Lexical Summary gazel: Plunder, robbery, violence Original Word: גָּזֵל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance robbery, thing taken away by violence From gazal; robbery, or (concretely) plunder -- robbery, thing taken away by violence. see HEBREW gazal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom gazal Definition robbery NASB Translation denial (1), robbery (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs גָּזֵל noun [masculine] robbery — absolute גָּזֵל Leviticus 5:21 3t. + Ezekiel 18:18 compare below; construct גֵּזֶל Ecclesiastes 5:7; Ezekiel 18:18 (but compare below); — robbery Leviticus 5:21 (P) Psalm 62:11 ("" עשֶׁק) Isaiah 61:8; = thing plundered, taken as plunder, as plunder, accusative of congnate meaning with verb Ezekiel 22:29 (גָּזַל גָּזֵל); figurative גֵּזֶל משפט = wresting of justice (compare Isaiah 10:2) Ecclesiastes 5:7. — Ezekiel 18:18 has גֵּזֶל אָח, but ᵐ5 Co strike out אח; read then גָּזֵל. — compare LagBN 172. Topical Lexicon Overview גָּזֵל describes the act or fruit of violent or fraudulent taking—“robbery,” “plunder,” “stolen property.” Scripture treats such taking not merely as a social offense but as a covenant violation against the Lord who owns all things and establishes justice among His people. Usage in the Torah Leviticus 6:2–5 places גָּזֵל inside a sequence of sins that demand restitution and a guilt offering. Robbery is portrayed as breach of faith with both neighbor and God, because “a person sins and acts unfaithfully against the LORD by deceiving his neighbor in regard to a deposit, security, or stolen property” (Leviticus 6:2). The offender must repay the full amount plus one-fifth and present a ram of atonement. The law thereby protects the weak, upholds private property, and links horizontal reconciliation with vertical reconciliation: restitution to man, sacrifice to God. Poetic reflection Psalm 62:10 cautions, “Place no trust in extortion, or false hope in stolen goods; if your riches increase, do not set your heart upon them”. Here גָּזֵל is set against true reliance on God. Robbery may promise quick security, but the Psalmist exposes its futility and calls the faithful to rest in divine power and steadfast love (Psalm 62:11–12). Prophetic denunciation Isaiah 61:8 registers God’s verdict: “For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and injustice; I will faithfully reward them and make an everlasting covenant with them”. Robbery contradicts the very character of the covenant-keeping God and threatens Israel’s calling to be a light among the nations. Ezekiel 22:29 indicts Jerusalem’s leaders: “The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy and have exploited the foreign resident without justice”. The prophet shows גָּזֵל as systemic sin that invites divine judgment upon the whole society. Historical context In the Ancient Near East, royal law codes curbed violent seizure of property, yet Israel’s legislation stands apart by grounding prohibition in God’s holy nature and by prescribing compassionate restitution rather than mere penalties. Agricultural life, tribal boundaries, and inherited allotments made protection of property essential for survival. Prophets later exposed how the rich manipulated courts and weights to dispossess the vulnerable, turning גָּזֵל into a national crisis that precipitated exile (Micah 2:1–2; Amos 5:11–12). Theological themes 1. Divine ownership: Robbery affronts the Lord, the ultimate Giver (Psalm 24:1). Christological perspective Jesus embodies perfect justice, refusing the kingdoms of this world by illegal gain (Matthew 4:8–10), cleansing the temple of profiteering (Matthew 21:12–13), and willingly suffering at the hands of “robbers” to redeem sinners (Mark 15:27). Zacchaeus’s fourfold restitution (Luke 19:8) echoes Levitical principles, demonstrating that new-covenant faith produces tangible reversal of גָּזֵל. Practical application for ministry • Preach integrity in business, warning against all modern forms of fraud, exploitation, and coercion. Cross references Exodus 22:1–4; Deuteronomy 24:14–15; Proverbs 21:7; Jeremiah 7:9–11; Malachi 3:8; Romans 13:9. Forms and Transliterations בְגָזֵ֔ל בגזל גָּזֵ֑ל גָזֵ֖ל גזל וּבְגָזֵ֪ל ובגזל ḇə·ḡā·zêl ḇəḡāzêl gā·zêl ḡā·zêl gaZel gāzêl ḡāzêl ū·ḇə·ḡā·zêl ūḇəḡāzêl uvegaZel vegaZelLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Leviticus 6:2 HEB: יָד֙ א֣וֹ בְגָזֵ֔ל א֖וֹ עָשַׁ֥ק NAS: [to him], or through robbery, or KJV: him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived INT: entrusted or robbery or has extorted Psalm 62:10 Isaiah 61:8 Ezekiel 22:29 4 Occurrences |
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