You shall not steal.This commandment is part of the Decalogue, given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. It is a fundamental principle that underscores the importance of respecting others' property and rights. The prohibition against stealing is not only a legal directive but also a moral one, emphasizing integrity and trustworthiness in personal and communal relationships.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, theft was a serious offense that disrupted social harmony and trust within the community. Property was often tied to one's livelihood and survival, making the act of stealing not just a personal violation but a threat to the community's stability. The commandment reflects God's desire for His people to live in a society marked by justice and respect for one another.
Biblically, the prohibition against stealing is reiterated in various forms throughout Scripture. In
Leviticus 19:11, the Israelites are instructed, "You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another." This expands the commandment to include honesty in all dealings. In the New Testament,
Ephesians 4:28 advises, "Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need." This highlights the transformation expected in a believer's life, moving from taking to giving.
The commandment also has spiritual implications, as stealing can be seen as a lack of trust in God's provision. By taking what belongs to another, one demonstrates a failure to rely on God to meet their needs. This is contrasted with the life of Jesus Christ, who exemplified complete trust in the Father and taught His followers to seek first the kingdom of God, trusting that their needs would be met (
Matthew 6:33).
In a broader sense, the commandment against stealing can be seen as a call to stewardship. Believers are entrusted with resources and are called to use them wisely and generously, reflecting God's character. This principle is evident in the parable of the talents (
Matthew 25:14-30), where faithful stewardship is rewarded.
Overall, "You shall not steal" is a command that calls for respect, integrity, and trust in God's provision, forming a foundation for a just and harmonious society.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
MosesThe prophet and leader of the Israelites who received the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai.
2.
Mount SinaiThe mountain where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, including the commandment against stealing.
3.
IsraelitesThe people of God who were delivered from slavery in Egypt and were given the Law to guide their covenant relationship with God.
4.
GodThe divine lawgiver who established the moral and ethical standards for His people through the Ten Commandments.
5.
The Ten CommandmentsA set of laws given by God to the Israelites, serving as a foundational ethical code.
Teaching Points
Respect for Others' PropertyRecognize that stealing violates the trust and rights of others, and it disrupts community harmony.
Contentment and Trust in GodCultivate contentment with what God has provided, trusting Him to meet your needs without resorting to theft.
Integrity in All ThingsUphold honesty and integrity in all areas of life, including business, relationships, and personal conduct.
Restitution and RepentanceIf you have stolen, seek to make restitution and repent, aligning your actions with God's standards.
Modeling Christ-like BehaviorAs followers of Christ, demonstrate a life transformed by the Holy Spirit, which includes respecting others' possessions.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Exodus 20:15?
2.What does "You shall not steal" teach about respecting others' property rights?
3.How can we apply Exodus 20:15 in our daily financial decisions?
4.Which New Testament teachings align with the commandment in Exodus 20:15?
5.How does obeying Exodus 20:15 strengthen community trust and relationships?
6.What steps can we take to avoid temptation to steal in various forms?
7.Why does Exodus 20:15 simply state, "You shall not steal," without further explanation?
8.How does Exodus 20:15 relate to the concept of private property in biblical times?
9.What historical evidence supports the cultural context of Exodus 20:15?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Exodus 20?
11.Is stealing ever justified according to the Bible?
12.Is morality subjective and culture-dependent?
13.What does "rob Peter to pay Paul" mean?
14.What is the meaning of "You shall not steal"?What Does Exodus 20:15 Mean
You- God addresses every individual personally; no one is exempt. Just as Joshua declared, “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15), each listener is called to personal obedience.
- Personal accountability echoes throughRomans 14:12, “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.”
- The command is delivered to redeemed people (Exodus 20:2), reminding us that salvation never cancels moral responsibility—it heightens it.
shall- This is not a suggestion but a binding command from the Creator. Jesus reinforces the ongoing authority of God’s directives: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
- “Shall” carries future certainty—obedience is to mark every moment ahead, not merely the present. FirstJohn 5:3 adds, “His commands are not burdensome,” underscoring that His authority is paired with grace to obey.
- The verb frames moral absolutes in a world of shifting opinions, confirmingHebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
not- A clear, absolute prohibition—no loopholes.Leviticus 19:11 restates it: “You must not steal. You must not lie or deceive one another.”
- Scripture often warns by negative commands to build protective walls around community life (Proverbs 6:16–19 lists things the LORD hates).
- The stark “not” exposes sin’s seriousness;James 2:10 shows that breaking even one command makes a person “guilty of all.”
steal- Theft covers property, time, reputation, and even what rightfully belongs to God (Malachi 3:8–9 questions, “Will a man rob God?”).
- God upholds personal ownership;Exodus 22 details restitution, proving He values justice and restoration, not mere punishment.
- New-covenant application: “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must labor… that he may have something to share with those in need” (Ephesians 4:28). The remedy is honest work and generosity.
- Theft violates love for neighbor (Romans 13:9, where Paul sums up commandments with “Love your neighbor as yourself”) and distrusts God’s provision (Philippians 4:19 assures, “My God will supply all your needs”).
- Beyond wallets and barns, stealing glory that belongs to the Lord—seeking praise that should go to Him—also breaks this command (Isaiah 42:8).
summaryExodus 20:15 is God’s unchanging directive that every believer personally, continually, and absolutely refuse to take what is not theirs—whether material, temporal, relational, or spiritual—choosing instead to trust God’s provision, respect others’ God-given stewardship, and reflect Christ through honest labor and generous sharing.
(15)
Thou shalt not steal.--Our third duty towards our neighbour is to respect his right to his property. The framers of Utopias, both ancient and modern, have imagined communities in which private property should not exist. But such a condition of things has never yet been realised in practice. In the laws of all known States private property has been recognised, and social order has been, in a great measure, based upon it. Here, again, law has but embodied natural instinct. The savage who hammers out a flint knife by repeated blows with a pebble, labouring long, and undergoing pain in the process, feels that the implement which he has made is his own, and that his right to it is indisputable. If he is deprived of it by force or fraud, he is wronged. The eighth commandment forbids this wrong, and requires us to respect the property of others no less than their person and their domestic peace and honour.
Verse 15. -
Thou shalt not steal. By these words the right of property received formal acknowledgment, and a protest was made by anticipation against the maxim of modern socialists - "La propriete, c'est le vol." Instinctively man feels that some things become his, especially by toil expended on them, and that, by parity of reasoning, some things become his neighbour's. Our third duty towards our neighbour is to respect his rights in these. Society, in every community that has hitherto existed, has recognised private pro-petty; and social order may be said to be built upon it. Government exists mainly for the security of men's lives and properties; and anarchy would supervene if either could be with impunity attacked. Theft has always been punished in every state; and even the Spartan youth was not acquitted of blame unless he could plead that the State had stopped his supplies of food, and bid him forage for himself.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
You shall notלֹ֣֖א(lō)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, nosteal.תִּֿגְנֹֽ֔ב׃(tḡə·nōḇ)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1589:To thieve, to deceive
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OT Law: Exodus 20:15 You shall not steal (Exo. Ex) 
