Topical Bible: Thief

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical context, a "thief" is one who unlawfully takes the property of another, often by stealth and with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of it. The concept of theft is addressed extensively throughout the Scriptures, both in the Old and New Testaments, highlighting its moral and spiritual implications.

Old Testament References

The prohibition against theft is explicitly stated in the Ten Commandments, which form a foundational ethical code for the Israelites. Exodus 20:15 commands, "You shall not steal." This commandment underscores the importance of respecting the property and rights of others, reflecting God's desire for justice and righteousness among His people.

The Old Testament law provided specific guidelines and consequences for theft. For instance, Exodus 22:1 states, "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." This restitution principle emphasized the need for the thief to make amends and restore what was taken, often with additional compensation.

New Testament Teachings

In the New Testament, the issue of theft is addressed within the broader context of Christian ethics and the transformation of the believer's life. Jesus Christ, in His teachings, emphasized the heart's condition over mere external compliance with the law. In Matthew 15:19 , He states, "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander." Here, theft is listed among other sins that originate from a corrupt heart, indicating the need for inner renewal.

The Apostle Paul also addresses theft in his epistles, urging believers to live in a manner worthy of their calling. In Ephesians 4:28 , Paul instructs, "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 labor and generosity, reflecting a transformed life in Christ.

Spiritual Implications

The act of theft is not merely a social or legal issue but also a spiritual one. It reflects a lack of trust in God's provision and a failure to love one's neighbor as oneself. The Bible consistently calls believers to a higher standard of integrity and honesty, recognizing that all possessions ultimately belong to God and are entrusted to individuals as stewards.

In John 10:10 , Jesus contrasts His mission with that of a thief: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness." Here, the thief symbolizes the destructive forces opposed to God's kingdom, while Jesus offers abundant life to those who follow Him.

Conclusion

The biblical portrayal of a thief serves as a warning against the sin of covetousness and the unlawful taking of what belongs to others. It calls believers to a life of honesty, integrity, and trust in God's provision, reflecting the transformative power of the Gospel in their lives.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) One who steals; one who commits theft or larceny. See Theft.

2. (n.) A waster in the snuff of a candle.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

THIEF

thef: In the Old Testament the uniform translation (17 times) of gannabh, from ganabh, "steal," but gannabh is rather broader than the English "thief," and may even include a kidnapper (Deuteronomy 24:7). In Apocrypha and the New Testament, the King James Version uses "thief" indifferently for kleptes, and lestes, but the Revised Version (British and American) always renders the latter word by "robber" (a great improvement), See CRIMES. The figurative use of thief" as one coming without warning" (Matthew 24:43, etc.) needs no explanation.

The penitent thief ("robber," the Revised Version (British and American) Mark 15:27 Matthew 27:38, 44; "malefactor," Luke 23:32, 39) was one of the two criminals crucified with Christ. According to Mark and Matthew, both of these joined in the crowd's mockery, but Luke tells that one of them reproached his fellow for the insults, acknowledged his own guilt, and begged Christ to remember him at the coming of the Kingdom. And Christ replied by promising more than was asked-immediate admission into Paradise. It should be noted that unusual moral courage was needed for the thief to make his request at such a time and under such circumstances, and that his case has little in common with certain sentimental "death-bed repentances."

To explain the repentance and the acknowledgment of Christ as Messiah, some previous acquaintance of the thief with Christ must be supposed, but all guesses as to time and place are of course useless. Later tradition abundantly filled the blanks and gave the penitent thief the name Titus or Dysmas.

See ASSASSINS; BARABBAS.

Burton Scott Easton

Greek

2812. kleptes -- a thief
... kleptes. 2813 . a thief. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: kleptes
Phonetic Spelling: (klep'-tace) Short Definition: a thief Definition: a thief ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2812.htm - 6k

3027. lestes -- a robber
... 3027 -- a thief ("robber"), stealing (typically with ). ... robber, thief. From leizomai
(to plunder); a brigand -- robber, thief. (lestai) -- 3 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3027.htm - 7k

3338. metamelomai -- to regret, repent
... [3338 () in the papyri (P Thead 51.15, iv/ ad ) also means "regret" and for example
is used of a thief, "Otherwise you will have reason for it" (, 403).]. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3338.htm - 7k

849a. autophoros -- the very act
... the very act. Transliteration: autophoros Short Definition: act. Word Origin from
autos and phor (a thief) Definition the very act NASB Word Usage very act (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/849a.htm - 5k

1888. epautophoro -- in the very act.
... From epi and autos and (the dative case singular of) a derivative of phor (a thief);
in theft itself, ie (by analogy) in actual crime -- in the very act. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1888.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

