The Hebrew verb גָּנַב (root: ג-נ-ב) means “to steal,” “to carry away secretly,” or “to deceive” in certain contexts. It is most often used in the context of theft—whether property, people (as in kidnapping), or abstractly in acts of stealth and trickery.
This verb appears primarily in the Qal binyan for basic theft and in the Pual (to be stolen). It is often found in legal texts, commandments, and narratives involving wrongdoing.
Qal Binyan Conjugation of גָּנַב (“to steal”)
Past (Perfect) Tense
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 1st person singular | גָּנַבְתִּי |
| 2nd person masculine singular | גָּנַבְתָּ |
| 2nd person feminine singular | גָּנַבְתְּ |
| 3rd person masculine singular | גָּנַב |
| 3rd person feminine singular | גָּנְבָה |
| 1st person plural | גָּנַבְנוּ |
| 2nd person masculine plural | גְּנַבְתֶּם |
| 2nd person feminine plural | גְּנַבְתֶּן |
| 3rd person plural | גָּנְבוּ |
Present (Participle) Tense
| Gender/Number | Form |
|---|---|
| Masculine singular | גּוֹנֵב |
| Feminine singular | גּוֹנֶבֶת |
| Masculine plural | גּוֹנְבִים |
| Feminine plural | גּוֹנְבוֹת |
Future (Imperfect) Tense
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 1st person singular | אֶגְנֹב |
| 2nd person masculine singular | תִּגְנֹב |
| 2nd person feminine singular | תִּגְנְבִי |
| 3rd person masculine singular | יִגְנֹב |
| 3rd person feminine singular | תִּגְנֹב |
| 1st person plural | נִגְנֹב |
| 2nd person masculine plural | תִּגְנְבוּ |
| 2nd person feminine plural | תִּגְנֹבְנָה |
| 3rd person plural | יִגְנְבוּ |
Imperative Mood
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 2nd person masculine singular | גְּנֹב |
| 2nd person feminine singular | גִּנְבִי |
| 2nd person masculine plural | גִּנְבוּ |
| 2nd person feminine plural | גְּנֹבְנָה |
Usage in Scripture
-
- Exodus 20:15 – לֹא תִּגְנֹב
“You shall not steal.” — one of the Ten Commandments.
- Exodus 20:15 – לֹא תִּגְנֹב
- Genesis 31:19 – וַתִּגְנֹב רָחֵל אֶת הַתְּרָפִים
“And Raḥel stole the teraphim (household idols).” - Genesis 40:15 – כִּי גֻנֹּב גֻנַּבְתִּי
“For indeed I was stolen away…” — Yosep speaking about his unjust abduction.
Summary
The verb גָּנַב is central to biblical ethics and law, denoting the illicit taking of what belongs to another. Its appearance in both narrative and legal texts underscores the seriousness of theft in biblical culture—whether material, personal (e.g., kidnapping), or symbolic. It serves as a key term in the development of justice, personal rights, and divine commandments in the Hebrew Bible.
