30 Bible Verses About Stealing (With Explanation)

Stealing is unequivocally condemned in the Bible, as it violates the principles of honesty, integrity, and respect for others’ property. The scriptures address various forms of theft and emphasize the importance of living a life marked by righteousness and fairness.

Through these verses, we gain insight into God’s expectations for His people regarding their treatment of others and their possessions. Here are 30 Bible verses about stealing, each accompanied by a brief commentary to provide deeper understanding and reflection.

1. Exodus 20:15

“You shall not steal.”

This commandment, one of the Ten Commandments, straightforwardly forbids stealing. It underscores the importance of respecting others’ property and maintaining integrity in all dealings.

2. Leviticus 19:11

“You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another.”

This verse expands on the prohibition of stealing by also forbidding deceit and lying. It emphasizes the broader principle of honesty and fairness in our interactions.

3. Ephesians 4:28

“Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.”

Paul advises former thieves to work honestly and help those in need. This verse highlights the transformative power of repentance and the importance of contributing positively to society.

4. Proverbs 6:30-31

“People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving. Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold; he may have to give up all the substance of his house.”

While there is some understanding for desperate theft, restitution is still required. This verse emphasizes the principle of making amends and the high cost of theft.

5. Zechariah 5:3-4

“Then he said to me, ‘This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole earth: ‘Every thief shall be expelled,’ according to this side of the scroll; and, ‘Every perjurer shall be expelled,’ according to that side of it. ‘I will send out the curse,’ says the Lord of hosts; ‘It shall enter the house of the thief and the house of the one who swears falsely by My name. It shall remain in the midst of his house and consume it, with its timber and stones.'”

God’s judgment is pronounced on thieves. This passage illustrates the serious consequences of stealing, emphasizing that it brings divine curse and destruction.

6. Proverbs 29:24

“Whoever is a partner with a thief hates his own life; he swears to tell the truth, but reveals nothing.”

Associating with thieves brings self-destruction. This verse warns against complicity in theft and the internal conflict it creates, highlighting the peril of such alliances.

Also Read: Bible Verses About Mountains (Bible Explained)

7. Matthew 6:19-20

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

Jesus encourages focusing on eternal treasures rather than earthly wealth. This verse reminds believers to prioritize spiritual values over material possessions that can be stolen or decay.

8. Luke 19:8

“Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.'”

Zacchaeus demonstrates repentance by making restitution. This verse highlights the importance of rectifying wrongs and the transformative power of encountering Jesus.

9. Romans 13:9

“For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'”

Stealing is included in the broader command to love others. This verse emphasizes that true love for others includes respecting their property and well-being.

10. Exodus 22:1

“If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep.”

The law required restitution greater than the theft. This verse illustrates the principle of making amends and the seriousness with which theft was treated in ancient Israel.

11. John 10:10

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

Jesus contrasts His mission with the destructive nature of thieves. This verse emphasizes that Christ brings life and abundance, opposing the harm caused by theft.

12. 1 Corinthians 6:10

“Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”

Thieves are listed among those who will not inherit God’s kingdom. This verse underscores the incompatibility of persistent sinful behavior, including theft, with eternal life.

13. Isaiah 61:8

“For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, and will make with them an everlasting covenant.”

God’s love for justice opposes robbery. This verse emphasizes that God values fairness and integrity, rejecting offerings tainted by theft.

14. Jeremiah 7:9-10

“Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are delivered to do all these abominations’?”

God condemns those who steal and then hypocritically worship Him. This verse highlights the futility and hypocrisy of attempting to combine sinful behavior with religious observance.

15. Proverbs 10:2

“Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death.”

Ill-gotten gains offer no real benefit. This verse contrasts the fleeting value of stolen goods with the enduring protection of righteousness.

16. Exodus 21:16

“He who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death.”

Kidnapping is considered a form of theft and is severely punished. This verse illustrates the extreme seriousness with which theft of persons was treated in biblical law.

17. Malachi 3:8

“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.”

God accuses Israel of robbing Him through neglecting tithes. This verse emphasizes that withholding what is due to God is considered a form of theft.

18. Amos 8:5

“Saying: ‘When will the New Moon be past, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may trade wheat? Making the ephah small and the shekel large, falsifying the scales by deceit.'”

Cheating in business is condemned. This verse highlights dishonest business practices as a form of theft, emphasizing the need for integrity in commerce.

19. Job 24:14

“The murderer rises with the light; he kills the poor and needy; and in the night he is like a thief.”

Job describes the wickedness of those who steal and kill. This verse illustrates the association between theft and other violent, sinful behaviors.

20. Ezekiel 22:29

“The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger.”

God condemns societal oppression and robbery. This verse highlights systemic injustice, including theft, as detestable to God and harmful to the community.

21. Mark 10:19

“You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.'”

Jesus reiterates the commandments, including not stealing. This verse emphasizes the enduring relevance of God’s moral laws in guiding righteous living.

22. Titus 2:10

“Not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.”

Believers are urged to avoid even minor theft. This verse emphasizes integrity in all actions, encouraging believers to reflect God’s principles faithfully.

23. Psalm 62:10

“Do not trust in oppression, nor vainly hope in robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.”

Trusting in or hoping for gain through theft is futile. This verse warns against valuing material wealth obtained through dishonest means.

24. Proverbs 30:8-9

“Remove falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches—feed me with the food allotted to me; lest I be full and deny You, and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God.”

A prayer for integrity and contentment to avoid the temptation of theft. This verse emphasizes seeking a balanced life to maintain righteousness and avoid sin.

25. Romans 2:21

“You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?”

Paul challenges hypocrisy in teaching against theft. This verse underscores the importance of living out the principles one teaches, highlighting integrity in personal conduct.

26. Genesis 44:8

“Look, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan the money which we found in the mouth of our sacks. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house?”

Joseph’s brothers deny stealing, appealing to their past integrity. This verse illustrates the importance of a consistent track record of honesty in being trustworthy.

27. Proverbs 21:7

“The violence of the wicked will destroy them, because they refuse to do justice.”

Refusing to act justly, including avoiding theft, leads to destruction. This verse highlights the self-destructive nature of unjust and dishonest behavior.

28. Jeremiah 2:26

“As the thief is ashamed when he is found out, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they and their kings and their princes, and their priests and their prophets.”

Israel’s shame in sinning is compared to a thief’s shame. This verse emphasizes the disgrace and consequences that come with being exposed for dishonesty.

29. 1 Timothy 1:10

“For fornicators, sodomites, kidnappers, liars, perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine.”

Kidnappers, a form of theft, are condemned among other sinners. This verse lists various sinful behaviors, including stealing, as contrary to sound teaching.

30. Proverbs 22:22

“Do not rob the poor because he is poor, nor oppress the afflicted at the gate.”

Stealing from the poor is particularly condemned. This verse emphasizes protecting the vulnerable and avoiding exploitation through theft.

These verses collectively highlight the Bible’s clear stance against stealing, emphasizing the importance of integrity, justice, and respect for others’ property. They provide guidance on living a life that honors God through honesty and fairness in all dealings.