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Selected Verse: Proverbs 6:30 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Pr 6:30	Strong Concordance	Men do not despise [0936] a thief [01590], if he steal [01589] to satisfy [04390] his soul [05315] when he is hungry [07456];
	King James	Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Such a thief is pitied, though heavily punished.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Such a thief is pitied, though heavily punished.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The thief and the adulterer are now placed in comparison with one another, in such a way that adultery is supposed to be a yet greater crime. 30 One does not treat the thief scornfully if he steals To satisfy his craving when he is hungry; 31 Being seized, he may restore sevenfold, Give up the whole wealth of his house. For the most part 30a is explained: even when this is the case, one does not pass it over in the thief as a bagatelle. Ewald remarks: בּוּז ל stands here in its nearest signification of overlooking, whence first follows that of contemning. But this "nearest" signification is devised wholly in favour of this passage; - the interpretation, "they do not thus let the thief pass," is set aside by Sol 8:1, Sol 8:7; for by 31b, cf. Sol 8:7, and 34a, cf. Sol 8:6, it is proved that from Pro 6:30 on, reminiscences from the Canticles, which belong to the literature of the Chokma, find their way into the Mashal language of the author. Hitzig's correct supposition, that בּוּז ל always signifies positive contemning, does not necessitate the interrogative interpretation: "Does not one despise the thief if...?" Thus to be understood, the author ought to have written אף כי or גם כי. Michaelis rightly: furtum licet merito pro infami in republica habetur, tamen si cum adulterio comparatur, minus probrosum est. Regarding נפשׁ in the sense of appetite, and even throat and stomach, vid., Psychologie, p. 204. A second is, that the thief, if he is seized (but we regard ונמצא not as the hypoth. perf., but as the part. deprehensus), may make compensation for this crime. The fut. ישׁלּם thus to be understood as the potential lies near from this, that a sevenfold compensation of the thing stolen is unheard of in the Israelitish law; it knows only of a twofold, fourfold, fivefold restoration, Ex. 21:37; Exo 22:1-3, Exo 22:8 (cf. Saalschtz, Mos. Recht, p. 554ff.). This excess over that which the law rendered necessary leads into the region of free-will: he (the thief, by which we are now only to think of him whom bitter necessity has made such) may make compensation sevenfold, i.e., superabundantly; he may give up the whole possessions (vid., on הון at Pro 1:13) of his house, so as not merely to satisfy the law, but to appease him against whom he has done wrong, and again to gain for himself an honoured name. What is said in Pro 6:30 and Pro 6:31 is perfectly just. One does not contemn a man who is a thief through poverty, he is pitied; while the adulterer goes to ruin under all circumstances of contempt and scorn. And: theft may be made good, and that abundantly; but adultery and its consequences are irreparable.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

The thief and the adulterer are now placed in comparison with one another, in such a way that adultery is supposed to be a yet greater crime.

30 One does not treat the thief scornfully if he steals

To satisfy his craving when he is hungry;

31 Being seized, he may restore sevenfold,

Give up the whole wealth of his house.

