Word Studies¶
Question¶
What does the Bible say about the seventh commandment? Trace the vocabulary of adultery, fornication, and marriage from Hebrew to Greek.
Hebrew Terms¶
נָאַף (naaph) -- H5003¶
Original: נָאַף Transliteration: naaph Pronunciation: naw-af Part of Speech: Verb Definition: A primitive root meaning "to commit adultery"; figuratively, to apostatize.
Translations¶
| Translation | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| adulterers | 3 | 9.4% |
| committeth adultery | 2 | 6.2% |
| other forms of "adultery" | 27 | 84.4% |
Total occurrences: 31 (in 32 translation instances)
Key Verses¶
- Exo 20:14 -- לא תנאף -- "Thou shalt not commit adultery" (the commandment itself)
- Deu 5:18 -- ולא תנאף -- "Neither shalt thou commit adultery" (Deuteronomic parallel)
- Lev 20:10 -- 5 occurrences in one verse: "the man that committeth adultery...the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death"
- Jer 7:9 -- "Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery..."
- Hos 4:2 -- "By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery"
Semantic Range¶
- Literal: marital infidelity (man with another man's wife, or vice versa)
- Figurative: spiritual apostasy/idolatry (Israel "committing adultery" with other gods -- Jer 3:8-9; Ezk 16:32; 23:37; Hos 3:1)
- The Hebrew term is narrower than zanah (H2181) -- naaph specifically denotes violation of the marriage covenant
נִאֻף (niuph) -- H5004¶
Original: נִאֻף Transliteration: niuph Part of Speech: Masculine noun Definition: Adultery (noun form from H5003) Occurrences: 2 (Jer 13:27; Ezk 23:43)
זָנָה (zanah) -- H2181¶
Original: זָנָה Transliteration: zanah Pronunciation: zaw-naw Part of Speech: Verb Definition: To commit fornication, play the harlot; figuratively, to commit idolatry Occurrences: 93
Semantic Range¶
- Literal: prostitution/harlotry (Gen 34:31; 38:15,24; Lev 19:29; Deu 22:21)
- Figurative: idolatry as spiritual prostitution (Exo 34:15-16; Deu 31:16; Jdg 2:17; 8:27; the dominant use in prophetic literature)
- Broader than naaph -- covers all forms of sexual immorality, not just marital infidelity
- Used predominantly of female participants (93 occurrences, mostly of women or nations personified as women)
בָּגַד (bagad) -- H898¶
Original: בָּגַד Transliteration: bagad Pronunciation: baw-gad Part of Speech: Verb Definition: To deal treacherously, act unfaithfully Occurrences: 49
Key Verses for Marital Context¶
- Mal 2:14 -- "the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously (bagad)"
- Mal 2:15 -- "let none deal treacherously (bagad) against the wife of his youth"
- Mal 2:16 -- "that ye deal not treacherously (bagad)"
- Jer 3:8,11,20 -- Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness described as "treachery" (bagad)
Significance¶
The use of bagad in Mal 2:14-16 frames divorce as covenant treachery -- the same vocabulary used for political betrayal and treaty violation. This elevates the marriage bond to covenant status, not merely a social contract.
Greek Terms¶
μοιχεύω (moicheuo) -- G3431¶
Original: μοιχεύω Transliteration: moicheuo Part of Speech: Verb Definition: To commit adultery Occurrences: 14 (17 translation instances)
Key Verses¶
- Mat 5:27 -- μοιχεύσεις (Future Active Indicative 2S) -- "Thou shalt not commit adultery" (quoting LXX Exo 20:14)
- Mat 5:28 -- ἐμοίχευσεν (Aorist Active Indicative 3S) -- "hath committed adultery with her already in his heart"
- Rom 13:9 -- quoting the 7th commandment
- Jas 2:11 -- pairing the adultery and murder commandments
LXX Connection¶
G3431 translates H5003 (naaph) in the LXX, maintaining the specific marital infidelity meaning.
μοιχάω (moichao) -- G3429¶
Original: μοιχάω Transliteration: moichao Part of Speech: Verb (middle voice) Definition: To commit adultery (middle voice form) Occurrences: 6
Key Verses¶
- Mat 5:32 -- "causeth her to commit adultery...committeth adultery" (μοιχᾶται, Present M/P Ind 3S)
- Mat 19:9 -- "committeth adultery" (μοιχᾶται)
- Mrk 10:11-12 -- used for both husband and wife who divorce and remarry
Significance¶
Distinguished from G3431 in that G3429 appears specifically in divorce/remarriage contexts. The middle voice may suggest the subject is acting in self-interest (committing adultery "for oneself").
