On Hating Or Not Hating A Thief

December 1990
Musings 1991

In the Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Proverbs 6, verses 30-31 read, “Do not men despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry? And if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold; he will give all the goods of his house.” There is a footnote on verse 30. “Or, men do not despise a thief.” The King James version reads, “Men do not despise a thief, etc.” The Moffatt translation is, “Men do not let off a thief, etc.”

Well, which is it – men do or do not despise a thief? Fundamentalists insist that the Bible is without any error. How, then, do they resolve this contradiction? In my annotated Bible there is an abundance of footnotes which state, “meaning of Hebrew word uncertain.” When scholars of Hebrew disagree on translation and admit ignorance or ambiguity, how does the fundamentalist believer in inerrancy handle the dilemma? To suit his theology, convenience, or a particular Sunday sermon?

Beyond uncertain Biblical pronouncements, an intelligible question is raised. If a family is starving, is a parent, son, or daughter to be despised for stealing a loaf of bread? In Hugo’s novel, now a superb theatrical event, “Les Miserables,” Jean Valjean is sentenced to twenty years in jail for stealing a loaf of bread – and Jean is the hero of the story. The Law, in the person of the implacable, unrelenting Javert, commits suicide when he cannot reconcile enforcing the letter of the law with his life being saved by Jean Valjean.

Note also that the Proverb we are discussing does not ignore punishment. But it is not execution, imprisonment, whipping or severing the hand of the thief. Historian Arthur Bryant writes that in 17th century England, more than one hundred fifty crimes were punishable by death. The ancient Proverb is gentler. The thief owes payment sevenfold and the goods of his house. When one is reduced to stealing bread, there cannot be much left in the house.

Ask yourself, if you and your family were starving, would you steal bread? (Assuming no other resources – friends, welfare, soup kitchens, charitable institutions). I would. This question has arisen in casual conversations through the years. The answer is always the same: “YES!!”

There is an alternative: Construct a basic economic floor through which no one could fall. Food, shelter, medical care would be the foundation. Then, to your heart's content, debate capitalism, communism, free enterprise, socialism, or whatever other abstract economic system currently appeals to your needs, fancies, or ambitions.