Stealing

Stealing — the unauthorized taking of another person's property — is prohibited by the eighth commandment of the Decalogue (Ex. 20:15; Deut. 5:19) and condemned throughout both Testaments. The Mosaic law prescribed restitution rather than imprisonment as the primary remedy: a thief who could not repay could be sold into service for the debt (Ex. 22:1–4), and fivefold restitution was required for stolen oxen, twofold for other animals. Kidnapping for slavery — theft of a person — was a capital offense (Ex. 21:16; Deut. 24:7).

The prophets regularly list theft among the covenant violations that bring judgment (Jer. 7:9; Hos. 4:2; Zech. 5:3). In the New Testament Paul instructs those who formerly stole to "steal no more, but rather let him labor" and give to those in need (Eph. 4:28), grounding the prohibition in the ethic of generosity and honest work. Jesus's image of the thief who comes only to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10) contrasts with the Good Shepherd who gives life abundantly.