Definition:
To defraud is to deprive someone of something by deception or to cheat. In a biblical context, defrauding is considered a sin as it violates principles of honesty, integrity, and love for one's neighbor.

Biblical References:
The concept of defrauding is addressed in several passages throughout the Bible, emphasizing the importance of fair dealings and the sinfulness of deceitful practices.

1. Leviticus 19:13 :
"You must not defraud your neighbor or rob him. The wages due a hired hand must not remain with you until morning."
This verse is part of the Holiness Code, which outlines ethical behavior for the Israelites. It underscores the importance of treating others fairly and fulfilling obligations promptly.

2. Proverbs 20:23 :
"Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good."
Here, the use of unequal weights and dishonest scales is a metaphor for defrauding others in business transactions. Such practices are condemned as they reflect a lack of integrity.

3. Mark 10:19 :
"You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not defraud, and honor your father and mother.’"
Jesus reiterates the commandments, including the prohibition against defrauding, highlighting its importance alongside other moral imperatives.

4. 1 Thessalonians 4:6 :
"In this matter, no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will avenge all such acts, as we have already told you and solemnly warned you."
The Apostle Paul warns against defrauding fellow believers, emphasizing that God will hold individuals accountable for such actions.

Theological Implications:
Defrauding is not merely a social or legal issue but a spiritual one. It reflects a heart that is not aligned with God's commandments and the teachings of Christ. The act of defrauding violates the command to love one's neighbor as oneself (Matthew 22:39) and undermines the trust and community that should characterize the body of Christ.

Moral and Ethical Considerations:
From a biblical perspective, defrauding is a breach of trust and an act of injustice. Believers are called to live lives marked by honesty and fairness, reflecting the character of God. The Bible encourages believers to conduct themselves with integrity in all dealings, whether personal or business-related.

Practical Application:
Christians are encouraged to examine their own lives and business practices to ensure they are not engaging in any form of defrauding. This includes being truthful in advertising, fair in pricing, and prompt in paying debts. The call to avoid defrauding extends to all areas of life, urging believers to be examples of righteousness and integrity in a world often marked by deceit.(v. t.) To deceitfully deprive of some right, interest, or property; to embezzle; to cheat; as, to defraud a creditor of his interest; -- with of before the thing taken or withheld.650. apostereo -- to defraud, deprive of
... to defraud, deprive of. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: apostereo Phonetic
Spelling: (ap-os-ter-eh'-o) Short Definition: I deprive one of something, rob ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/650.htm - 7k

4122. pleonekteo -- to have more, to overreach
... Transliteration: pleonekteo Phonetic Spelling: (pleh-on-cek-teh'-o) Short Definition:
I take advantage of Definition: I take advantage of, overreach, defraud. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4122.htm - 7k

4811. sukophanteo -- to accuse falsely
... falsely. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sukophanteo Phonetic Spelling:
(soo-kof-an-teh'-o) Short Definition: I accuse falsely, defraud Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4811.htm - 7k

1748. enedreuo -- to lie in wait for, to plot
... of Speech: Verb Transliteration: enedreuo Phonetic Spelling: (en-ed-ryoo'-o) Short
Definition: I lie in wait for, seek to entrap, defraud, deceive Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1748.htm - 6k

2603. katabrabeuo -- to give judgment against
... beguile of reward. From kata and brabeuo (in its original sense); to award the price
against, ie (figuratively) to defraud (of salvation) -- beguile of reward. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2603.htm - 7k

5233. huperbaino -- to step over, transgress
... huperbaino Phonetic Spelling: (hoop-er-bah'-ee-no) Short Definition: I transgress,
go beyond Definition: I transgress; I go beyond, overreach, defraud. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5233.htm - 6k

6231. ashaq -- to oppress, wrong, extort
... 2), rages (1), rob (1). get deceitfully, deceive, defraud, drink up, use
oppression do violence wrong. A primitive root (compare ...
/hebrew/6231.htm - 6k

6906. qaba -- perhaps to rob
... 1). rob, spoil. A primitive root; to cover, ie (figuratively) defraud --
rob, spoil. 6905, 6906. qaba. 6907 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6906.htm - 5k

5230. nakal -- to be crafty, deceitful or knavish
... beguile, conspire, deceiver, deal subtilly. A prim root; to defraud, ie Act
treacherously -- beguile, conspire, deceiver, deal subtilly. 5229, 5230. ...
/hebrew/5230.htm - 6k

5791. avath -- to be bent or crooked
... root Definition to be bent or crooked NASB Word Usage bent (1), cheat (1), crooked
(1), defraud (1), pervert (3), stoop (1), subvert (1), thwarts (1), wronged ...
/hebrew/5791.htm - 6k

