What does λῃστής (lēistḗs) mean in the Bible?
λῃστής (lēstēs) names a robber, bandit, or violent plunderer and can carry the social sense of an insurgent. The term is stronger than a petty thief.
Greek · G3027
λῃστής
A brigand
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λῃστής G3027
Pronunciation lēistḗs
What does λῃστής (lēistḗs) mean in the Bible?
λῃστής (lēstēs) names a robber, bandit, or violent plunderer and can carry the social sense of an insurgent. The term is stronger than a petty thief.
Reader summary
Full entry for λῃστής (G3027) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G3027?
The BSB source-word alignment has 15 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include robbers (5), of robbers (4), an outlaw (3), a robber (1), an insurrectionist (1).
Where does λῃστής (lēistḗs) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 21:13. Its strongest book concentrations include Luke (4), Matthew (4), John (3), Mark (3).
What This Word Actually Means
λῃστής (lēstēs) names a robber, bandit, or violent plunderer and can carry the social sense of an insurgent. The term is stronger than a petty thief. In John 10 Jesus uses it for those who bypass the gate and approach the flock as predators. Their aim is exposed by the contrast with the Shepherd who knows the sheep and gives them life. In John 18 the crowd rejects Jesus and asks for Barabbas, whom the BSB renders as an insurrectionist, reflecting the violent-bandit range of the noun.
The Gospel therefore places predatory leadership and a violent alternative to Jesus within the same lexical field, but the scenes should not be forced into one allegory. The word helps churches name exploitation and false deliverance while warning against using a morally charged label for every disagreement or failed leader.
How the Bible Uses It
John uses λῃστής for predatory access to the flock and for Barabbas, the violent alternative released instead of Jesus. Both scenes sharpen the contrast with Christ's life-giving kingship.
- John.10.1
“Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.
Illegitimate access reveals predatory purpose. Jesus begins the discourse by distinguishing the true shepherd's relation to the sheep from exploitative intrusion.
- John.10.8
All who came before Me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
The statement belongs to Jesus' contrast between harmful claimants and His own gate-and-shepherd ministry; its scope must be governed by the discourse.
- John.18.40
“Not this man,” they shouted, “but Barabbas!” (Now Barabbas was an insurrectionist.)
The translation foregrounds the violent-insurgent sense of λῃστής. The crowd chooses Barabbas while the true King is handed over.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It robbers 5× Matthew 27:38, Matthew 27:44, Mark 15:27, Luke 10:36
of robbers 4× Matthew 21:13, Mark 11:17, Luke 10:30, Luke 19:46
an outlaw 3× Matthew 26:55, Mark 14:48, Luke 22:52
a robber 1× John 10:1
an insurrectionist 1× John 18:40
from bandits 1× 2 Corinthians 11:26
Show sample aligned rows
Matthew 21:13 λῃστῶν to of robbers Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural Matthew 26:55 λῃστὴν to an outlaw Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Matthew 27:38 λῃσταί to robbers Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural Matthew 27:44 λῃσταὶ to robbers Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural Mark 11:17 λῃστῶν to of robbers Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural Mark 14:48 λῃστὴν to an outlaw Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Mark 15:27 λῃστάς to robbers Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural Luke 10:30 λῃσταῖς to of robbers Noun - Dative Masculine Plural Luke 10:36 λῃστάς to robbers Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural Luke 19:46 λῃστῶν to of robbers Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Matthew 21:13
Aligned rows 15
Books represented 5
Matthew 4 Mark 3 Luke 4 John 3 2 Corinthians 1
Source forms
λῃστῶν 4x lēstōn Matthew 21:13, Mark 11:17, Luke 19:46, 2 Corinthians 11:26
λῃστὴν 3x lēstēn Matthew 26:55, Mark 14:48, Luke 22:52
λῃσταί 2x lēstai Matthew 27:38, John 10:8
λῃστάς 2x lēstas Mark 15:27, Luke 10:36
λῃστής 2x lēstēs John 10:1, John 18:40
λῃσταὶ 1x lēstai Matthew 27:44
λῃσταῖς 1x lēstais Luke 10:30
Parsing patterns
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural 4x Matthew 21:13, Mark 11:17, Luke 19:46, 2 Corinthians 11:26
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular 3x Matthew 26:55, Mark 14:48, Luke 22:52
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural 3x Matthew 27:38, Matthew 27:44, John 10:8
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural 2x Mark 15:27, Luke 10:36
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular 2x John 10:1, John 18:40
Noun - Dative Masculine Plural 1x Luke 10:30
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Use the term only where there is real predatory harm, exploitation, or violent plunder rather than ordinary disagreement.
- Measure leadership by truth, rightful access, care for the flock, and self-giving conformity to Christ.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that every false teacher, weak leader, or political opponent is a λῃστής.
- Do not claim that Barabbas's label by itself supplies a complete Christian theory of politics or resistance.
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Violent robber who takes by force, distinct from κλέπτης (thief) who steals secretly.
Strong's G3027
Lexical occurrences 15 verses Greek text appearances 15 times Word forms 6 forms 15 references Verse guides 0 guides
Source Gloss
a brigand
Extended definition Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Violent robber who takes by force, distinct from κλέπτης (thief) who steals secretly.
