the Fourth Week after Easter
Click here to learn more!
Bible Dictionaries
Men-Stealers
Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament
or The word occurs only once in the NT-in the First Epistle to Timothy (1 Timothy 1:10), where the writer includes the term in his list of those for whom the Law is intended. ‘A law is not intended for a righteous man but for the lawless and unruly … for men-stealers (ἀνδραποδισταῖς, plagiariis [Vulg. [Note: Vulgate.] ]).’ That kidnapping was regarded as a serious offence by the Hebrews is clear from the definite statements in Exodus 21:16 (‘and he that stealeth a man … he shall surely be put to death’) and in Deuteronomy 24:7 (‘if a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel … then that thief shall die’). By the time of this Epistle, however, the term had less special colour and could describe that subtler form of man-stealing by which one man is made the victim of another’s will and the instrument of his selfishness.
R. Strong.
These files are public domain.
Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
Hastings, James. Entry for 'Men-Stealers'. Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hdn/m/men-stealers.html. 1906-1918.
