Thief.
1. (lestes) 'robber, bandit.' Used by the Lord in reference to those who bought and sold in the temple. Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46. In the parable of the Good Samaritan the traveller fell among robbers. Luke 10:30, Luke 1:10. When the Lord was arrested He asked if they had come out as against a robber. Matthew 26:55; Mark 14:48; Luke 22:52. The two malefactors crucified with the Lord were also men of this character. Matthew 27:38, Matthew 1:27; Mark 15:27. The same Greek word is translated 'robber' in the A.V. in John 10:1, John 1:10; John 18:40; 2 Corinthians 1:11.
2. kleptes, 'thief.' Those who break through and steal secretly. Matthew 6:19, Matthew 1:6. This is the word employed in the expression "as a thief in the night," to which the unexpected coming of the Lord to the world is compared. 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 1 Thessalonians 1:5; 2 Peter 1:3; Revelation 3:3; etc. It is applied to Judas. John 12:6. The word 'thief' in the A.V. is always this word except in the passages quoted under No. 1.