In the biblical context, the term "adulteress" refers to a woman who engages in sexual relations outside the bounds of her marriage, violating the covenantal relationship established between her and her husband. The Bible addresses the issue of adultery extensively, emphasizing its moral and spiritual implications.

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament law explicitly condemns adultery, considering it a grave sin against God and the marital covenant. In the Ten Commandments, God commands, "You shall not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14). The Mosaic Law prescribed severe penalties for adultery, reflecting its seriousness. Leviticus 20:10 states, "If a man commits adultery with another man's wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress must surely be put to death" . This underscores the gravity of the offense in the eyes of God and the community.

The book of Proverbs frequently warns against the allure and danger of the adulteress. Proverbs 5:3-5 cautions, "Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil, in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to Sheol" . The adulteress is portrayed as a seductress whose actions lead to destruction and death.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, Jesus addresses the issue of adultery with a focus on the heart's intentions. In the Sermon on the Mount, He expands the understanding of adultery beyond physical acts to include lustful thoughts: "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 5:28). This teaching emphasizes the importance of purity in thought and intention, not just in action.

The account of the woman caught in adultery, found in John 8:3-11, illustrates Jesus' approach to sin and forgiveness. When the scribes and Pharisees bring the woman to Jesus, seeking to stone her according to the Law, Jesus responds, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her" (John 8:7). After her accusers leave, Jesus tells the woman, "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more" (John 8:11). This account highlights Jesus' mercy and the call to repentance and transformation.

Spiritual Implications

Adultery is often used metaphorically in the Bible to describe unfaithfulness to God. The prophets frequently liken Israel's idolatry to adultery, portraying the nation as an unfaithful spouse. For instance, the book of Hosea uses the prophet's marriage to an adulterous woman as a symbol of Israel's infidelity to God (Hosea 1-3).

The New Testament continues this metaphor, describing the Church as the bride of Christ. Believers are called to remain faithful to Christ, avoiding spiritual adultery by not turning to false teachings or worldly desires. James 4:4 warns, "You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God" .

Moral and Ethical Considerations

The biblical teaching on adulteresses underscores the sanctity of marriage and the importance of fidelity. Adultery is seen as a violation of trust and a destructive force in relationships. The Bible calls believers to uphold the sanctity of marriage, to seek forgiveness and restoration when sin occurs, and to pursue holiness in all aspects of life.3428. moichalis -- an adulteress
... Word Origin from the fem. of moichos Definition an adulteress NASB Word Usage
adulteress (2), adulteresses (1), adulterous (3), adultery (1). adulteress. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3428.htm - 6k5003. naaph -- to commit adultery
... root Definition to commit adultery NASB Word Usage adulterer (3), adulterers (5),
adulteress (3), adulteresses (2), adulteries (1), adulterous (1), adultery (1 ...
/hebrew/5003.htm - 6k

On Friendship with the World
... Second Series Sermon 80 On Friendship with the World. "Ye adulterers and adulteresses,
know ye not that the friendship of this world is enmity with God? ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 80 on friendship with.htm

Three Homilies. On Our Lord.
... therefore which had committed fornication in [the worship of] the calf, he caused
to drink of the water of ordeal, that the mark of adulteresses might appear ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/three homilies on our lord.htm

Communion Broken --Restoration
... If any man love the world, the love of the FATHER is not in him." "Ye adulteresses,
know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with GOD? ...
/.../taylor/union and communion/section ii communion brokenrestoration.htm

Of Atheistical Discourse.
... in a Christian nation, and men would have replied upon me as the Spartan Lady did,
when she was asked what was the punishment for adulteresses, There are no ...
/.../allestree/the government of the tongue/section iii of atheistical discourse.htm

Wherefore they who Say that the Marriages of Such are not ...
... in case they shall have married, are no marriages,) no small evil, that wives be
separated from their husbands, as though they were adulteresses, not wives ...
/.../augustine/on the good of widowhood /section 13 wherefore they who.htm

James iv. 4, 5
... and Mammon. "Ye adulterers, and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship
of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore ...
/.../neander/the epistle of james practically explained/james iv 4 5.htm

On the Clause, and Shall Come in Glory to Judge the Quick and the ...
... Saviour Himself says, And I will draw near to you in judgment; and I will be a swift
witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulteresses, and against ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture xv on the clause.htm

Of the Metropolis of Christian Apostasy, the Mystic Babylon.
... For though Babylon herself be guilty of other errors, nay, of heresies, (for it
is not a novel case for harlots and adulteresses to be infamous for other vices ...
/.../mede/a key to the apocalypse/of the metropolis of christian.htm

John Chapter xiii. 34, 35
... that bind men together: to say nothing of the blame-worthy and damnable love which
is mutually felt by adulterers and adulteresses, by fornicators and ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate lxv john chapter xiii.htm

Of the Precepts of Plato, and Censures of the Same.
... And likewise women who are in the possession of many men, must of necessity be not
adulteresses, because they have no fixed marriage, but prostitutes and ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xxii of the precepts of.htm

Adulteresses (2 Occurrences)
...Adulteresses (2 Occurrences). James 4:4 You adulterers and adulteresses,
don't you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? ...
/a/adulteresses.htm - 7k

Adulterous (12 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 23:45 As to righteous men, they judge them with the judgment of adulteresses,
And the judgment of women shedding blood, For they 'are' adulteresses...
/a/adulterous.htm - 10k

Shedding (23 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 23:45 As to righteous men, they judge them with the judgment of adulteresses,
And the judgment of women shedding blood, For they 'are' adulteresses...
/s/shedding.htm - 14k

Adulteress (12 Occurrences)

/a/adulteress.htm - 9k

Adulteries (10 Occurrences)

/a/adulteries.htm - 9k

Sentence (53 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 23:45 Righteous men, they shall judge them with the judgment of adulteresses,
and with the judgment of women who shed blood; because they are ...
/s/sentence.htm - 24k

Shed (73 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 23:45 Righteous men, they shall judge them with the judgment of adulteresses,
and with the judgment of women who shed blood; because they are ...
/s/shed.htm - 32k

Adultery (49 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 23:45 As to righteous men, they judge them with the judgment of adulteresses,
And the judgment of women shedding blood, For they 'are' adulteresses...
/a/adultery.htm - 32k

Wishes (37 Occurrences)
... All good wishes. (WEY). James 4:4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't
you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? ...
/w/wishes.htm - 16k

Friendship (13 Occurrences)
... Friendship (13 Occurrences). James 4:4 You adulterers and adulteresses,
don't you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? ...
/f/friendship.htm - 13k

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