Proverbs 6:31 kjv

But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

Proverbs 6:31 nkjv

Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold; He may have to give up all the substance of his house.

Proverbs 6:31 niv

Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold, though it costs him all the wealth of his house.

Proverbs 6:31 esv

but if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold; he will give all the goods of his house.

Proverbs 6:31 nlt

But if he is caught, he must pay back seven times what he stole,
even if he has to sell everything in his house.

Proverbs 6 verses

Proverbs 6 31 Meaning

Proverbs 6:31 highlights the severe but defined penalty for a thief caught in the act. Unlike the adulterer, whose consequences are immeasurable, irreparable, and often lead to lasting shame and even death, the thief's offense can be rectified through substantial, often ruinous, restitution. The verse illustrates a form of divine justice where an act against property, while serious and punishable by complete financial forfeiture, is less destructive than an act against marital covenant and personal integrity.

Proverbs 6 31 Context

Proverbs chapter 6 serves as a stark warning against several destructive paths. It begins with cautions against suretyship (vv. 1-5), laziness (vv. 6-11), and deceitful conduct (vv. 12-19) which lists things hateful to the Lord. Verses 20-35 focus heavily on the destructive power of sexual immorality, particularly adultery, presenting it as a consuming fire that destroys one's very life and reputation, leaving an unquenchable stain of dishonor.

Within this strong denunciation of adultery, Proverbs 6:30-31 offers a distinct comparative interlude concerning a thief. Verse 30 subtly notes that people might empathize with a thief who steals to satisfy hunger, although even such a one must make restitution. Verse 31 then details the full legal consequences for a caught thief. This passage creates a vital contrast: while a thief, even one driven by hunger, must face ruinous financial penalties, his offense pales in comparison to the unatonable, life-destroying nature of adultery described in the surrounding verses (26-29, 32-35). The historical context aligns with Ancient Near Eastern legal codes (e.g., Mosaic Law in Exodus 22), which mandated various levels of restitution for theft, sometimes involving punitive multiples beyond the original value. This verse highlights that even a "lighter" transgression, theft, carried a heavy material penalty, whereas adultery resulted in a personal, social, and spiritual devastation that no material payment could ever repair.

Proverbs 6 31 Word analysis

• But (וְכִ֤י v'khi): This conjunction serves to introduce a sharp contrast or a different scenario. It marks the transition from discussing the desperate thief in verse 30 to the full legal consequence when such a thief is found, emphasizing a shift in focus from the motive to the penalty.
• if he be found (יִמָּצֵ֣א yimmatsē): From the root מָצָא (matsa), meaning "to be found," "discovered," "apprehended," or "caught." This signifies that the act of theft is no longer hidden but has been uncovered, triggering the legal process of accountability. The active voice here points to the moment of exposure.
• he shall restore (יְשַׁלֵּ֣ם y'shallēm): From the root שָׁלַם (shalam), meaning "to pay," "to recompense," "to make complete." This indicates a legal obligation to make full restitution for the damage or loss caused by the theft. It carries the weight of a court-imposed judgment for compensation.
• sevenfold (שִׁבְעָתָ֑יִם shiv'atayim): This is a dual form of "seven," emphasizing an intensifier—"seven times." In biblical numerical symbolism, seven often represents completeness or perfection. Here, it likely signifies not a literal seven times the stolen value but rather an extremely heavy, punitive, and comprehensive restitution. It could be a proverbial hyperbole for devastating financial loss, far exceeding simple replacement, potentially encompassing punitive damages, lost wages, and other associated costs, ensuring the thief is left impoverished.
• he shall give (יִתֵּ֬ן yittēn): From the root נָתַן (natan), meaning "to give," "to put," "to place." This term emphasizes the compulsory nature of the payment, signifying the thief is forced to hand over his possessions as dictated by the law.
• all the substance (כָּל־ה֣וֹן kol-hôn): Kol means "all," "every," "entire." Hon (הוֹן) refers to "wealth," "riches," "possessions," "property." This phrase explicitly states that the thief will forfeit everything he owns, implying total financial ruin and impoverishment.
• of his house (בֵּיתוֹ bêyto): Bayit (בַּיִת) means "house," but contextually it often extends to mean "household," "family," or "estate." This indicates that the thief's entire estate, all his accumulated wealth and that belonging to his family within his domain, will be seized to satisfy the debt. It underscores the utter completeness of the financial penalty.

