κλοπή
thieving, theft
Definition
κλοπή (klopē) refers to the act of stealing or theft. In the New Testament, it consistently denotes the wrongful taking of another's property. The word appears in lists of vices that characterize human sinfulness, such as in Matthew 15:19 and Mark 7:22, where it is grouped with other evils like murder and adultery. It signifies a deliberate act of dishonesty against one's neighbor, violating the command 'You shall not steal' (Exodus 20:15).
Biblical Usage
This noun is used only twice in the New Testament, both times in the Gospels. It appears in parallel passages where Jesus lists sins that proceed from the human heart: 'For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft (κλοπή), false witness, slander' (Matthew 15:19, Mark 7:22). Its usage is strictly ethical, describing a specific moral transgression within a catalog of vices.
Etymology
Derived from the verb κλέπτω (kleptō, G2813), meaning 'to steal.' The noun κλοπή directly denotes the act or crime of stealing. It is related to the English word 'kleptomania.' The root concept involves secrecy and deceit in taking what belongs to another.
Semantic Range
While 'theft' is a straightforward moral concept, its inclusion in Jesus's list of heart-sourced evils (Matthew 15:19) is theologically significant. It underscores that external sins like stealing originate from internal corruption, highlighting the need for heart transformation, not just behavioral reform. It reinforces the biblical view of sin as a comprehensive condition affecting one's relationship with God and neighbor, violating the law of love.
In the first-century Greco-Roman and Jewish world, theft was a serious social and religious offense. Jewish law condemned it (Exodus 20:15, Leviticus 19:11), and Roman law punished it severely. The term would have been understood broadly, covering various forms of property theft, including stealth and fraud. Its placement alongside sins like murder and adultery shows it was considered a fundamental breach of social and divine order.
ἁρπαγή (harpagē, G724) — a more violent 'robbery' or 'plunder,' often involving force. κλέμμα (klemma, G2809) — another noun for 'theft' or 'thing stolen,' used in Revelation 9:21.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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