Lexical Summary
genebah: Theft, stealing
Original Word:גְּנֵבָה
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:gnebah
Pronunciation:gheh-neh-BAH
Phonetic Spelling:(ghen-ay-baw')
KJV: theft
NASB:theft, what he stole
Word Origin:[fromH1589 (גָּנַב - steal)]
1. stealing
2. (concretely) something stolen
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
theft
Fromganab; stealing, i.e. (concretely) something stolen -- theft.
see HEBREWganab
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
ganabDefinitiona thing stolen
NASB Translationtheft (1), what he stole (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(on formation compare Ba
NB 161, 166) —
Exodus 22:3 (an animal);
Exodus 22:2, pret. compare Di.
Topical Lexicon
Definition and Scopeגְּנֵבָה (genevah) denotes an act or object of theft: the thing stolen, the state of being stolen, or the crime itself. While the root verb describes stealing, genevah focuses on the result—property now unlawfully possessed.
Occurrences in the Hebrew Scriptures
Exodus 22:3–4 provides the only two occurrences, embedding the word in Israel’s civil legislation. Both verses regulate restitution when stolen property is recovered or when the thief is caught.
Legal Context in the Mosaic Covenant
WithinExodus 22 the Lord establishes a tiered restitution system. If the stolen article (genevah) is found alive in the thief’s possession, “he must repay double” (Exodus 22:4). Should the thief be unable to pay,Exodus 22:3 permits servitude as compensation. These statutes elevate the sanctity of personal property while preserving both justice and mercy: repayment restores the victim, yet graciously allows the wrongdoer to satisfy the law without capital punishment. Unlike surrounding Near-Eastern codes that often demanded death, the Torah’s approach affirms human dignity even in criminal contexts.
Moral Theology of Theft
Genevah stands beneath the broader command, “You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15) and is echoed inLeviticus 19:11: “You must not steal; you must not lie.” Theft is never treated as a merely social inconvenience; it is a breach of covenant faithfulness and an affront to the divine Giver of every good gift (Psalm 24:1).Proverbs 10:2 warns that “ill-gotten treasures profit nothing,” showing that stolen goods ultimately harm their possessor.
Restitution and Redemption
Restitution is more than legal reparation; it foreshadows redemption. Zacchaeus, standing before Jesus, declares, “If I have cheated anyone, I will repay four times the amount” (Luke 19:8), consciously mirroring Exodus restitution. The New Testament underscores inner transformation over mere external compliance: “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing good with his own hands, so that he may have something to share” (Ephesians 4:28). Grace not only forbids genevah but redirects former thieves into generous stewards.
Historical Background
Ancient law codes such as Hammurabi’s often prescribed execution or mutilation for theft. Israel’s comparatively moderate penalties—monetary repayment multiplied—reflect a theologically grounded justice system. Property is protected, yet human life remains paramount.
Stewardship and Social Justice
Genevah has implications for economic ethics: dishonest weights (Deuteronomy 25:13–15), withholding wages (Jeremiah 22:13), and land seizure (Micah 2:1–2) extend the concept beyond overt burglary. Scripture ties theft to broader injustice, calling God’s people to uphold equity in commerce, labor, and inheritance.
Pastoral and Ministry Application
1. Discipleship: Teaching on genevah highlights both God’s holiness and His restorative purpose.
2. Church Discipline: Persistent theft may necessitate corrective action (1 Corinthians 5:11–13).
3. Benevolence: Addressing material need can preempt temptation to steal (James 2:15–16).
4. Cultural Engagement: Advocacy against systemic theft—fraud, exploitation, digital piracy—embodies a biblical ethic.
Related Terms and Concepts
• גָּנַב ganav (to steal) – verb underlying genevah.
• חָמָס chamas (violence, wrong) – broader social injustice.
• κλοπή klope (Matthew 15:19) – Greek noun “theft,” connecting Old and New Testament ethics.
Summary
Genevah encapsulates the tangible outcome of stealing and serves as a lens through which Scripture teaches righteous possession, restitution, and transformative grace. God defends the victim, confronts the perpetrator, and invites both into a restored community marked by justice and generosity.
Forms and Transliterations
בִּגְנֵבָתֽוֹ׃ בגנבתו׃ הַגְּנֵבָ֗ה הגנבה biḡ·nê·ḇā·ṯōw biḡnêḇāṯōw bignevaTo hag·gə·nê·ḇāh haggənêḇāh haggeneVah
Links
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Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
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