Exodus 20:15
Exodus 20:15 in Multiple Translations
You shall not steal.
Thou shalt not steal.
Thou shalt not steal.
Do not take the property of another.
You must not steal.
Thou shalt not steale.
'Thou dost not steal.
“You shall not steal.
Thou shalt not steal.
Thou shalt not steal.
Do not steal anything.
Berean Amplified Bible — Exodus 20:15
BAB
Word Study
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Exodus 20:15 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
לֹ֖א
תִּגְנֹֽב
לֹ֖א
lôʼ
H3808
not
Part
תִּגְנֹֽב
gânab
H1589
to steal
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Exodus 20:15
לֹ֖א
lôʼ
H3808
"not"
Part
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Definition: 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Usage: Occurs in 3967 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without. See also: Genesis 2:5; Genesis 31:15; Exodus 4:9.
תִּגְנֹֽב
gânab
H1589
"to steal"
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms
To steal means to take something secretly, whether physically or by deceiving someone. This can happen in various ways, as described in different Bible stories.
Definition: 1) to steal, steal away, carry away 1a) (Qal) to steal 1b) (Niphal) to be stolen 1c) (Piel) to steal away 1d)(Pual) to be stolen away, be brought by stealth 1e) (Hithpael) to go by stealth, steal away
Usage: Occurs in 36 OT verses. KJV: carry away, [idiom] indeed, secretly bring, steal (away), get by stealth. See also: Genesis 30:33; Joshua 7:11; Proverbs 6:30.
Study Notes — Exodus 20:15
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Exodus 20:15 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Exodus 20:15
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Exodus 20:15
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Exodus 20:15
- Trapp's Commentary on Exodus 20:15
- Ellicott's Commentary on Exodus 20:15
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Exodus 20:15
- Cambridge Bible on Exodus 20:15
- Whedon's Commentary on Exodus 20:15
- Sermons on Exodus 20:15
Context — The Ten Commandments
13You shall not murder.
14You shall not commit adultery.
15You shall not steal.
16You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 17You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, or his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Romans 13:9 | The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” |
| 2 | 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. |
| 3 | Leviticus 19:11 | You must not steal. You must not lie or deceive one another. |
| 4 | Leviticus 19:13 | You must not defraud your neighbor or rob him. You must not withhold until morning the wages due a hired hand. |
| 5 | Matthew 19:18 | “Which ones?” the man asked. Jesus answered, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, |
| 6 | 1 Corinthians 6:10 | nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. |
| 7 | Proverbs 1:13–15 | We will find all manner of precious goods; we will fill our houses with plunder. Throw in your lot with us; let us all share one purse”— my son, do not walk the road with them or set foot upon their path. |
| 8 | Leviticus 6:1–7 | And the LORD said to Moses, “If someone sins and acts unfaithfully against the LORD by deceiving his neighbor in regard to a deposit or security entrusted to him or stolen, or if he extorts his neighbor or finds lost property and lies about it and swears falsely, or if he commits any such sin that a man might commit— once he has sinned and becomes guilty, he must return what he has stolen or taken by extortion, or the deposit entrusted to him, or the lost property he found, or anything else about which he has sworn falsely. He must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value, and pay it to the owner on the day he acknowledges his guilt. Then he must bring to the priest his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram of proper value from the flock. In this way the priest will make atonement for him before the LORD, and he will be forgiven for anything he may have done to incur guilt.” |
| 9 | Leviticus 19:35–37 | You must not use dishonest measures of length, weight, or volume. You shall maintain honest scales and weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. You must keep all My statutes and all My ordinances and follow them. I am the LORD.” |
| 10 | Proverbs 11:1 | Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight. |
Exodus 20:15 Summary
The verse 'You shall not steal' means that we should respect others' property and not take anything that doesn't belong to us. This includes being honest in our dealings and not cheating or deceiving others, as seen in Proverbs 10:2. By following this command, we can build trust and strong relationships with others, and demonstrate our love for God and our neighbors, as mentioned in Matthew 22:37-40. By being mindful of our actions and their impact on others, we can live in a way that honors God and reflects His character, as seen in Psalm 37:3-4.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the command 'You shall not steal' in the context of the Ten Commandments?
The command 'You shall not steal' is significant because it emphasizes the importance of respecting others' property and livelihood, as seen in Exodus 20:15, and is closely related to the command to love our neighbors as ourselves, as mentioned in Leviticus 19:18 and repeated by Jesus in Matthew 22:39.
How does the Bible define stealing, and what are its consequences?
The Bible defines stealing as taking something that does not belong to us, as seen in Exodus 20:15, and warns that it can lead to serious consequences, including damage to our relationships with God and others, as mentioned in Proverbs 11:1 and Ephesians 4:28.
What are some modern forms of stealing that we may not be aware of?
Modern forms of stealing can include actions like plagiarism, intellectual property theft, and fraudulent business practices, all of which are contrary to the principles of honesty and fairness found in Scripture, such as in Exodus 20:15 and Deuteronomy 25:13-16.
How can we, as Christians, apply the command 'You shall not steal' in our daily lives?
We can apply this command by being honest and transparent in all our dealings, respecting others' property and rights, and being generous and willing to share with those in need, as encouraged in Acts 2:45 and 2 Corinthians 9:6-7.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I may be unknowingly stealing from others, and how can I make amends and change my behavior?
