Literally “twisting out”; obtaining money, etc., by violence, threats or unreasonable demands.
Extortion condemned
Psalm 62:10 See also Ecclesiastes 7:7; Isaiah 10:1–2; Ezekiel 22:13; 1 Corinthians 6:9–10
Place no trust in extortion or false hope in stolen goods. If your riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.
Extortioners can be saved
What God requires from extortioners
Repentance
Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” “Collect no more than you are authorized,” he answered. Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” “Do not take money by force or false accusation,” he said. “Be content with your wages.”
Restitution
See also Leviticus 6:4–5; Luke 19:8
Curses upon those who are guilty of extortion
Jeremiah 22:17–19 See also Ezekiel 18:18, Ezekiel 22:12–14; Amos 5:11; Habakkuk 2:6
“But your eyes and heart are set on nothing except your own dishonest gain, on shedding innocent blood, on practicing extortion and oppression.” Therefore this is what the LORD says concerning Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: “They will not mourn for him: ‘Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!’ They will not mourn for him: ‘Alas, my master! Alas, his splendor!’ He will be buried like a donkey, dragged away and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem.
Blessings upon those who avoid extortion
He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity, who refuses gain from extortion, whose hand never takes a bribe, who stops his ears against murderous plots and shuts his eyes tightly against evil— he will dwell on the heights; the mountain fortress will be his refuge; his food will be provided and his water assured.
Examples of extortion
See also 1 Samuel 2:12–17 Eli's sons; 1 Samuel 8:11–18 the wicked king foretold by Samuel; 1 Samuel 13:19–21 the Philistines; Nehemiah 5:1–5 the Jews in Nehemiah's day; Ezekiel 22:29 Israel under the kings; Matthew 18:28 the servant in the parable; Matthew 23:25 the Pharisees; Luke 18:11 sinners in the eyes of the Pharisee; 1 Corinthians 5:9–11 some Christians before conversion
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.