Topical Bible: Lewd

Jump to: ISBE • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

The term "lewd" in the Bible is often associated with behavior that is morally impure, indecent, or licentious. It is used to describe actions and attitudes that are contrary to the holiness and righteousness expected of God's people. The concept of lewdness is addressed in various passages throughout the Scriptures, highlighting the importance of purity and moral integrity.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, lewdness is frequently condemned as a grievous sin. The Hebrew word often translated as "lewd" is "zimmah," which can denote wickedness or an evil plan, particularly in a sexual context. For example, in Ezekiel 16:27, God rebukes Jerusalem for its unfaithfulness, saying, "Behold, therefore I stretched out My hand against you, diminished your portion, and gave you over to the desire of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who were ashamed of your lewd conduct."

The book of Leviticus also addresses lewd behavior, particularly in the context of sexual immorality. Leviticus 18 outlines various prohibitions against illicit sexual relations, emphasizing the need for the Israelites to remain distinct from the surrounding nations whose practices were considered abominable.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, lewdness is similarly condemned as incompatible with the Christian life. The Greek word "aselgeia" is often translated as "lewdness" or "sensuality," and it appears in several lists of sinful behaviors that believers are to avoid. In Galatians 5:19-21, the Apostle Paul writes, "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

The Apostle Peter also warns against lewdness in 1 Peter 4:3, where he reminds believers of their past lives: "For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry."

Moral and Spiritual Implications

Lewdness is seen as a manifestation of the sinful nature that stands in opposition to the fruit of the Spirit. It is a behavior that defiles the body, which is considered the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Christians are called to live lives that reflect the holiness of God, abstaining from lewd acts and thoughts that corrupt the soul and hinder one's relationship with God.

The Bible encourages believers to pursue purity and to flee from sexual immorality and all forms of lewdness. In Ephesians 5:3, Paul exhorts, "But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed."

Conclusion

The biblical teaching on lewdness underscores the call to holiness and the transformation that comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit, believers are empowered to overcome lewdness and to live in a manner that honors God, reflecting His purity and righteousness in a world that often promotes the opposite.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (a.) Obscene; lustful; lascivious; indecent.

2. (superl.) Belonging to the lower classes, or the rabble; idle and lawless; bad; vicious.

3. (superl.) Given to the promiscuous indulgence of lust; dissolute; lustful; libidinous.

4. (superl.) Suiting, or proceeding from, lustfulness; involving unlawful sexual desire; as, lewd thoughts, conduct, or language.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

LEWD; LEWDNESS

lud, lud'-nes (zimmah, mezimmah, nabhluth; poneros, rhadiourgema):

1. In the Old Testament:

There are three Hebrew words translated "lewd," "lewdness":

(1) Zimmah, meaning a "plan," a "purpose," so translated several times and then shading off into "evil plan"; translated also "heinous crime," "wicked purpose or device." It is the most frequent word for "lewdness": Ezekiel 16:27, "lewd way"; found in Judges 20:6 Ezekiel 16:27, 43, 58; Ezekiel 22:9, 11; 23:21, 27, 29, 35, 44-48, 49; 24:13 Hosea 6:9.

(2) Mezimmah means a "plan," generally "(evil) machination"; used only in Jeremiah 11:15, "lewdness."

(3) Nabhluth, meaning "disgrace" in reference to females. Found only in Hosea 2:10; the American Revised Version margin "shame."

2. In the New Testament:

The word translated "lewd," "lewdness" in the King James Version occurs only twice in the New Testament, and in each instance is more correctly translated in the Revised Version (British and American) by another word:

(1) Poneros, found in Acts 17:5, translated in the American Standard Revised Version "vile." The Greek word elsewhere is translated "bad," "evil," "grievous," "harmful," "malicious," "wicked." the King James Version "lewd" gives the wrong impression. The idea of unchastity is not present in the text or context.

(2) Rhadiourgema likewise occurs only once, namely, Acts 18:14, and is correctly translated in the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version "wicked villany." The thought of impurity or lewdness is foreign to the meaning in this connection.

William Edward Raffety

Greek

808. aschemosune -- unseemliness
... mos-oo'-nay) Short Definition: unseemliness, shame, nakedness Definition: unseemly
behavior, unseemliness, indecency, shame, nakedness, an indecent (lewd) act. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/808.htm - 7k

4190. poneros -- toilsome, bad
... neuter (singular) mischief, malice, or (plural) guilt; masculine (singular) the
devil, or (plural) sinners -- bad, evil, grievous, harm, lewd, malicious, wicked ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4190.htm - 8k

169. akathartos -- unclean, impure
... From a (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of kathairo (meaning
cleansed); impure (ceremonially, morally (lewd) or specially, (demonic)) -- foul ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/169.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

