neutral and negative desires. However, in the context of sin, it consistently denotes an inordinate or illicit craving.

The New Testament frequently portrays lust as an internal impulse that leads to sin. James 1:15 states, "Then when lust hath conceiued, it bringeth foorth sinne, and sinne when it is finished, bringeth foorth death" [4]. This verse illustrates a progression where internal desire, when acted upon, culminates in sin and ultimately death [14]. John Gill, in his commentary on James 1:14, explains that "lust" here refers to the principle of corrupt nature residing in the human heart, which is inherent and hereditary [16]. He uses the metaphor of a fish enticed by bait or a seductive woman drawing a man into iniquity to describe how individuals are "drawn away of his own lust and enticed" [16].

The term "concupiscence" is also used in relation to lust, signifying evil desire or indwelling sin [2]. For instance, 1 Thessalonians 4:5 speaks of "the lust of concupiscence" (rendered "passion of lust" in the Revised Version), which John Gill interprets as the mere gratifying and indulging of passion, cherishing the first motions of sin in the heart, and making provision for the flesh to fulfill its desires [12]. This is contrasted with the behavior of Gentiles who "know not God" [12].

Lust is not merely a physical craving but a deeper spiritual issue. Easton's Bible Dictionary notes that lust, as the origin of sin, "has its place in the heart, not of necessity, but because it is the centre of all moral forces and impulses and of spiritual activity" [1]. This highlights the internal nature of lust, distinguishing it from mere desire for objects, as seen in Mark 4:19, where "lusts" can refer to objects of desire themselves [1].

The Old Testament Hebrew terms that relate to lust, such as taavah (תַּאֲוָה) and agab (עָגַב), also carry similar connotations of strong, often illicit, desire. Taavah can mean "desire" or "wish" in a neutral or even good sense (e.g., Proverbs 13:12, 19; Psalm 10:17), but it frequently denotes "lust, appetite, covetousness" in a negative sense (e.g., Psalm 10:3; 112:10; Proverbs 21:25-26) [9]. It is used to describe the Israelites' longing for the dainties of Egypt in the wilderness, leading to the place name Kibrothhattaavah, meaning "the graves of lust" [6, 8, 9]. John Gill, commenting on Psalm 106:14, explains that the Israelites "lusted exceedingly in the wilderness," not for natural appetite, but for "a voluptuous last to gratify their appetite," which he identifies as "lust after evil tidings" or "lust after sin" [10].

The verb agab (עָגַב) specifically means "have inordinate affection, lust" and is used in the Old Testament, particularly in Ezekiel, to describe Israel's spiritual adultery and lusting after foreign nations (e.g., Ezekiel 23:5, 7, 9, 12, 16, 20) [7]. The Hebrew tagged text shows forms like נְחֻשְׁתֵּ/ךְ֙ (ne.chush.te/Kh) "lust/ your" (Ezekiel 16:36) and עַגְבָתָ֖/הּ ('ag.va.Ta/h) "lust/ her" (Ezekiel 23:11) [3, 5].

In the New Testament, lust is often linked to other sins. For example, in Romans 1:18, Paul describes how people, in their blindness, "gave themselves up to abominable lusts, and dishonored their own bodies" [11]. Calvin notes that when the sense of shame is overcome and "reins are given to lust," it leads to "a vile and outrageous barbarism" and a "confused chaos" of sins [11]. Similarly, 2 Peter 2:14 describes those "full of adultery" or "full of an adulteress," with the eye being the "avenue of lust" and the heart its "fountain head" [15]. This passage connects lust with covetous practices and an inability to cease from sin [15].

The New Testament emphasizes the need to control these desires. Ecclesiastes 11:10, though Old Testament, is interpreted by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown as referring to "the lusts that end in 'sorrow'," contrasting them with a cheerful heart [13]. The "flesh" is seen as the bodily organ through which the sensual thoughts of the "heart" are embodied in acts [13]. This underscores the New Testament's call for believers to put to death their earthly desires, including "evil desire and greed, which is idolatry" (Colossians 3:5 NIV).

