κλοπή (klopē)
klopē
theft
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun klopē refers simply to the act of stealing or theft. Derived from the verb for stealing, it appears only twice in the New Testament, both times within lists of serious moral failings. In these contexts, it is not a minor infraction but a clear violation of justice and neighborly love.
Jesus uses this term in Mark 7:22 and Matthew 15:19 when describing what truly defiles a person. By placing klopē alongside evils like adultery, murder, and deceit, the texts emphasize that theft is a matter of the heart’s condition, not just an external legal breach. The word carries no nuance of borrowing or temporary use; it denotes the permanent taking of another’s property.
Its rarity in the New Testament highlights how central this prohibition was to early Christian ethics, echoing the Ninth Commandment. Translators consistently render it as "theft," preserving its straightforward, unembellished meaning across languages and centuries.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word for theft appears in only two places in the New Testament, yet it carries significant weight. Jesus places it alongside serious moral failures like murder and adultery to show that stealing is not just a legal issue but a condition of the heart. This perspective invites us to examine our own attitudes toward what belongs to others.
Recognizing this helps us understand that integrity begins internally. It is easy to justify small takings or unfair advantages, but Scripture calls for honesty in all dealings. By acknowledging how deeply rooted these behaviors can be, we open ourselves to the grace that transforms our desires and actions.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- thefts,1×
- thefts1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κλοπαί,2×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 15:19
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies.
This verse lists theft among other heart sins to demonstrate that external actions flow from internal moral corruption.
-
Mark 7:21
For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts,
Here the term highlights that theft originates within a person rather than being imposed by outside circumstances.