Words-group analysis:

• "But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold": This phrase introduces the principle of severe legal consequences upon apprehension. The contrast "But" (וְכִ֤י) highlights that while pity might be extended to a hunger-driven thief (v. 30), finding them automatically triggers this overwhelming punitive measure. The "sevenfold" emphasizes a penalty designed to deter theft through ruination, acting as both recompense for the victim and severe judgment on the offender, illustrating divine and human justice for material wrongs.
• "he shall give all the substance of his house": This reinforces the absolute and complete nature of the "sevenfold" restitution. It clarifies that "sevenfold" is not a nominal penalty but encompasses the entire material holdings of the thief, leaving him utterly destitute. This clause provides the practical, ruinous application of the "sevenfold" principle, demonstrating the thief's total impoverishment. It's a statement of ultimate financial forfeiture for this crime, distinguishing it from the immeasurable, unpayable consequences of adultery.

Proverbs 6 31 Bonus section

The context leading into verse 31 (verse 30, which mentions people do not despise a thief who steals to satisfy hunger, yet still expects restitution) subtly introduces the motive for theft. However, verse 31 immediately overrides any potential empathy, focusing solely on the act and its prescribed legal penalty upon apprehension, regardless of motive. This emphasizes the impartial and severe nature of the law once an offense is confirmed, showing that even if one sympathizes, the legal consequences remain non-negotiable for property crimes. This stands in sharp contrast to adultery, where no mitigating circumstance is even considered; the very act carries an indelible mark. The "sevenfold" restitution may also link to concepts of perfection in judgment, implying a complete divine justice being executed even through human legal systems, ensuring full restoration and punitive consequences. This underscores the Old Testament emphasis on just compensation and punitive measures that exceed simple replacement, aiming to prevent recurrence and highlight the gravity of violating others' property rights, while maintaining a clear distinction from the even more heinous sin of adultery.

Proverbs 6 31 Commentary

Proverbs 6:31 delivers a pivotal point within the broader discourse on wisdom and folly, particularly concerning illicit desires. The verse specifically contrasts the consequences of a property crime (theft) with those of an interpersonal/spiritual transgression (adultery), which is the primary focus of Proverbs 6:20-35.

A thief, if caught, faces severe, even catastrophic, financial penalties, quantified here as "sevenfold" restitution, meaning total forfeiture of all his possessions, reducing him to poverty. This heavy fine ensures the victim is fully compensated, and the thief experiences significant punitive loss. While seemingly extreme, this penalty is tangible and definable; it deals with material loss. The Law of Moses often prescribed restitution of double, fourfold, or even fivefold, making "sevenfold" a likely hyperbole for the most extreme possible repayment, indicating utter financial destruction rather than a precise multiple. It shows that material possessions, while important, are ultimately repayable.

However, the surrounding verses highlight the irreparable nature of adultery. Adultery, unlike theft, inflicts damage that cannot be repaid with money. It involves betraying trust, destroying a family's foundation, incurring lasting shame, potential violence, and ultimately spiritual death. The adulterer has "no understanding," and his "wound and dishonor shall not be wiped away" (Prov 6:32-33). Thus, the wisdom lesson is clear: while theft is serious and demands complete restitution, its consequences, being material, are measurable and payable. The devastation wrought by adultery, however, is existential, non-negotiable, and has consequences beyond human remedy, even leading to forfeiture of life under the Mosaic Law (Lev 20:10). The point is to underscore the hierarchy of offenses from God's perspective: an offense against property is gravely serious, but an offense against the sacred covenant of marriage is infinitely more destructive and damnable, without hope of earthly restitution.