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Lust — Sinful longing; the inward sin which leads to the falling away from God (Rom. 1:21). "Lust, the origin of sin, has its place in the heart, not of necessity, but because it is the centre of all moral forces and impulses and of spiritual activity." In Mark 4:19 "lusts" are objects of desire.”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Concupiscence — Desire, Rom. 7:8 (R.V., "coveting"); Col. 3:5 (R.V., "desire"). The "lust of concupiscence" (1 Thess. 4:5; R.V., "passion of lust") denotes evil desire, indwelling sin.”
  3. STEPBible TAHOT “Ezk.16.36#07=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): נְחֻשְׁתֵּ/ךְ֙ [ne.chush.te/Kh] "lust/ your"”
  4. James “James 1:15 (Geneva1599) — Then when lust hath conceiued, it bringeth foorth sinne, and sinne when it is finished, bringeth foorth death.”
  5. STEPBible TAHOT “Ezk.23.11#05=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): עַגְבָתָ֖/הּ ['ag.va.Ta/h] "lust/ her"”
  6. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Kibrothhattaavah — i.e. as in the margin, the graves of lust, a station of the Israelites in the wilderness, where, growing tired of manna and desiring flesh, they murmured, and God sent them quails in great abundance, but smote great numbers of them with a plague and they died. It is about three days journey from Sinai, and near the Gulf of Akabah and the Wady el Hudherah (Hazeroth.)”
  7. Brown-Driver-Briggs “[BDB H5689] agab — H5689. agab [עָגַב] verb have inordinate affection, lust (compare Arabic wonder, admire, beloved; and (on sens. obsc. in Late Hebrew) LevyNHWB iii. 616); — Qal Perfect3feminine singular עָֽגְבָה Ezek 23:7, 9, 12; Imperfect3feminine singular וַתַּעְגַּב 23:5, + 23:16 Kt (Qr וַתַּעְגְּבָה), וַתַּעְגְּבָּה 23:20 (Ew§ 191 c Ol§ 228 b); Participle plural עֹגְבִים Jer 4:30; — lust after (עַלֿ), only in figure of relations of Samaria and Jerusalem (personified) with foreigners Ezek 23:5, 9, 12, 16, 20, so with accusative 23:7; participle as substantive paramours Jer 4:30.”
  8. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Kibroth-hattaavah — the graves of lust”
  9. Brown-Driver-Briggs “[BDB H8378] taavah — H8378. taavah תַּאֲוָה noun feminine desire — absolute Gen 3:6 +; construct תַּאֲוַת Psa 10:3 + etc.; — desire, wish Prov 13:12, 19; 18:1; of physical appetite, longing for dainty food ׳ת מַאֲכַל Job 33:20; distinctly good sense Psa 10:17; 38:10; Prov 11:23; 19:22 (? compare below) Isa 26:8 (ת וּלְזִכְרְךָ נָֿ֑פֶשׁ׳לְשִׁמְךָ); bad sense, lust, appetite, covetousness Psa 10:3 (נַפְשׁוֺ ׳ת) 112:10; Prov 21:25-26, (as accusative of cognate meaning); particularly of longing for dainties of Egypt Num 11:4; Psa 106:14 (both accusative of cognate meaning) 78:30 & in proper name give”
  10. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 106:14: But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness,.... Or, "lusted a lust" (p) as in Num 11:4 to which story there related this refers; they were not content with the manna they had every day, though very nourishing and of a sweet taste; they lusted after the fish and flesh of Egypt, and other things they ate there; so that this was not a natural lust, or craving after food and drink, to satisfy nature, which would not have been criminal; but a voluptuous last to gratify their appetite: it was lusting after evil tidings, as the apostle interprets it, Co1 10:6, lust after sin”
  11. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 23.8: a state of blindness, that they gave themselves up to abominable lusts, and dishonored their own bodies. ( Romans 1:18 .) But when the sense of shame is overcome, and the reins are given to lust, a vile and outrageous barbarism necessarily succeeds, and many kinds of sin are blended together, so that a most confused chaos is the result. But if this severe vengeance of God so fell upon the men of Sodom, that they became blind with rage, and prostituted themselves to all kinds of crime, certainly we shall scarcely be more mildly tre”
  12. 1 Thessalonians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Thessalonians 4:5: Not in the lust of concupiscence,.... Or "passion of lust"; for the mere gratifying and indulging of that; for a man so to possess his vessel, is to cherish the sin of concupiscence, the first motions of sin in the heart, by which a man is drawn away, and enticed; to blow up the flame of lust, and to make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof: even as the Gentiles which know not God; for, though they knew him, or might know him with a natural knowledge, by the light and works of nature, yet they knew him not savingly and spiritually, as he is r”
  13. Ecclesiastes (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ecclesiastes 11:10: sorrow--that is, the lusts that end in "sorrow," opposed to "rejoice," and "heart cheer thee" (Ecc 11:9), Margin, "anger," that is, all "ways of thine heart"; "remove," &c., is thus opposed to "walk in," &c. (Ecc 11:9). flesh--the bodily organ by which the sensual thoughts of the "heart" are embodied in acts. childhood--rather, "boyhood"; the same Hebrew word as the first, "youth" in Ecc 11:9. A motive for self-restraint; the time is coming when the vigor of youth on which thou reliest, will seem vain, except in so far as it has been given t”
  14. James (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on James 1:15: The guilty union is committed by the will embracing the temptress. "Lust," the harlot, then, "brings forth sin," namely, of that kind to which the temptation inclines. Then the particular sin (so the Greek implies), "when it is completed, brings forth death," with which it was all along pregnant [ALFORD]. This "death" stands in striking contrast to the "crown of life" (Jam 1:12) which "patience" or endurance ends in, when it has its "perfect work" (Jam 1:4). He who will fight Satan with Satan's own weapons, must not wonder if he finds himself overmatche”
  15. 2 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Peter 2:14: full of adultery--literally, "full of an adulteress," as though they carried about adulteresses always dwelling in their eyes: the eye being the avenue of lust [HORNEIUS]. BENGEL makes the adulteress who fills their eyes, to be "alluring desire." that cannot cease--"that cannot be made to cease from sin." beguiling--"laying baits for." unstable--not firmly established in faith and piety. heart--not only the eyes, which are the channel, but the heart, the fountain head of lust. Job 31:7, "Mine heart walked after mine eyes." covetous practices”
  16. James (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on James 1:14: But every man is tempted,.... To sin, and he falls in with the temptation, and by it, when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed; the metaphor is taken either from fishes, who are enticed by the bait, and drawn out by the hook; or from a lascivious woman, who meeting with a young man, entices him, and draws him away after her to commit iniquity with her: by "lust" is meant the principle of corrupt nature, which has its residence in the heart of man; is natural and hereditary to him, and therefore is called his own; he is conceived and shapen in it; he brings i”
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