5186. natah -- to stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend
... Word Usage afternoon* (1), bend down (1), bent (1), bent down (1), bow (1), bowed
(3), came to stumbling (1), cast down (1), decline (1), defraud (1), deprive ...
/hebrew/5186.htm - 7k

Wherefore Also when He was Advising Married Persons not to Defraud ...
... Section 5. Wherefore also when he was advising married persons not to defraud
one another of? 5. Wherefore also when he was advising ...
/.../augustine/on the good of widowhood /section 5 wherefore also when.htm

1 Cor. vii. 1, 2
... honor, and no prerogative. [3.] Ver.5. "Defraud ye not one the other, except
it be by consent.". What then can this mean? "Let not the ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xix 1 cor vii.htm

The Eighth Commandment
... Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him.' Leviticus 19:13. ... That
no man go beyond, and defraud his brother.' 1 Thess 4: 6. ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 8 the eighth commandment.htm

He that is Unjust in the Least is Unjust Also in Much. Luke 16:10.
... Or that if he will defraud the government in little things, such as postage,
or duties on little articles, he will rob the treasury. II. ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/he that is unjust in.htm

A Certain Degree of Intemperance is to be Tolerated in the Case of ...
... so far as to be within range of forgiveness, though not prescribed by way of
commandment: [2113] and the married pair are enjoined not to defraud one the other ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 16 xiv a certain degree.htm

Eighth Commandment
... from a poor man. If you lie about the value of things you buy, are you
not trying to defraud the storekeeper? "It is naught, it ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/eighth commandment.htm

Thou Shalt not Steal.
... For here are my neighbors, good friends, my own servants, from whom I expect good
[every faithful and diligent service], who defraud me first of all. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/the large catechism/thou shalt not steal.htm

Matt. vi. 16
... since this too is pleasant to men: He alarms them however on a new ground, by
signifying that not even this do they obtain: since though men defraud not, there ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xx matt vi 16.htm

Psalm XXXIV.
... It is said to them, Defraud not; and they say, Whence can I feed myself? No art
can be without imposture; no business can be without fraud. ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xxxiv.htm

Sunday after Easter
... Should I be tempted by avarice to deceive and defraud my neighbor, or to close my
hand when I should give him aid, if I am a Christian and born anew my faith ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/sunday after easter.htm

Defraud (11 Occurrences)
... (vt) To deceitfully deprive of some right, interest, or property; to embezzle; to
cheat; as, to defraud a creditor of his interest ...Defraud (11 Occurrences). ...
/d/defraud.htm - 9k

Defrauded (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Defraud. Multi-Version Concordance
Defrauded (6 Occurrences). Luke 19:8 Zacchaeus stood ...
/d/defrauded.htm - 8k

Cheat (5 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) To deceive and defraud; to impose upon; to trick; to swindle. 6. (n.) To
beguile. 7. (vi) To practice fraud or trickery; as, to cheat at cards. ...
/c/cheat.htm - 8k

Dishonest (33 Occurrences)
... 3. (a.) Wanting in honesty; void of integrity; faithless; disposed to cheat or defraud;
not trustworthy; as, a dishonest man. ... He loves to defraud. (WEB NIV). ...
/d/dishonest.htm - 16k

Neighbor (123 Occurrences)
... not to bear false witness against a neighbor (Exodus 20:16 Deuteronomy 5:20 Proverbs
25:18), or in any way to deal falsely with him, defraud him, frame ...
/n/neighbor.htm - 41k

Uses (15 Occurrences)
... have been in you to shed blood. (See NIV). Hosea 12:7 A merchant has dishonest
scales in his hand. He loves to defraud. (See NIV). ...
/u/uses.htm - 10k

Unspiritual (6 Occurrences)
... Colossians 2:18 Let no one defraud you of your prize, priding himself on his humility
and on his worship of the angels, and taking his stand on the visions he ...
/u/unspiritual.htm - 8k

Lively (5 Occurrences)
... bios is "means of life," translated "living" (Mark 12:44 Luke 8:43); "living," in
this sense, occurs in Apocrypha as the translation of zoe, "Defraud not the ...
/l/lively.htm - 13k

Gull (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To deceive; to cheat; to mislead; to trick;
to defraud. 2. (n.) A cheating or cheat; trick; fraud. ...
/g/gull.htm - 7k

Wipe (24 Occurrences)
... Also used figuratively. 4. (vt) To cheat; to defraud; to trick; -- usually followed
by out. 5. (n.) Act of rubbing, esp. in order to clean. ...
/w/wipe.htm - 14k

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