What are the Bible's teachings on adultery?

Definition and Scope

Adultery refers to a breach of the marriage covenant by participating in a sexual relationship with someone other than one’s spouse. Scripture consistently underscores the sanctity of marriage and frames adultery as a serious offense both against one’s spouse and against God.

Foundational Old Testament Teachings

The earliest explicit prohibition appears in the Decalogue: “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14). This command rests on the principle that marriage is established by God as a sacred institution (Genesis 2:24). Adultery not only violates a spouse’s trust but also represents a rebellion against divine design.

In Israelite law, adultery is further addressed in Leviticus 20:10, which prescribes severe consequences: “If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife…both the adulterer and the adulteress must surely be put to death.” These legal codes emphasize the gravity with which the community regarded marital faithfulness.

Examples and Warnings in Historical Narratives

The account of David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11) illustrates the personal and national ramifications of adultery. David’s transgression—seeking a sexual relationship with Bathsheba while she was the wife of Uriah—led to ongoing turmoil in David’s household and kingdom. This narrative shows that even a revered king faced severe consequences when violating God’s standard (2 Samuel 12).

Archaeological discoveries, such as ancient Near Eastern law codes (e.g., the Code of Hammurabi), reveal a general cultural understanding of adultery’s seriousness. However, biblical law and narrative uniquely root this seriousness in humanity’s accountability to a holy and personal God.

Jesus’ Expansion of the Commandment

Jesus affirmed and deepened the Old Testament commandment. In the Sermon on the Mount, He taught: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27–28). Here, the scope of the sin extends beyond external acts to include the attitudes and intentions of the heart.

Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 19:3–9 underlines that marriage is a covenant and that breaking it through adultery is a serious matter. By referring to God’s original design in Genesis, Jesus highlights that fidelity is not a cultural construct but a divine ordinance.

New Testament Epistles and Ethical Directives

In the apostolic writings, adultery is consistently associated with broader sexual immorality (Greek: porneia). Paul admonishes believers in 1 Corinthians 6:18: “Flee from sexual immorality.” The term covers adultery, fornication, and other unethical sexual behaviors. Hebrews 13:4 states, “Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.” This reinforces God’s design for faithfulness.

Consequences of Adultery

The biblical text describes how adultery disrupts relationships with God and with fellow human beings. Proverbs warns: “But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself” (Proverbs 6:32). Both spiritually and psychologically, this sin brings shame, brokenness, and relational fragmentation.

Adultery also functions as a metaphor in Scripture for spiritual unfaithfulness. Israel’s idolatry is frequently labeled as adultery against God (Jeremiah 3:8–9), underscoring how betrayal in marriage reflects a deeper rebellion against covenant loyalty.

Redemption and Restoration

Despite the severity of the sin, Scripture offers hope for restoration. The narrative of Hosea symbolizes God’s willingness to redeem an unfaithful people, mirroring how individuals ensnared by sin can return to the Lord. In John 8:3–11, although the authenticity of this passage is discussed in some manuscript traditions, many reliable texts preserve the example of Jesus confounding the accusers of a woman caught in adultery. He neither excused adultery nor condoned self-righteous judgment, but instead called everyone involved to repent.

Forgiveness and new life are possible when one confesses and turns away from wrongful actions (1 John 1:9). Those who have fallen into adultery may seek reconciliation with God and, if possible, restoration within marriage through confession, repentance, and embracing the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

Marriage as a Reflection of Divine Faithfulness

Throughout Scripture, marriage is a covenant ordained by God. Adultery disrupts that covenant, stands against the holiness God desires, and undermines the picture of faithful love that marriage is meant to display (Ephesians 5:31–33). In upholding marital fidelity, believers demonstrate love and obedience, reflecting the faithfulness of Christ to His people.

Practical Guidance and Accountability

While the biblical text condemns adultery, it also offers guidance for avoiding its pitfalls. Wisdom literature promotes careful thought about relationships and boundaries (Proverbs 5). The New Testament encourages believers to live in community where accountability, counseling, prayer, and mutual support are valued (Galatians 6:1–2). Staying close to God through personal devotion, study of Scripture, and transparent fellowship helps safeguard the marriage covenant.

Historical and Manuscript Evidence

The consistent message regarding adultery appears throughout the known ancient manuscripts of both Old and New Testaments. Discoveries like the Dead Sea Scrolls have affirmed the reliability of the Hebrew Scriptures’ condemnation of sexual immorality. Early Christian writings—preserved in numerous Greek manuscript families—reinforce the same stance. These converging witnesses, supported by internal consistency across biblical books, underscore that the Bible’s teaching on adultery has been guarded with remarkable care.

Conclusion

The Bible’s teaching on adultery spans both Old and New Testaments, underscoring the seriousness of marital unfaithfulness, its destructive effects, and the redemptive hope offered through repentance and divine grace. This consistent testimony, supported by manuscript evidence and historical context, affirms the biblical call to honor the marriage covenant and to live in fidelity reflecting God’s unwavering love.