5003. naaph
Lexical Summary
naaph: To commit adultery

Original Word: נָאַף
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: na'aph
Pronunciation: nah-af'
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-af')
KJV: adulterer(-ess), commit(-ing) adultery, woman that breaketh wedlock
NASB: commit adultery, adulterers, committed adultery, adulterer, adulteress, commits adultery, adulteresses
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to commit adultery
2. (figuratively) to apostatize

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
adultereress, committing adultery, woman that breaks wedlock

A primitive root; to commit adultery; figuratively, to apostatize -- adulterer(-ess), commit(-ing) adultery, woman that breaketh wedlock.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to commit adultery
NASB Translation
adulterer (3), adulterers (5), adulteress (3), adulteresses (2), adulteries (1), adulterous (1), adultery (1), commit adultery (6), commits adultery (3), committed adultery (5), committing of adultery (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[נאַף] verb commit adultery (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic נְאַף (rare)): —

Qal Imperfect3masculine singular יִנְאַף Leviticus 20:10 (twice in verse); 3masculine plural וַיִּנְאָ֑פוּ Jeremiah 5:7 3t. Imperfect; Infinitive absolute נָאוֺף Jeremiah 23:14; נָאֹף Hosea 4:2; Jeremiah 7:9; Participle נֹאֵף Proverbs 6:32; Job 24:15; feminine singular נֹאָ֑פֶת Leviticus 20:10; feminine plural נֹאֲפוֺת Ezekiel 16:38 2t.; —

1 literally commit adultery:

a. usually of man, always with wife of another; with accusative woman, Leviticus 20:10 (twice in verse) (H), Proverbs 6:32; elsewhere absolute Exodus 20:14 = Deuteronomy 5:17 (Ten Words), Jeremiah 5:7; Jeremiah 7:9; Jeremiah 23:14; Hosea 4:2; participle masculine Leviticus 20:10 (H), Job 24:15.

b. of women, only participle Leviticus 20:10 (H), Ezekiel 16:38; Ezekiel 23:45 (twice in verse).

2 figurative of idolatrous worship, את האבן ואת העץ Jeremiah 3:9.

Piel Perfect3feminine singular נִאֲפָה Jeremiah 3:8; 3masculine plural נִאֵ֑פוּ Ezekiel 23:37 (twice in verse); Imperfect3masculine plural יְנַאֲפוּ Jeremiah 29:23; 3feminine plural תְּנָאַפְנָה Hosea 4:13,14; Participle מְנָאֵף Isaiah 57:3; plural מְנָאֲפִים Jeremiah 9:1 4t.; feminine מְנָאָ֑פֶת Proverbs 30:20 2t.; —

1 literally commit adultery:

a. of man, with accusative woman, Jeremiah 29:23; absolute Ezekiel 23:37; pt plural Jeremiah 9:2; Jeremiah 23:10; Hosea 7:4; Malachi 3:5; Psalm 50:18.

b. of woman, absolute Hosea 4:13,14; participle Hosea 3:1; Proverbs 30:20; plural Ezekiel 16:32.

2 figurative of idolatrous worship, אֶתגִּֿלּוּלֵיהֶם Ezekiel 23:37; absolute Jeremiah 3:8, זֶאֶרַע מְנָאֵף Isaiah 57:3.

Topical Lexicon
Definition and Scope

The verb נָאַף (naʾaph) denotes the act of breaking the marriage covenant through sexual infidelity and, by extension, any breach of covenant faithfulness to the LORD. Its usage moves from literal marital unfaithfulness to the prophetic image of Israel’s spiritual treachery. Every occurrence presents adultery as a willful violation of a sacred bond that God Himself has established and guarded.

Canonical Distribution

Approximately thirty-one appearances span the Torah, Wisdom Literature, Prophets, and Writings. The verb anchors the seventh commandment (Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18) and reappears in Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, and Malachi. Its frequency in the prophets underlines Israel’s persistent covenant infidelity.

Moral and Covenant Context

The Decalogue’s prohibition positions adultery alongside murder and theft, identifying it as a foundational social and theological evil. By protecting the marriage covenant, the command protects the covenant community itself, for marriage images God’s committed relationship to His people. The LORD therefore treats adultery as treason against His created order.

Legal and Judicial Dimensions

While נָאַף itself does not describe punishment, the surrounding statutes reveal the gravity of the offense. Leviticus 20:10 mandates death for both participants, underscoring that betrayal of marital vows is rebellion against divine holiness. Such legal severity reflects God’s jealousy for purity and for safeguarding lineage, inheritance, and community stability.

