In biblical terms, an extortioner is one who unlawfully obtains money, goods, or favors through coercion, threats, or manipulation. The practice of extortion is condemned throughout Scripture as it violates the principles of justice, righteousness, and love that are central to God's law.

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament frequently addresses the issue of extortion, often in the context of social justice and the treatment of the poor and vulnerable. The Hebrew word often translated as "extortion" is "עשק" (osheq), which can also mean oppression or unjust gain. In Ezekiel 22:12, the prophet condemns the leaders of Israel for their corrupt practices: "In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take interest and profit and gain from your neighbors by extortion. And you have forgotten Me, declares the Lord GOD."

The Mosaic Law explicitly forbids such practices, emphasizing fair treatment and honesty. Leviticus 19:13 states, "You must not defraud your neighbor or rob him. The wages due a hired hand must not remain with you until morning." This command underscores the importance of integrity and fairness in dealings with others.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, extortion is similarly condemned as a sin that is incompatible with the life of a believer. The Greek word "ἅρπαξ" (harpax) is used to describe extortioners, often in lists of sinful behaviors. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Paul warns the Corinthian church: "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."

Jesus Himself speaks against extortion in His teachings. In Luke 18:11, the Pharisee in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector boasts, "God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector." Here, extortion is equated with other grievous sins, highlighting its severity.

Moral and Ethical Implications

The Bible's condemnation of extortion is rooted in the broader biblical principles of justice, mercy, and humility. Extortion is seen as a violation of the command to love one's neighbor as oneself (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39). It reflects a heart that is greedy and self-serving, rather than one that seeks the welfare of others.

The prophets often called out the leaders of Israel for their extortionate practices, which led to societal decay and divine judgment. Isaiah 10:1-2 warns, "Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of fair treatment and withhold justice from the oppressed of My people, to make widows their prey and rob the fatherless."

Practical Application

For Christians, the call to avoid extortion extends beyond refraining from overt acts of coercion. It involves cultivating a heart of generosity, fairness, and integrity in all dealings. Believers are encouraged to reflect the character of Christ, who came not to be served but to serve (Mark 10:45). This includes being honest in business, fair in judgment, and compassionate towards those in need.

The biblical teaching on extortion challenges Christians to examine their own lives for any form of manipulation or unjust gain and to repent where necessary. It also calls the church to advocate for justice and righteousness in society, standing against systems and practices that exploit the vulnerable.(n.) One who practices extortion.727. harpax -- rapacious
... of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: harpax Phonetic Spelling: (har'-pax) Short
Definition: rapacious, ravenous, a robber, an extortioner Definition: rapacious ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/727.htm - 6k4671a. mets -- squeezer, extortioner
... 4671, 4671a. mets. 4671b . squeezer, extortioner. Transliteration: mets
Short Definition: extortioner. Word Origin from an unused ...
/hebrew/4671a.htm - 5k

4160. muts -- extortioner
... 4159, 4160. muts. 4161 . extortioner. Transliteration: muts Phonetic Spelling:
(moots) Short Definition: extortioner. Word Origin see mets. extortioner ...
/hebrew/4160.htm - 5k

6216. ashoq -- oppressor, extortioner
... 6215, 6216. ashoq. 6217 . oppressor, extortioner. Transliteration: ashoq
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-shoke') Short Definition: oppressor. ...
/hebrew/6216.htm - 6k

4671. mots -- squeezer, extortioner
... 4670, 4671. mots. 4671a . squeezer, extortioner. Transliteration: mots
Phonetic Spelling: (motes) Short Definition: chaff. chaff ...
/hebrew/4671.htm - 5k

5383. nashah -- to lend, become a creditor
... make (1), make the loan (1). creditor, exact, extortioner, lend, usurer,
lend on taker on usury. A primitive root (rather identical ...
/hebrew/5383.htm - 6k

In what Sense we are to Leave the World
... 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; with such ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 81 in what sense.htm

Antichrist in Isaiah
... outcasts, outcasts from Palestine: "Let Mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be
thou a covert to them from the face of the Spoiler: for the Extortioner is at ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/1 antichrist in isaiah.htm

1 Cor. v. 11-Sep
... not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous,
or an idolater, or a drunkard, or a reviler, or an extortioner; with such ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xvi 1 cor v.htm

The Pharisee and Publican
... in himself that he was righteous, merely because he had to trust in himself that
he was righteous, merely because he was not an extortioner, unjust, adulterer ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/the pharisee and publican.htm

Predestination and Calling
... Christ is entering into Jericho to preach. There is a publican living in
it, who is a hard, griping, grasping, miserly extortioner. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/predestination and calling.htm

Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
... of all that I possess." His righteousness therefore consisted of three parts: First,
saith he, "I am not as other men are;" I am not an extortioner, not unjust ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 25 upon our lords.htm

David's Anger
... The traitor, the tyrant, the ravisher, the robber, the extortioner, are not objects
of pity, but of punishment; and it may have been very good for David to be ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/david/sermon iii davids anger.htm

A Discourse of Mercifulness
... his prayer become sin; let his children be fatherless and his wife a widow; let
his children be continually vagabonds and beg; let the extortioner catch all ...
/.../15 a discourse of mercifulness.htm

The Contrast.
... What was the rich man's sin? We are not told that he had committed any crime.
He is not described as an extortioner or unjust. There ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon xxxvi the contrast.htm

The Spoiler
... The Spoiler. "Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them
from the face of the Spoiler: for the Extortioner is at an end, the Spoiler ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/16 the spoiler.htm

Extortioner (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Extortioner (3 Occurrences). ... Psalms 109:11 Let the extortioner
catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour. ...
/e/extortioner.htm - 7k

Extortion (14 Occurrences)
... particular word occurs twice in King James Version: Ezekiel 22:12 (`osheq), and
Matthew 23:25 (harpage), and indicates that one who is an extortioner is guilty ...
/e/extortion.htm - 12k

Creditor (8 Occurrences)
... kred'-i-ter: (a) nosheh, participle of nashah: Exodus 22:24 (English translation:
25); 2 Kings 4:1 Isaiah 50:1; translated "extortioner," Psalm 109:11; "taker ...
/c/creditor.htm - 11k

Vampire
... Hungary about the year 1730. 2. (n.) Fig.: One who lives by preying on others;
an extortioner; a bloodsucker. 3. (n.) Either one of ...
/v/vampire.htm - 7k

Oppressor (28 Occurrences)
... As for Moab, be a hiding place for him from the face of the destroyer. For
the extortioner is brought to nothing. Destruction ceases. ...
/o/oppressor.htm - 15k

Outcasts (13 Occurrences)
... As for Moab, be a hiding place for him from the face of the destroyer. For
the extortioner is brought to nothing. Destruction ceases. ...
/o/outcasts.htm - 10k

Lewd (37 Occurrences)
... to keep company, if any man that is called a brother is a lewd person, or covetous,
or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner: with such ...
/l/lewd.htm - 20k

Whoremonger (4 Occurrences)
... with 'him', if any one, being named a brother, may be a whoremonger, or covetous,
or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner -- with such a ...
/w/whoremonger.htm - 7k

Wrote (74 Occurrences)
... you not to associate with anyone who is called a brother who is a sexual sinner,
or covetous, or an idolater, or a slanderer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner. ...
/w/wrote.htm - 30k

Waster (7 Occurrences)
... the waster. For the extortioner is at an end, the wasting hath ceased,
the oppressors are consumed out of the land. (DBY). Isaiah ...
/w/waster.htm - 8k

Extortioner: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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