The Bible is clear about the sin of stealing, especially when it involves taking from one’s neighbor. God commands honesty, integrity, and love toward others. Stealing not only harms individuals but also disrupts the trust and unity that God desires for His people. Here are Bible verses that address the issue of stealing from your neighbor and why it is a sin against both God and man.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Thieves and Liars
God’s Command Against Stealing
From the Ten Commandments to the teachings of Jesus, the Bible makes it clear that stealing is wrong. God desires His people to live with honesty and respect for one another. Taking what does not belong to us goes against His will and leads to serious consequences.
Exodus 20:15
“You must not steal.”
Leviticus 19:11
“Do not steal. Do not deceive or cheat one another.”
Proverbs 10:2
“Tainted wealth has no lasting value, but right living can save your life.”
Romans 13:9
“For the commandments say, ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.’ These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
Ephesians 4:28
“If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.”
The Consequences of Stealing
Stealing has both earthly and spiritual consequences. It damages relationships, destroys trust, and ultimately leads to divine judgment. The Bible warns that those who engage in theft will not inherit God’s kingdom.
Proverbs 29:24
“If you assist a thief, you are only hurting yourself. You are sworn to tell the truth, but you dare not testify.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
“Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.”
Jeremiah 7:9-10
“‘Do you really think you can steal, murder, commit adultery, lie, and burn incense to Baal and all those other new gods of yours, and then come here and stand before me in my Temple and chant, “We are safe!”—only to go right back to all those evils again?'”
Zechariah 5:3
“Then he said to me, ‘This scroll contains the curse that is going out over the entire land. One side says that those who steal will be banished from the land; the other side says that those who swear falsely will be banished from the land.'”
Psalm 62:10
“Don’t make your living by extortion or put your hope in stealing. And if your wealth increases, don’t make it the center of your life.”
Honest Work Instead of Stealing
God calls His people to work honestly and trust in Him for provision. Rather than stealing, we are encouraged to labor with integrity and share with those in need.
2 Thessalonians 3:10
“Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: ‘Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.'”
Proverbs 13:11
“Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.”
Colossians 3:23
“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”
Ecclesiastes 5:12
“People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night’s sleep.”
1 Timothy 6:6-8
“Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.”
Also Read: Bible Verses About Bad Neighbors
God’s Justice Against Thieves
The Bible teaches that God is a just judge who will hold thieves accountable for their actions. Those who steal from their neighbors will face divine punishment unless they repent and turn back to righteousness.
Proverbs 6:30-31
“Excuses might be found for a thief who steals because he is starving. But if he is caught, he must pay back seven times what he stole, even if he has to sell everything in his house.”
Isaiah 61:8
“For I, the Lord, love justice. I hate robbery and wrongdoing. I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering and make an everlasting covenant with them.”
Job 24:14
“The murderer rises in the early dawn to kill the poor and needy; at night he is a thief.”
Micah 2:1-2
“What sorrow awaits you who lie awake at night thinking up evil plans. You rise at dawn and hurry to carry them out, simply because you have the power to do so. When you want a piece of land, you find a way to seize it. When you want someone’s house, you take it by fraud and violence. You cheat a man of his property, stealing his family’s inheritance.”
Hosea 4:2
“You make vows and break them; you kill and steal and commit adultery. There is violence everywhere—one murder after another.”
Repentance and Restoration
The Bible encourages thieves to repent and make restitution for what they have stolen. God is merciful and willing to forgive those who turn away from sin and seek righteousness.
Luke 19:8-9
“Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!’ Jesus responded, ‘Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham.'”
Proverbs 28:13
“People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.”
Exodus 22:1
“If someone steals an ox or a sheep and then kills or sells it, the thief must pay back five oxen for each ox stolen, and four sheep for each sheep stolen.”
Ezekiel 33:15
“For instance, they might give back a debtor’s security, return what they have stolen, and obey my life-giving laws, no longer doing what is evil. If they do this, they will surely live and not die.”
2 Chronicles 7:14
“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”
Living with Integrity
Christians are called to live lives of honesty and integrity. Rather than stealing, we are to be generous, trustworthy, and faithful stewards of what God has given us.
Psalm 37:21
“The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers.”
Titus 2:7-8
“And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.”
Philippians 4:8
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
Hebrews 13:18
“Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do.”
Matthew 5:16
“In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”