Theft and Thieves

Passages on this topic

From Nave’s Topical Bible (1896), a historical reference index. The groupings are Nave’s; the verses are shown in the text used across this site.

General scriptures concerning

• Exodus 20:15 You shall not steal.
• Exodus 21:16 Whoever kidnaps another man must be put to death, whether he sells him or the man is found in his possession.
• Exodus 22:1–4 “If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters or sells it, he must repay five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep. If a thief is caught breaking in and is beaten to death, no one shall be guilty of bloodshed. But if it happens after sunrise, there is guilt for his bloodshed. A thief must m…
• Exodus 22:10–15 If a man gives a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any other animal to be cared for by his neighbor, but it dies or is injured or stolen while no one is watching, an oath before the LORD shall be made between the parties to determine whether or not the man has taken his neighbor’s property. The owner must…
• Leviticus 6:2–7 “If someone sins and acts unfaithfully against the LORD by deceiving his neighbor in regard to a deposit or security entrusted to him or stolen, or if he extorts his neighbor or finds lost property and lies about it and swears falsely, or if he commits any such sin that a man might commit— once he…
• Leviticus 19:11 You must not steal. You must not lie or deceive one another.
• Leviticus 19:13 You must not defraud your neighbor or rob him. You must not withhold until morning the wages due a hired hand.
• Deuteronomy 5:19 You shall not steal.
• Deuteronomy 23:24–25 When you enter your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes, but you must not put any in your basket. When you enter your neighbor’s grainfield, you may pluck the heads of grain with your hand, but you must not put a sickle to your neighbor’s grain.
• Psalm 50:18 When you see a thief, you befriend him, and throw in your lot with adulterers.

See Dishonesty

Figurative

• Obadiah 1:5 “If thieves came to you, if robbers by night — oh, how you will be ruined — would they not steal only what they wanted? If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave some gleanings?

Instances of

By Rachel, of the household gods (teraphim)

• Genesis 31:19 Now while Laban was out shearing his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household idols.
• Genesis 31:34–35 Now Rachel had taken Laban’s household idols, put them in the saddlebag of her camel, and was sitting on them. And Laban searched everything in the tent but found nothing. Rachel said to her father, “Sir, do not be angry that I cannot stand up before you; for I am having my period.” So Laban search…

Achan

• Joshua 7:11 Israel has sinned; they have transgressed My covenant that I commanded them, and they have taken some of what was devoted to destruction. Indeed, they have stolen and lied, and they have put these things with their own possessions.

Micah

• Judges 17:2 said to his mother, “The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from you and about which I heard you utter a curse— I have the silver here with me; I took it.” Then his mother said, “Blessed be my son by the LORD!”

The spies of Laish

• Judges 18:14–27 Then the five men who had gone to spy out the land of Laish said to their brothers, “Did you know that one of these houses has an ephod, household gods, a graven image, and a molten idol? Now think about what you should do.” So they turned aside there and went to the home of the young Levite, the h…

Judas

• John 12:6 Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it.