Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of "stolen" in the Bible is primarily associated with the act of taking something unlawfully from another person. This act is explicitly condemned in the Scriptures and is considered a violation of God's commandments. The prohibition against stealing is rooted in the moral and ethical teachings of the Bible, emphasizing respect for others' property and the importance of honesty and integrity.
Biblical Commandments and LawsThe Eighth Commandment, found in the Decalogue, explicitly forbids stealing: "You shall not steal" (
Exodus 20:15). This commandment is reiterated in
Deuteronomy 5:19, underscoring its significance in the moral law given to the Israelites. The prohibition against theft is a fundamental aspect of the covenant relationship between God and His people, reflecting His desire for justice and righteousness.
In the Mosaic Law, various regulations address the issue of theft and prescribe restitution for stolen property. For instance,
Exodus 22:1-4 outlines the restitution required for different types of theft, emphasizing the principle of making amends: "If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he must repay five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep" (
Exodus 22:1). These laws highlight the importance of restoring what has been taken and compensating the victim.
Moral and Ethical ImplicationsThe act of stealing is not only a legal issue but also a moral one. It reflects a breach of trust and a disregard for the well-being of others.
Proverbs 6:30-31 acknowledges the desperation that may drive a person to steal but still affirms the necessity of restitution: "Men do not despise the thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger. Yet if caught, he must pay sevenfold; he must give up all the wealth of his house" . This passage illustrates the tension between understanding human need and upholding justice.
The New Testament continues to uphold the prohibition against stealing, urging believers to live lives of integrity and generosity.
Ephesians 4:28 advises, "He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need" . This exhortation not only condemns theft but also encourages productive and charitable living.
Spiritual DimensionsStealing is not merely a social or economic issue; it has spiritual dimensions as well. It reflects a lack of trust in God's provision and a failure to love one's neighbor as oneself. The act of taking what belongs to another is contrary to the character of God, who is just and generous. In
Malachi 3:8-10, God accuses the Israelites of robbing Him by withholding tithes and offerings, illustrating that theft can also be a spiritual offense against God.
The Bible calls believers to a higher standard of living, one that reflects God's righteousness and love. By avoiding theft and practicing honesty, believers demonstrate their commitment to God's commandments and their love for others. The teachings of Jesus further emphasize the importance of the heart's intentions, as seen in
Matthew 15:19, where theft is listed among the evils that come from within a person.
ConclusionThe biblical perspective on stealing is clear: it is a sin that violates God's commandments and harms relationships with others. The Scriptures call for restitution, repentance, and a transformation of the heart, urging believers to live lives marked by integrity, generosity, and trust in God's provision.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
p. p.) of Steal.
2. (p. p) of Steal.
Greek
2809. klemma -- theft... theft. From klepto; stealing (properly, the thing
stolen, but used of the act) --
theft. see GREEK klepto. (klemmaton) -- 1 Occurrence. 2808, 2809.
...4749. stole -- equipment, apparel
... (stolais) -- 2 Occurrences. (stolas) -- 4 Occurrences. (stole) -- 1 Occurrence.
(stolen) -- 2 Occurrences. 4748, 4749. stole. 4750 . Strong's Numbers.
Strong's Hebrew
1591. genebah -- a thingstolen... 1590, 1591. genebah. 1592 . a thing
stolen. Transliteration: genebah
Phonetic Spelling: (ghen-ay-baw') Short Definition: theft.
...1589. ganab -- to steal
... root Definition to steal NASB Word Usage actuallystolen (1), brought to me stealthily
(1), carries away (1), deceive (1), deceived (1), deceiving (1), fact...
Library
TheStolen Boy --A Mother's Love.
... TheStolen Boy"A Mother's Love. There was a boy a great many years ago,
stolen in London, the same as Charley Ross wasstolen here....
Corinthians iii. 21-23.
... They are ours, not as a thingstolen, and which will be taken from us with a heavy
over-payment of penalty, because we stole it when it did not belong to us...
From the Seventh to the End of the Tenth Commandment
... Do you believe they were very honest"never havingstolen even the slightest
thing"up to a certain day, and at once became thieves by committing a highway...
And on the Following Day, the Fourth Day of the Week...
... And Annas and Caiaphas say to Him: Tell us, why hast thoustolen our law, and
renounced [2036] the ordinances of Moses and the prophets?...
The Mystery of the Lost Brother
... They will say that we havestolen it, and then they will sell us all for slaves."....
You havestolen my master's silver cup, out of which he drinks'."....
Who are These Men who are Wont to Dispute at Such Great Length in...
... we to believe that, when they preach in the churches, they do not preach the mysteries
of the Scriptures, but merely repeat what they havestolen from Origen?...
The Touch of Faith and the Touch of Christ
... She thinks that she may win her desire furtively, and may carry it away, and
He be none the wiser nor the poorer for thestolen blessing....
The Eighth Commandment
... he is resolved he will spread a table for himself, but it shall be at other men's
cost, and both first and second course shall be served in withstolen goods....
Eighth Commandment
... commission. The value of the thing that isstolen has nothing to say to
the guilt of the act. Two... Him.STOLEN GOODS A BURDEN. I...
Matt. xxvii. 62-64.
... as in the rest they cast aside shame, so in this too they might have been able to
say), that the soldiers, having given up the body to bestolen, gave His...
Thesaurus
Stolen (28 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Stolen (28 Occurrences).
... Genesis 31:19 And Laban went to
shear his sheep: and Rachel had
stolen the images that were her father's.
...Stole (9 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV WBS). Exodus 22:4 If thestolen property is found in his hand alive, whether
it is ox, donkey, or sheep, he shall pay double. (Root in WEB DBY NAS NIV)...
Double (49 Occurrences)
... If a thief be caught with a living animal he was to restore double (Exodus 22:4);
if property bestolen out of the house of one to whom it is entrusted he was...
Code (6 Occurrences)
... It was probablystolen from there by the Elamitic king Shutruk-Nakhunte, in the
12th century BC, at the time of the plundering of Babylon, and set up as a...
Receiver (1 Occurrence)
... affairs, in certain cases. 3. (n.) One who takes or buysstolen goods
from a thief, knowing them to bestolen. 4. (n.) A vessel...
Required (72 Occurrences)
... bring to you. I bore its loss. Of my hand you required it, whetherstolen
by day orstolen by night. (WEB DBY NAS RSV). Genesis 42...
Require (46 Occurrences)
... I bore its loss. Of my hand you required it, whetherstolen by day orstolen
by night. (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)....
Stealing (8 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) That which isstolen;stolen property; -- chiefly used in the plural. Int.
Standard Bible Encyclopedia. STEALING. ste'-ling. See CRIMES; PUNISHMENTS....
Stealth (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The act of stealing; theft. 3. (n.) The thingstolen;stolen property.
Multi-Version Concordance Stealth (3 Occurrences)....
Torn (100 Occurrences)
... I bore its loss. Of my hand you required it, whetherstolen by day orstolen
by night. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)....
Resources
Why did people keep family idols in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about restitution? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is sheep stealing? | GotQuestions.orgStolen: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
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