(Ep. ληίς = λεία, booty), [in LXX for גְּדוּד, etc. ;] a robber, brigand: Mat.21:13 (LXX) Mat.26:55 27:38, 44, Mrk.11:17 14:48 15:27, Luk.10:30, 36 19:46 22:52, Jhn.10:1, 8 18:40, 2Co.11:26.
Synonymsκλέπτης, q.v
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
15 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Matthew 21:13 Noun Genitive Plural Masculine
λῃστῶν. lhstwn
a robber, brigand, bandit
Read verse Matthew 26:55 Noun Accusative Singular Masculine
λῃστὴν lhsthn
a robber, brigand, bandit
Read verse Matthew 27:38 Noun Nominative Plural Masculine
λῃσταί, lhstai
a robber, brigand, bandit
Read verse Matthew 27:44 Noun Nominative Plural Masculine
λῃσταὶ lhstai
a robber, brigand, bandit
Read verse Mark 11:17 Noun Genitive Plural Masculine
λῃστῶν. lhstwn
a robber, brigand, bandit
Read verse Mark 14:48 Noun Accusative Singular Masculine
λῃστὴν lhsthn
a robber, brigand, bandit
Read verse Mark 15:27 Noun Accusative Plural Masculine
λῃστάς, lhstav
a robber, brigand, bandit
Read verse Luke 10:30 Noun Dative Plural Masculine
λῃσταῖς lhstaiv
a robber, brigand, bandit
Read verse Luke 10:36 Noun Accusative Plural Masculine
λῃστάς; lhstav
a robber, brigand, bandit
Read verse Luke 19:46 Noun Genitive Plural Masculine
λῃστῶν. lhstwn
a robber, brigand, bandit
Read verse Luke 22:52 Noun Accusative Singular Masculine
λῃστὴν lhsthn
a robber, brigand, bandit
Read verse John 10:1 Noun Nominative Singular Masculine
λῃστής. lhsthv
a robber, brigand, bandit
Read verse John 10:8 Noun Nominative Plural Masculine
λῃσταί· lhstai
a robber, brigand, bandit
Read verse John 18:40 Noun Nominative Singular Masculine
λῃστής. lhsthv
a robber, brigand, bandit
Read verse 2 Corinthians 11:26 Noun Genitive Plural Masculine
λῃστῶν, lhstwn
a robber, brigand, bandit
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 6 case and number patterns. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Form patterns 6 Aligned forms 15 Case pattern Accusative (5) Number pattern Plural (10)
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Nominative · Plural · Masculine Matt 27:38 · Matt 27:44 · John 10:8 3×
Nominative · Singular · Masculine John 10:1 · John 18:40 2×
Genitive · Plural · Masculine Matt 21:13 · Mark 11:17 · Luke 19:46 · 2 Cor 11:26 4×
Dative · Plural · Masculine Luke 10:30 1×
Accusative · Singular · Masculine Matt 26:55 · Mark 14:48 · Luke 22:52 3×
Accusative · Plural · Masculine Mark 15:27 · Luke 10:36 2×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Witnesses
Mark 11:12–19 λῃστής lēistḗs
robber, brigand
Mark 14:43–52 λῃστής lēistḗs
robber; insurgent
Mark 15:16–32 λῃστής lēistḗs
robber; insurgent
Showing 3 selected witnesses from 15 lexical occurrence verses.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
John's use of λῃστής creates a severe moral contrast. In chapter 10, the robber does not enter through the gate, does not know the sheep as the shepherd does, and belongs to the pattern of stealing, killing, and destroying. Jesus stands opposite that predation as the gate and good Shepherd who gives abundant life and lays down His life for the sheep. The discourse should not be flattened into a label for any leader the interpreter dislikes; its criteria concern access, relationship, harm, voice, and self-giving care.
John 18 then names Barabbas with a term that can denote a bandit or insurrectionist. The crowd's choice occurs after Jesus has testified that His kingdom is not from this world and that He came to bear witness to the truth. John does not offer a simple political program, but he does expose the tragic preference for a violent alternative over the true King.
Anchor passage
John.10.1-18
Doctrinal connections
- Jeremiah 23:1-4 - the Lord condemns shepherds who destroy and scatter
- Ezekiel 34:1-24 - self-feeding shepherds are judged and replaced by God's care
- John 10:1-18 - predation is contrasted with the Shepherd's self-giving life
- John 18:33-40 - Jesus' kingdom and truth stand beside the Barabbas choice
- Mark 11:15-18 - den-of-robbers language indicts exploitative worship
λῃστής can denote a robber, bandit, or violent insurgent and is stronger than the ordinary term for thief. Context may foreground predatory violence, political insurrection, or both. The BSB's 'insurrectionist' in John 18:40 interprets Barabbas within that broader range.
From Old to New Testament
The prophets condemn shepherds who exploit and scatter God's flock, and Jeremiah's den-of-robbers indictment exposes worship used as shelter for injustice. Jesus receives both leadership and temple-judgment patterns while identifying Himself as the Shepherd-King who gives His life. The Barabbas scene adds a narrative contrast with violent deliverance.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain