In the Bible, the term "thieves" refers to individuals who unlawfully take what belongs to others. The act of stealing is consistently condemned throughout Scripture, and thieves are often used as examples of sinful behavior that is contrary to God's commandments.

Old Testament References

The prohibition against stealing is clearly articulated in the Ten Commandments, where God commands, "You shall not steal" (Exodus 20:15). This commandment underscores the importance of respecting others' property and maintaining justice within the community. The Old Testament law provided specific guidelines for dealing with theft, emphasizing restitution and justice. For instance, Exodus 22:1 states, "If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he must pay back five oxen for the ox and four sheep for the sheep."

The wisdom literature also addresses the issue of theft. Proverbs 6:30-31 acknowledges the desperation that may drive a person to steal but still insists on restitution: "Men do not despise the thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger. Yet if caught, he must pay sevenfold; he must give up all the wealth of his house."

New Testament References

In the New Testament, the teachings of Jesus and the apostles continue to denounce theft. Jesus Himself highlights the moral decay associated with theft, stating, "For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery" (Mark 7:21). This passage emphasizes that theft is not merely a social issue but a matter of the heart, reflecting a deeper spiritual problem.

The Apostle Paul also addresses the issue of theft in his epistles. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, he warns, "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God." Here, thieves are listed among those who live in ways that are incompatible with the values of God's kingdom.

Paul further instructs believers in Ephesians 4:28, "He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need." This verse not only condemns theft but also encourages a transformation of character, urging individuals to become productive members of the community who contribute positively to others.

Theological Implications

The consistent biblical condemnation of theft highlights the importance of integrity, respect for others, and trust in God's provision. Theft is seen as a violation of the social order established by God and an affront to His justice. The call to repentance and transformation for those who have engaged in theft is a recurring theme, emphasizing God's desire for restoration and reconciliation.

Symbolic and Eschatological References

In a symbolic sense, thieves are sometimes used to illustrate spiritual truths. Jesus uses the imagery of a thief in the night to describe the unexpected nature of His return: "But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into" (Matthew 24:43). This metaphor serves as a warning to remain vigilant and prepared for the coming of the Lord.

In the eschatological context, the final judgment will address all acts of theft, as God will bring every deed into account. Revelation 21:8 warns that "the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." This passage underscores the ultimate justice of God and the eternal consequences of unrepentant sin, including theft.Thieves, The two

(Luke 23:32, 39-43), robbers, rather brigands, probably followers of Barabbas. Our Lord's cross was placed between those of the "malefactors," to add to the ignominy of his position. According to tradition, Demas or Dismas was the name of the penitent thief hanging on the right, and Gestas of the impenitent on the left.

(n.) Plural of Thief.2812. kleptes -- a thief
... 2812 -- a who steals by (in secret), rather than in the open with (, 591). Word
Origin from klepto Definition a thief NASB Word Usage thief (12), thieves (4). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2812.htm - 6k1590. gannab -- a thief
... Word Origin from ganab Definition a thief NASB Word Usage thief (13), thieves (4).
thief. From ganab; a stealer -- thief. see HEBREW ganab. 1589, 1590. ...
/hebrew/1590.htm - 6k

Crucifixion of the Thieves.
... CHAPTER XL. Crucifixion of the Thieves. During the time of the crucifixion
of Jesus, the two thieves were left lying on the ground ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xl crucifixion of the.htm

Whether it was Fitting for Christ to be Crucified with Thieves?
... THE PASSION OF CHRIST (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whether it was fitting for Christ
to be crucified with thieves? Objection 1: It would seem ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether it was fitting for 4.htm

On the Saying of the Saviour, "All that came Before Me were ...
... The Stromata, or Miscellanies: Book I Chapter XVII."On the Saying of the Saviour,
"All that Came Before Me Were Thieves and Robbers.". [1985] ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xvii on the saying of.htm

Jesus Hanging on the Cross Between Two Thieves.
... CHAPTER XLI. Jesus hanging on the Cross between two Thieves. ... The height of the
crosses of the two thieves was much less than that of our Lord. ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xli jesus hanging on.htm

We Shall not Here Mention Laverna, Goddess of Thieves...
... Book III. 26 We shall not here mention Laverna, goddess of thieves? We
shall not here mention Laverna, goddess of thieves, the ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/26 we shall not here.htm

A Law of Herod's About, Thieves. Salome and Pheroras
... From The Finishing Of The Temple By Herod To The Death Of Alexander And Aristobulus.
CHAPTER 1. A Law Of Herod's About, Thieves. Salome And Pheroras. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 a law of.htm

Christ Prays for his Enemies. -- the Two Thieves.
... CHAPTER VII. THE CRUCIFIXION. Section 291. Christ Prays for his Enemies."
The Two Thieves. When he was fastened to the cross, amid ...
/.../section 291 christ prays for.htm

Thou Shalt not Steal.
... this is indeed quite a wide-spread and common vice, but so little regarded and observed
that it exceeds all measure, so that if all who are thieves, and yet do ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/the large catechism/thou shalt not steal.htm

The Second Word from the Cross
... CHAPTER XV. THE SECOND WORD FROM THE CROSS. I. It is not said by whose
arrangement it was that Jesus was hung between the two thieves. ...
/.../stalker/the trial and death of jesus christ/chapter xv the second word.htm

The Opening of the Side of Jesus.
... CHAPTER XLVIII. The Opening of the Side of Jesus. Death of the two thieves. Whilst
these events were taking place in Jerusalem, silence reigned around Calvary. ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xlviii the opening of.htm

Thieves (25 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Thieves, The two. ... Noah Webster's Dictionary. (n.) Plural
of Thief. Multi-Version Concordance Thieves (25 Occurrences). ...
/t/thieves.htm - 14k

Crosses (6 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Crosses (6 Occurrences). Matthew 27:38 Then two thieves
were put on crosses with him, one on the right and one on the left. (BBE). ...
/c/crosses.htm - 8k

Steal (29 Occurrences)
... Matthew 6:19 "Don't lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and
rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY ...
/s/steal.htm - 16k

Robbers (21 Occurrences)
... John 10:8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep
didn't listen to them. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/r/robbers.htm - 14k

Yourselves (530 Occurrences)
... Matthew 6:19 "Don't lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and
rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE ...
/y/yourselves.htm - 36k

Gleanings (8 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 49:9 If gatherers have come in to thee, They do not leave gleanings, If
thieves in the night, They have destroyed their sufficiency! (YLT NAS RSV). ...
/g/gleanings.htm - 9k

Gatherers (2 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 49:9 If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave some gleaning
grapes? if thieves by night, wouldn't they destroy until they had enough? ...
/g/gatherers.htm - 7k

Grapegatherers (2 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 49:9 If grapegatherers come to thee, would they not leave some gleaning
grapes? if thieves by night, they will destroy till they have enough. (KJV). ...
/g/grapegatherers.htm - 7k

Grape-gatherers (2 Occurrences)
... if thieves by night, would they not destroy till they had enough? ... Obadiah 1:5 If
thieves came to thee, if robbers by night ( how art thou cut off! ...
/g/grape-gatherers.htm - 7k

Wear-and-tear (2 Occurrences)
... Matthew 6:19 "Do not lay up stores of wealth for yourselves on earth, where the
moth and wear-and-tear destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. (WEY). ...
/w/wear-and-tear.htm - 7k

What does it mean that the house of prayer had been turned into a den of thieves? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that the thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy in John 10:10? | GotQuestions.org

What can we learn from the thief on the cross? | GotQuestions.org

Thieves: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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