All verses are quoted from the NASB anything in [square brackets] is added by me for clarity. Strong's numbers are preceded by a #hash.

Here is the 8th commandment

"You shall not steal [#1598]." Exodus 20:15 / Deuteronomy 5:19

This commandment means not taking things that you are not authorised to take.

"He who kidnaps [#1598] a man, whether he sells him or he is found in his possession, shall surely be put to death." Exodus 21:16

Thus the commandment includes not stealing people (kidnapping). Notice that the penalty for stealing a person is death.

"If a man steals [#1598] an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for the ox and four sheep for the sheep." Exodus 22:1

Here we see that stealing animals, gets a lesser sentence than stealing a person. This is because humans are more valuable than animals.

"In this manner Absalom dealt with all Israel who came to the king for judgment; so Absalom stole [#1598] away the hearts of the men of Israel." 2 Samuel 15:6

Stealing is not confined to the literal removing of objects. Here Absalom lies to the people about his father David. In this manner the people came to love Absalom more than David. He did not literally remove their hearts! Therefore something can be stolen without the owner losing anything. This is true because the law is spiritual.

"Men do not despise a thief if he steals [#1598] To satisfy himself when he is hungry; But when he is found, he must repay sevenfold; He must give all the substance of his house." Proverbs 6:30-31

People may sympathize with a thief in certain circumstances, however it is always wrong. This means that a person is not justified by his motives.

"Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, That I not be full and deny You and say, `Who is the LORD?' Or that I not be in want and steal [#1598], And profane the name of my God." Proverbs 30:8 & 9

Agur the son of Jakeh prays to God asking God that he might not be poor, lest he steal (sin).

" `Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,' declares the LORD, `who steal [#1598] My words from each other.' " Jeremiah 23:30

Yet again we see that it is not merely physical / tangible object that can be stolen. Here God talks about the false prophets who are stealing God's words, by lying and claiming that they have the "word of the LORD" when God has not given them such a word.

"He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need." Ephesians 4:28

This is what our attitude towards stealing should be. This includes piracy. When one pirates software, music, movies or whatever they are taking what they do not have the right to take - which is stealing!

"For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all." James 2:10

So finally I just want to see how when one breaks the 8th commandment, one becomes guilty of breaking all the 10 commandments. With this one cavaet.

The 10 commandments and Stealing