What does גָּנַב (gānab) mean in the Bible?
Stealing concerns taking what belongs to another, but the object and narrative setting must be identified in each occurrence. Exodus states the prohibition against stealing within the covenant commands.
Hebrew · H1589
גָּנַב
Stealing concerns taking what belongs to another, but the object and narrative setting must be identified in each occurrence. Exodus states the prohibition against stealing within the covenant commands.
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גָּנַבH1589
Pronunciationgānab
What does גָּנַב (gānab) mean in the Bible?
Reader summary
Full entry for גָּנַב (H1589) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1589?
The BSB source-word alignment has 40 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include steal (4), . . . (2), and stole him away (2), stole (2), stolen (2).
Where does גָּנַב (gānab) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 30:33. Its strongest book concentrations include Genesis (12), Exodus (6), 2 Samuel (5), Job (3).
What This Word Actually Means
Stealing concerns taking what belongs to another, but the object and narrative setting must be identified in each occurrence. Exodus states the prohibition against stealing within the covenant commands. Deuteronomy addresses kidnapping an Israelite brother for enslavement or sale, exposing theft of a person as grave wrongdoing. Second Samuel describes Absalom stealing the hearts of Israelites who came to the king for justice; the phrase depicts his cultivated transfer of allegiance rather than taking a physical object.
Property, personal freedom, and loyalty therefore enter different scenes. The lexical connection helps readers see taking and appropriation, but it does not flatten a human being into property or make every persuasive act theft. Application must follow the command or narrative description rather than unsupported suspicion.
How the Bible Uses It
The covenant prohibition, a law concerning kidnapping, and Absalom's capture of popular allegiance demonstrate distinct objects and settings for the taking described by this verb.
- Exod.20.15
You shall not steal.
The command prohibits stealing alongside other covenant requirements; the brief wording should be explained without inventing an unstated exception or contemporary accusation.
- Deut.24.7
If a man is caught kidnapping one of his Israelite brothers, whether he treats him as a slave or sells him, the kidnapper must die. So you must purge the evil from among you.
The law condemns kidnapping an Israelite brother for enslavement or sale and states a severe sanction within Israel's legal setting.
- 2Sam.15.6
Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for justice. In this way he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
Absalom wins the hearts of those seeking justice through the conduct described in the preceding verses, preparing the narrative of his challenge to David.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itsteal4×Exodus 20:15, Leviticus 19:11, Deuteronomy 5:19, Obadiah 1:5
. . .2×Genesis 31:39, Genesis 40:15
and stole him away2×2 Kings 11:2, 2 Chronicles 22:11
stole2×Genesis 31:19, 2 Samuel 15:6
stolen2×Exodus 22:12, Proverbs 9:17
[the animal] was actually1×Exodus 22:12
and deceive1×Genesis 31:27
and steal1×Proverbs 30:9
and stealing1×Hosea 4:2
and they are stolen1×Exodus 22:7
deceived1×Genesis 31:20
for what was stolen1×Genesis 31:39
had stolen1×2 Samuel 21:12
had stolen [the idols]1×Genesis 31:32
have you stolen1×Genesis 31:30
he steals1×Proverbs 6:30
I was kidnapped1×Genesis 40:15
kidnapping1×Deuteronomy 24:7
quietly1×2 Samuel 19:3
secretly1×Job 4:12
steal away1×2 Samuel 19:3
steals1×Exodus 22:1
sweeps him away1×Job 27:20
swept away1×Job 21:18
take you away secretly1×2 Samuel 19:41
they have stolen1×Joshua 7:11
thief1×Zechariah 5:3
who steal1×Jeremiah 23:30
Whoever kidnaps1×Exodus 21:16
will be considered stolen1×Genesis 30:33
Will you steal1×Jeremiah 7:9
would we steal1×Genesis 44:8
You have deceived1×Genesis 31:26
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 30:33גָּנ֥וּבtowill be considered stolenVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singularGenesis 31:19וַתִּגְנֹ֣בtostoleConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularGenesis 31:20וַיִּגְנֹ֣בtodeceivedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 31:26וַתִּגְנֹ֖בtoYou have deceivedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singularGenesis 31:27וַתִּגְנֹ֖בtoand deceiveConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singularGenesis 31:30גָנַ֖בְתָּtohave you stolenVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularGenesis 31:32גְּנָבָֽתַם׃tohad stolen [the idols]Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine pluralGenesis 31:39גְּנֻֽבְתִ֣יtofor what was stolenVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular constructGenesis 31:39וּגְנֻֽבְתִ֖יto. . .Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular constructGenesis 40:15גֻנֹּ֣בtoI was kidnappedVerb - Pual - Infinitive absolute
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 30:33
Aligned rows40
Books represented14
Genesis12Exodus6Leviticus1Deuteronomy2Joshua12 Samuel52 Kings12 Chronicles1Job3Proverbs3Jeremiah2Hosea1Obadiah1Zechariah1
Source forms
גְּנָבַ֥תּוּ2xgə·nā·ḇat·tūJob 21:18, Job 27:20
וַתִּגְנֹ֖ב2xwat·tiḡ·nōḇGenesis 31:26, Genesis 31:27
