Lexical Summary moicheia: Adultery Original Word: μοιχεία Strong's Exhaustive Concordance adultery. From moicheuo; adultery -- adultery. see GREEK moicheuo NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom moicheuó Definition adultery NASB Translation adulteries (2), adultery (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3430: μοιχείαμοιχεία, μοιχειας, ἡ (μοιχεύω), adultery: John 8:3; Galatians 5:19 Rec.; plural (Winers Grammar, § 27, 3; Buttmann, § 123, 2): Matthew 15:19; Mark 7:21. (Jeremiah 13:27; Hosea 2:2; Hosea 4:2; (Andocides ( Topical Lexicon Overview The noun μοιχεία (Strong’s Greek 3430) designates the act of adultery—violation of the marriage covenant by sexual union with someone other than one’s spouse. Scripture consistently presents it as a grave sin against God, one’s spouse, and the covenant community. Because marriage is patterned after God’s own covenant faithfulness, adultery represents both moral and spiritual treachery. Occurrences in the New Testament 1. Matthew 15:19 – Jesus lists adultery among the heart-sins that defile: “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander”. Old Testament Foundations Adultery is prohibited in the Decalogue: “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14). The Mosaic Law demanded severe penalties, even death (Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22). Proverbs warns, “Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself” (Proverbs 6:32). The prophets employ the language of adultery to describe Israel’s covenant unfaithfulness, underscoring its spiritual dimension (Jeremiah 3:8-9; Hosea 2:2-5). Historical and Cultural Context In Second-Temple Judaism, adultery remained punishable by stoning, though Roman rule often limited capital sentences. Rabbinic teaching distinguished between adultery (relations with a married woman) and fornication (with an unmarried woman), but both were condemned. Greco-Roman society generally displayed looser sexual morals, so the New Testament church confronted both Jewish rigor and Gentile laxity. Jesus’ Teaching on Adultery Jesus intensifies the commandment, exposing the heart-level origin of the sin: “Anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28). He upholds marital permanence (Matthew 19:3-9) and refuses to trivialize divorce, recognizing that easy divorce fosters adulterous unions. In John 8 Jesus neither condones adultery nor sanctions lawless punishment; instead He offers grace that calls the sinner to “sin no more” (John 8:11). Apostolic Instruction Paul names adultery as a barrier to inheriting the kingdom (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21) and exhorts believers to honor marriage: “Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers” (Hebrews 13:4). James applies the term metaphorically to believers who court worldliness: “You adulterous people, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?” (James 4:4), revealing the covenant dimension underlying the physical act. Theological Significance 1. Covenant Faithfulness: Adultery violates the one-flesh union established by God (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5-6) and thus undermines the covenantal picture of Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:31-32). Pastoral and Ministry Applications • Upholding Marriage: Churches must teach marital fidelity, provide premarital counseling, and cultivate accountability structures. Redemptive Hope Though adultery shatters trust and incurs guilt, Scripture offers hope through the gospel. David’s repentance after his sin with Bathsheba (Psalm 51) and Christ’s treatment of the adulterous woman demonstrate that God’s grace can cleanse the deepest stains. The church’s task is to proclaim that through Christ, adulterers can become faithful spouses, and unfaithful sinners can become the pure bride of the Lamb. Forms and Transliterations μοιχεια μοιχεία μοιχείᾳ μοιχειαι μοιχείαι μοιχεῖαι μοιχείαν moicheia moicheiai moicheíāi moicheîaiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 15:19 N-NFPGRK: πονηροί φόνοι μοιχεῖαι πορνεῖαι κλοπαί NAS: murders, adulteries, fornications, KJV: murders, adulteries, fornications, INT: evil murders adulteries sexual immorality thefts Mark 7:21 N-NFP John 8:3 N-DFS Strong's Greek 3430 |
    |