Original Word: גְּזֵלָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: gzelah
Pronunciation: geh-zay-LAH
Phonetic Spelling: (ghez-ay-law')
KJV: that (he had robbed) (which he took violently away), spoil, violence
NASB: robbery, plunder, taken by robbery, what he has taken
Word Origin: [feminine of H1498 (גָּזֵל - robbery)]

1. robbery
2. (concretely) plunder

gazelle

Feminine of gazel and mean the same:

see HEBREW gazel

Word Origin
fem. of gazel
Definition
plunder, spoil
NASB Translation
plunder (1), robbery (3), taken by robbery (1), what he has taken (1).

גְּזֵלָה noun feminine plunder, spoil. — גְּזֵלָה Leviticus 5:23 3t.; construct גְּזֵלַת Isaiah 3:14, גְּזֵלוֺת Ezekiel 18:12; — thing seized, spoil Leviticus 5:23 (P) Ezekiel 33:15; גְּזֵלַת הֶעָנִי Isaiah 3:14; as accusative of congnate meaning with verb Ezekiel 18:7,12,16.

II. גזל (√ of following, meaning dubious; according to Fl^{NHWB i. 433} onomatopoetic, compare Frey crassa vox, vox columbi, see also Frä¹¹⁵).

Overview

גְּזֵלָה (Strong’s Hebrew 1500) describes the forcible taking of property—robbery, plunder, or extortion—an act that flagrantly violates covenant love and God-given boundaries of ownership. Every Old Testament occurrence exposes social injustice, contrasts righteousness with wickedness, and sets the stage for the biblical doctrine of restitution.

Occurrences and Narrative Setting

• Isaiah 3:14 places גְּזֵלָה on the lips of the LORD as He arraigns Jerusalem’s leaders: “the plunder taken from the poor is in your houses.” The prophetic courtroom reveals that systemic theft among the governing class was evidence of national apostasy.
• Ezekiel 18 three times juxtaposes robbery with righteousness (verses 7, 12, 16). The chapter’s “soul who sins shall die” principle lists גְּזֵלָה as a signature offense of the wicked, while its absence marks genuine justice in the godly.
• Ezekiel 33:15 links repentance to tangible restitution: “if a wicked man restores a pledge, returns what he has stolen … he will surely live.” This verse not only condemns theft but also elevates the act of making things right as fruit of saving faith.

Historical and Legal Context

Under Mosaic Law, theft in any form was an affront to the holiness of God, the true Owner of the land and benefactor of His people. While Exodus 22 and Leviticus 6 outline civil penalties for ordinary stealing, גְּזֵלָה emphasizes violent or oppressive seizure that often exploited the powerless (compare Micah 2:2). Israel’s kings were charged to protect the vulnerable, yet abuses by aristocracy prompted prophetic intervention (1 Kings 21 illustrates the dynamic in narrative form).

Theological Emphases

1. Divine Justice: Robbery opposes God’s nature, for “righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne” (Psalm 89:14).
2. Neighbor Love: Theft nullifies the second great commandment by treating people as means to personal gain.
3. Moral Accountability: The prophets treat גְּזֵלָה as evidence that judgment is deserved and unavoidable unless repentance occurs.
4. Restitution: God’s remedy is not merely apology but restoration, reflecting His heart to renew what sin has broken (Numbers 5:6-7; Ezekiel 33:15).

Prophetic Calls and Messianic Echoes

Isaiah portrays a coming King who will rule “with justice” (Isaiah 9:7), eliminating the conditions that spawn גְּזֵלָה. Ezekiel’s “new heart” promise (Ezekiel 36:26) anticipates New Covenant transformation in which external law becomes internal delight, rendering robbery unthinkable. The ultimate fulfillment is seen in Jesus Christ, who cleansed the temple denouncing it as “a den of robbers” (Matthew 21:13), then paid the price of redemption at the cross—God’s own act of restitution for humanity’s debt.

Ministry and Pastoral Application

• Preaching: Confront contemporary forms of economic oppression, reminding believers that unseen theft (fraud, wage abuse, corruption) incurs divine displeasure.
• Counseling: Genuine repentance includes making amends. Encourage practical steps akin to Zacchaeus, who restored fourfold (Luke 19:8).
• Mercy Ministries: Since robbery disproportionately harms the poor, churches can model the opposite spirit through generosity, advocacy, and fair business practices.

Key Takeaways for Discipleship

1. God’s people must embody integrity in all financial dealings.
2. Restitution validates repentance and restores community trust.
3. The gospel not only forgives the robber but empowers a life of honest labor and cheerful giving (Ephesians 4:28).

Suggested Cross-References for Further Study

Exodus 22:1-4; Leviticus 19:13; Deuteronomy 24:14-15; Proverbs 22:22-23; Amos 5:11-12; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Ephesians 4:28; James 5:1-6.

Conclusion

גְּזֵלָה stands as a stark reminder that tangible acts of injustice provoke divine judgment, yet the offer of mercy remains: return what was taken, walk in God’s statutes, and live.

גְּזֵל֣וֹת גְּזֵלַ֥ת גְּזֵלָ֖ה גְּזֵלָ֣ה גזלה גזלות גזלת וּגְזֵלָ֖ה וגזלה gə·zê·lāh gə·zê·laṯ gə·zê·lō·wṯ gezeLah gəzêlāh gezeLat gəzêlaṯ gezeLot gəzêlōwṯ ū·ḡə·zê·lāh ugezeLah ūḡəzêlāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts