Dictionary of Bible Themes: 6242 adultery

6242 adultery

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 6000 Sin and salvation » 6100 Aspects of sin » 6236 sexual sin » 6242 adultery

Sexual relations involving at least one partner who is married to someone else. Such relations break the marriage covenant and are condemned in Scripture. Jesus Christ extended the understanding of adultery to include inner lust.

Adultery is condemned by God

God's law forbids it

Exodus 20:14 pp Deuteronomy 5:18 See also Leviticus 18:20; Matthew 19:18 pp Mark 10:19 pp Luke 18:20; James 2:11

It is listed with other evil practices

Psalm 50:18; Jeremiah 7:9-10; Hosea 4:1-2; Luke 18:11; 1 Timothy 1:9-10

The lure of adultery

It begins with lust

Proverbs 6:25; Matthew 5:27-28 See also 2 Samuel 11:2-3; Job 31:1,9; Jeremiah 5:8; Matthew 15:19

It is seductive

Proverbs 7:14-21 See also Proverbs 5:3,20

It is secretive

Job 24:15; Proverbs 7:8-10; Proverbs 30:20

It is a snare to the unwary

Proverbs 7:7; Proverbs 22:14; Ecclesiastes 7:26

It is resisted by the wise

Proverbs 2:16 See also Genesis 39:7-12; Proverbs 7:4-5

Adultery breaks the marriage covenant

Proverbs 2:17 See also Hosea 2:2; Malachi 2:14

The consequences of adultery

It destroys individuals and society

Proverbs 6:32-34 See also Proverbs 5:4-5,9-11; Proverbs 6:26-29; Proverbs 7:22-27; Job 31:11-12

It was punishable by death under OT law

Leviticus 20:10 See also Deuteronomy 22:22,23-24; John 8:4-5

Adulterers face God's judgment

Hebrews 13:4 See also 2 Samuel 12:11-12; Malachi 3:5; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Revelation 2:22

Remarriage after divorce may be adultery

Matthew 19:9 pp Mark 10:11 See also Matthew 5:32; Luke 16:18; Romans 7:3

Hypocrisy in relation to adultery

Romans 2:22 See also 2 Samuel 12:5-6; Hosea 4:14; John 8:7-9

Examples of adultery

2 Samuel 11:1-4 See also Jeremiah 5:7 the people of Jerusalem; Jeremiah 29:23 the exiles in Babylon; Hosea 3:1-3 Hosea's wife, Gomer; John 8:3 the woman caught in adultery; 2 Peter 2:14 false teachers in the church

Children born of adultery

Isaiah 57:3 “offspring of adulterers” was a term of abuse. See also 2 Samuel 12:15-18 David and Bathsheba's child died when he was seven days old; Hosea 2:4-5; Hosea 5:7