Explain Bible

What does the Bible say about stealing?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible forbids stealing as a sin against God and neighbor, calling us instead to honest labor, truthfulness, restitution, and generous love. The eighth commandment plainly says, “You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15), while Leviticus 19:11 forbids theft, deception, and false dealing. Those who have stolen are to repent, make restoration where possible, and turn to productive work so they may share with those in need (Leviticus 6:1-7; Ephesians 4:28). Scripture warns that unjust gain cannot truly profit (Proverbs 10:2) and that greed is spiritually destructive (1 Timothy 6:10). In Christ, believers are freed not merely from theft’s outward acts but from the covetous heart behind them, learning to love their neighbors as themselves (Romans 13:9).

Top passages, ranked by readers

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

  • Ephesians 4:28

    Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.

  • Exodus 20:15

    "You shall not steal.

  • Leviticus 19:11

    "'You shall not steal; neither shall you deal falsely, nor lie to one another.

  • Proverbs 10:2

    Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, But righteousness delivers from death.

  • Exodus 22:7

    "If a man delivers to his neighbor money or stuff to keep, and it is stolen out of the man's house; if the thief is found, he shall pay double.

  • Romans 13:9

    For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not give false testimony," "You shall not covet," and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

  • Proverbs 12:22

    Lying lips are an abomination to Yahweh, But those who do the truth are his delight.

  • John 10:10

    The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.

  • 1 Timothy 6:10

    For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

  • Leviticus 6:1-7

    [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. [6] He shall bring his trespass offering to Yahweh, a ram without blemish from the flock, according to your estimation, for a trespass offering, to the priest. [7] The priest shall make atonement for him before Yahweh, and he will be forgiven concerning whatever he does to become guilty."

Related topics

Go deeper

Ask Explain Bible AI about stealing and get a fuller answer from a Reformed theological perspective.

Ask what the Bible says about stealing