1590. gannab -- a thief
... 1589, 1590. gannab. 1591 . a thief. Transliteration: gannab Phonetic Spelling:
(gaw-nab') Short Definition: thief. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/1590.htm - 6k

Library

Song 4. The Thief
... Divine Songs Song 4. The thief. The thief 8,7,8,7. Why should I deprive my neighbour.
Of his goods against his will? Hands were made for honest labour,. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watts/divine and moral songs/song 4 the thief.htm

The Dying Thief
... VOLUME II: ST. LUKE Chaps. XIII to XXIV THE DYING THIEF. 'And he said unto Jesus,
Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.'"Luke 23, 42. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/the dying thief.htm

Song 4. The Thief 8,7,8,7
... ADDENDUM to the Moral Songs. Song 4. The thief 8,7,8,7. Why should I deprive
my neighbour Of his goods against his will? Hands were ...
/.../watts/divine songs for children/song 4 the thief 8787.htm

The Penitent Thief
... VII THE PENITENT THIEF. ... If conversions are gradual, if it takes six months, or six
weeks, or six days to convert a man, there was no chance for this thief. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/men of the bible/vii the penitent thief.htm

The Penitent Thief
... SERMON XXXI. THE PENITENT THIEF. Luke 23:42, 43. And ... paradise. The story of
the penitent thief is a most beautiful and affecting one. ...
/.../kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xxxi the penitent thief.htm

The Thief Gained the Faith which Gained Him, and Brought Him up ...
... Hymn IV. The thief gained the faith which gained him, and brought him up
and placed him in paradise. 1. The thief gained the faith ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn iv the thief gained.htm

The Penitent Thief. Ch. 23:39-43
... VII. THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION. CHS. 22 TO 24 I. The Penitent Thief. Ch.
23:39-43. ... The thief had never been baptized, nor had he partaken of the Lord's Supper. ...
/.../erdman/the gospel of luke an exposition/i the penitent thief ch.htm

The Case of the Thief and of David, and of Our Call in Order to ...
... Prolegomena. Chapter XI. The case of the thief and of David, and of our
call in order to illustrate the grace of God. For if we ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xi the case of.htm

The Believing Thief
... The Believing Thief. A Sermon (No.2078). Delivered on Lord's-day Morning, April
7th, 1889,. ... SOME TIME AGO I preached upon the whole story of the dying thief. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 35 1889/the believing thief.htm

Ahab the Thief
... THE OLD TESTAMENT AHAB THE THIEF. Now Naboth, the Jezreelite, had a vineyard
in Jezreel next to the palace of Ahab, who ruled at Samaria. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/ahab the thief.htm

Thesaurus

Thief (41 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. THIEF. ... The figurative use of thief" as one coming
without warning" (Matthew 24:43, etc.) needs no explanation. ...
/t/thief.htm - 22k

Thieves (25 Occurrences)
... According to tradition, Demas or Dismas was the name of the penitent thief hanging
on the right, and Gestas of the impenitent on the left. ...
/t/thieves.htm - 14k

Owner (56 Occurrences)
... Matthew 24:43 and this know, that if the master of the house had known in what watch
the thief doth come, he had watched, and not suffered his house to be ...
/o/owner.htm - 24k

Sticks (25 Occurrences)
... (BBE DBY YLT). Matthew 26:55 In that hour Jesus said to the people, Have you
come out as against a thief with swords and sticks to take me? ...
/s/sticks.htm - 14k

Staffs (47 Occurrences)
... (WBS). Matthew 26:55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye
come out as against a thief with swords and staffs to take me? ...
/s/staffs.htm - 19k

Staves (50 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV). Matthew 26:55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye
come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? ...
/s/staves.htm - 23k

Stolen (28 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). Exodus 22:2 If the thief is found breaking in, and is struck so that
he dies, there shall be no guilt of bloodshed for him. (See RSV). ...
/s/stolen.htm - 15k

Needy (83 Occurrences)
... Make for yourselves purses which don't grow old, a treasure in the heavens that
doesn't fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth destroys. (WEB). ...
/n/needy.htm - 30k

Steal (29 Occurrences)
... NIV). John 10:10 The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came
that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. (WEB ...
/s/steal.htm - 16k

Taker (26 Occurrences)
... 1 Peter 4:15 Let no one among you undergo punishment as a taker of life, or as a
thief, or as an evil-doer, or as one who is over-interested in other men's ...
/t/taker.htm - 14k

Resources

What does it mean that Jesus will return like a thief in the night? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that the thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy in John 10:10? | GotQuestions.org

What can we learn from the thief on the cross? | GotQuestions.org

Thief: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Thief (41 Occurrences)

