Extortioner
Extortioner
There are several words in the Bible translated into a from of the word extort which has to do with obtaining something of value through through the use or threat of force.[1] It does not mean rob like a thief but more extract from others through some form of coercion with a rapacious, aggressively greedy or grasping, appetite.
This could be applied to the rulers warned about in 1 Samuel 8, who would take, and take, and take once the people were snared by their own appetite for the dainties of those rulers and sloth that leads to tribute.
In the New Testament we see harpax[2] is the basic word for "an extortioner". But there is also the word that the Greek word harpax is derived from which is harpazo[3] meaning "to seize, carry off by force". The Greek noun harpagmos[4] meaning "the act of seizing" is also from harpazo.
The Greek word that harpazo is akin to the Greek verb haireomai[5] which is defined "to take for oneself" or even to "choose by vote".
Harpax 727
Harpax[2] is translated "ravening" and "extortioner" and appears only five times in the original text.[6]
Harpazo 726
Harpazo[3] appears at least 13 times in the scriptures.[7]
Haireomai 138
Haireomai probably akin to 142 airowhich is a verb to raise up, elevate, lift up but translated 3 times[8] as choose and defined to take for oneself or to choose by vote by way of preference.
Lestes 3027
Lestes is translated as both thief and robber at least 15 times.[9]
Harpagmos is not linguistically connected to the Greek terms listeía (robbery) and lestes, which is from leizomai, was a "certain kind of robbery".[10]
Harpagmos 725
Harpagmos appears only once as a noun meaning no just robbery but "the act of seizing,... booty" that is seize and plundered without right.
Philippians 2:6 "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery <725> to be equal with God:"
Kleptes 2812
Harpagmos seems to redundantly appears with kleptes[11] in John which shows us that both Harpagmos and kleptes mean something more than thief or robbery.
- John 10:1 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief<2812> and a robber <3027>."
- ↑ Extort, the practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 727 ~ἅρπαξ~ harpax \@har’-pax\@ from 726 "to seize, carry off by force"; ; adj AV-extortioner 4, ravening 1; 5
- 1) rapacious, ravenous
- 2) an extortioner, a robber
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 726 ~ἁρπάζω~ harpazo \@har-pad’-zo\@ from a derivative of 138 haireomai to choose by vote, elect to office; TDNT-1:472,80; {See TDNT 98} v AV-catch up 4, take by force 3, catch away 2, pluck 2, catch 1, pull 1; 13
- 1) to seize, carry off by force
- 2) to seize on, claim for one’s self eagerly
- 3) to snatch out or away
- See Extortioner
- ↑ 725 ἁρπαγμός harpagmos [har-pag-mos’] from 726 harpazo v. to seize,; n m; TDNT-1:473,80; [{See TDNT 98 }] AV-robbery 1; 1
- 1) the act of seizing, robbery
- 2) a thing seized or to be seized
- 2a) booty to deem anything a prize
- 2b) a thing to be seized upon or to be held fast, retained
- See Extortioner
- ↑ 138 ~αἱρέομαι~ haireomai \@hahee-reh’-om-ahee\@ probably akin to 142; TDNT-1:180,27; {See TDNT 34} v AV-choose 3; 3
- 1) to take for oneself, to prefer, choose
- 2) to choose by vote, elect to office
- See Extortioner
- ↑ Harpazo an extortioner
- Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening <727> wolves.
- Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners <727>, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
- 1 Corinthians 5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners <727>, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
- 1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner <727>; with such an one no not to eat.
- 1 Corinthians 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners <727>, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
- ↑ Harpazo seize to carry off by force
- Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take <726> it by force <726>.
- Matthew 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth [it] not, then cometh the wicked [one], and catcheth away <726> that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
- John 6:15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take <726> him by force <726>, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
- John 10:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth <726> them, and scattereth the sheep.
- John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall <726> any [man] pluck <726> them out of my hand.
- John 10:29 My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck <726> [them] out of my Father’s hand.
- Acts 8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away <726> Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
- Acts 23:10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take <726> him by force <726> from among them, and to bring [him] into the castle.
- 2 Corinthians 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up <726> to the third heaven.
- 2 Corinthians 12:4 How that he was caught up <726> into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up <726> together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
- Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling <726> [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
- Revelation 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up <726> unto God, and [to] his throne.
- ↑ Haireomai choose by vote
- Philippians 1:22 But if I live in the flesh, this [is] the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose <138> I wot not.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath <138> from the beginning chosen <138> you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
- Hebrews 11:25 Choosing <138> rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
- ↑ Lestes - thief and robber
- Matthew 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves <3027>.
- Matthew 26:55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief <3027> with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.
- Matthew 27:38 Then were there two thieves <3027> crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
- Matthew 27:44 The thieves <3027> also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
- Mark 11:17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves <3027>.
- Mark 14:48 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief <3027>, with swords and [with] staves to take me?
- Mark 15:27 And with him they crucify two thieves <3027>; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.
- Luke 10:30 And Jesus answering said, A certain [man] went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves <3027>, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded [him], and departed, leaving [him] half dead.
- Luke 10:36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves <3027>?
- Luke 19:46 Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves <3027>.
- Luke 22:52 Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief <3027>, with swords and staves?
- John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber <3027>.
- John 10:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers <3027>: but the sheep did not hear them.
- 2 Corinthians 11:26 [In] journeyings often, [in] perils of waters, [in] perils of robbers <3027>, [in] perils by [mine own] countrymen, [in] perils by the heathen, [in] perils in the city, [in] perils in the wilderness, [in] perils in the sea, [in] perils among false brethren;
- ↑ Today, lestes<3027> can be translated solution but at the time of the writing of the Bible it might be used to define a certain kind of robber. It is commonly translated robbery. But in Berean Standard Bible we see lestes translated as an insurrectionist. The New International Version translation produced the phrase "had taken part in an uprising" and the New American Standard Bible gives us "Now Barabbas was a rebel."
Even in the Christian Standard Bible and the Holman Christian Standard Bible and the New American Bible all produce the quote "Now Barabbas was a revolutionary." - ↑ 2812 ~κλέπτης~ kleptes \@klep’-tace\@ from 2813 klepto v. to steal; TDNT-3:754,441; {See TDNT 391} n m AV-thief 16; 16
- 1) an embezzler, pilferer
- 1a) the name is transferred to false teachers, who do not care to instruct men, but abuse their confidence for their own gain
- For Synonyms see entry 5856
- See Extortioner
- 1) an embezzler, pilferer