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What does the Bible say about punishment for stealing?

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The Bible teaches that stealing is sin against God and neighbor, requiring justice, repentance, and, where possible, generous restitution. The eighth commandment plainly forbids theft in Exodus 20:15. Israel's civil laws required thieves to repay what they had taken, often multiplying the repayment according to the offense, as Exodus 22:1-4 and Leviticus 6:1-5 show. Exodus 21:16 treats kidnapping as an especially grievous form of theft. Proverbs 6:30-31 recognizes human need but does not excuse stealing, while Micah 2:1-5 and Zechariah 5:4 warn that God judges those who defraud others. In Christ, sinners are called not merely to avoid theft, but to turn from it and love their neighbors faithfully.

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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Leviticus 6:1-5

    [1] Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, [2] "If anyone sins, and commits a trespass against Yahweh, and deals falsely with his neighbor in a matter of deposit, or of bargain, or of robbery, or has oppressed his neighbor, [3] or has found that which was lost, and dealt falsely therein, and swearing to a lie; in any of all these things that a man does, sinning therein; [4] then it shall be, if he has sinned, and is guilty, he shall restore that which he took by robbery, or the thing which he has gotten by oppression, or the deposit which was committed to him, or the lost thing which he found, [5] or any thing about which he has sworn falsely; he shall restore it even in full, and shall add a fifth part more to it. To him to whom it belongs he shall give it, in the day of his being found guilty.

  • Exodus 22:1

    "If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it, or sells it; he shall pay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.

  • Exodus 21:16

    "Anyone who kidnaps someone and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.

  • Proverbs 6:30-31

    [30] Men don't despise a thief, If he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry: [31] But if he is found, he shall restore seven times. He shall give all the wealth of his house.

  • Exodus 22:3-4

    [3] If the sun has risen on him, there shall be guilt of bloodshed for him; he shall make restitution. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. [4] If the stolen property is found in his hand alive, whether it is ox, donkey, or sheep, he shall pay double.

  • Exodus 22:1-2

    [1] "If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it, or sells it; he shall pay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. [2] If the thief is found breaking in, and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt of bloodshed for him.

  • Exodus 21:24

    eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

  • Micah 2:1-5

    [1] Woe to those who devise iniquity And work evil on their beds! When the morning is light, they practice it, Because it is in the power of their hand. [2] They covet fields, and seize them; And houses, and take them away: And they oppress a man and his house, Even a man and his heritage. [3] Therefore thus says Yahweh: "Behold, I am planning against these people a disaster, From which you will not remove your necks, Neither will you walk haughtily; For it is an evil time. [4] In that day they will take up a parable against you, And lament with a doleful lamentation, saying, 'We are utterly ruined! My people's possession is divided up. Indeed he takes it from me and assigns our fields to traitors!'" [5] Therefore you will have no one who divides the land by lot in the assembly of Yahweh.

  • Zechariah 5:4

    I will cause it to go out," says Yahweh of Hosts, "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."

  • Exodus 20:15

    "You shall not steal.

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