In the ancient Orient, treasures consisted not only of silver and of gold but of (fine) clothing (see James 5.2), and for this reason not only rust but also moths could be looked upon as the enemy of the rich man’s treasures.

Coveted may be rendered in some languages as “wanting to take away someone’s possession” or “wanting for myself what belongs to someone else.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .