What does Exodus 20:15 mean?

Israel was freed from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 1:8–14; 12:40–41) and arrived at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:1–2). There, God gave the laws of His covenant with the people (Exodus 19:5–6; 20:1). The first of these are the famous Ten Commandments. Some regulate Israel's relationship to God (Exodus 20:2–11). The others cover relationships between people (Exodus 20:12–14, 16–17).

The Ten Commandments establish a foundation for the rest of the Mosaic law (2 Chronicles 5:10). All other rules and regulations are derived from these basic principles. Or, at least, this was God's intent. Jesus clarified this when He explained how anger (Matthew 5:21–22) and lust (Matthew 5:27–28) were sins even though they were not physical acts. "Stealing" literally refers to objects. But Scripture demonstrates that we "steal" from others anytime we selfishly deny them what should be theirs (Exodus 23:6; Proverbs 22:22; Isaiah 10:2; Ezekiel 22:29; Malachi 3:8). Fraud would be considered both lying and stealing (Leviticus 6:1–3; Deuteronomy 25:15; Job 24:2–4; James 5:4).

Some forms of theft, such as capturing men to be sold as slaves, were subject to the death penalty (Exodus 21:16)