thief

Everyday

A person who steals: takes things that belong to someone else without asking. tree →

In the lessons

In lessons about right and wrong and safety, pupils learn that stealing hurts people, and how to keep things safe from thieves. In stories, thieves are often caught by clever detectives. Phrases: car thief, catch a thief, like a thief in the night, stop thief!

Examples

• The thief took the bike from the garden. tree →
• Police caught the thief on camera. tree →
• "Stop, thief!" shouted the shopkeeper. tree →
• Lock your bike so a thief cannot take it. tree →
• In the story, the thief was a magpie. tree →
• A thief stole Grandma's handbag. tree →

Note

Plural: "thieves" (f changes to ves). The verb is "steal", the crime is "theft". Spelling: "ie" in "thief". Safety: if a thief takes something from you, do not chase them; tell an adult or the police.

In Jewish tradition

The Torah has laws that a thief must pay back double, and that a house owner may not be blamed for killing a thief breaking in at night.

Interpretation. The rules about thieves are read as showing that Jewish law protects both property and life, and that a thief must make up for what he took.

Examples

• If a thief be found breaking in, and be smitten so that he dieth, there shall be no bloodguiltiness for him. (Torah EXO.22.2, JPS 1917) tree →
• If a man deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man's house; if the thief be found, he shall pay double. (Torah EXO.22.7, JPS 1917) tree →
• If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall come near unto God, to see whether he have not put his hand unto his neighbour's goods. (Torah EXO.22.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• When thou sawest a thief, thou hadst company with him, and with adulterers was thy portion. (Writings PSA.50.18, JPS 1917) tree →
• They are driven forth from the midst of men; they cry after them as after a thief. (Writings JOB.30.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; (Writings PRO.6.30, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Plural: "thieves" (f changes to ves). The verb is "steal", the crime is "theft". Spelling: "ie" in "thief". Safety: if a thief takes something from you, do not chase them; tell an adult or the police.