Matthew 24:43
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 26:55
In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.
(KJV BBE WBS)

Mark 14:48
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?
(KJV BBE WBS)

Luke 12:33
Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don't grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn't fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth destroys.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 12:39
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not allowed his house to be broken into.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 18:11
The Pharisee, standing erect, prayed as follows by himself: "'O God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people--I am not a thief nor a cheat nor an adulterer, nor do I even resemble this tax-gatherer.
(WEY)

Luke 22:52
Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?
(KJV BBE WBS)

John 10:1
"Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn't enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

John 10:10
The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

John 12:6
Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Romans 2:21
you then who teach your fellow man, do you refuse to teach yourself? You who cry out against stealing, are you yourself a thief?
(WEY)

1 Corinthians 6:10
Or is a thief, or the worse for drink, or makes use of strong language, or takes by force what is not his, will have any part in the kingdom of God.
(BBE)

Ephesians 4:28
He who has been a thief must steal no more, but, instead of that, should work with his own hands in honest industry, so that he may have something of which he can give the needy a share.
(WEY BBE RSV)

1 Thessalonians 5:2
For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Thessalonians 5:4
But you, brothers, aren't in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Peter 4:15
For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil doer, or a meddler in other men's matters.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Peter 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Revelation 3:3
Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If therefore you won't watch, I will come as a thief, and you won't know what hour I will come upon you.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Revelation 16:15
"Behold, I come like a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his clothes, so that he doesn't walk naked, and they see his shame."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Genesis 30:33
And so you will be able to put my honour to the test in time to come; if you see among my flocks any goats which are not marked or coloured, or any sheep which is not black, you may take me for a thief.
(BBE)

Exodus 22:1
If a man takes without right another man's ox or his sheep, and puts it to death or gets a price for it, he is to give five oxen for an ox, or four sheep for a sheep, in payment: the thief will have to make payment for what he has taken; if he has no money, he himself will have to be exchanged for money, so that payment may be made.
(BBE)

Exodus 22:2
If the thief is found breaking in, and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt of bloodshed for him.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Exodus 22:3
If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be bloodguiltiness for him--he shall make restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.
(See RSV NIV)

Exodus 22:7
"If a man delivers to his neighbor money or stuff to keep, and it is stolen out of the man's house; if the thief is found, he shall pay double.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 22:8
If the thief isn't found, then the master of the house shall come near to God, to find out if he hasn't put his hand to his neighbor's goods.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 22:12
But if it is taken from him by a thief, he is to make up for the loss of it to its owner.
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 24:7
If a man be found stealing any of his brothers of the children of Israel, and he deal with him as a slave, or sell him; then that thief shall die: so you shall put away the evil from the midst of you.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

2 Samuel 15:6
And this Absalom did to everyone in Israel who came to the king to have his cause judged: so Absalom, like a thief, took away the hearts of the men of Israel.
(BBE)

Job 24:14
The murderer rises with the light. He kills the poor and needy. In the night he is like a thief.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Job 24:15
And the man whose desire is for the wife of another is waiting for the evening, saying, No eye will see me; and he puts a cover on his face. And in the night the thief goes about;
(BBE)

Job 30:5
They are driven out from the midst of men. They cry after them as after a thief;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 50:18
When you saw a thief, you consented with him, and have participated with adulterers.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Proverbs 6:30
Men don't despise a thief, if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry:
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Proverbs 29:24
Whoever is an accomplice of a thief is an enemy of his own soul. He takes an oath, but dares not testify.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Proverbs 30:9
For fear that if I am full, I may be false to you and say, Who is the Lord? or if I am poor, I may become a thief, using the name of my God wrongly.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 2:26
As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 18:10
If he has a son who is a thief, a taker of life, who does any of these things,
(BBE)

Hosea 7:1
When I would heal Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered, also the wickedness of Samaria; for they commit falsehood, and the thief enters in, and the gang of robbers ravages outside.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Joel 2:9
They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
(KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Zechariah 5:3
Then he said to me, This is the curse which goes out over the face of all the land: for long enough has every thief gone without punishment, and long enough has every taker of false oaths gone without punishment.
(BBE NIV)

Zechariah 5:4
I will cause it to go out," says Yahweh of Armies, "and it will enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him who swears falsely by my name; and it will remain in the midst of his house, and will destroy it with its timber and its stones."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Thief

Related Terms

Crosses (6 Occurrences)

Steal (29 Occurrences)

Robbers (21 Occurrences)

Yourselves (530 Occurrences)

Gleanings (8 Occurrences)

Gatherers (2 Occurrences)

Grapegatherers (2 Occurrences)

Grape-gatherers (2 Occurrences)

Wear-and-tear (2 Occurrences)