Stealing is a violation of God’s commandments and undermines the principles of justice, honesty, and love for others. In the Bible, stealing is condemned as sinful behavior that carries consequences for individuals and society as a whole. Join us as we examine verses that address the seriousness of stealing and affirm the importance of living with integrity and respect for others’ property.
Bible Verses About Stealing
Exodus 20:15 – The commandment against stealing
“You shall not steal.”
Proverbs 11:1 – Dishonesty in gaining wealth is an abomination to God
“Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight.”
Proverbs 6:30-31 – People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger
“People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger when he is starving. Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold, though it costs him all the wealth of his house.”
Ephesians 4:28 – Stop stealing and start working to provide for others
“Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.”
Matthew 6:19-20 – Store up treasures in heaven, not on earth
“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.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 – Thieves will not inherit the kingdom of God
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Proverbs 21:6 – The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor
“The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.”
Leviticus 19:11 – Do not steal or deceive one another
“You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another.”
Psalm 50:18 – You give your mouth free rein for evil and your tongue frames deceit
“When you see a thief, you are pleased with him, and you keep company with adulterers.”
Proverbs 30:8-9 – Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me
“…give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for 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.”
Hebrews 13:5 – Keep your life free from the love of money and be content with what you have
“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”
Proverbs 28:24 – Those who rob their father or mother and say, “That is no transgression,” is a companion to a man who destroys
“Whoever robs his father or his mother and says, “That is no transgression,” is a companion to a man who destroys.”
Luke 19:8 – Zacchaeus repented and promised to repay those he had stolen from
“And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.””
Proverbs 16:8 – Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice
“Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.”
Matthew 15:19 – Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander
“For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.”
1 Timothy 6:9-10 – The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil
“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”
Proverbs 22:22-23 – Do not rob the poor because they are poor
“Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate, for the Lord will plead their cause and rob of life those who rob them.”
Zechariah 5:3-4 – Stealing with dishonesty is a curse
“Then he said to me, “This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole land. For everyone who steals shall be cleaned out according to what is on one side, and everyone who swears falsely shall be cleaned out according to what is on the other side.”
Matthew 19:18-19 – Jesus lists stealing as one of the commandments to follow
“He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Proverbs 10:2 – Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit
“Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death.”
Luke 3:14 – Soldiers were instructed not to extort money or accuse anyone falsely
“And soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.””
Zephaniah 3:3 – Princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves that leave nothing till the morning
“Her officials within her are roaring lions; her rulers are evening wolves who leave nothing for the morning.”
1 Peter 4:15 – Let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer
“But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.”
Proverbs 6:30-31 – Stealing is punishable and requires restitution
“Men 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.”
Ezekiel 33:15 – A thief must return what he has stolen and make restitution
“If a wicked person restores a pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die.”
Proverbs 30:9 – Lest I be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?”
“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.”
Isaiah 61:8 – The Lord loves justice and hates robbery and iniquity
“For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering; And I will direct their work in truth, And will make with them a perpetual covenant.”
James 4:17 – We must avoid stealing by doing what we know is right
“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”
Proverbs 10:22 – The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.
“The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.”
Psalm 62:10 – If riches increase, set not your heart upon them
“If riches increase, do not set your heart on them.”
Proverbs 6:17-19 – The Lord hates hands that shed innocent blood and feet that run to evil
“A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger, with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord; therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.”
Proverbs 29:24 – Whoever is partner with a thief hates his own life
“Whoever is partner with a thief hates his own life; he hears the curse, but discloses nothing.”
Deuteronomy 5:19 – You shall not steal
“You shall not steal.”
Psalm 37:21 – The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous is generous and gives
“The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous is generous and gives.”
Proverbs 21:7 – The violence of the wicked will sweep them away
“The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, because they refuse to do justice.”
Psalm 119:36 – Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!
“Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Proverbs 12:22 – Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are His delight
“Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are His delight.”
Matthew 5:40 – Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you
“And if anyone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.”
Proverbs 11:18 – The wicked earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward
“The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.”
Proverbs 20:17 – Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel
“Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.”
Zechariah 7:9-10 – Do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor
“Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.’”
Proverbs 13:11 – Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it
“Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.”
Matthew 19:21 – Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me“
“Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me””
Proverbs 28:13 – Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy
“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.”
Matthew 21:13 – Jesus said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.’”
“And he said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.’”
Proverbs 22:16 – Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty
“Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.”