Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Nature:Extortion, in a biblical context, refers to the unlawful or unethical acquisition of money, goods, or services through coercion, threats, or manipulation. It is considered a grievous sin, as it violates the principles of justice, fairness, and love that are central to Christian ethics. The act of extortion is condemned throughout Scripture as it exploits the vulnerable and undermines the moral fabric of society.
Biblical References:1.
Old Testament: · In the Mosaic Law, extortion is implicitly condemned through various statutes that promote justice and protect the poor and vulnerable.
Leviticus 19:13 states, "You must not defraud your neighbor or rob him. The wages due a hired hand must not remain with you until morning." This command underscores the importance of fair dealings and the prohibition of exploiting others for personal gain.
· The prophets frequently denounced extortion as a symptom of societal corruption.
Ezekiel 22:12 highlights this, saying, "In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take usury and excessive interest; you make unjust gain of your neighbors by extortion. And you have forgotten Me, declares the Lord GOD."
2.
New Testament: · Jesus Christ addressed the issue of extortion in His teachings, emphasizing the need for integrity and righteousness. In
Luke 18:11 , the Pharisee's prayer reveals a self-righteous attitude, "The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.’" Here, extortion is equated with other serious sins, highlighting its moral gravity.
· The apostle Paul also speaks against extortion in his epistles. In
1 Corinthians 6:10 , he lists extortioners among those who "will not inherit the kingdom of God." This warning serves as a stark reminder of the spiritual consequences of such actions.
Moral and Ethical Implications:Extortion is fundamentally opposed to the Christian virtues of love, honesty, and justice. It reflects a heart that prioritizes personal gain over the well-being of others, contrary to the selfless love exemplified by Christ. The Bible calls believers to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God (
Micah 6:8), which inherently rejects any form of exploitation or coercion.
Practical Considerations:Christians are encouraged to examine their own lives and business practices to ensure they are free from any form of extortion or unethical behavior. The call to be "salt and light" (
Matthew 5:13-16) in the world includes upholding justice and integrity in all dealings. Believers are also urged to advocate for the oppressed and to work towards systems that protect the vulnerable from exploitation.
Conclusion:While the Bible does not provide an exhaustive legal code against extortion, its teachings clearly denounce the practice as contrary to God's will. The consistent biblical message is one of justice, mercy, and love, urging believers to reflect these values in their interactions with others.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The practice of wresting anything by force, by threats, or by any undue exercise of power; undue exaction; overcharge.
2. (n.) The offense committed by an officer who corruptly claims and takes, as his fee, money, or other thing of value, that is not due, or more than is due, or before it is due.
3. (n.) That which is extorted or exacted by force.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
EXTORTIONeks-tor'-shun:
This particular word occurs twice in King James Version:Ezekiel 22:12 (`osheq), andMatthew 23:25 (harpage), and indicates that one who is an extortioner is guilty of snatching away from another by strife, greed and oppression that which does not lawfully belong to him. The element of covetousness and usury is involved in the meaning of this word; for it is greedily gotten gain. The publicans were considered as being specially guilty of this sin; this is clear from the Pharisee's deprecatory remark: "I am not. an extortioner... as this publican" (Luke 18:11). Paul classes extortion (pleonexia, literally, "over-reaching") among a category of the grossest crimes known to humanity (1 Corinthians 5:10, 11); indeed, so grievous is it that it closes the door of heaven in the face of the one guilty of it (1 Corinthians 6:10).
William Evans
Greek
724. harpage -- pillage, plundering...extortion, robbery. From harpazo; pillage (properly abstract) --
extortion, ravening,
spoiling. see GREEK harpazo. (arpagen) -- 1 Occurrence.
...727. harpax -- rapacious
... ravenous. From harpazo; rapacious --extortion, ravening. see GREEK harpazo. (arpages)
-- 3 Occurrences. (arpax) -- 1 Occurrence. (arpaxin) -- 1 Occurrence....
4124. pleonexia -- advantage, covetousness
... covetousness, greediness. From pleonektes; avarice, ie (by implication) fraudulency,
extortion -- covetous(-ness) practices, greediness. see GREEK pleonektes....
Strong's Hebrew
6233. osheq -- oppression,extortion... oppression,
extortion. Transliteration: osheq Phonetic Spelling: (o'-shek) Short
Definition: oppression.
... cruelly,
extortion, oppression, thing deceitfully gotten
...6217. ashuqim -- oppression,extortion
... 6216, 6217. ashuqim. 6218 . oppression,extortion. Transliteration: ashuqim
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-shook') Short Definition: oppressions....
4835. merutsah -- a crushing, an oppression
... merutsah or merutsah. 4836 . a crushing, an oppression. Transliteration: merutsah
or merutsah Phonetic Spelling: (mer-oo-tsaw') Short Definition:extortion....
2557. chamets -- that which is leavened
... leaven, leavened bread. From chamets; ferment, (figuratively)extortion -- leaven,
leavened (bread). see HEBREW chamets. 2556c, 2557. chamets. 2558 ....
Library
A Rebuke againstExtortion
... After the Exile Chapter 54 A Rebuke AgainstExtortion.... He is not to imitate
its sharp practices, its overreaching, itsextortion....
Spiritual Almsgiving
... But the Lord said to him: 'Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and the
dish, but within you are still full ofextortion and wickedness....
Seemingly from the Dawn of Man all Nations have had Governments...
... modern of countries, America, has introduced with a vague savor of science, a method
which it calls "the third degree." This is simply theextortion of secrets...
2 Cor. Ix. 1
... therefore to entreat the brethren, that they would make up beforehand this your
bounty, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty and not ofextortion...
The Eighth Commandment
... 6. (6) The usurer, who takes byextortion from others. He... restitution. Luke
19:8. He thought all he got byextortion was theft. (7...
Zacchaeus
... His rank and wealth were the reward of a calling they abhorred, and which
was regarded as another name for injustice andextortion....
Jesus' Last Public Discourse. Denunciation of Scribes and...
... hypocrites! for ye cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but
within they are full fromextortion and excess. [Jesus...
Again on the Calamity of the City of Antioch. ...
... to live in luxury does not seem to be a manifest and admitted crime; but then it
brings forth in us great evils,"drunkenness, violence,extortion, and rapine...
In his Temple
... The money changing gave opportunity for fraud andextortion, and it had grown into
a disgraceful traffic, which was a source of revenue to the priests....
The Fifth Book
... no small proportion of the Gauls, and, in fine, all those throughout the Roman world
whose Roman citizenship has been brought to nothing by Romanextortion....
Thesaurus
Extortion (14 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
EXTORTION.
... Multi-Version Concordance
Extortion (14 Occurrences). Matthew 23:25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
...Extort (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To get by the offense ofextortion. SeeExtortion. 3. (vi) To practice
extortion. 4. (pp & a.) Extorted. Multi-Version Concordance...
Robbery (18 Occurrences)
... hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within
they are full ofextortion and unrighteousness. (See NAS)....
Extortioner (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) One who practicesextortion. Multi-Version
Concordance Extortioner (3 Occurrences). 1 Corinthians...
Platter (20 Occurrences)
... For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are
full ofextortion and unrighteousness. (WEB KJV ASV WBS)....
Outside (215 Occurrences)
... hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but
within they are full ofextortion and unrighteousness....
Cleanse (75 Occurrences)
... hypocrites! for ye cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but
within they are full fromextortion and excess. (ASV RSV)....
Cup (86 Occurrences)
... hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but
within they are full ofextortion and unrighteousness....
Clean (298 Occurrences)
... hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but
within they are full ofextortion and unrighteousness....
John (154 Occurrences)
... The publicans he cautioned againstextortion, the soldiers against crime and plunder."
His doctrine and manner of life roused the entire south of Palestine...
Resources
What does the Bible say about gangs? | GotQuestions.orgWho baptized John the Baptist? | GotQuestions.orgWhy is the lack of visions and divinations considered a punishment (Micah 3:6)? | GotQuestions.orgExtortion: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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