For the most part 30a is explained: even when this is the case, one does not pass it over in the thief as a bagatelle. Ewald remarks: בּוּז ל stands here in its nearest signification of overlooking, whence first follows that of contemning. But this "nearest" signification is devised wholly in favour of this passage; - the interpretation, "they do not thus let the thief pass," is set aside by Sol 8:1, Sol 8:7; for by 31b, cf. Sol 8:7, and 34a, cf. Sol 8:6, it is proved that from Pro 6:30 on, reminiscences from the Canticles, which belong to the literature of the Chokma, find their way into the Mashal language of the author. Hitzig's correct supposition, that בּוּז ל always signifies positive contemning, does not necessitate the interrogative interpretation: "Does not one despise the thief if...?" Thus to be understood, the author ought to have written אף כי or גם כי. Michaelis rightly: furtum licet merito pro infami in republica habetur, tamen si cum adulterio comparatur, minus probrosum est. Regarding נפשׁ in the sense of appetite, and even throat and stomach, vid., Psychologie, p. 204. A second is, that the thief, if he is seized (but we regard ונמצא not as the hypoth. perf., but as the part. deprehensus), may make compensation for this crime. The fut. ישׁלּם thus to be understood as the potential lies near from this, that a sevenfold compensation of the thing stolen is unheard of in the Israelitish law; it knows only of a twofold, fourfold, fivefold restoration, Ex. 21:37; Exo 22:1-3, Exo 22:8 (cf. Saalschtz, Mos. Recht, p. 554ff.). This excess over that which the law rendered necessary leads into the region of free-will: he (the thief, by which we are now only to think of him whom bitter necessity has made such) may make compensation sevenfold, i.e., superabundantly; he may give up the whole possessions (vid., on הון at Pro 1:13) of his house, so as not merely to satisfy the law, but to appease him against whom he has done wrong, and again to gain for himself an honoured name. What is said in Pro 6:30 and Pro 6:31 is perfectly just. One does not contemn a man who is a thief through poverty, he is pitied; while the adulterer goes to ruin under all circumstances of contempt and scorn. And: theft may be made good, and that abundantly; but adultery and its consequences are irreparable.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Despise - Abhor, but rather pity him.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Men do not despise a thief if he steal - Every man pities the poor culprit who was perishing for lack of food, and stole to satisfy his hunger; yet no law clears him: he is bound to make restitution; in some cases double, in others quadruple and quintuple; and if he have not property enough to make restitution, to be sold for a bondsman; Exo 22:1-4; Lev 25:39.

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³¹ But if he be found [04672], he shall restore [07999] sevenfold [07659]; he shall give [05414] all the substance [01952] of his house [01004].

³⁰ Men do not despise [0936] a thief [01590], if he steal [01589] to satisfy [04390] his soul [05315] when he is hungry [07456];

¹³ We shall find [04672] all precious [03368] substance [01952], we shall fill [04390] our houses [01004] with spoil [07998]:

⁸ If the thief [01590] be not [03808] found [04672], then the master [01167] of the house [01004] shall be brought [07126] unto the judges [0430], to see whether he have put [07971] his hand [03027] unto his neighbour's [07453] goods [04399].

¹ If a man [0376] shall steal [01589] an ox [07794], or a sheep [07716], and kill [02873] it, or sell [04376] it; he shall restore [07999] five [02568] oxen [01241] for an ox [07794], and four [0702] sheep [06629] for a sheep [07716].
² If a thief [01590] be found [04672] breaking up [04290], and be smitten [05221] that he die [04191], there shall no blood [01818] be shed for him.
³ If the sun [08121] be risen [02224] upon him, there shall be blood [01818] shed for him; for he should make full [07999] restitution [07999]; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold [04376] for his theft [01591].

³⁰ Men do not despise [0936] a thief [01590], if he steal [01589] to satisfy [04390] his soul [05315] when he is hungry [07456];

⁶ Set [07760] me as a seal [02368] upon thine heart [03820], as a seal [02368] upon thine arm [02220]: for love [0160] is strong [05794] as death [04194]; jealousy [07068] is cruel [07186] as the grave [07585]: the coals [07565] thereof are coals [07565] of fire [0784], which hath a most vehement flame [07957].

⁷ Many [07227] waters [04325] cannot [03201] quench [03518] love [0160], neither can the floods [05104] drown [07857] it: if a man [0376] would give [05414] all the substance [01952] of his house [01004] for love [0160], it would utterly [0936] be contemned [0936].

¹ O that [05414] thou wert as my brother [0251], that sucked [03243] the breasts [07699] of my mother [0517]! when I should find [04672] thee without [02351], I would kiss [05401] thee; yea, I should not be despised [0936].

³⁹ And if thy brother [0251] that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor [04134], and be sold [04376] unto thee; thou shalt not compel [05647] him to serve [05656] as a bondservant [05650]: