UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: to commit adultery, adultery

Semantic entry: 88.276

Semantic domains: Moral and Ethical Qualities and Related Behavior

Subdomains: Sexual Misbehavior

Definition: sexual intercourse of a man with a married woman other than his own spouse

Notes: From the standpoint of the NT, adultery was normally defined in terms of the married status of the woman involved in any such act. In other words, sexual intercourse of a married man with an unmarried woman would usually be regarded as πορνεία ‘fornication’ (88.271: ἐκπορνεύω / 88.271: πορνεία / 88.271: πορνεύω), but sexual intercourse of either an unmarried or a married man with someone else’s wife was regarded as adultery, both on the part of the man as well as the woman. In view of the married status of the woman being the determining factor in μοιχάω, μοιχεύω, μοιχάομαι, μοιχεία, and related terms (88.277: μοιχός-88.278: μοιχαλίς), there is a significant contrast with πορνεύω and related expressions (88.271: ἐκπορνεύω / 88.271: πορνεία / 88.271: πορνεύω). πορνεύω, however, may be regarded as more generic in meaning, and thus in certain contexts including adultery.