- How does the command 'You shall not steal' relate to my use of time, talents, and resources, and am I using them in a way that honors God?
- In what ways can I demonstrate a commitment to honesty and integrity in my personal and professional life, and how can I encourage others to do the same?
- How can I balance the need to provide for myself and my family with the command to respect others' property and livelihood, and what principles can guide my decision-making in this area?
Gill's Exposition on Exodus 20:15
Thou shall not steal. Which is to take away another man's property by force or fraud, without the knowledge, and against the will of the owner thereof.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Exodus 20:15
Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not steal. This refers to the act of theft-the secret purloining or abstraction of any property belonging to another.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Exodus 20:15
i.e. Either by deceit or violence, or without his knowledge and consent, take away another man’ s goods, ; but, on the contrary, shalt preserve and increase them, as need requires, and occasion is offered.
Trapp's Commentary on Exodus 20:15
Exodus 20:15 Thou shalt not steal.Ver. 15. Thou shalt not steal,] i.e., Not rob or wrong another, either by force or fraud Basil chargeth the devil as a thief of the truth, in that he had decked his crows with her feathers. And it was of the devil surely that she had learned her answer, who, being charged by her mistress for stealing her linens, and other things which she found in her trunk, said, that she stole them not: and when she was asked, How came they to be laid and locked up there? did not you do this? No, said she, it was not I, but sin that dwelleth in me. επιβοληκαιεπιβουλη. - Naz. Light for Smoke, p. 85.
Ellicott's Commentary on Exodus 20:15
(15) Thou shalt not steal.—Our third duty towards our neighbour is to respect his right to his property. The framers of Utopias, both ancient and modern, have imagined communities in which private property should not exist. But such a condition of things has never yet been realised in practice. In the laws of all known States private property has been recognised, and social order has been, in a great measure, based upon it. Here, again, law has but embodied natural instinct. The savage who hammers out a flint knife by repeated blows with a pebble, labouring long, and undergoing pain in the process, feels that the implement which he has made is his own, and that his right to it is indisputable. If he is deprived of it by force or fraud, he is wronged. The eighth commandment forbids this wrong, and requires us to respect the property of others no less than their person and their domestic peace and honour.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Exodus 20:15
THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT Against stealing and dishonesty. Verse 15. Thou shalt not steal.] All rapine and theft are forbidden by this precept; as well national and commercial wrongs as petty larceny, highway robberies, and private stealing: even the taking advantage of a seller's or buyer's ignorance, to give the one less and make the other pay more for a commodity than its worth, is a breach of this sacred law. All withholding of rights and doing of wrongs are against the spirit of it. But the word is principally applicable to clandestine stealing, though it may undoubtedly include all political injustice and private wrongs. And consequently all kidnapping, crimping, and slave-dealing are prohibited here, whether practised by individuals or by the state. Crimes are not lessened in their demerit by the number, or political importance of those who commit them. A state that enacts bad laws is as criminal before God as the individual who breaks good ones. It has been supposed that under the eighth commandment, injuries done to character, the depriving a man of his reputation or good name, are included, hence those words of one of our poets: - Good name in man or woman Is the immediate jewel of their souls. Who steals my purse steals trash, -- But he that filches from me my good name, Robs me of that which not enriches him, And makes me poor indeed.
Cambridge Bible on Exodus 20:15
15. The eighth commandment. The rights of private property to be respected. Cf. in H Leviticus 19:11. For penalties for stealing, see Exodus 21:16, Exodus 22:1. It is hardly necessary to quote from the prophets passages illustrative of these duties: but Hosea 4:2, Jeremiah 7:9 are particularly worth referring to.
Whedon's Commentary on Exodus 20:15
THE EIGHTH , Exodus 20:15. 15. Thou shalt not steal — Next to the rights of life and person stands the right of property.
Sermons on Exodus 20:15
| Sermon | Description | |
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Weighed in the Balance (Sermon Reading) by D.L. Moody | In this sermon, the preacher begins by describing a scene of chaos and destruction, emphasizing the importance of paying attention to the word "Tinkle." He then urges the congregat |
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Preaching Prohibition by Billy Sunday | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of truth and the consequences of lying. They emphasize that the United States seems to have lost sight of this, with corruption |
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God Directs His Children [Part 1] by Bertha Smith | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of making people feel at home and part of the church family. He discusses the commandment from God to work six days a week an |
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A Rich Young Man by Bertha Smith | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of facing one's sins and seeking deliverance from them. He instructs the congregation, including the young ones, to make a li |
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Jesus Is the Light of the World - Part 1 by Joshua Daniel | This sermon by Joshua Daniel emphasizes the importance of recognizing Jesus as the light of the world and the need for transparency and integrity in our lives. He challenges listen |
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Hot or Cold—take Your Pick by Stanley Fox | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the danger of being lukewarm in one's faith. He references a verse in the book of Revelation where God says He will "spew out" those who are |
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Guidelines to Freedom Part 7 - I Was Only Borrowing It by Alistair Begg | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the Eighth Commandment, "You shall not steal." He explains that stealing is wrong and explores different ways in which people can steal. The |