Overview
The Bible addresses crime across 25 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Ezekiel, Romans and Galatians. Closely related themes include Depravity of Man, Wicked, Adultery and Malice.
Key Bible verses about crime
Old Testament
Ezekiel
Thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths.
In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood: and in thee they eat upon the mountains: in the midst of thee they commit lewdness. that: Heb. of slanders
In thee have they discovered their fathers' nakedness: in thee have they humbled her that was set apart for pollution.
And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour's wife; and another hath lewdly defiled his daughter in law; and another in thee hath humbled his sister, his father's daughter. one: or, every one another: or, every one lewdly: or, by lewdness
In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.
Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.
And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.
The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. oppression: or, deceit wrongfully: Heb. without right
And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
Hosea
Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. blood: Heb. bloods
New Testament
Mark
Romans
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: without natural: or unsociable
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. have: or, consent with
Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Their feet are swift to shed blood:
Destruction and misery are in their ways:
And the way of peace have they not known:
There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Galatians
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
In the Bible dictionary
Studying crime for yourself
- Begin with Ezekiel 22:8, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Compare how Ezekiel, Romans and Galatians each treat the theme.
- Widen the study to related themes: Depravity of Man, Wicked, Adultery and Malice.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about crime?
The Bible addresses crime across 25 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Ezekiel, Romans and Galatians. Closely related themes include Depravity of Man, Wicked, Adultery and Malice.
How many Bible verses are about crime?
The Bible references crime in 25 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention crime?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is Ezekiel 22:8: “Thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths.”
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