Matthew 21:13
“My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”Read in Context
Modern Meaning
What Does “Den of thieves” Mean?
A place of corruption or dishonest dealings.
Biblical Origin
Where Does This Phrase Come From?
Jesus spoke these words as he overturned the tables of the money changers in the Temple, quoting Jeremiah 7:11. The dramatic scene — one of the few times Jesus is depicted in anger — cemented "den of thieves" as an English phrase for any corrupt institution.
The phrase appears in Matthew 21:13 in the King James Version of the Bible, first published in 1611.
Usage Today
How Is It Used Today?
Applied to corrupt organizations, overpriced businesses, or dishonest institutions. "That auto repair shop is a den of thieves."
The KJV Verse
Matthew 21:13
“My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”
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