2154. zimmah -- a plan, device, wickedness
... zamam Definition a plan, device, wickedness NASB Word Usage acts of lewdness (1),
crime (1), devising (1), evil intent (1), immorality (2), lewd (3), lewdly (1 ...
/hebrew/2154.htm - 6k

Library

But Perhaps, as You Say, the Goddesses Took the Greatest Pleasure ...
... Book VI. 23 But perhaps, as you say, the goddesses took the greatest
pleasure in these lewd and? But perhaps, as you say, the ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/23 but perhaps as you.htm

Article xxiii (xi): of the Marriage of Priests.
... Moreover, although it would be proper for them to be heartily ashamed of the
exceedingly shameful, lewd, abandoned loose life of the wretches in their abbeys ...
/.../the apology of the augsburg confession/part 28 article xxiii xi .htm

Life and Death
... Death is so dear, it ceaseth all annoy: Life is so lewd [16] , that all it yields
is vain. ... [15] regard, regarding that. [16] lewd, foolish. ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/iii life and death.htm

With whom we are to Associate.
... And crowds of abominable creatures (kinaides) flow in, of unbridled tongue, filthy
in body, filthy in language; men enough for lewd offices, ministers of ...
/.../clement/the instructor paedagogus/chapter iv with whom we are.htm

Whether the Daughters of Lust are Fittingly Described?
... words": for since "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh"
(Mat.12:34), the lustful man, whose heart is full of lewd concupiscences, readily ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the daughters of lust.htm

For There were Even in the Apostles' Times Some who Preached the ...
... For put the case that of a number of lewd Priscillianists, some woman should cast
her eye upon a catholic Joseph, and promise him that she will betray their ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/against lying/section 16 for there were.htm

Acts xvii. 1, 2, 3
... "But the Jews which believed not (the best texts omit "which believed not"), moved
with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxxvii acts xvii 1.htm

Third Sunday in Lent
... writers attest. What Paul refers to in particular is the lewd conversation
uttered in public without fear and self-restraint. This ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/third sunday in lent.htm

Against Men who Embellish Themselves.
... Beside them women stand in the stews, offering their own flesh for hire for lewd
pleasure, and boys, taught to deny their sex, act the part of women. ...
/.../clement/the instructor paedagogus/chapter iii against men who embellish.htm

Paul and Silas in Thessalonica and Berea.
... "But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows
of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xix paul and silas.htm

Thesaurus

Lewd (37 Occurrences)
... 4. (superl.) Suiting, or proceeding from, lustfulness; involving unlawful sexual
desire; as, lewd thoughts, conduct, or language. Int. ...LEWD; LEWDNESS. ...
/l/lewd.htm - 20k

Lewdness (68 Occurrences)
... The word "lewd" is from the Saxon, and means properly "ignorant," "unlearned,"
and hence low, vicious (Acts 17:5). Int. ...LEWD; LEWDNESS. ...
/l/lewdness.htm - 29k

Corrupted (28 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 23:3 And they committed lewd deeds in Egypt; they committed lewd deeds in
their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they were first ...
/c/corrupted.htm - 15k

Wanton (20 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) Specifically: Deviating from the rules of chastity; lewd; lustful; lascivious;
libidinous; lecherous. ... 7. (n.) A lewd person; a lascivious man or woman. ...
/w/wanton.htm - 13k

Lascivious (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Lewd; lustful; salacious; as, lascivious desires.
2. (a.) Tending to produce voluptuous or lewd emotions. ...
/l/lascivious.htm - 7k

Whorish (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Resembling a whore in character or conduct;
addicted to unlawful pleasures; incontinent; lewd; unchaste. ...
/w/whorish.htm - 8k

Prostitute (83 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To offer, as a woman, to a lewd use;
to give up to lewdness for hire. 2. (vt) To devote to base ...
/p/prostitute.htm - 33k

Persons (156 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 5:10 Yet not altogether with lewd persons of this world, or with the
covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters: for then ye must needs go out ...
/p/persons.htm - 38k

Oholibah (5 Occurrences)
... (WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY NAS NIV). Ezekiel 23:44 They went in to her, as they go in
to a prostitute: so went they in to Oholah and to Oholibah, the lewd women. ...
/o/oholibah.htm - 8k

Ohol'ibah (5 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). Ezekiel 23:44 For every one went in unto her, as men go in unto a harlot;
so went they in unto Oholah and unto Oholibah, the lewd women. (See RSV). ...
/o/ohol'ibah.htm - 7k

Resources

What are the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Jezebel in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Is Christian rock music appropriate? | GotQuestions.org

Lewd: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Lewd (37 Occurrences)

Acts 17:5
But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
(KJV)

1 Corinthians 5:10
Yet not altogether with lewd persons of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters: for then ye must needs go out of the world.
(WBS)

1 Corinthians 5:11
But now I have written to you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother is a lewd person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner: with such person no not to eat.
(WBS)

Ephesians 5:5
For this ye know, that no lewd, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
(WBS)

1 Timothy 1:10
For lewd persons, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for men-stealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine,
(WBS)

Hebrews 13:4
Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but lewd persons and adulterers God will judge.
(WBS)

Revelation 17:2
With whom the kings of the earth have committed lewd deeds, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her lewdness.
(WBS)

Revelation 21:8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and lewd men, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
(WBS)

Revelation 22:15
For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and lewd men, and murderers, and idolaters, and whoever loveth and maketh a lie.
(WBS)

Leviticus 21:7
They shall not take a wife that is a lewd woman, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy to his God.
(WBS)

Numbers 14:33
And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your lewd deeds, until your carcasses shall be wasted in the wilderness.
(WBS)

Judges 20:6
I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel; for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 6:20
And David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How honourable did the king of Israel make himself to-day, who uncovered himself to-day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the lewd fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!
(DBY)

2 Kings 9:22
And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the lewd acts of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?
(WBS)

Proverbs 6:26
For by means of a lewd woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.
(WBS)

Proverbs 23:27
For a lewd woman is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.
(WBS)

Isaiah 57:3
But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the lewd.
(WBS)

Jeremiah 13:27
I have seen your abominations, even your adulteries, and your neighing, the lewdness of your prostitution, on the hills in the field. Woe to you, Jerusalem! You will not be made clean; how long shall it yet be?
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 6:9
Those of you that escape shall remember me among the nations where they shall be carried captive, how that I have been broken with their lewd heart, which has departed from me, and with their eyes, which play the prostitute after their idols: and they shall loathe themselves in their own sight for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.
(WEB ASV)

Ezekiel 16:25
Thou hast built thy high place at every head of the way, and hast made thy beauty to be abhorred, and hast prostituted thyself to every one that passed by, and multiplied thy lewd deeds.
(WBS)

Ezekiel 16:26
Thou hast also committed fornication with the Egyptians thy neighbors, great of flesh; and hast multiplied thy lewd deeds, to provoke me to anger.
(WBS)

Ezekiel 16:27
See therefore, I have stretched out my hand over you, and have diminished your ordinary food, and delivered you to the will of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who are ashamed of your lewd way.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 16:30
How weak is thy heart, saith the Lord GOD, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an imperious lewd woman;
(WBS)

Ezekiel 16:33
They give gifts to all lewd women: but thou givest thy gifts to all thy lovers, and hirest them, that they may come to thee on every side for thy lewdness.
(WBS)

Ezekiel 20:30
Wherefore say to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye lewd deeds after their abominations?
(WBS)

Ezekiel 22:9
Slanderous men have been in you to shed blood; and in you they have eaten on the mountains: in the midst of you they have committed lewdness.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 23:3
And they committed lewd deeds in Egypt; they committed lewd deeds in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they were first corrupted.
(WBS)

Ezekiel 23:7
Thus she committed her lewd deeds with them, with all them that were the chosen men of Assyria, and with all on whom she doted: with all their idols she defiled herself.
(WBS)

Ezekiel 23:8
Neither left she her lewd deeds brought from Egypt: for in her youth they lay with her, and they first corrupted her, and poured their impurities upon her.
(WBS)

Ezekiel 23:18
So she disclosed her lewd deeds, and exposed her nakedness: then my mind was alienated from her, as my mind was alienated from her sister.
(WBS)

Ezekiel 23:43
Then said I to her that was old in adulteries, Will they now commit lewd deeds with her, and she with them?
(WBS)

Ezekiel 23:44
They went in to her, as they go in to a prostitute: so went they in to Oholah and to Oholibah, the lewd women.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 43:7
And he said to me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their lewd deeds, nor by the carcasses of their kings in their high places.
(WBS)

Ezekiel 43:9
Now let them put away their lewd deeds, and the carcasses of their kings, far from me, and I will dwell in the midst of them for ever.
(WBS)

Hosea 4:14
I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for the men themselves go apart with harlots, and they sacrifice with the prostitutes; and the people that doth not understand shall be overthrown.
(See JPS WBS)

Hosea 4:18
Their drink is sour: they have been guilty of lewd deeds continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.
(WBS)

Nahum 3:4
Because of the multitude of the lewd deeds of the well-favored harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her lewd deeds, and families through her witchcrafts.
(WBS)

Subtopics

Lewd

Related Terms

Lewd (37 Occurrences)

Violates (3 Occurrences)

Shamefully (15 Occurrences)

Daughter-in-law (16 Occurrences)

Neighbour's (30 Occurrences)

Neighbor's (31 Occurrences)

Lewdness (68 Occurrences)

Commits (39 Occurrences)

Offense (44 Occurrences)