The act of stealing is repeatedly addressed in the Bible, emphasizing its moral and spiritual implications. Stealing not only violates social and legal norms, but also undermines ethical standards and breaks trust. In biblical teachings, it is often associated with broader themes such as justice, honesty, and the divine command to love one’s neighbor. The following verses from both the Old and New Testaments provide insights into how the scriptures speak to the issue of stealing, and they serve as a guide for those seeking to understand its significance and consequences.
Bible Verses About Stealing
Exodus 20:15 – The Eighth Commandment
“You shall not steal.” – Exodus 20:15
Cross-References
Leviticus 19:11 – “‘Do not steal. ‘Do not lie. ‘Do not deceive one another.'”
Deuteronomy 5:19 – “You shall not steal.”
Romans 13:9 – “The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
Proverbs 10:2 – Ill-gotten Treasures
“Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death.” – Proverbs 10:2
Cross-References
Proverbs 15:27 – “The greedy bring ruin to their households, but the one who hates bribes will live.”
Proverbs 21:6 – “A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.”
Ephesians 4:28 – Labor and Generosity
“Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.” – Ephesians 4:28
Cross-References
Acts 20:35 – “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”
Galatians 6:10 – “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 – “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”
Leviticus 19:13 – Fair Treatment
“Do not defraud or rob your neighbor. Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight.” – Leviticus 19:13
Cross-References
Deuteronomy 24:14 – “Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether that worker is a fellow Israelite or a foreigner residing in one of your towns.”
Malachi 3:5 – “So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,” says the Lord Almighty.”
1 Corinthians 6:10 – Inheriting the Kingdom
“Nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” – 1 Corinthians 6:10
Cross-References
Galatians 5:19-21 – “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Romans 1:29-32 – “They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”
Ephesians 5:5 – “For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”
Proverbs 22:22 – Oppression and Theft
“Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court.” – Proverbs 22:22
Cross-References
Isaiah 10:2 – “To deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.”
Jeremiah 21:12 – “This is what the Lord says to you, house of David: ‘Administer justice every morning; rescue from the hand of their oppressor the one who has been robbed, or my wrath will break out and burn like fire because of the evil you have done—burn with no one to quench it.”
James 2:6 – “But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?”
Matthew 19:18 – The Commandments Reinforced
“Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony,’” – Matthew 19:18
Cross-References
Mark 10:19 – “You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”
Luke 18:20 – “You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’”
Exodus 20:16 – “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”
Zechariah 5:3 – The Flying Scroll
“And he said to me, ‘This is the curse that is going out over the whole land; for according to what it says on one side, every thief will be banished, and according to what it says on the other, everyone who swears falsely will be banished.’” – Zechariah 5:3
Cross-References
Zechariah 5:4 – “The Lord Almighty declares, ‘I will send it out, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of anyone who swears falsely by my name. It will remain in that house and destroy it completely, both its timbers and its stones.’”
Jeremiah 29:32 – “For he has rebelled against me,” declares the Lord. ‘I will make an example of him before all the exiles of Judah in Babylon.’”
Proverbs 3:33 – “The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.”
Isaiah 61:8 – Love of Justice
“For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them.” – Isaiah 61:8
Cross-References
Isaiah 56:1 – “This is what the Lord says: ‘Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed.’”
Amos 5:15 – “Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.”
Micah 6:8 – “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Ezekiel 22:29 – Oppression and Extortion
“The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the foreigner, denying them justice.” – Ezekiel 22:29
Cross-References
Ezekiel 22:12 – “In you are people who accept bribes to shed blood; you take interest and make a profit from the poor. You extort unjust gain from your neighbors. And you have forgotten me, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
Hosea 12:7 – “The merchant uses dishonest scales and loves to defraud.”
Luke 19:8 – Zacchaeus’s Repentance
“But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’” – Luke 19:8
Cross-References
Luke 3:13-14 – “‘Don’t collect any more than you are required to,’ he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, ‘And what should we do?’ He replied, ‘Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.’”
Proverbs 6:31 – “Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold, though it costs him all the wealth of his house.”
Exodus 22:1 – “Whoever steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it must pay back five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.”
Proverbs 29:24 – A Partner with a Thief
“The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies; they are put under oath and dare not testify.” – Proverbs 29:24
Cross-References
Leviticus 5:1 – “If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible.”
Micah 7:3 – “Both hands are skilled in doing evil; the ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes, the powerful dictate what they desire—they all conspire together.”
1 Timothy 1:9-10 – Law for the Lawbreakers
“We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine” – 1 Timothy 1:9-10
Cross-References
Titus 1:9 – “He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.”
1 Corinthians 6:1 – “If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people?”
Romans 7:7 – “What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, ‘You shall not covet.'”
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Psalms 62:10 – Do Not Trust in Extortion
“Do not trust in extortion or put vain hope in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.” – Psalms 62:10
Cross-References
Proverbs 11:28 – “Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.”
1 Timothy 6:9 – “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”
Luke 12:15 – “Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.’”
Titus 2:10 – Not to Steal
“And not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.” – Titus 2:10
Cross-References
Colossians 3:22 – “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.”
1 Peter 2:18 – “Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.”
Philemon 1:18 – “If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.”
Jeremiah 7:9 – Stealing and Worship
“‘Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known,” – Jeremiah 7:9
Cross-References
Hosea 7:1 – “Whenever I would heal Israel, the sins of Ephraim are exposed and the crimes of Samaria revealed. They practice deceit, thieves break into houses, bandits rob in the streets.”
Ezekiel 20:39 – “As for you, house of Israel,’ this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Go and serve your idols, every one of you! But afterward you will surely listen to me and no longer profane my holy name with your gifts and idols.”
Zephaniah 1:4 – “I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all who live in Jerusalem. I will destroy every remnant of Baal worship in this place, the very names of the idolatrous priests.”
Mark 7:21-22 – Evil from Within
“For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.” – Mark 7:21-22
Cross-References
Matthew 15:19 – “For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.”
Proverbs 4:23 – “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
James 1:14-15 – “But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
John 10:10 – The Thief’s Purpose
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – John 10:10
Cross-References
1 Peter 5:8 – “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
Luke 19:10 – “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
3 John 1:11 – “Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.”
Romans 2:21 – Hypocrisy in Teaching
“you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?” – Romans 2:21
Cross-References
Titus 1:16 – “They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.”
Matthew 23:3 – “So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.”
James 3:1 – “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”
Proverbs 28:24 – Dishonoring Parents
“Whoever robs their father or mother and says, ‘It’s not wrong,’ is partner to one who destroys.” – Proverbs 28:24
Cross-References
Proverbs 19:26 – “Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother is a child who brings shame and disgrace.”
Exodus 21:17 – “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.”
Matthew 15:4 – “For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’”
Job 24:14 – The Night Deeds
“When daylight is gone, the murderer rises up, kills the poor and needy, and in the night steals forth like a thief.” – Job 24:14
Cross-References
Job 24:13 – “There are those who rebel against the light, who do not know its ways or stay in its paths.”
Proverbs 4:19 – “But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.”
1 Thessalonians 5:7 – “For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.”
Hosea 4:2 – Suffused With Sin
“There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.” – Hosea 4:2
Cross-References
Isaiah 59:3 – “For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt. Your lips have spoken falsely, and your tongue mutters wicked things.”
Amos 2:6 – “This is what the Lord says: ‘For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not relent. They sell the innocent for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals.'”
Micah 7:2 – “The faithful have been swept from the land; not one upright person remains. Everyone lies in wait to shed blood; they hunt each other with nets.”
Psalm 50:18 – Association with Thieves
“When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers.” – Psalm 50:18
Cross-References
Proverbs 1:11-13 – “If they say, ‘Come along with us; let’s lie in wait for innocent blood, let’s ambush some harmless soul; let’s swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder.'”
Isaiah 1:23 – “Your rulers are rebels, partners with thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them.”
Ecclesiastes 8:11 – “When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong.”
Proverbs 30:7-9 – Neither Poverty nor Riches
“Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.” – Proverbs 30:7-9
Cross-References
Matthew 6:11 – “Give us today our daily bread.”
Exodus 16:18 – “And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.”
1 Timothy 6:8 – “But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”
Hebrews 13:5 – God’s Provision
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” – Hebrews 13:5
Cross-References
Philippians 4:11-12 – “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
Matthew 6:25 – “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?”
Psalm 37:25 – “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.”
Nehemiah 5:7 – Addressing Usury
“I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, ‘You are charging your own people interest!’ So I called together a large meeting to deal with them.” – Nehemiah 5:7
Cross-References
Exodus 22:25 – “If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest.”
Leviticus 25:36 – “Do not take interest or any profit from them, but fear your God, so that they may continue to live among you.”
Deuteronomy 23:19 – “Do not charge a fellow Israelite interest, whether on money or food or anything else that may earn interest.”
Micah 2:2 – Seizing Property
“They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud people of their homes, they rob them of their inheritance.” – Micah 2:2
Cross-References
Habakkuk 2:9 – “Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, setting his nest on high to escape the clutches of ruin!”
Jeremiah 8:10 – “Therefore I will give their wives to other men and their fields to new owners. From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit.”
1 Kings 21:2 – “Ahab said to Naboth, ‘Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth.'”
1 Thessalonians 4:6 – Warning Against Fraud
“and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:6
Cross-References
Proverbs 10:23 – “A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.”
Colossians 3:25 – “Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.”
Romans 12:19 – “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
Ezekiel 33:15 – Restoring and Repentance
“if they return what they took in pledge for a loan, return what they have stolen, follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil, they will surely live; they will not die.” – Ezekiel 33:15
Cross-References
Ezekiel 18:7 – “He does not oppress anyone, but returns what he took in pledge for a loan. He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked.”
2 Chronicles 6:31 – “so that they will fear you and walk in obedience to you all the time they live in the land you gave our ancestors.”
Luke 19:9 – “Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.'”
James 5:4 – The Calls of the Oppressed
“Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.” – James 5:4
Cross-References
Deuteronomy 24:15 – “Pay them their wages each day before sunset, because they are poor and are counting on it. Otherwise they may cry to the Lord against you, and you will be guilty of sin.”
Jeremiah 22:13 – Injustice in Building
“Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, his upper rooms by injustice, making his own people work for nothing, not paying them for their labor.” – Jeremiah 22:13
Cross-References
Habakkuk 2:12 – “Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by injustice!”
Proverbs 22:16 – “One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.”
Amos 5:11 – “You levy a straw tax on the poor and impose a tax on their grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine.”
Zephaniah 1:9 – Punishment of Thieves
“On that day I will punish all who avoid stepping on the threshold, who fill the temple of their gods with violence and deceit.” – Zephaniah 1:9
Cross-References
Isaiah 5:23 – “who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent.”
Micah 3:11 – “Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the Lord’s support and say, ‘Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us.'”
Jeremiah 6:13 – “From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit.”
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Final Thoughts
The biblical discourse on stealing underscores the gravity of violating ethical and moral codes and extends beyond mere legal implications. Stealing is portrayed as an act that offends God and disrupts the balance of justice and love mandated amongst humanity. As emphasized in both Old and New Testament passages, stealing is more than the unlawful taking of property; it signifies a deeper betrayal of trust, dishonesty, and exploitation of the vulnerable. The exhortations to cease stealing and instead, engage in honest labor and generous sharing reflect the Christian pathway to atonement and community harmony.
Furthermore, various stories and teachings emphasize restitution and repentance as means to reconcile with divine expectations. Individuals are urged to respect the rights and needs of their neighbors, illustrating the fundamental biblical principle of selfless love. Ultimately, the call to avoid theft is not merely about adhering to a commandment but about building a life reflective of divine integrity and righteousness, cultivating a society where justice and benevolence flourish. Consistent reflection and striving toward these ideals can contribute significantly to personal and communal peace