Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 5:19
You shall not steal.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites on the plains of Moab, restating the covenant laws given at Sinai before they cross the Jordan. He delivers this command as the third item in a direct list of divine prohibitions.
The words — The Hebrew phrase combines וְלֹא (ve-lo) meaning "and not" with תִגְנֹב (tge.No), literally "you must steal," to form the strict prohibition "you shall not steal." The verb carries a second-person singular imperative force directed at every individual in the assembly.
The thread — This exact prohibition appears in Exodus 20:15 as the original Sinai formulation. The New Testament cites it in Romans 13:9 and extends its practical application in Ephesians 4:28.
Why it lands — The text explicitly forbids taking another person's property, establishing a non-negotiable boundary for communal life. It requires the reader to cease appropriation and actively respect the possessions of others.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Neither shalt thou steal.
Cross-references
- Exodus 20:15 You shall not steal.
- Romans 13:9 The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
- Ephesians 4:28 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.