Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, the term "robber" referred to individuals who engaged in theft, often with violence or threat, and were considered lawbreakers and sinners. The Bible provides various references to robbers, illustrating both literal and metaphorical uses of the term.
Old Testament ContextThe Old Testament frequently addresses the issue of theft and robbery, emphasizing the moral and legal prohibitions against such acts. In the Mosaic Law, stealing was explicitly condemned, and restitution was required for those who committed theft (
Exodus 22:1-4). Robbery was seen as a violation of God's commandments and an affront to the community's well-being.
The prophets often used the imagery of robbery to describe the spiritual and moral decay of Israel. For example, in
Hosea 6:9, the prophet compares the priests to bands of robbers: "As marauders lie in ambush for a man, so do bands of priests; they murder on the road to Shechem and commit atrocities."
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the term "robber" is used both literally and figuratively. The most notable mention of robbers is in the account of Jesus' crucifixion, where He was crucified between two robbers.
Matthew 27:38 states, "Two robbers were crucified with Him, one on His right and the other on His left." This fulfilled the prophecy that the Messiah would be "numbered with the transgressors" (
Isaiah 53:12).
The parable of the Good Samaritan, found in
Luke 10:30-37, also features robbers. Jesus describes a man who was attacked by robbers, stripped, beaten, and left half-dead. This parable highlights the call to love and show mercy to one's neighbor, contrasting the actions of the robbers with the compassion of the Samaritan.
In
John 10:1, Jesus uses the imagery of a robber to describe false teachers and leaders: "Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber." Here, the term "robber" is used metaphorically to warn against those who seek to harm or exploit the flock of God.
Theological ImplicationsRobbery, in the biblical sense, is not merely a physical act of theft but also a symbol of spiritual and moral corruption. It represents a heart turned away from God's commandments and a life that seeks personal gain at the expense of others. The Bible consistently calls believers to a life of integrity, honesty, and love for one's neighbor, standing in stark contrast to the actions of a robber.
The transformation of a sinner, including a robber, is a testament to the power of God's grace. The account of Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector who repented and made restitution, illustrates the possibility of redemption and change (
Luke 19:1-10). This narrative underscores the hope and forgiveness available through Christ, even for those who have lived as robbers.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
n.) One who robs; in law, one who feloniously takes goods or money from the person of another by violence or by putting him in fear.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ROBBER; ROBBERYrob'-er, rob'-er-i: "Robber" represents no particular Hebrew word in the Old Testament, but in the Apocrypha and the New Testament is always a translation of lestes (see THIEF). In the King James VersionJob 5:5;Job 18:9, "robber" stands for the doubtful word tsammim, the Revised Version (British and American) "hungry" in JObadiah 5:5 and "snare" in 18:9. The meaning is uncertain, and perhaps tseme'im, "thirsty," should be read in both places.Psalm 62:10, "Become not vain in robbery," means "put not your trust in riches dishonestly gained." RV's changes of the King James Version inProverbs 21:7Daniel 11:14Nahum 3:1 are obvious. InPhilippians 2:6 the King James Version reads "thought it not robbery to be equal with God." the English Revised Version has "a prize," while the English Revised Version margin and the American Standard Revised Version read "a thing to be grasped," the American Standard Revised Version rewording "counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped." The Greek here is harpagmos, a word derived from harpazo, "to ravish away," "carry off," "plunder" (compare "harpy"). Properly speaking, the termination -mos should give the derived noun an active sense, "the act of plundering," whence the King James Version's "robbery." The verse would then mean "who thought that being on an equality with God did not consist in grasping," and this translation gives good sense in the context and has some excellent scholarly support. But a passive significance is frequently found despite a -mos termination, giving to harpagmos the sense of "thing grasped," as in the Revised Version (British and American). Usually English commentators take "grasped" as meaning "clung to"-"did not think equality with God should be clung to tenaciously"-but "to cling to" seems unknown as a translation of harpazo. Hence, render "a thing to be grasped at"-did not seek equality with God by selfish methods but by humbling himself." It is to be noticed, naturally, that Paul is thinking of "equality with God" simply in the sense of "receiving explicit adoration from men" (Philippians 2:10, 11), and that the metaphysical relation of the Son to the Father is not at all in point.
See alsoGRASP.
Burton Scott Easton
Greek
3027. lestes -- arobber... a
robber. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: lestes Phonetic Spelling:
(lace-tace') Short Definition: a
robber, brigand, bandit Definition: a
...912. Barabbas -- "son of Abba," Barabbas, the Isr.robber released...
...robber released instead of Christ. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
Barabbas Phonetic Spelling: (bar-ab-bas') Short Definition: Barabbas...
727. harpax -- rapacious
... rapacious. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: harpax Phonetic Spelling:
(har'-pax) Short Definition: rapacious, ravenous, arobber, an extortioner...
2417. hierosulos -- robbing temples
...robber of temples. From hieron and sulao; a temple-despoiler --robber of churches.
see GREEK hieron. see GREEK sulao. (ierosulous) -- 1 Occurrence. 2416, 2417...
2416. hierosuleo -- to rob a temple
... rob temples, commit sacrilege. From hierosulos; to be a temple-robber (figuratively) --
commit sacrilege. see GREEK hierosulos. (ierosuleis) -- 1 Occurrence....
Strong's Hebrew
6782. tsammim -- perhaps a snare, trap...robber. From the same as tsammah; a noose (as fastening); figuratively, destruction --
robber. see HEBREW tsammah. 6781b, 6782. tsammim. 6783 .
...6530. parits -- violent one
... destroyer, ravenous,robber. From parats; violent, ie A tyrant -- destroyer, ravenous,
robber. see HEBREW parats. 6529, 6530. parits. 6531 . Strong's Numbers
2863. chetheph -- prey
... prey. Transliteration: chetheph Phonetic Spelling: (kheh'-thef) Short Definition:
robber. Word Origin from chathaph Definition prey NASB Word Usagerobber (1)....
7703. shadad -- to deal violently with, despoil, devastate, ruin
... dead, destroyer, oppress,robber, spoiler, utterly, lay waste. A primitive
root; properly, to be burly, ie (figuratively) powerful...
1980. halak -- to go, come, walk
... 2), patrolled (2), pressed heavier (1), proceed (2), proceed* (1), proceeded (4),
prowl (1), prowled (1), ran (3), resort (1), return* (1),robber (1), run (1...
962. bazaz -- to spoil, plunder
... took as their plunder (1). catch, gather, take for a prey,robber, spoil,
take away, spoil, utterly. A primitive root; to plunder...
1121. ben -- son
... of first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, + kid, + lamb, (+)
man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+) people, + rebel, +robber, X servant...
2541. chamots -- the ruthless (ones)
... oppressed. From chamets; properly, violent; by implication, arobber -- oppressed.
see HEBREW chamets. 2540, 2541. chamots. 2542 . Strong's Numbers.
2412. Chatipha -- one of the Nethinim
... Hatipha. From chataph;robber; Chatipha, one of the Nethinim -- Hatipha. see HEBREW
chataph. 2411, 2412. Chatipha. 2413 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
Martin Converts aRobber to the Faith.
... Chapter V. Martin converts aRobber to the Faith.... Therobber, having led him to a
private place apart from the rest, began to enquire of him who he was....
Martin Demolishes an Altar Consecrated to aRobber.
... Chapter XI. Martin demolishes an Altar consecrated to aRobber. But let me proceed
to a description of other excellences which Martin displayed as a bishop....
And I Joseph Begged the Body of Jesus, and Put it in a New Tomb...
... put. And of therobber on the right the body was not found; but of him
on the left, as the form of a dragon, so was his body. And...
After I had Beheld These Things, as I was Going into Galilee with...
... After I had beheld these things, as I was going into Galilee with Jesus and the
robber, Jesus was transfigured, and was not as formerly, before He was crucified...
The Penitent Thief
... He was arobber. The word means, not a petty thief, but arobber; and his
being put to such a terrible death shows the same thing....
Having Therefore done Many and Dreadful Things against Jesus that...
... And many other things he began to say against Jesus, blaspheming and gnashing his
teeth upon Him. For therobber was taken alive in the snare of the devil....
Petilianus Said: "Which Holy Spirit Certainly Cannot Come on You.....
... the water of the traditor another, because Christ was not a traditor, why should
not the water of Christ be one thing, and the water of arobber another, since...
The Second Word
... It is, of course, useless to speculate on the antecedents of therobber (not "thief")
who turned to our Lord with the words, "Jesus, remember me when Thou...
Three Afternoons Off the Track
... We thought the name appropriate. Cupid's Lake is peopled by Castes of various
persuasions; we made for theRobber quarter first....
The Penitent Thief. Ch. 23:39-43
... forgiving God. Then, here is a picture of the transforming power of Christ
who in an instant of time changed arobber into a saint. Most...
Thesaurus
Robber (14 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
ROBBER; ROBBERY.
... See also GRASP. Burton Scott
Easton. Multi-Version Concordance
Robber (14 Occurrences).
...Rebellion (51 Occurrences)
... Rebellion (51 Occurrences). Matthew 26:55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes,
"Have you come out as against arobber with swords and clubs to seize me?...
Fight (265 Occurrences)
... Matthew 26:55 Then said Jesus to the crowds, "Have you come out as if to fight
with arobber, with swords and bludgeons to apprehend me?...
Thief (41 Occurrences)
... Version uses "thief" indifferently for kleptes, and lestes, but the Revised Version
(British and American) always renders the latter word by "robber" (a great...
Robbery (18 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The act or practice of robbing; theft. 2. (n.) The crime of robbing.
See Rob. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.ROBBER; ROBBERY....
Clubs (7 Occurrences)
... (WEB NAS RSV NIV). Matthew 26:55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have
you come out as against arobber with swords and clubs to seize me?...
Swords (50 Occurrences)
... Matthew 26:55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come
out as against arobber with swords and clubs to seize me?...
Barabbas (10 Occurrences)
... Ie, son of Abba or of a father, a notoriousrobber whom Pilate proposed to condemn
to death instead of Jesus, whom he wished to release, in accordance with the...
Leading (101 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Matthew 26:55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come
out as against arobber with swords and clubs to seize me?...
Runner (5 Occurrences)
... on his way. (BBE). Proverbs 6:11 So shall thy poverty come as arobber,
And thy want as an armed man. (See JPS). Proverbs 24:34 So...
Resources
What is ethical relativism? | GotQuestions.orgDid Adam and Eve know what death was when God commanded them not to eat from the tree of knowledge? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the seven I AM statements in the Gospel of John? | GotQuestions.orgRobber: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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