Thieves and robbers

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What is a "robber"? What is a "thief"? What is the difference? Is any difference important?

The modern Greek word "κλέφτης" (KLEH-ftees) ≈ "thief" is someone who takes something without violence (e.g., shoplifting, pilfering, etc.). A thief "steals". The English word "kleptomania", a penchant to take/steal things, comes from the same Greek word.

The modern Greek word "ληστής" (lee-STEES) ≈ "robber" is someone who takes something using violence (e.g., armed robbery).

In both cases, someone is taking something from someone else. One uses violence. The other does not.

The Bible Greek uses essentially the same definitions. Why is «κλέφτης» sometimes translated as "robber"?

Consider the story of the good Samaritan in Luke.

Luke 10:30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. [kjv]

υπολαβων ο ιησους ειπεν ανθρωπος τις κατεβαινεν απο ιερουσαλημ εις ιεριχω και λησταις περιεπεσεν οι και εκδυσαντες αυτον και πληγας επιθεντες απηλθον αφεντες ημιθανη [gnt]

Clearly the man fell among "robbers".

Luke 10:30

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KJV: And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

Greek: υπολαβων δε ο ιησους ειπεν ανθρωπος τις κατεβαινεν απο ιερουσαλημ εις ιεριχω και λησταις περιεπεσεν οι και εκδυσαντες αυτον και πληγας επιθεντες απηλθον αφεντες ημιθανη τυγχανοντα

Matthew 27:38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. [kjv]

τοτε σταυρουνται συν αυτω δυο λησται εις εκ δεξιων και εις εξ ευωνυμων [gnt]

Consider the crucifixion.

Matthew 27:38

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KJV: Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.

Greek: τοτε σταυρουνται συν αυτω δυο λησται εις εκ δεξιων και εις εξ ευωνυμων

Mark 15:27 And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. [kjv]

και συν αυτω σταυρουσιν δυο ληστας ενα εκ δεξιων και ενα εξ ευωνυμων αυτου [gnt]

There were two "thieves" crucified with Jesus in the KJV (King James Version). In the GNT (Greek New Testament) the term used is "robbers" as «λήστας».

Mark 15:27

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KJV: And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.

Greek: και συν αυτω σταυρουσιν δυο ληστας ενα εκ δεξιων και ενα εξ ευωνυμων αυτου

John 18:40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber. [kjv]

εκραυγασαν ουν παλιν λεγοντες μη τουτον αλλα τον βαραββαν ην δε ο βαραββας ληστης [gnt]

Barabbas is referred to as a "robber" using the same Greek word translated above as "thief" (i.e., "thieves").

John 18:40

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KJV: Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

Greek: εκραυγασαν ουν παλιν παντες λεγοντες μη τουτον αλλα τον βαραββαν ην δε ο βαραββας ληστης

2 Corinthians 11:26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; [kjv]

οδοιποριαις πολλακις κινδυνοις ποταμων κινδυνοις ληστων κινδυνοις εκ γενους κινδυνοις εξ εθνων κινδυνοις εν πολει κινδυνοις εν ερημια κινδυνοις εν θαλασση κινδυνοις εν ψευδαδελφοις [gnt]

Paul warns of "robbers" and "stealing".

2 Corinthians 11:26

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KJV: In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

Greek: οδοιποριαις πολλακις κινδυνοις ποταμων κινδυνοις ληστων κινδυνοις εκ γενους κινδυνοις εξ εθνων κινδυνοις εν πολει κινδυνοις εν ερημια κινδυνοις εν θαλασση κινδυνοις εν ψευδαδελφοις

Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. [kjv]

ο κλεπτων μηκετι κλεπτετω μαλλον δε κοπιατω εργαζομενος ταις χερσιν το αγαθον ινα εχη μεταδιδοναι τω χρειαν εχοντι [gnt]

One's life is not in "peril" of "thieves" but of "robbers".

On the other hand, "thieving" as in "stealing" is not to be done.

Ephesians 4:28

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KJV: Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Greek: ο κλεπτων μηκετι κλεπτετω μαλλον δε κοπιατω εργαζομενος το αγαθον ταις χερσιν το αγαθον ινα εχη μεταδιδοναι τω χρειαν εχοντι

1 Thessalonians 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. [kjv]

αυτοι γαρ ακριβως οιδατε οτι ημερα κυριου ως κλεπτης εν νυκτι ουτως ερχεται [gnt]

And the day of the Lord will come as a "thief" in the night - without violence as a result of the process of arriving itself.

1 Thessalonians 5:2

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KJV: For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

Greek: αυτοι γαρ ακριβως οιδατε οτι η ημερα κυριου ως κλεπτης εν νυκτι ουτως ερχεται

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. [kjv]

ηξει δε ημερα κυριου ως κλεπτης εν η οι ουρανοι ροιζηδον παρελευσονται στοιχεια δε καυσουμενα λυθησεται και γη και τα εν αυτη εργα ευρεθησεται [gnt]

Peter repeats this idea.

2 Peter 3:10

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KJV: But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Greek: ηξει δε η ημερα κυριου ως κλεπτης εν νυκτι εν η οι ουρανοι ροιζηδον παρελευσονται στοιχεια δε καυσουμενα λυθησονται λυθησεται και γη και τα εν αυτη εργα κατακαησεται ευρεθησεται

Revelation 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. [kjv]

ιδου ερχομαι ως κλεπτης μακαριος ο γρηγορων και τηρων τα ιματια αυτου ινα μη γυμνος περιπατη και βλεπωσιν την ασχημοσυνην αυτου [gnt]

John repeats this in Revelation.

Revelation 16:15

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KJV: Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Greek: ιδου ερχομαι ως κλεπτης μακαριος ο γρηγορων και τηρων τα ιματια αυτου ινα μη γυμνος περιπατη και βλεπωσιν την ασχημοσυνην αυτου

John 10:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. [kjv]

παντες οσοι ηλθον προ εμου κλεπται εισιν και λησται αλλ ουκ ηκουσαν αυτων τα προβατα [gnt]

Jesus is the good shepherd. He warns of "thieves" and "robbers".

John 10:8

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KJV: All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

Greek: παντες οσοι ηλθον προ εμου ηλθον κλεπται εισιν και λησται αλλ ουκ ηκουσαν αυτων τα προβατα

Matthew 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. [kjv]

και λεγει αυτοις γεγραπται ο οικος μου οικος προσευχης κληθησεται υμεις δε αυτον ποιειτε σπηλαιον ληστων [gnt]

Why would Jesus use both "thieves" and "robbers" if there were not some difference?

It appears that the phrase here should be "den of robbers" and not "den of thieves".

Matthew 21:13

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KJV: And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Greek: και λεγει αυτοις γεγραπται ο οικος μου οικος προσευχης κληθησεται υμεις δε αυτον εποιησατε ποιειτε σπηλαιον ληστων

John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. [kjv]

εγω ειμι η θυρα δι εμου εαν τις εισελθη σωθησεται και εισελευσεται και εξελευσεται και νομην ευρησει [gnt]

10:10 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. [kjv]

ο κλεπτης ουκ ερχεται ει μη ινα κλεψη και θυση και απολεση εγω ηλθον ινα ζωην εχωσιν και περισσον εχωσιν [gnt]

Why would a "thief" (i.e., a "stealer") come to "kill" and to "destroy" as a "robber"?

John 10:9

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KJV: I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Greek: εγω ειμι η θυρα δι εμου εαν τις εισελθη σωθησεται και εισελευσεται και εξελευσεται και νομην ευρησει

John 10:10

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KJV: 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.

Greek: ο κλεπτης ουκ ερχεται ει μη ινα κλεψη και θυση και απολεση εγω ηλθον ινα ζωην εχωσιν και περισσον εχωσιν