How does Exodus 21:16 connect with the commandment "You shall not steal"? Framing the Conversation Exodus 21:16 – “Whoever kidnaps someone must be put to death, whether he sells them or still has them in his possession.” Exodus 20:15 – “You shall not steal.” Tracing the Link • Both passages sit side–by–side in the Sinai covenant, showing that the Decalogue’s eighth word (“You shall not steal”) is unpacked in the very next chapter. • Exodus 21:16 takes the general principle of theft and applies it to the gravest possible form: stealing a human being. • The death penalty underscores that kidnapping is more than property crime; it assaults the image of God in people (Genesis 1:27). Why Kidnapping Equals Theft • Theft removes what rightfully belongs to another. With kidnapping, the “possession” is a person’s freedom and very life. • In God’s economy, taking liberty is treated as the ultimate theft because: – It deprives a family of a loved one. – It often seeks profit from someone else’s body (selling or enslaving). – It denies God’s ownership of every human being (Psalm 24:1). Layers of Protection the Law Establishes • Protects individual dignity: every person bears God’s image; therefore, stealing a person is an attack on God’s design. • Safeguards social stability: removing citizens by force fractures community life and covenant faithfulness. • Guards worship integrity: Israel’s obedience in social matters reflected their worship of a holy God (Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 22:37–40). Echoes in the Rest of Scripture • Deuteronomy 24:7 repeats the same penalty, confirming its lasting seriousness. • 1 Timothy 1:9–10 lists “kidnappers” with murderers, the sexually immoral, and liars—showing the moral continuity from Sinai to the New Testament. • Revelation 18:13 condemns Babylon for trading in “human souls,” portraying kidnapping and slave–trading as end–times wickedness. Implications for Today • Human trafficking, forced labor, and sexual exploitation are modern forms of this ancient sin. God’s people must treat them as violations of the eighth commandment. • Upholding true freedom goes hand-in-hand with protecting property; both rest on God’s authority over creation and humanity. • Believers who honor “You shall not steal” should champion efforts that rescue victims, prosecute traffickers, and restore dignity. Taking the Command to Heart • “You shall not steal” calls us beyond safeguarding our wallets; it calls us to guard the personhood and liberty of our neighbors. • Exodus 21:16 magnifies the commandment by showing that the worst theft is the theft of a life. • Embracing both verses equips us to see every human as God’s property first, ours never. |
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