“Don’t steal.” The 8th commandment from the Old Testament seems pretty basic. Any stable civilization has this statute in its code of law.
However, as integral as protecting personal property might be for a prosperous community, theft still occurs. A great deal, in fact. Stealing happens for various reasons—selfishness, anger, even desperation and poverty. Yet God’s law remains clear. The people of God shouldn’t steal.
We all agree stealing is wrong, and yet many people have done it at some point in their lives. What does the 8th commandment say about God? About us?
What is the Eighth Commandment?
God gave the Ten Commandments, or “Decalogue,” on Mount Sinai after the Israelites’ deliverance from Egyptian slavery around the 13th century BC (Exodus 19-20). These laws became central to Judaism and Christianity. They outline the basic moral principles meant to govern the behavior of God’s people. Many scholars split the commandments into two sections—the first four focus on humanity’s relationship with God, and the last six concern relationships between people. God intended these commands to guide the Israelites into a covenantal relationship with him, emphasizing being set apart in righteousness and justice.
The Ten Commandments are foundational to Jewish law, and observing these laws reflects the covenant in which God chose the Israelites as his special people. Obedience brings blessings and disobedience results in consequences. After Christ came, died, and rose again, Christianity continued to uphold the Ten Commandments as an essential moral code. Jesus affirmed them, often summarizing them into two great commandments, love for God and love for others (Matthew 22:37-40). Even in secular societies, many of the Ten Commandments became part of the law.
The 8th commandment says in Exodus 20:15, “Thou shalt not steal.” Legal systems worldwide have protections against theft of various types. The concept goes beyond taking objects, however. It includes injustice in business, labor exploitation, and intellectual property theft. “Thou shalt not steal” reveals an understanding across cultures that respect for others’ possessions helps maintain social stability. It is not merely about avoiding crime; the injunction against stealing is a call to live with integrity, respect, and compassion. In a world often driven by competition, consumerism, and materialism, this simple command challenges us to prioritize justice over personal, selfish gain.
What is the Biblical Meaning of the Eighth Commandment?
God’s commands go beyond a mere action, to do or not do something. Behind each command lies insight into his nature and design. Going against such design has consequences, and because he loves us, God tells us, “Thou shalt not steal.”
To begin with, God owns all things. Psalm 24:1 declares, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” However, God entrusts humanity with stewardship over the world (Genesis 1:28). Stewardship says that while we may hold possessions or resources, they are essentially on loan from God. Stealing violates this divine order by disregarding his divine stewardship given to others and undermining the God-given rights of personal ownership. God wants us to care for our possessions and respect the boundaries of what belongs to others. “Thou shalt not steal” establishes a boundary, encouraging mutual respect and wise stewardship. Theft in all its forms disrupts communal trust and respect through dismissing and rebelling against God’s authority over creation and his intention for people to act with honesty and truth.
“Stealing” includes nonmaterial theft like dishonesty, exploitation, and manipulating others for personal gain. Proverbs 11:1 calls these false balances, showing us how God cares about fairness and integrity in every transaction. Cheating, defrauding, or lying to gain advantage violates the trust and boundaries God has established. Stealing relates to other forms of injustice, too, including withholding wages earned (James 5:4) or robbing people of dignity, time, or opportunities. An action denying someone their rightful due, tangible or intangible, falls under stealing.
Since God based every holy law upon his own holistic character, “thou shalt not steal” interconnects with other aspects of God’s righteousness, such as honesty, integrity, trustworthiness, and love. Stealing reflects selfishness, greed, and disregard for others. Scripture shows us how stealing is often connected to other sins. For example, when Jezebel convinced Ahab to steal a neighbor’s vineyard, he lied to the man and killed him to steal it (1 Kings 21).
The wisdom of Proverbs 10:9 says, “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.” Stealing will bring consequences, often forcing us into related sins, all leading to death. Following a righteous path gives us peace and security in God.
Finally, love plays an important role in obeying the command not to steal. Love for others fulfills the law (Romans 13:9-10). God's Commandments are based in his character, which is ultimately one of love. Therefore, to steal means to hate others and God. If we truly love our neighbors, we will respect their property, dignity, and well-being. Love compels us to act with fairness and generosity, avoiding any theft.
What is the Spiritual Importance of the Eighth Commandment?
