Stealing is more than just taking what does not belong to us. It is a betrayal of trust, a violation of God’s commandments, and a sin that disrupts communities and relationships. At its core, stealing comes from a heart that lacks contentment, reverence for others, and most importantly, trust in God’s provision. The Bible does not treat the issue lightly. From the Ten Commandments to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, stealing is condemned as a serious offense against both God and man.
God is a God of justice, order, and righteousness. He calls His children to live lives marked by integrity, generosity, and respect for others’ rights and property. Scripture not only warns against stealing but also invites us to embrace a life of contentment and stewardship. Whether it is petty theft, fraud, or withholding what is due to someone, God sees all forms of dishonesty and desires to lead us toward repentance and restoration.
Understanding what the Bible says about stealing helps us to live with integrity and to teach others the value of honesty and accountability. Let these verses serve as both a warning and a guide, drawing us closer to God’s righteousness and His call to love our neighbor.
Bible Verses About Stealing
1. Exodus 20:15
You shall not steal.
2. Leviticus 19:11
Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another.
3. Ephesians 4:28
Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
4. Proverbs 10:2
Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death.
5. Zechariah 5:3
This is the curse that goes out over the whole land: for according to what it says on one side, every thief will be banished.
6. Matthew 19:18
You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony.
7. Romans 13:9
The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
8. Proverbs 6:30-31
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.
9. 1 Corinthians 6:10
Nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
10. Isaiah 61:8
For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
11. Jeremiah 7:9-10
Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods… and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”?
12. Titus 2:10
Not stealing, but showing that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
13. Deuteronomy 5:19
You shall not steal.
14. Job 24:14
When daylight is gone, the murderer rises up, kills the poor and needy, and in the night steals forth like a thief.
15. Psalm 62:10
Do not trust in extortion or put vain hope in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.
16. Hosea 4:2
There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
17. Matthew 6:20
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
18. Proverbs 29:24
The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies; they are put under oath and dare not testify.
19. Malachi 3:8
Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In tithes and offerings.
20. John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
21. Luke 19:8
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
22. Revelation 21:8
But 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.
23. Psalm 50:18
When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers.
24. Leviticus 6:4
When they sin in any of these ways and realize their guilt, they must return what they have stolen or taken by extortion.
25. Proverbs 21:7
The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right.
26. Ezekiel 22:29
The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the foreigner, denying them justice.
27. James 5:4
Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you.
28. Proverbs 1:19
Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.
29. Exodus 22:1
Whoever steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it must pay back five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.
30. Micah 2:2
They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud people of their homes, they rob them of their inheritance.
31. Job 20:19
For he has oppressed the poor and left them destitute; he has seized houses he did not build.
32. Zephaniah 1:9
On that day I will punish all who avoid stepping on the threshold, who fill the temple of their gods with violence and deceit.
33. Nahum 3:1
Woe to the city of blood, full of lies, full of plunder, never without victims!
34. Matthew 27:38
Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.
35. Exodus 22:7
If anyone gives a neighbor silver or goods for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house… the thief must pay back double.
Our Thoughts On What the Bible Says About Stealing
The Bible is unmistakably clear that stealing is not only a sin against others but also a violation of God’s character and commands. It disrupts the harmony of communities, causes pain, and opens the door for further sin. From the Old Testament law to the teachings of Christ and His apostles, the message is the same: stealing is destructive, and honesty is essential. God calls us to live lives of trustworthiness, contentment, and respect for others’ rights and property.
Instead of taking what is not ours, we are encouraged to work diligently, live generously, and trust God for our provision. Repentance and restitution are always possible, as seen in the story of Zacchaeus. God delights in a heart that turns from wrongdoing and seeks to make things right. May we strive to reflect God’s justice and righteousness in all our dealings.
Say This Prayer
Lord God, I thank You for Your Word that gives light to my path. Please help me to live a life of integrity, contentment, and respect for others. Forgive me for any time I have taken what was not mine or acted dishonestly. Cleanse my heart and guide me in righteousness. Teach me to work with diligence and to trust in Your provision. May my actions bring glory to You and blessings to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.