Overview
The Bible addresses theft and thieves across 63 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Exodus, Leviticus and Matthew. Closely related themes include Theft, Dishonesty, Adultery and Restitution. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jesus.
Key Bible verses about theft and thieves
Old Testament
Exodus
Thou shalt not steal.
And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. or a sheep: or, or a goat
If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.
If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.
If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.
If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it:
Then shall an oath of the LORD be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbour's goods; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good.
And if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof.
If it be torn in pieces, then let him bring it for witness, and he shall not make good that which was torn.
And if a man borrow ought of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof being not with it, he shall surely make it good.
But if the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good: if it be an hired thing, it came for his hire.
Leviticus
If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour; in fellowship: or, in dealing fellowship: Heb. putting of the hand
Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein:
Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found,
Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering. in the day: or, in the day of his being found guilty: Heb. in the day of his trespass
And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest:
And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD: and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein.
Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.
Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.
Deuteronomy
Neither shalt thou steal.
When thou comest into thy neighbour's vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel.
When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn.
Psalms
When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers. hast: Heb. thy portion was with
Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law. bands: or, companies
Proverbs
Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;
But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.
The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment. destroy: Heb. saw them, or, dwell with them
Jeremiah
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,
Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;
And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? which: Heb. whereupon my name is called
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
Matthew
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
He saith unto him, Which?1161 Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
Mark
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: covetousness: Gr. covetousnesses, wickednesses
And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. of all: or, an house of prayer for all nations
And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.
Luke
Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought;
Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Romans
Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
1 Corinthians
Revelation
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
People in the Bible and theft and thieves
Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.
In the Bible dictionary
Studying theft and thieves for yourself
- Begin with Exodus 20:15, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Compare how Exodus, Leviticus and Matthew each treat the theme.
- Consider the lives of Jesus and how their stories intersect with it.
- Widen the study to related themes: Theft, Dishonesty, Adultery and Restitution.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about theft and thieves?
The Bible addresses theft and thieves across 63 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Exodus, Leviticus and Matthew. Closely related themes include Theft, Dishonesty, Adultery and Restitution. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jesus.
How many Bible verses are about theft and thieves?
The Bible references theft and thieves in 63 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention theft and thieves?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is Exodus 20:15: “Thou shalt not steal.”
Which people in the Bible are associated with theft and thieves?
Jesus.
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