Lexical Summary porneuó: To commit fornication, to engage in sexual immorality Original Word: πορνεύω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance commit fornication. From porne; to act the harlot, i.e. (literally) indulge unlawful lust (of either sex), or (figuratively) practise idolatry -- commit (fornication). see GREEK porne HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 4203 porneúō – commit fornication (sexual immorality); (figuratively) to be unfaithful to Christ, while posing as His true follower. See 4202 (porneia). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom porné Definition to commit fornication NASB Translation act immorally (1), commit...immorality (2), committed...immorality (3), did (1), immoral (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4203: πορνεύωπορνεύω; 1 aorist ἐπόρνευσα; (πόρνος, πόρνη which see); the Sept. for זָנָה; in Greek writings ((Herodotus), Demosthenes, Aeschines, Dio Cassius, Lucian, others) 1. to prostitute one's body to the lust of another. In the Scriptures 2. to give oneself to unlawful sexual intercourse; to commit fornication (Vulg.fornicor): 1 Corinthians 6:18; 1 Corinthians 10:8; Revelation 2:14, 20; (Mark 10:19 WH (rejected) marginal reading). 3. by a Hebraism (see πορνεία, b.) metaphorically, to be given to idolatry, to worship idols: 1 Chronicles 5:25; Psalm 72:27 The eight New Testament occurrences of Strong’s 4203 form a concise yet weighty witness to God’s unwavering demand for purity. Each setting portrays sexual immorality as rebellion against His covenant purposes for the body and, by extension, against His lordship over every sphere of life. The term is applied both literally—warning individual believers—and figuratively—exposing collective, idolatrous infidelity. The consistent message is that unrepentant impurity invites swift judgment, whereas holiness safeguards fellowship with the Lord. Occurrences and Immediate Contexts • 1 Corinthians 6:18 locates sexual sin within the realm of personal sanctification: “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body”. Paul argues from creation and redemption, reminding the Corinthian church that believers’ bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. • 1 Corinthians 10:8, twice employing the verb, connects the sin to Israel’s wilderness failure: “We should not commit sexual immorality as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died”. The warning intertwines lust, idolatry, and divine discipline, underscoring that the new-covenant people are not exempt from comparable consequences. • Revelation 2:14 and 2:20 indict congregations that tolerate corrupt teaching: Balaam and “that woman Jezebel” entice servants of Christ “to commit sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols”. Moral compromise within the church is portrayed as a satanic strategy designed to erode witness and invite judgment. • Revelation 17:2; 18:3; 18:9 extend the imagery to international proportions. Earth’s rulers “committed sexual immorality” with the apocalyptic Babylon, becoming drunk on the wine of her passion. The term depicts political, economic, and religious alliances that oppose God’s kingdom under the guise of sensual luxury. Connection with Idolatry Scripture frequently pairs sexual impurity with idol worship, revealing a theological rather than merely ethical concern. The body, created for the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:13), becomes the battleground where allegiance is tested. Whether ancient Israel at Baal-Peor or end-time nations seduced by Babylon, unfaithfulness in the flesh mirrors abandonment of covenant love in the spirit. Thus the prophets’ charge of “whoring after other gods” finds its New Testament counterpart in this verb’s figurative usage. Ethical Mandate for the Church 1 Corinthians 6 and 10 expose two fronts of the struggle: 1. Personal holiness—Believers must “flee,” not negotiate, because sexual sin uniquely desecrates the very sanctuary God indwells. Pastoral and Discipleship Implications • Teach the positive vision of marriage as a covenant reflection of Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:25-32). Eschatological Warnings Revelation’s use signals that impurity is not merely a private vice but a geopolitical force opposed to God’s reign. The fall of Babylon demonstrates that systems built on exploitation and sensuality will be overthrown. Kings who “committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her” (Revelation 18:9) will mourn but find no relief. The church must therefore remain distinct, anticipating the marriage supper of the Lamb by living chaste before Him now. Historical and Cultural Background In the Greco-Roman world, temple prostitution, public festivals, and household slavery normalized sexual excess. Converts carried these habits into the fledgling congregations, necessitating apostolic correction. Likewise, Asia Minor’s trade guilds mixed idolatrous feasts with immorality, explaining the pressure faced by believers in Pergamum and Thyatira. Understanding this backdrop highlights the radical nature of the apostolic call to holiness. Concluding Perspective Strong’s 4203 exposes the stark line Scripture draws between covenant fidelity and the seductive powers of a fallen world. Whether addressing the individual body, the local church, or global empires, the Spirit’s testimony is uniform: sexual immorality is incompatible with life in Christ. The cross both cleanses the repentant and empowers the obedient, enabling the people of God to embody the purity that will characterize the eternal kingdom. Englishman's Concordance 1 Corinthians 6:18 V-PPA-NMSGRK: ὁ δὲ πορνεύων εἰς τὸ NAS: the body, but the immoral man sins KJV: but he that committeth fornication sinneth INT: he who however commits sexual immorality against the 1 Corinthians 10:8 V-PSA-1P 1 Corinthians 10:8 V-AIA-3P Revelation 2:14 V-ANA Revelation 2:20 V-ANA Revelation 17:2 V-AIA-3P Revelation 18:3 V-AIA-3P Revelation 18:9 V-APA-NMP Strong's Greek 4203 |
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