וַתִּגְנֹ֤ב2xwat·tiḡ·nōḇ2 Kings 11:2, 2 Chronicles 22:11
תִּֿגְנֹֽ֔ב׃ס2xtiḡ·nōḇExodus 20:15, Deuteronomy 5:19
גָּנֹ֥ב1xgā·nōḇExodus 22:12
גֹּנֵ֨ב1xgō·nêḇDeuteronomy 24:7
גֻנֹּ֣ב1xḡun·nōḇGenesis 40:15
גָּֽנְבוּ֙1xgā·nə·ḇūJoshua 7:11
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular3xGenesis 31:19, 2 Kings 11:2, 2 Chronicles 22:11
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular2xGenesis 31:26, Genesis 31:27
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular2xExodus 20:15, Deuteronomy 5:19
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular2xExodus 22:1, Proverbs 6:30
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute2xExodus 22:12, Jeremiah 7:9
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural2xJoshua 7:11, 2 Samuel 21:12
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular2xJob 21:18, Job 27:20
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular1xZechariah 5:3
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Address actual wrongdoing through truthful evidence and appropriate accountability rather than public insinuation.
- Those raising concerns about leadership must not be labeled thieves merely for questioning authority.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that every loss of support for a leader proves that someone stole hearts.
- Do not claim that this lexical study authorizes private violence against an alleged offender.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Theft that conceals and removes—whether property or truth—carrying away what belongs to another through stealth.
Strong'sH1589
Lexical occurrences40 versesWord forms5 forms21 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkGenesis 31:1-21Source Gloss
to thieve (literally or figuratively); by implication, to deceive
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Theft that conceals and removes—whether property or truth—carrying away what belongs to another through stealth.
to thieve (literally or figuratively); by implication, to deceive BDB: steal Usage: carry away, × indeed, secretly bring, steal (away), get by stealth.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups5Aligned forms21
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense15×
ImperfectDeut 5:19 · Exod 20:15 · Exod 21:37 · Prov 6:30 · Gen 44:8 · Lev 19:11 · Obad 1:57×
Participle passiveGen 30:33 · Gen 31:39 · Prov 9:173×
Perfect2Sam 21:12 · Josh 7:11 · Gen 31:303×
Participle activeDeut 24:71×
Infinitive absoluteExod 22:111×
Hithpaelreflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others1×
Imperfect2Sam 19:41×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action1×
ImperfectExod 22:111×
Pualintensive passive — intensive action received by the subject3×
Infinitive absoluteGen 40:151×
PerfectGen 40:151×
ImperfectJob 4:121×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action1×
Participle activeJer 23:301×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Jacob secretly departs with family and livestock, taking property away by stealth
Legal prohibition against theft as a commandment within Israel's moral law code
Figurative use of stealing to describe seduction and deception by a foolish woman
Showing 3 selected witnesses from 40 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
גָּנַב is a primitive root - no further derivation.
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
The verb directs attention toward an act of taking, but responsible teaching must follow its object. Exodus gives a concise prohibition that calls for faithful conduct toward others. Deuteronomy's kidnapping law makes the seriousness of taking a person unmistakable, while its ancient sanction must remain within the legal setting being described. Second Samuel uses a relational image: Absalom positions himself among those seeking justice and cultivates their allegiance.
The narrative exposes his conduct and its political direction; it is not a ready-made label for every question about a leader. These distinctions keep the entry from becoming either a narrow discussion of possessions or a tool for policing loyalty. Contemporary application may call for honesty, respect for freedom, and accountable persuasion without accusing particular people on the strength of an analogy.
Anchor passage
Exod.20.15
Doctrinal connections
- Exodus 20 places the prohibition of stealing among the Lord's covenant commands.
- Deuteronomy 24 treats taking a person for enslavement or sale as grave wrongdoing.
- The kidnapping law distinguishes the violation of personal freedom from ordinary property disputes.
- Second Samuel 15 describes allegiance shaped through Absalom's calculated encounters with those seeking justice.
- Faithful conduct requires attention to what is taken and to the person harmed.
- Narrative accountability must not become a pretext for suppressing honest questions about leadership.
The governed Hebrew identity includes literal stealing and the narrative image of stealing hearts. English expressions should preserve the stated object; a shared verb does not make possessions, human freedom, and political allegiance interchangeable categories.
From Old to New Testament
Ephesians 4:28 calls the former thief to stop stealing, work honestly, and share with those in need. This is a canonical ethical comparison that adds the stated positive movement of that passage rather than importing it into every Hebrew occurrence.