What is the meaning of the word translated as "steal" in the commandment "thou shalt not steal"? (Exodus 20:15)

Click to join the conversation with over 500,000 Pentecostal believers and scholars

Click to get our FREE MOBILE APP and stay connected

This question is prompted by a question in which "software piracy" and copyright issues come up. (See: What’s Christians take on pirating authors books, software, movies etc?)

Some suppose that the commandment refers to stealing as defined in UK law, that is taking something with the intent of permanently depriving the owner of something. Others suppose that it refers simply to taking something that does not belong to one, even if it does not permanently deprive the owner of it.

This is something that has come up in relation to the question, but not the main point, so it would not be appropriate, I think, to migrate the question.

Can Biblical Hermeneutics shed any light on the meaning of steal in the commandments?