Quick Definition
a thief
Strong's Definition
a stealer (literally or figuratively)
Derivation: from G2813 (κλέπτω);
KJV Usage: thief
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
κλέπτης, κλέπτου, ὁ (κλέπτω) (from Homer down), the Sept. for βΗΜπΘΜα, a thief: Mat_6:19; Mat_24:43; Luk_12:33; Luk_12:39; Joh_10:1; Joh_10:10; 1Co_6:10; 1Pe_4:15; an embezzler, pilferer, Joh_12:6; ἔρχεσθαι or ἥκειν ... ὡς κλέπτης ἐν νυκτί, equivalent to to come unexpectedly, 1Th_5:2; 1Th_5:4; 2Pe_3:10; Rev_3:3; Rev_16:15; the name is transferred to false teachers, who do not care to instruct men, but abuse their confidence for their own gain, Joh_10:8. (Synonym: see λῃστής, at the end.)
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
κλέπτης kleptēs 16x
a thief, Mat_6:19-20 ; Mat_24:43 ; trop. a thief by imposture, Joh_10:8 thief.
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
κλέπτης , -ου , ὁ ,
[in LXX for H1590 ;]
a thief: Mat_6:19-20 ; Mat_24:43 , Luk_12:33 ; Luk_12:39 , Joh_10:1 ; Joh_10:10 ; Joh_12:6 , 1Co_6:10 , 1Pe_4:15 . Fig., ὡς κ . ἐν νυκτί , 1Th_5:2 ; 1Th_5:4 (κλέπτας , WH , txt ., R , mg .; v. Lft., Notes , 73; but cf. also M , Th., l.c .), 2Pe_3:10 , Rev_3:3 ; Rev_16:15 . Metaph ., of false teachers, Joh_10:8 .†
SYN.: λῃστής G3027 , a robber, a brigand who plunders, openly, with violence; κ . is a thief who steals in secret, by fraud and cunning ( Tr., Syn. , § xliv).
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
κλέπτης [page 346]
PSI IV. 393 .18 (B.C. 242 1) νυκτὸς παραγενόμενοι κλέπται recalls 1Th_5:2 . In P Lond 46 .172ff. (iv/A.D.) (= I. p. 70) we have a charm .172 κλέπτην πιάσαι , to catch a thief, in which there occurs an invocation to Hermes .188 κλεπτῶν εὑρέτην . With Paul s list of vices in 1Co_6:9 f. Deissmann ( LAE p. 320 f.) compares the popular names of vices in Latin on the backs of tesserae or counters, which were used in an ancient game resembling draughts : thus corresponding to κλέπται we have fur , and to ἅρπαγες arpax. With the use of κλέπται for false teachers in Joh_10:8 we may perhaps compare the mention of φῶρες in a census-paper containing a list of professions, P Petr III. 59 ( a ) ii. 9 (Ptol.). These, as the editors point out, can hardly be thieves in the ordinary sense of the word : they were more likely searchers for stolen property on the principle set a thief to catch a thief.
The Klefts of modern Greece have made the MGr form κλέφτης familiar to every one : to propitiate the brigands a capital letter is generally used.
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
κλέπτης κλέπτης, ου, [Etym: κλέπτω] "a thief", Il. , Aesch. , etc.: generally, "a cheat, knave", Soph.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
κλέπτης, -ου, ὁ
[in LXX for גַּנָּב ;]
a thief: Mat.6:19-20 24:43, Luk.12:33, 39, Jhn.10:1, 10 12:6, 1Co.6:10, 1Pe.4:15. Fig., ὡς κ. ἐν νυκτί, 1Th.5:2 5:4 (κλέπτας, WH, txt., R, mg.; see Lft., Notes, 73; but cf. also M, Th., l.with), 2Pe.3:10, Rev.3:3 16:15. Metaphorical, of false teachers, Jhn.10:8.†
SYN.: λῃστής, a robber, a brigand who plunders, openly, with violence; κ. is a thief who steals in secret, by fraud and cunning (Tr., Syn., § xliv) (AS)