Original Word: κλέπτω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: kleptó
Pronunciation: klep'-to
Phonetic Spelling: (klep'-to)
Definition: To steal
Meaning: I steal.

steal.

A primary verb; to filch -- steal.

Cognate: 2813 kléptō – to take, steal secretively (by stealth). See 2812 (kleptēs).

Word Origin
a prim. verb
Definition
to steal
NASB Translation
steal (10), steal...away (1), steals (1), stole...away (1).

STRONGS NT 2813: κλέπτω

κλέπτω; future κεψω (the Sept. also in Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 19:11; Deuteronomy 5:19, for κλέψομαι more common ((?) cf. Veitch, under the word; Kühner, § 343, under the word, 1:848) in secular authors); 1 aorist ἐκλεψα; (from Homer down); the Sept. for גָּנַב;

a. to steal; absolutely, to commit a theft: Matthew 6:19; Matthew 19:18; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; John 10:10; Romans 2:21; Romans 13:9; Ephesians 4:28.

b. transitive, to steal i. e. take away by stealth: τινα, the dead body of one, Matthew 27:64; Matthew 28:13.

Word Origin: A primary verb in Greek.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • Strong's Hebrew 1589: גָּנַב (ganab) • to steal, to carry away secretly.
• Strong's Hebrew 1590: גְּנֵבָה (genevah) • theft, stealing.
• Strong's Hebrew 1591: גְּנֵבָה (genevah) • stolen property, theft.

These Hebrew terms reflect similar concepts of theft and are used in the Old Testament to describe acts of stealing, reinforcing the continuity of the biblical condemnation of theft across both Testaments.

Usage: The verb κλέπτω is used in the New Testament to describe the act of stealing or taking something unlawfully. It is often used in moral and ethical teachings to highlight the sinfulness of theft.

Context: The Greek verb κλέπτω appears in several New Testament passages, emphasizing the moral and ethical implications of theft. In the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, stealing is consistently portrayed as a violation of God's commandments and an act contrary to the love and respect owed to one's neighbor.

In Matthew 6:19-20, Jesus warns against storing up treasures on earth, where "thieves break in and steal," urging instead to store treasures in heaven. This passage highlights the transient nature of earthly possessions and the futility of theft in the grand scheme of eternal values.

The apostle Paul, in Ephesians 4:28, instructs, "He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need." This exhortation not only condemns theft but also encourages productive labor and generosity, reflecting a transformation from selfishness to selflessness.

In John 10:10, Jesus contrasts His mission with that of a thief: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Here, κλέπτω is used metaphorically to describe the destructive intentions of false leaders, in contrast to the life-giving purpose of Christ.

The act of stealing is also addressed in the context of the Ten Commandments, where the prohibition "You shall not steal" (Exodus 20:15) is foundational to the moral law. This commandment underscores the respect for personal property and the integrity expected of God's people.

εκλάπην εκλεψαν έκλεψαν έκλεψάν ἔκλεψαν έκλεψας εκλέψατέ έκλεψε έκλεψεν εκληδονίζετο κεκλεμμένον κλαπή κλέπτει κλεπτειν κλέπτειν κλεπτεις κλέπτεις κλέπτετε κλεπτετω κλεπτέτω κλέπτοντας κλέπτουσι κλεπτουσιν κλέπτουσιν κλεπτων κλέπτων κλέψαιμεν κλέψαντες κλεψάντων κλέψας κλεψεις κλέψεις κλέψετε κλεψη κλέψη κλέψῃ κλεψης κλέψης κλέψῃς κλέψω κλεψωσιν κλέψωσιν κληδονιζόμενος κληδονισμών eklepsan éklepsan klepse klepsē klépsei klépsēi klepseis klépseis klépsēis klepses klepsēs klepsosin klepsōsin klépsosin klépsōsin kleptein kléptein klepteis klépteis klepteto kleptetō kleptéto kleptétō klepton kleptōn klépton kléptōn kleptousin kléptousinInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts