Exodus 20:15
“You shall not steal.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Exodus 20:15
“You shall not steal.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This command isn't just about snatching things; it fundamentally upholds the idea that what's earned or rightfully owned is sacred. It guards against not only clandestine theft but also the more subtle forms of taking what isn't yours, like cheating in a deal or withholding wages.
This command, the eighth of the Ten Commandments, is given directly after the prohibitions against adultery and murder, highlighting the importance of respecting one's neighbor. It establishes the principle of private property rights, which is fundamental to the social order God intends for His people. This prohibition against stealing covers not just outright theft but also any form of dishonesty that infringes upon another's rightful possessions or earnings.
When you hear 'You shall not steal,' what comes to mind? A thief in the night? A bank robber? This commandment is much broader than just clandestine theft.
The Bible's understanding of stealing isn't limited to outright burglary or pilfering. It encompasses a wide range of actions that unfairly take from others or deprive them of what is rightfully theirs.
Beyond the Obvious:
The core principle is respecting the rights and property that belong to others, whether individuals, the community, or God.
Why is respecting private property so crucial? It's not just about individual possessions; it's foundational to how societies function.
This commandment serves as a cornerstone for social order by formally recognizing and protecting the right to private property.
The Basis of Society:
Understand the original words
ganab · Hebrew Verb
The act of taking another person's property without permission or legal right; it violates the principle of stewardship and respect for one's neighbor's livelihood.
When John the Baptist instructs soldiers on how to live righteously, he explicitly tells them not to practice extortion and to be content with their wages, highlighting that taking what isn't yours, even through one's occupation, violates God's standards.
Acts 5:1-11The story of Ananias and Sapphira powerfully demonstrates that even withholding what is rightfully God's, or lying about it, is considered a form of theft and carries severe consequences, underscoring the seriousness of dishonesty before God.
Ephesians 4:28Paul directly links the cessation of stealing with diligent, honest work, showing that the purpose of not stealing is to be able to provide for oneself and generously share with others, transforming a negative command into a positive call to stewardship.
Leviticus 19:11This passage reiterates the command not to steal, but also includes 'deal falsely' and 'defraud one another,' expanding the prohibition beyond simple taking to include deception in dealings, broadening the scope of the eighth commandment.
Proverbs 30:8-9Agur prays for neither poverty nor riches, recognizing that extreme lack could lead to stealing and dishonoring God, while extreme wealth could lead to forgetting God, showing how circumstances can tempt one to violate this commandment.
bensonExodus 20:15: "Thou shalt not steal."
Exodus 20:15 . Thou shalt not steal — This command forbids us to rob ourselves of what we have, by sinful spending, or of the use and comfort of it, by sinful sparing; and to rob others by invading our neighbour’s rights, taking his goods, or house, or field, forcibly or clandestinely, overreaching in bargains, not restoring what is borrowed or found, withholding just debts, rents, or wages; and, which is worst of all, to rob the public in the coin or reven…
gillExodus 20:15: "Thou shalt not steal."
Thou shall not steal. Which is to take away another man's property by force or fraud, without the knowledge, and against the will of the owner thereof. Thefts are of various kinds; there is private theft, picking of pockets, shoplifting, burglary, or breaking into houses in the night, and carrying off goods; public theft, or robbing upon the highways; domestic theft, as when wives take away their husbands' money or goods, and conceal them, or dispose of the…
This command isn't just about snatching things; it fundamentally upholds the idea that what's earned or rightfully owned is sacred. It guards against not only clandestine theft but also the more subtle forms of taking what isn't yours, like cheating in a deal or withholding wages.
This command, the eighth of the Ten Commandments, is given directly after the prohibitions against adultery and murder, highlighting the importance of respecting one's neighbor. It establishes the principle of private property rights, which is fundamental to the social order God intends for His people. This prohibition against stealing covers not just outright theft but also any form of dishonesty that infringes upon another's rightful possessions or earnings.
This command, the eighth of the Ten Commandments, is given directly after the prohibitions against adultery and murder, highlighting the importance of respecting one's neighbor. It establishes the principle of private property rights, which is fundamental to the social order God intends for His people. This prohibition against stealing covers not just outright theft but also any form of dishonesty that infringes upon another's rightful possessions or earnings.
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"“You shall not steal." — This command isn't just about snatching things; it fundamentally upholds the idea that what's earned or rightfully owned is sacred. It guards against not only clandestine theft but also the more subt…