λῃστ-ής G3027
Robber, bandit, brigand; one who seizes property through violence, distinct from a mere thief.
Refers to a violent plunderer—someone who takes by force, ambush, or armed intimidation, as opposed to the kleptēs who steals by stealth. Classical Greek applied the word to pirates and irregular combatants; the New Testament retains this connotation of brazen, open aggression. Jesus quotes Jeremiah when he accuses the temple merchants of turning God's house into a 'den of robbers' (Matt 21:13; Mark 11:17). The two men crucified alongside Jesus are called lēstai (Matt 27:38), possibly indicating insurrectionists. The parable of the Good Samaritan pivots on a man who fell among lēstai on the Jericho road (Luke 10:30). Spanish 'ladrones' and French 'brigand' both capture the violent dimension.
Senses
1. robber, bandit — A robber or brigand who takes property through violence or armed intimidation, sharply distinguished from the kleptēs (petty thief) who operates by stealth. Jesus applies this word to the corrupt temple economy—'you have made it a den of robbers' (Matt 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46). The two crucified alongside Christ are called lēstai (Matt 27:38, 44), likely carrying overtones of insurrection. The victim in the Good Samaritan parable 'fell among robbers' (Luke 10:30). Spanish 'ladrones' and German 'Räuber' both foreground the violent, forcible character of the act. 15×
AR["اللِّصَانِ", "اللّصوصِ", "لُصوص", "لُصوصٍ", "لُصُوصٍ", "لِصوصٍ", "لِصًّا", "لِصٍّ", "لِصَّانِ", "لِصَّيْنِ", "لِصّ", "لِلصّوصِ"]·ben["ডাকাত", "ডাকাত।", "ডাকাতকে", "ডাকাতদের", "ডাকাতের", "ডাকাতেরা", "দস্যুদের", "দস্যুদের-মধ্যে"]·DE["Raeuber", "Räuber"]·EN["a-robber", "among-robbers", "of-robbers", "robbers"]·FR["brigand"]·heb["לְלִסְטִים", "לִסְטִים", "שׁוֹדְדִים", "שׁוֹדֵד"]·HI["डाकुओं", "डाकुओं-का", "डाकुओं-की", "डाकुओं-को", "डाकुओं-में", "डाकुओं-से", "डाकू", "डाकू-के-विरुद्ध", "डाकू।"]·ID["pemberontak", "penyamun", "perampok"]·IT["brigante"]·jav["begal", "begal-begal", "begal.", "bégal", "bégal,", "bégal.", "rampog.", "rampog;"]·KO["강도", "강도들-도", "강도들-의", "강도들-이", "강도들에게", "강도들을", "강도들의", "강도들이다", "강도를", "강도에게", "강도이다"]·PT["de-ladrões", "de-ladrões.", "ladrão", "ladrões", "salteador", "salteadores"]·RU["разбойник.", "разбойника", "разбойникам", "разбойники", "разбойники;", "разбойников", "разбойников.", "разбойником."]·ES["con-ladrones", "de-ladrones", "ladrones", "ladrón", "salteador", "salteadores", "un-salteador"]·SW["Na", "la-wanyangʼanyi", "la-wezi", "mnyang'anyi", "mnyangʼanyi", "mnyang’anyi", "wanyang'anyi", "wanyang’anyi", "wawili", "za-wanyang'anyi,"]·TR["hayduda", "haydut", "haydutlar", "haydutların", "soyguncuların"]·urd["ڈاکو", "ڈاکو-کے", "ڈاکوؤں", "ڈاکوؤں-میں", "ڈاکوؤں-کا", "ڈاکوؤں-کی", "ڈاکوؤں-کے", "ڈاکُو", "ڈاکُو-کے", "ڈاکُووں-نے"]
Matt 21:13, Matt 26:55, Matt 27:38, Matt 27:44, Mark 11:17, Mark 14:48, Mark 15:27, Luke 10:30, Luke 10:36, Luke 19:46, Luke 22:52, John 10:1 (+3 more)
Related Senses
H5414 1. give, bestow (1855×)H3947 1. take, seize, grasp (Qal) (940×)G2192 1. possess / have (680×)G1325 1. give, bestow (336×)H5159 1. inherited land or property (170×)G2983 1. receive, obtain (134×)H3423 1. Qal: take possession of land (130×)G2983 2. take, take up (113×)G2398 1. one's own, belonging to oneself (91×)G3860 1. hand over, deliver to custody (78×)H7998 1. spoil, plunder, booty (74×)G1325 2. be given, be granted (70×)H5414 2. put, place, set (68×)H7999a 1. pay, repay, recompense (63×)H7069 1. Buy, purchase (59×)H1892 1. vanity, futility, absurdity (58×)H5159 2. heritage as covenant portion (52×)H6299 1. redeem or ransom (Qal active) (49×)H4376 1. Sell (Qal active) (47×)H1350a 1. Redeem, buy back (46×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
λῃστ-ής, οῦ, ὁ, Ionic dialect ληϊστής, Doric dialect λᾳστής, (ληΐς, ληΐζομαι) robber, pirate, Refs 5th c.BC+; opposed to κλέπτης, Refs 5th c.BC+; especially by sea, buccaneer, later πειρατής, Refs 5th c.BC+; ληϊστὴς κατεστήκεε Καρχηδονίων he began a course of piracies upon them, Refs 5th c.BC+; of irregular troops, Refs __II metaphorically, λ. ἐναργὴς τῆς ἐμῆς τυραννίδος Refs 5th c.BC+; λῃστὰ λογισμοῦ, of love, Refs 1st c.AD+