Prophetic Condemnation and Spiritual Application

Jeremiah repeatedly employs נָאַף to indict Judah’s idolatry. “After she had seen all this, I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries” (Jeremiah 3:8). Here adultery becomes a metaphor for idolatry, with pagan worship pictured as illicit liaisons. Ezekiel 16 and 23 develop the metaphor in graphic detail, portraying Jerusalem and Samaria as wives who “committed adultery” (Ezekiel 23:37) with foreign gods and alliances. Hosea intensifies the image by marrying an adulterous wife, dramatizing Israel’s unfaithfulness (Hosea 4:13-14).

Wisdom Literature and Personal Ethics

Proverbs repeatedly warns of the personal ruin awaiting the adulterer. “He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself” (Proverbs 6:32). Adultery is portrayed not only as a social sin but as self-harm that incinerates reputation, finances, and life itself. The clandestine nature of the act—“The eye of the adulterer watches for twilight” (Job 24:15)—demonstrates its innate shame and the conscience’s testimony against it.

Theological Significance

Adultery violates three intertwined relationships: the union of husband and wife, the fabric of the covenant community, and fellowship with God. Because marriage mirrors God’s covenant love, the adulterer dishonors God’s character. Consequently, prophets link rampant adultery with drought, oppression, and exile (Jeremiah 23:10; Ezekiel 33:26), showing that private immorality produces corporate judgment.

Continuity into the New Covenant

Although נָאַף is Hebrew, its ethical weight carries into Greek terminology (μοιχεύω) and New Testament teaching. Jesus deepens the command: “Everyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). The apostle James likewise calls friendship with the world “adultery” (James 4:4), echoing the prophetic tradition.

Ministry Implications

1. Marriage Counseling and Teaching: Upholding fidelity is a gospel issue, reflecting Christ’s faithfulness to the Church (Ephesians 5:25-32).
2. Church Discipline: Persistent immoral behavior demands loving confrontation to maintain the purity of Christ’s body (1 Corinthians 5:11).
3. Evangelism: The imagery of spiritual adultery clarifies humanity’s need for reconciliation with a covenant-keeping God through the redeeming work of Jesus Christ.

Related Concepts

• מְנָאֵף (menāʾēph, “adulterer”) – the noun derived from 5003.
• זָנָה (zanah, “to commit fornication, play the harlot”) – broader sexual and idolatrous infidelity.
• Greek μοιχεία (moicheia) – adultery in Septuagint and New Testament usage.

Selected References

Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18; Job 24:15; Psalm 50:18; Proverbs 6:32; Proverbs 30:20; Isaiah 57:3; Jeremiah 3:8-9; Jeremiah 5:7; Jeremiah 7:9; Jeremiah 23:10, 23:14; Jeremiah 29:23; Ezekiel 16:32; Ezekiel 23:37, 23:44; Hosea 4:2, 4:13-14; Malachi 3:5.

Forms and Transliterations
הַמְּנָאָ֑פֶת הַנֹּאֵ֖ף המנאפת הנאף וְֽנָאֹ֔ף וְהַנֹּאָֽפֶת׃ וְנָאֹ֑ף וַיְנַֽאֲפוּ֙ וַיִּנְאָ֔פוּ וַתִּנְאַ֥ף וּבַמְנָ֣אֲפִ֔ים וּמְנָאָ֑פֶת ובמנאפים והנאפת׃ וינאפו ומנאפת ונאף ותנאף יִנְאַ֖ף יִנְאַף֙ ינאף מְנָ֣אֲפִ֔ים מְנָ֫אָ֥פֶת מְנָֽאֲפִים֙ מְנָאֲפִ֣ים מְנָאֵ֖ף מנאף מנאפים מנאפת נִֽאֲפָה֙ נִאֵ֑פוּ נִאֵ֗פוּ נָא֞וֹף נֹֽאֲפ֔וֹת נֹֽאֲפֹת֙ נֹאֲפ֔וֹת נֹאֵ֣ף נֹאֵ֨ף ׀ נאוף נאף נאפה נאפו נאפות נאפת תְּנָאַֽפְנָה׃ תְנָאַ֔פְנָה תִּֿנְאָֽ֑ף׃ תנאף׃ תנאפנה תנאפנה׃ ham·mə·nā·’ā·p̄eṯ hammənā’āp̄eṯ hammenaAfet han·nō·’êp̄ hannō’êp̄ hannoEf mə·nā·’ā·p̄eṯ mə·nā·’ă·p̄îm mə·nā·’êp̄ mənā’āp̄eṯ mənā’ăp̄îm mənā’êp̄ meNaAfet menaaFim menaEf nā’ōwp̄ nā·’ō·wp̄ naof ni’ăp̄āh ni’êp̄ū ni·’ă·p̄āh ni·’ê·p̄ū niaFah niEfu nō’ăp̄ōṯ nō’ăp̄ōwṯ nō’êp̄ nō·’ă·p̄ō·wṯ nō·’ă·p̄ōṯ nō·’êp̄ noaFot noEf tə·nā·’ap̄·nāh ṯə·nā·’ap̄·nāh tənā’ap̄nāh ṯənā’ap̄nāh tenaAfnah tnə’āp̄ tnə·’āp̄ tneAf ū·ḇam·nā·’ă·p̄îm ū·mə·nā·’ā·p̄eṯ ūḇamnā’ăp̄îm ūmənā’āp̄eṯ umenaAfet uvamNaaFim vaiyinAfu vattinAf vaynaaFu vehannoAfet venaOf wat·tin·’ap̄ wattin’ap̄ way·na·’ă·p̄ū way·yin·’ā·p̄ū wayna’ăp̄ū wayyin’āp̄ū wə·han·nō·’ā·p̄eṯ wə·nā·’ōp̄ wəhannō’āp̄eṯ wənā’ōp̄ yin’ap̄ yin·’ap̄ yinAf
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Englishman's Concordance
Exodus 20:14
HEB: לֹ֣֖א תִּֿנְאָֽ֑ף׃ ס
NAS: You shall not commit adultery.
KJV: Thou shalt not commit adultery.
INT: shall not commit

