Leviticus 19:11
“You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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It's striking how this verse groups "stealing," "dealing falsely," and "lying" together, not as separate issues, but as interconnected ways of violating trust within the community. The text suggests that even small acts of deception in business or outright lies can be understood as forms of theft, stealing from your neighbor's well-being and reputation.
This passage is part of a broader set of instructions God gives to the Israelites about living holy lives, building on the Ten Commandments. Immediately following laws about respecting parents and observing the Sabbath, these verses condemn deceitful and dishonest actions within the community, highlighting how even seemingly small transgressions like stealing, lying, or defrauding others violate the principles of love for neighbor. The subsequent verses continue this theme, forbidding slander and the pursuit of vengeance, emphasizing a call to protect the vulnerable and maintain unity.
We often think of stealing as a bold act of taking what isn't ours. But what if the Bible sees a broader picture?
This verse begins with a prohibition against stealing, a command echoing the Ten Commandments. However, the context here in Leviticus suggests a nuance. While direct theft is obviously forbidden, scholars point out that the immediate context of Leviticus 19 often deals with how the privileged should treat the less fortunate. Therefore, 'stealing' here can encompass actions that deprive the poor of what is rightfully theirs, like withholding gleanings from a harvest or the corner of a field. It's a call to recognize that withholding justice or shared resources is a form of theft.
This concept expands our understanding beyond the common thief to include any action that unjustly takes from another, especially the vulnerable.
Stealing is about taking. But what about the ways we manipulate and mislead others to gain advantage?
The verse swiftly moves from stealing to 'dealing falsely' and 'lying'. These aren't just minor social hiccups; they are serious breaches of trust that damage relationships and communities. 'Dealing falsely' can involve all sorts of cheating, fraud, and dishonesty in business or any transaction. It's about giving a false impression to gain an unfair advantage.
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'Lying' is the direct verbal counterpart. Whether it's in everyday conversation, business dealings, or even staying silent when truth needs to be spoken, deception erodes the foundation of trust. The closeness of these three prohibitions – stealing, false dealing, and lying – underscores that they are all ways of wrongly taking from or harming others, often through deceit.
Understand the original words
ganab · Hebrew Verb
To take something that belongs to another without permission or right; a violation of the eighth commandment, encompassing both physical theft and the withholding of what is due to others.
kachash · Hebrew Verb
Refers to acting with deceit, fraud, or dishonesty in dealings with others; it is the opposite of living in truth and integrity as required by God.
shaqar · Hebrew Verb
To speak untruths or deliberately deceive another; it is condemned throughout Scripture as a practice contrary to the character of God, who is Truth.
This passage contains the Ten Commandments, explicitly stating 'You shall not steal,' providing the foundational prohibition that Leviticus 19:11 expands upon with additional related sins.
Ephesians 4:25The New Testament echoes this command by urging believers to 'put away falsehood' and 'speak truth with his neighbor,' directly linking the ancient prohibition against lying to Christian conduct.
Colossians 3:9This passage also draws a parallel, commanding believers to 'lie not to one another,' reinforcing the idea that honesty in speech and action is a core ethical requirement for those who follow Christ.
Proverbs 12:22This proverb highlights the value God places on truthfulness, stating 'Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight,' underscoring the gravity of dishonesty.
clarkeLeviticus 19:11: "Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another."
Ye shall not steal, etc. - See the notes on Exodus 20:15 .
barnesLeviticus 19:11: "Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another."
Leviticus 19:11 forbids injuries perpetrated by craft; Leviticus 19:13 , those perpetrated by violence or power, the conversion of might into right. In Leviticus 19:13 "defraud" should rather be, oppress.
It's striking how this verse groups "stealing," "dealing falsely," and "lying" together, not as separate issues, but as interconnected ways of violating trust within the community. The text suggests that even small acts of deception in business or outright lies can be understood as forms of theft, stealing from your neighbor's well-being and reputation.
This passage is part of a broader set of instructions God gives to the Israelites about living holy lives, building on the Ten Commandments. Immediately following laws about respecting parents and observing the Sabbath, these verses condemn deceitful and dishonest actions within the community, highlighting how even seemingly small transgressions like stealing, lying, or defrauding others violate the principles of love for neighbor. The subsequent verses continue this theme, forbidding slander and the pursuit of vengeance, emphasizing a call to protect the vulnerable and maintain unity.
This passage is part of a broader set of instructions God gives to the Israelites about living holy lives, building on the Ten Commandments. Immediately following laws about respecting parents and observing the Sabbath, these verses condemn deceitful and dishonest actions within the community, highlighting how even seemingly small transgressions like stealing, lying, or defrauding others violate the principles of love for neighbor. The subsequent verses continue this theme, forbidding slander and the pursuit of vengeance, emphasizing a call to protect the vulnerable and maintain unity.
"“You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another." — It's striking how this verse groups "stealing," "dealing falsely," and "lying" together, not as separate issues, but as interconnected ways of violating trust within the community. The text suggests…
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