Why does Exodus 20:15 simply state, "You shall not steal," without further explanation? Canonical Setting Exodus 20:15 records the eighth “word” of the Decalogue: “You shall not steal.” Delivered audibly by God at Sinai (Exodus 20:1,19) and twice inscribed on stone (Exodus 31:18; 34:1), the command appears in the covenant prologue that frames Israel’s entire civil, ceremonial, and moral life (Exodus 20–24). Its stark brevity is intentional, encasing a universal moral absolute in the tightest possible form. Majesty in Brevity Throughout the Decalogue each imperative is terse, rhythmic Hebrew (two words in the original for v. 15). Ancient Near-Eastern suzerainty treaties opened with succinct stipulations, elaborated later by case law; Scripture mirrors this diplomatic convention yet refines it with an unmatched moral authority. Brevity magnifies gravity: no circumstantial loopholes, no cultural expiration date. Comprehensive Scope “Steal” (gānaḇ) covers kidnapping (Exodus 21:16), burglary (22:2), fraud (Leviticus 19:11,35–36), withholding wages (Deuteronomy 24:14), and even intellectual dishonesty (Jeremiah 23:30). By leaving the verb unmodified, the command bans every species of misappropriation—past, present, or future—without needing continual statutory updates. Divine Ownership “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1). Property rights flow from prior divine rights; theft is sacrilege. Israel’s land was on perpetual lease from Yahweh (Leviticus 25:23). Thus, stealing repudiates both neighbor and Sovereign. Moral Intuition and Natural Law Romans 2:15 affirms that Gentiles “show that the work of the law is written on their hearts.” Cross-cultural anthropological studies (e.g., the Yale Infant Cognition Center’s fairness experiments) confirm innate aversion to theft-like inequities even in toddlers. Scripture’s concision assumes this shared moral intuition. Progressive Elaboration in Case Law Immediately after the Decalogue, Exodus 22:1-15 parses restitution for livestock rustling, breach of trust, and negligence. Leviticus 6:1-5 mandates compensation plus a 20 percent penalty. The terse eighth word thus functions as a heading; chapters 21–23 serve as commentary. Wisdom and Prophetic Amplifications Proverbs brands theft the pathway of fools (Proverbs 1:13-19) and pleads, “Give me neither poverty nor riches… lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God” (30:8-9). Prophets condemn national plunder (Amos 8:4-6; Micah 2:1-2). Their fiery oracles assume, rather than re-explain, the command’s self-evident force. Christ’s Affirmation and Fulfillment Jesus cites the prohibition unchanged (Matthew 19:18), links it with love of neighbor (Matthew 22:39-40), and radicalizes it from deed to desire by pairing it with the tenth word against coveting (Mark 7:21-22). At Calvary He suffers between “robbers” (Matthew 27:38), showing theft’s seriousness requires atonement no less than murder. New-Covenant Ethic “Let him who steals steal no longer; rather let him labor… that he may have something to share” (Ephesians 4:28). The apostle moves from prohibition to transformation—no need to re-legislate details because the Spirit internalizes the law (Hebrews 8:10). Archaeological Corroboration 1. The Nash Papyrus (2nd c. BC) preserves an early Hebrew text of the Decalogue, matching Exodus 20:15 verbatim. 2. Ketef Hinnom silver scrolls (7th c. BC) quote adjacent covenant language, proving Mosaic commands were revered centuries before the Exile. 3. The Dead Sea Scrolls (4QExod-Levf; 4QDeut^n) attest an unaltered eighth word, supporting manuscript stability. Moral Ontology and the Resurrection The historic rising of Jesus—documented by multiple independent sources (1 Corinthians 15:3-8; early creedal material dated within five years of the event)—secures His authority to affirm the Decalogue. If Christ defeated death, His endorsement of Exodus 20:15 is not mere antiquity but living mandate. Practical Implications The command guards personal dignity, incentivizes industriousness, and undergirds charitable freedom. Societies that respect property consistently yield higher trust and philanthropy indices (World Values Survey). Where theft is normalized—ancient Samaria, modern kleptocracies—human flourishing collapses, confirming divine wisdom. Why No Further Explanation? 1. Because the mandate is absolute and comprehensive. 2. Because subsequent Torah, wisdom, and prophetic writings expound the particulars. 3. Because the moral law is already imprinted on the human conscience. 4. Because divine ownership elevates even minor theft to cosmic rebellion. 5. Because the brevity suits its function as a covenantal headline, timeless across cultures and epochs. Conclusion Exodus 20:15’s elegant economy communicates a universal, nondisposable moral truth grounded in the character of the Creator, validated by Israel’s history, confirmed by Christ’s resurrection, and still indispensable for individual integrity and societal health. |
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