μοιχεία (moicheia) -- G3430¶
Original: μοιχεία Transliteration: moicheia Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: Adultery (noun form) Occurrences: 4 (Mat 15:19; Mrk 7:21; Jhn 8:3; Gal 5:19)
πορνεία (porneia) -- G4202¶
Original: πορνεία Transliteration: porneia Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: Harlotry, including adultery and incest; figuratively, idolatry Occurrences: 26
Translations in KJV¶
| Translation | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| fornication | 19 | 76% |
| fornications | 2 | 8% |
| from fornication | 2 | 8% |
| of/for fornication | 2 | 8% |
Key Verses¶
- Mat 5:32; 19:9 -- The "exception clause": "except it be for porneia"
- Acts 15:20,29 -- One of four prohibitions for Gentile believers
- 1 Cor 5:1 -- "such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles"
- 1 Cor 6:13,18 -- "the body is not for fornication" / "Flee fornication"
- 1 Th 4:3 -- "that ye should abstain from fornication"
- Rev 2:21; 9:21 -- Refusal to repent of porneia
Semantic Range¶
Porneia is BROADER than moicheia (adultery): - Includes all forms of illicit sexual activity - Encompasses adultery, pre-marital sex, prostitution, incest (1 Cor 5:1), and homosexual acts - The definition "harlotry (including adultery and incest)" shows its comprehensive scope - In Mat 19:9, the use of porneia (not moicheia) for the exception clause may indicate a broader ground than simple adultery
πόρνος (pornos) -- G4205¶
Original: πόρνος Transliteration: pornos Part of Speech: Masculine noun Definition: A male prostitute; by analogy, a debauchee/libertine; KJV: "whoremonger" or "fornicator" Occurrences: 10
Key Verses¶
- 1 Cor 5:9-11; 6:9 -- Listed among those excluded from the kingdom
- Eph 5:5 -- "no whoremonger...hath any inheritance in the kingdom"
- Heb 13:4 -- "whoremongers and adulterers God will judge"
- Rev 21:8 -- "whoremongers...shall have their part in the lake of fire"
- Rev 22:15 -- "without are...whoremongers"
κοίτη (koite) -- G2845¶
Original: κοίτη Transliteration: koite Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: A couch; by extension, cohabitation; by implication, the male sperm Occurrences: 4
Key Verses¶
- Heb 13:4 -- ἡ κοίτη ἀμίαντος -- "the bed undefiled" (marriage bed)
- Rom 13:13 -- "not in chambering (koite) and wantonness" (illicit sexual activity)
Significance¶
The same word (koite) describes both legitimate (Heb 13:4) and illegitimate (Rom 13:13) sexual activity. The context determines the moral valence. In Heb 13:4, the marriage bed is "undefiled" (ἀμίαντος) -- but outside marriage, koite becomes "chambering."
ἀποστάσιον (apostasion) -- G647¶
Original: ἀποστάσιον Transliteration: apostasion Part of Speech: Neuter noun Definition: Something separative; specifically, a certificate of divorce Occurrences: 3 (Mat 5:31; 19:7; Mrk 10:4)
OT Connection¶
Translates the Hebrew concept in Deu 24:1,3 (bill of divorcement). Used by the Pharisees in their question to Jesus about the Mosaic permission for divorce.
ἐπιθυμέω (epithumeo) -- G1937¶
Original: ἐπιθυμέω Transliteration: epithumeo Part of Speech: Verb Definition: To set the heart upon; to long for (rightfully or otherwise) Occurrences: 16
Key Verse¶
- Mat 5:28 -- πρὸς τὸ ἐπιθυμῆσαι (Aorist Active Infinitive) -- "for the purpose of lusting after"
- Also translates H2530 (chamad, "to desire/covet") in Exo 20:17 (10th commandment)
Semantic Range¶
NOT inherently negative: - Positive: Luk 22:15 ("With desire I have desired to eat this passover"); 1 Tim 3:1 ("desire the office of a bishop"); Heb 6:11; 1 Pet 1:12 - Negative: Mat 5:28 (lustful intent); Rom 7:7 (coveting); 1 Cor 10:6 (lusting after evil things); Gal 5:17 (flesh against Spirit) - Context determines meaning: in Mat 5:28, the purpose clause (πρός + articular infinitive) specifies the sinful intent
Word Family Connections¶
Hebrew-Greek Equivalencies¶
| Hebrew | Greek Equivalent | Connection |
|---|---|---|
| H5003 נאף (naaph) | G3431 μοιχεύω (moicheuo) | LXX directly translates naaph as moicheuo |
| H2181 זנה (zanah) | G4202 πορνεία (porneia) | Broader sexual immorality term |
| H898 בגד (bagad) | No direct NT equivalent | Mal 2:14-16's "treachery" concept conveyed by the marriage-permanence theology |
Narrow vs. Broad Terminology¶
- Narrow (adultery): H5003/G3431/G3429/G3430 -- specifically violation of the marriage covenant
- Broad (sexual immorality): H2181/G4202/G4203/G4205 -- any sexual sin outside God's design
- The 7th commandment uses the narrow term (naaph/moicheuo), but its application extends to the broad scope -- as demonstrated by:
- Lev 18 expanding to 12+ categories under "sexual ethics"
- Mat 5:28 extending to lustful intent
- 1 Cor 6:18-20 commanding flight from all porneia
- Heb 13:4 naming both pornos AND moichos under judgment