Leviticus 20:10
HEB: וְאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִנְאַף֙ אֶת־ אֵ֣שֶׁת
NAS: who commits adultery
KJV: And the man that committeth adultery with [another] man's
INT: a man who commits for wife

Leviticus 20:10
HEB: אִ֔ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִנְאַ֖ף אֶת־ אֵ֣שֶׁת
NAS: commits adultery with another man's
KJV: wife, [even he] that committeth adultery with his neighbour's
INT: man's who adultery for wife

Leviticus 20:10
HEB: מֽוֹת־ יוּמַ֥ת הַנֹּאֵ֖ף וְהַנֹּאָֽפֶת׃
NAS: one who commits adultery
KJV: wife, the adulterer and the adulteress
INT: shall surely be put commits adultery

Leviticus 20:10
HEB: יוּמַ֥ת הַנֹּאֵ֖ף וְהַנֹּאָֽפֶת׃
NAS: commits adultery with his friend's
KJV: the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely
INT: be put commits adultery

Deuteronomy 5:18
HEB: וְלֹ֖֣א תִּֿנְאָֽ֑ף׃ ס
NAS: You shall not commit adultery.
KJV: Neither shalt thou commit adultery.
INT: shall not commit

Job 24:15
HEB: וְעֵ֤ין נֹאֵ֨ף ׀ שָׁ֤מְרָֽה נֶ֣שֶׁף
NAS: The eye of the adulterer waits
KJV: The eye also of the adulterer waiteth
INT: the eye of the adulterer waits the twilight

Psalm 50:18
HEB: עִמּ֑וֹ וְעִ֖ם מְנָאֲפִ֣ים חֶלְקֶֽךָ׃
NAS: with him, And you associate with adulterers.
KJV: with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.
INT: with with adulterers associate

Proverbs 6:32
HEB: נֹאֵ֣ף אִשָּׁ֣ה חֲסַר־
NAS: The one who commits adultery with a woman
KJV: [But] whoso committeth adultery with a woman
INT: commits A woman is lacking

Proverbs 30:20
HEB: דֶּ֥רֶךְ אִשָּׁ֗ה מְנָ֫אָ֥פֶת אָ֭כְלָה וּמָ֣חֲתָה
NAS: is the way of an adulterous woman:
KJV: Such [is] the way of an adulterous woman;
INT: is the way woman of an adulterous eats and wipes

Isaiah 57:3
HEB: עֹנְנָ֑ה זֶ֥רַע מְנָאֵ֖ף וַתִּזְנֶֽה׃
NAS: Offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute.
KJV: the seed of the adulterer and the whore.
INT: of a sorceress Offspring of an adulterer prostitute

Jeremiah 3:8
HEB: אֹדוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר נִֽאֲפָה֙ מְשֻׁבָ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
NAS: that for all the adulteries of faithless
KJV: Israel committed adultery I had put her away,
INT: the causes after adulteries of faithless Israel

Jeremiah 3:9
HEB: אֶת־ הָאָ֑רֶץ וַתִּנְאַ֥ף אֶת־ הָאֶ֖בֶן
NAS: the land and committed adultery with stones
KJV: the land, and committed adultery with stones
INT: polluted the land and committed with stones

Jeremiah 5:7
HEB: וָאַשְׂבִּ֤עַ אוֹתָם֙ וַיִּנְאָ֔פוּ וּבֵ֥ית זוֹנָ֖ה
NAS: When I had fed them to the full, They committed adultery And trooped
KJV: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops
INT: gods and sworn committed house to the harlot's

Jeremiah 7:9
HEB: הֲגָנֹ֤ב ׀ רָצֹ֙חַ֙ וְֽנָאֹ֔ף וְהִשָּׁבֵ֥עַ לַשֶּׁ֖קֶר
NAS: murder, and commit adultery and swear
KJV: murder, and commit adultery, and swear
INT: steal murder and commit and swear falsely

Jeremiah 9:2
HEB: כִּ֤י כֻלָּם֙ מְנָ֣אֲפִ֔ים עֲצֶ֖רֶת בֹּגְדִֽים׃
NAS: from them! For all of them are adulterers, An assembly
KJV: and go from them! for they [be] all adulterers, an assembly
INT: them for all are adulterers an assembly of treacherous

Jeremiah 23:10
HEB: כִּ֤י מְנָֽאֲפִים֙ מָלְאָ֣ה הָאָ֔רֶץ
NAS: is full of adulterers; For the land
KJV: is full of adulterers; for because
INT: for of adulterers is full the land

Jeremiah 23:14
HEB: רָאִ֣יתִי שַׁעֲרוּרָ֗ה נָא֞וֹף וְהָלֹ֤ךְ בַּשֶּׁ֙קֶר֙
NAS: a horrible thing: The committing of adultery and walking
KJV: an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk
INT: have seen A horrible the committing and walking falsehood

Jeremiah 29:23
HEB: נְבָלָ֜ה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וַיְנַֽאֲפוּ֙ אֶת־ נְשֵׁ֣י
NAS: in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbors'
KJV: and have committed adultery with their neighbours'
INT: foolishly Israel committed for wives

Ezekiel 16:32
HEB: הָאִשָּׁ֖ה הַמְּנָאָ֑פֶת תַּ֣חַת אִישָׁ֔הּ
NAS: You adulteress wife, who takes
KJV: [But as] a wife that committeth adultery, [which] taketh
INT: wife adulteress instead of her husband

Ezekiel 16:38
HEB: וּשְׁפַטְתִּיךְ֙ מִשְׁפְּטֵ֣י נֹאֲפ֔וֹת וְשֹׁפְכֹ֖ת דָּ֑ם
NAS: Thus I will judge you like women who commit adultery or shed
KJV: And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed
INT: will judge are judged commit shed blood

Ezekiel 23:37
HEB: כִּ֣י נִאֵ֗פוּ וְדָם֙ בִּֽידֵיהֶ֔ן
NAS: For they have committed adultery,
KJV: That they have committed adultery, and blood
INT: for have committed and blood their hands

Ezekiel 23:37
HEB: וְאֶת־ גִּלּֽוּלֵיהֶ֖ן נִאֵ֑פוּ וְגַ֤ם אֶת־
NAS: For they have committed adultery, and blood
KJV: and with their idols have they committed adultery, and have also caused their sons,
INT: with their idols adultery and even their sons

Ezekiel 23:45
HEB: אֽוֹתְהֶ֔ם מִשְׁפַּט֙ נֹֽאֲפ֔וֹת וּמִשְׁפַּ֖ט שֹׁפְכ֣וֹת
NAS: them with the judgment of adulteresses and with the judgment
KJV: them after the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner
INT: will judge the judgment of adulteresses the judgment shed

Ezekiel 23:45
HEB: דָּ֑ם כִּ֤י נֹֽאֲפֹת֙ הֵ֔נָּה וְדָ֖ם
NAS: because they are adulteresses and blood
KJV: blood; because they [are] adulteresses, and blood
INT: blood because are adulteresses in and blood

31 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5003
31 Occurrences


ham·mə·nā·’ā·p̄eṯ — 1 Occ.
han·nō·’êp̄ — 1 Occ.
mə·nā·’ā·p̄eṯ — 1 Occ.
mə·nā·’ă·p̄îm — 4 Occ.
mə·nā·’êp̄ — 1 Occ.
nā·’ō·wp̄ — 1 Occ.
ni·’ă·p̄āh — 1 Occ.
ni·’ê·p̄ū — 2 Occ.
nō·’ă·p̄ō·wṯ — 3 Occ.
nō·’êp̄ — 2 Occ.
tə·nā·’ap̄·nāh — 2 Occ.
tnə·’āp̄ — 2 Occ.
ū·mə·nā·’ā·p̄eṯ — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇam·nā·’ă·p̄îm — 1 Occ.
way·yin·’ā·p̄ū — 1 Occ.
wat·tin·’ap̄ — 1 Occ.
way·na·’ă·p̄ū — 1 Occ.
wə·han·nō·’ā·p̄eṯ — 1 Occ.
wə·nā·’ōp̄ — 2 Occ.
yin·’ap̄ — 2 Occ.

5002
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