Back to Proverbs 6

Proverbs 6:30-31

Men don’t despise a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry;

but if he is found, he shall restore seven times. He shall give all the wealth of his house.

World English Bible · Public Domain

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    Men don’t despise a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry;

    but if he is found, he shall restore seven times. He shall give all the wealth of his house.

  • KJV King James Version

    Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;

    But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

Show all 3 translations
  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;

    But if he be found, he must restore sevenfold, he must give all the substance of his house.

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Cross-references (5)

  • Luke 19:8 (v31) Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor. If I have wrongfully exacted anything of anyone,…
  • Exodus 22:1-4 (v31) “If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. If the thief is…
  • 2 Samuel 12:6 (v31) He must restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity!”
  • Job 20:18 (v31) He will restore that for which he labored, and will not swallow it down. He will not rejoice according to the substance that he has gotten.
  • Matthew 18:25 (v31) But because he couldn’t pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, with his wife, his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (17 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v30 He reproveth not theft, but showeth that it is…

He reproveth not theft, but showeth that it is not so abominable as whoredom, forasmuch as theft might be redeemed: but adultery was a perpetual infamy, and death by the law of God.

Meaning, for very necessity.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv30–31 Pro 6:30 [Men] do not despise a thief, if…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv30–31 Despise, i.e. abhor or reproach him, but rather pity…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv30–31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold,....…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv30–31 Despise - Abhor, but rather pity him.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On v30 Verse 30. Men do not despise a thief if…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v30 Pro 6:30-35. Men do not despise a thief —…
Charles Bridges 1846 · Public Domain On v30 Here is no excuse or impunity for the thief.…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv30–31 The fault is not so great, &c. The sin…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv30–31 Such a thief is pitied, though heavily punished.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On v30 30, 31. Do not despise, etc. — That is,…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv30–31 30. despise] Some render, make light of, let go…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv30–31 (30) Men do not despise a thief . .…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv30–31 The teacher continues his argument with another illustration, still…
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v30 If he steal to satisfy his soul when he…
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v30 despise a thief
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v30 6:30-31 Seven times is probably a way of saying…
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