Stealing speaks of a deep evil. Jesus contrasts the heart of a thief with his own motivation: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) In this context, Jesus spoke regarding deceptive and selfish leaders, but behind such leaders, the devil motivates and deceives. 1 Peter 5:8 states, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
The devil and his representatives seek to steal for their own consumption, a self-serving motivation. In contrast, Jesus has a different motivation. He owns all things. What does he need from us? With his infinite resources, he came to earth and gave of himself to share abundant life with us.
We all deal with lack, which can cause fear and desperation apart from God. Stealing often stems from a lack of trust in God’s provision. Taking something that isn’t ours reveals our belief that God won’t meet our needs, at least not in the way or time we want. Jesus encourages us in Matthew 6:31-33 not to worry about our physical needs, reminding us that our Father knows what we require and will provide it. Stealing manifests our anxiety, fear, or greed, reflecting the belief that we must secure our own well-being rather than depending on God’s faithfulness. Yet this trust in God’s provision helps us live in faith and peace.
Sometimes stealing may be an attempt to satisfy our own lusts, revealing the selfishness of the human heart. It places our desires above another person’s rights, disregarding their dignity for personal gain. Philippians 2:3 calls us to “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility value others above yourselves.” The selfish nature of theft contradicts the call to love.
Honoring others’ property and boundaries creates a healthier community. Trusting God’s stewardship in others reveals a faith that he works through each person, assigning them their responsibilities and possessions. This trust leads to cooperation and mutual respect.
Stealing disregards the inherent dignity of others. All of us are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). By taking from others, then, we first communicate that they can’t be trusted with what God has entrusted to them. Further, we treat people as obstacles to our desires rather than fellow image-bearers, deserving of respect. To steal from someone devalues their worth, ignoring their right to own and manage what God gave them.
How Does the Eighth Commandment Apply Today?
Stealing involves more than simply taking physical objects. Many forms of theft go unnoticed or forgotten but are just as significant in violating the respect God calls us to uphold.
One of the most common ways we steal is through time. One example is wasting time on personal activities during paid work hours, cheating employers out of what they paid for and what we agreed to. Even browsing social media instead of working or procrastinating can be a form of theft. Ephesians 5:15-16 says, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity.” Misusing resources God has given us dishonors him and those we serve.
Taking credit for someone else’s idea or work is another example of theft. Whether in school, work, or personal relationships, doing this steals the recognition and honor others deserve. Stealing credit violates fairness and integrity and connects with “bearing false witness.” Honesty and giving credit where it is due shows respect for the contributions of others.
Sometimes theft happens through exploiting or misusing shared resources. We could be hoarding supplies in a work environment or taking more than our fair share of something meant to be equally distributed. Another example includes blocking opportunities for others to succeed through unjust or unfair practices. Stealing resources and opportunities comes from greed and shows a lack of trust in God to provide for everyone (Philippians 4:19).
While “thou shalt not steal” forbids theft, it also encourages righteous behavior. Rather than simply not stealing, God wants our actions to be motivated by a loving heart. Here are three examples.
When we respect each others’ time, ideas, and property, we acknowledge their value as people made in the Father’s image. This dignity reflects God’s heart, who gives each person ownership over their own bodies, lives, and possessions. Rather than seeking to gain at another’s expense, we can uplift others by respecting their boundaries and honoring their contributions.
The antidote to stealing is generosity. Theft reveals a poverty mindset, as we must provide for ourselves during a time of scarcity. True loving generosity requires a transformed way of thinking. As children of God, our Father owns all things and can provide what we need. Rather than taking what doesn’t belong to us, God calls us to give freely of our resources. Jesus gave his very life, knowing he would gain even greater than he sacrificed. Proverbs 11:25 says, “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” Generosity breaks the cycle of greed and fosters selflessness.
Good stewardship is also at the heart of the 8th commandment. God entrusted each of us with talents, resources, and time, and he holds us responsible for using them wisely. From managing our money, being responsible at work, or caring for the environment, stewardship honors God. We may see others with more time or resources, but that doesn’t excuse our bad stewardship. Jesus’ parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) teaches us to invest what we’ve been given faithfully rather than hoarding or misusing it.
In this parable, the master (representing God) gives consequences and rewards. God shares more with the faithful stewards and rebukes the unwise servant who hid his talent in the ground, taking even that amount from him. God shares more with faithful stewards. God loves to give good gifts and responsibilities to his people. Unlike the devil, Jesus looks for ways to reward obedience and life with more blessings.
Peace.
Further Reading
What are the 10 Commandments? List, Origin, and Bible Meaning
What You Missed about ‘Thou Shalt Not Steal’
Why Did God Have to Give His People the 10 Commandments?
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Iuliia Burmistrova
