גַּנָּב
𐤂𐤍𐤁
gannâb
H1590 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A person who takes property, goods, or people unlawfully or surreptitiously, without consent. In the Hebrew Bible, גַּנָּב (gannâb) is used for one who commits theft, often by stealth, rather than violent robbery. The term may refer broadly to any thief, whether of objects, livestock, or even people (kidnappers), in both legal and narrative contexts.
Semantic Range
thief, stealer, one who carries off property or persons surreptitiously, kidnapper, one acting deceitfully in taking what is not theirs
Root / Etymology
From the root גנב, meaning 'to steal, take secretly.' The form גַּנָּב is a nominal pattern denoting an agent—one who habitually or characteristically steals; thus, 'thief, stealer.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In early Israelite law (e.g., Deuteronomy, Exodus), גַּנָּב primarily refers to those who secretly remove property or persons. Legal texts distinguish between גַּנָּב (thief by stealth) and גַּזְלָן (gazlān; one who seizes by force, i.e., robber). The law imposes different penalties for theft versus robbery, highlighting the social and moral distinction between the two. In narrative literature, גַּנָּב may also be used metaphorically to describe deceitful behavior. During the monarchic period, distinctions between forms of theft become important for legal and social order. In post-exilic and later Hebrew, the term is retained with similar meanings. In English translation traditions, 'thief' is common, but may obscure the stealth/force distinction present in Hebrew law and society. The term 'robber' (גזלן, gazlan) should not be conflated with גַּנָּב.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from גָּנַב; a stealer; thief.
Bantu Hebrew
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גנב (g-n-b) — to steal, to take secretly, to carry away by stealth
Word Forms
8 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1590-04 |
הַ/גַּנָּ֖ב | haganav | HTd/Ncmsa |
the thief | the stealer | 5 |
H1590-02 |
גַּנָּב֙ | ganav | HNcmsa |
of a thief | stealer | 3 |
H1590-03 |
גַּנָּבִ֔ים | ganavim | HNcmpa |
thieves | stealers | 3 |
H1590-05 |
כַּ/גַּנָּֽב | kaganav | HRd/Ncmsa |
as a thief | like a thief | 2 |
H1590-06 |
כַ/גַּנָּֽב | khaganav | HRd/Ncmsa |
like a thief | like a thief | 1 |
H1590-08 |
וְ/גַנָּ֣ב | veganav | HC/Ncmsa |
and thief | and a thief | 1 |
H1590-07 |
לַ֭/גַּנָּב | laganav | HRd/Ncmsa |
a thief | stealer | 1 |
H1590-01 |
בְּ/גַנָּבִ֖ים | beganavim | HR/Ncmpa |
among thieves | among thieves | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
17 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1590-04 |
Exodus 22:1 | הַ/גַּנָּ֖ב | haganav | HTd/Ncmsa |
the thief | the stealer |
H1590-04 |
Exodus 22:6 | הַ/גַּנָּ֖ב | haganav | HTd/Ncmsa |
the thief | the stealer |
H1590-04 |
Exodus 22:7 | הַ/גַּנָּ֔ב | haganav | HTd/Ncmsa |
the thief | the stealer |
H1590-04 |
Deuteronomy 24:7 | הַ/גַּנָּ֣ב | haganav | HTd/Ncmsa |
the thief | the stealer |
H1590-03 |
Isaiah 1:23 | גַּנָּבִ֔ים | ganavim | HNcmpa |
of thieves | stealers |
H1590-02 |
Jeremiah 2:26 | גַּנָּב֙ | ganav | HNcmsa |
of a thief | stealer |
H1590-01 |
Jeremiah 48:27 | בְּ/גַנָּבִ֖ים | beganavim | HR/Ncmpa |
among thieves | among thieves |
H1590-03 |
Jeremiah 49:9 | גַּנָּבִ֥ים | ganavim | HNcmpa |
thieves | stealers |
H1590-08 |
Hosea 7:1 | וְ/גַנָּ֣ב | veganav | HC/Ncmsa |
and thief | and a thief |
H1590-05 |
Joel 2:9 | כַּ/גַּנָּֽב | kaganav | HRd/Ncmsa |
like a thief | like a thief |