"a thief, Mt. 6:19, 20; 24:43; trop. a thief by imposture, Jn. 10:8"
Definition and meaning
a thief, Mt. 6:19, 20; 24:43; trop. a thief by imposture, Jn. 10:8
In the original Greek the word is written: κλέπτης
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of kleptes (G2812) across the King James Bible.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
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Common questions
Strong's G2812 (kleptes) is a Greek word that means: a thief, Mt. 6:19, 20; 24:43; trop. a thief by imposture, Jn. 10:8 It appears 16 times in the King James Bible.
The word kleptes (G2812) appears 16 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2812 is kleptes, a Greek word defined as: a thief, Mt. 6:19, 20; 24:43; trop. a thief by imposture, Jn. 10:8. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
kleptes is a Greek word found in the New Testament.