Adultery — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

A breach of the unity of marriage. It describes any act of sexual intercourse between a married woman and a man other than her husband, and all sexual intercourse involving a married man and a woman other than his wife.

In OT times, polygamous unions were not considered adulterous (cf. Dt 21:15). Nor was a husband branded as an adulterer if he had intercourse with a slave woman (Gn 16:1-4; 30:1-5) or a prostitute (Gn 38:15-18)—though the latter was, of course, condemned as immoral (1 Cor 6:15).

Show passage in OET: DEU 21:15

OET-RV DEU 21:15

15 If a man has two wives and loves one more than the other, but they’ve both given birth to sons for him but the oldest son is from the wife he dislikes,

OET-LV DEU 21:15

15 If/because they _will _belong to_a _man two _of wives the_one(f) is_loved and_the_one is_hated and_they _gave _birth to_him/it sons the _loved_wife and_the _hated_wife and_ the_son the_firstborn _it _was to_wife.

Show passage in OET: GEN 16:1–4

OET-RV GEN 16:1

16 Now Avram’s wife Saray (Sarai) hadn’t been able to give him any children, but she had an Mitsri (Egyptian) slave named Hagar,

OET-RV GEN 16:2

2 so Saray said to Avram, “Listen, Yahweh has prevented me from having children so please sleep with my slave. Perhaps I can have a family through her.” Avram agreed to what Saray had suggested.

OET-RV GEN 16:3

3 So Saray, the wife of Avram, took Hagar, her Mitsri slave, after Avram had lived ten years in the land of Kena’an (Canaan), and gave her to Avram her husband as a wife for him.

OET-RV GEN 16:4

4 So he slept with Hagar and she got pregnant, but once she realised that she began to despise her mistress.

OET-LV GEN 16:1

16 And_Sarai the _wife _of ʼAⱱrām not she _had _borne _children to_him/it and_belonged_to_her a _maidservant from _Miʦrayim/(Miʦrayim) and_name _of_her was_Hāgār.

OET-LV GEN 16:2

2 And_ Sarai _she/it _said to ʼAⱱrām HERE please he_has _restrained _me YHWH from_bearing _children go please into maidservant _of_my perhaps I _will _be _built _up from_her/it and_ ʼAⱱrām _he/it _listened to_sound/voice of _Sarai.

OET-LV GEN 16:3

3 And_ Sarai the _wife _of ʼAⱱrām _she/it _took DOM Hāgār the_from _Miʦrayim/(Miʦrayim) maidservant _of_her from _the_end/extremity ten years of_ of _ʼAⱱrām _the _dwelling in_land of _Kənaˊan/(Canaan) and_she/it _gave DOM_her/it to_ʼAⱱrām her/its_husband/man to_him/it to/for_(a)_woman.

OET-LV GEN 16:4

4 And_he _went into Hāgār and_she/it _conceived/became _pregnant and_she/it _saw if/because _that she _had _conceived and_ mistress _of_her _she _became _insignificant in_eyes _of_her.

Show passage in OET: GEN 30:1–5

OET-RV GEN 30:1

30 Now Rahel realised that she wasn’t producing any children for Ya’akov (Jacob), so she envied her sister Le’ah, and she demanded from Ya’akov, “Give me children, and if you don’t, I’ll die!”

OET-RV GEN 30:2

2 But Ya’akov’s anger flared up against Rahel and he asked, “Am I in the place of God who’s kept you from getting pregnant?”

OET-RV GEN 30:3

3 Rahel answered, “Listen, here’s my slave Bilhah. Sleep with her so that she’ll have children on my behalf and I’ll also be able to have a family through her.”

OET-RV GEN 30:4

4 Then she gave Bilhah to him as a slave wife and Ya’akov slept with her,

OET-RV GEN 30:5

5 so then Bilhah got pregnant and produced a son for Ya’akov.

OET-LV GEN 30:1

30 And_ Rāḩēl _she/it _saw if/because _that not she _had _borne _children to_Yaˊₐqoⱱ/(Jacob) and_ Rāḩēl _she _was _jealous of_sister _of_her and_she/it _said to Yaˊₐqoⱱ come_NOW to/for_me children and_if not I am_about _to _die.

OET-LV GEN 30:2

2 And_ the _anger of_Yaˊₐqoⱱ _it _glowed/burnt on_Rāḩēl and_he/it _said in_place _of god am_I who he _has _withheld from_you fruit _of the_womb.

OET-LV GEN 30:3

3 And_she/it _said HERE maidservant _of_my Bilhāh go to_her/it so_that _she _may _bear _children on knees _of_my and_ also I _so _that _I _may _be _built _up from_her.

OET-LV GEN 30:4

4 And_she _gave to_him/it DOM Bilhāh maidservant _of_her to/for_(a)_woman and_he _went to_her/it Yaˊₐqoⱱ.

OET-LV GEN 30:5

5 And_ Bilhāh _she/it _conceived/became _pregnant and_she/it _gave _birth to_Yaˊₐqoⱱ a _son.

Show passage in OET: GEN 38:15–18

OET-RV GEN 38:15

15 In due course, Yehudah saw her and because she had covered her face, he thought she was a prostitute.

OET-RV GEN 38:16

16 So he turned to her beside the road and asked, “Please let me lie with you,” because he didn’t know that she was his daughter-in-law.
¶ “What will you give me in exchange?” she asked.

OET-RV GEN 38:17

17 “I’ll send you a young goat from my flock,” he replied.
¶ “But what about something to keep now as a pledge until you send it,” she bartered.

OET-RV GEN 38:18

18 “What pledge should I give you?” he asked.
¶ “Your signet ring and its cord, and your staff that you’re holding.” So he handed them to her and went and lay with her, and she became pregnant as a result.

OET-LV GEN 38:15

15 And_he_saw _her Yəhūdāh and_he/it _considered_her/it to_a _prostitute if/because she _had _covered face _of_her.

OET-LV GEN 38:16

16 And_he _turned _aside to_her/it to the_road and_he/it _said come_NOW please let _me _go into_you if/because not he _knew if/because _that daughter-in-law _of_was_his she and_she/it _said what will _you _give to/for_me that/for/because/then/when you _will _come into_me.

OET-LV GEN 38:17

17 And_he/it _said I I _will _send a _kid _of goats from the_flock and_she/it _said if you _will _give a _pledge until you_send_it.

OET-LV GEN 38:18

18 And_he/it _said what is_the_pledge which I _will _give to_you and_she/it _said seal _of_your and_cord _of_your and_staff _of_your which is_in_hand _of_your and_he _gave_them to_her and_he _went to_her/it and_she/it _conceived/became _pregnant to_him/it.

Show passage in OET: CO1 6:15

OET-RV CO1 6:15

15 Surely you all know that your bodies are parts of messiah’s body? Because of that, you shouldn’t take your body back and then join it to a prostitute’s body. May it never happen!

OET-LV CO1 6:15

15 Not you _all _have _known that the bodies of _you _all members of_chosen _one /messiah is?
Therefore having _taken _away the members of _the chosen _one /messiah, I _may _make them of_a_prostitute members?
Never it _might _become.

Jump to OET DEU 21:15 section.

Jump to OET GEN 16:1–4 section.

Jump to OET GEN 30:1–5 section.

Jump to OET GEN 38:15–18 section.

Jump to OET CO1 6:15 section.

Any imbalance between the sexes was dispelled by Jesus in his teaching on divorce and remarriage. While he did not rule out the possibility of divorce in cases of sexual unfaithfulness (Mt 5:32; 19:9), he warned that in all other circumstances remarriage involves both (ex-)husband and (ex-)wife in adultery. Paul added that the charge of adultery only applies if the remarried person’s original partner is still alive (Rom 7:2-3).

Show passage in OET: MAT 5:32

OET-RV MAT 5:32

32 But I’m telling you all that anyone who divorces his wife, except in the case where she’s committed sexual immorality, is causing her to commit adultery, and anyone who marries a wife that’s been sent away is causing her to commit adultery.

OET-LV MAT 5:32

32 But I am _saying to _you _all that everyone which sending _away the wife of _him, except on _account of _sexual _immorality, is _making her to _be _committing _adultery, and whoever may _marry if having _been _sent_ her _away, is _causing _adultery.

Show passage in OET: MAT 19:9

OET-RV MAT 19:9

9 Now I’m telling you that anyone who divorces his wife, except in the case of sexual immorality, and then remarries, is responsible for sexual cheating. Also, if the woman who was sent away remarries, then she’s responsible for cheating, too.

OET-LV MAT 19:9

9 And I _am _saying to _you _all that whoever wishfully may _send _away the wife of _him not/lest for sexual _immorality, and may _marry another, is _causing _adultery.
And the one having _been _sent _away, marrying is _causing _adultery.

Show passage in OET: ROM 7:2–3

OET-RV ROM 7:2

2 For example, a woman who’s married to her husband is bound by the law, but if her husband dies then she’s released from the law concerning her husband.

OET-RV ROM 7:3

3 So while her husband was still living, he’d call her an adulteress if she slept with another man, but after her husband is deceased, she’s free from the law and doesn’t become an adulteress if she marries another man.

OET-LV ROM 7:2

2 For/Because the married woman to _the living husband has _been _bound by _law, but if may _die _off the husband, she _has _been _released from the law of _the husband.

OET-LV ROM 7:3

3 Therefore consequently living the husband, an_adulteress he _will _be _calling her, if she _may _become joined to _man another, but if may _die _off the husband, free she _is from the law, which not to _be she an_adulteress having _become to _man another.

Jump to OET MAT 5:32 section.

Jump to OET MAT 19:9 section.

Jump to OET ROM 7:2–3 section.

Jesus also sharpened the OT’s definition of adultery by applying it to a man’s thought life. Any man who fantasizes in lust (as distinct from just being tempted) has committed adultery in mind and intention, even though there is no physical contact (Mt 5:27-28; cf. Jb 31:1, 9 OET JOB 31:1 · OET JOB 31:9).

Show passage in OET: MAT 5:27–28

OET-RV MAT 5:27

27 “You all know that the scriptures say not to commit adultery,

OET-RV MAT 5:28

28 but I’m telling you that if you look at a woman lustfully then you’ve already committed adultery in your mind.

OET-LV MAT 5:27

27 You _all _heard that it _was _said:
You_˓will˒_ not _be _committing _adultery.

OET-LV MAT 5:28

28 But I am _saying to _you _all that everyone which looking at_a_woman in _order that to _lust for _her, already committed _adultery with _her in the heart of _him.

Show passage in OET: JOB 31:1; JOB 31:9

OET-RV JOB 31:1

31 I’ve made an agreement with my eyes,
⇔ ≈ about how I’ll be careful when I look at a young woman.

OET-RV JOB 31:9

9 If my heart has been enticed by a woman,
⇔ or I’ve watched for my chance at my neighbour’s door,

OET-LV JOB 31:1

31 A _covenant I _made to_eyes _of_my and_what will _I _look _carefully on a _virgin.

OET-LV JOB 31:9

9 If heart _of_my it _has _been _deceived on a _woman and_at the _doorway _of my _neighbour _of_my I _have _lain _in _wait.

Jump to OET MAT 5:27–28 section.

Jump to OET JOB 31:1 section. · OET JOB 31:9 section.

The Bible’s condemnation of adultery is written into the heart of the OT law, prophecy, and wisdom literature. The Ten Commandments ban it unequivocally (Ex 20:14; Dt 5:18). The prophets list it among offenses that attract God’s anger and judgment (Jer 23:11-14; Ez 22:11; Mal 3:5). And the book of Proverbs scorns it as a senseless act by which a man destroys himself (Prv 6:23-35; cf. 7:6-27).

Show passage in OET: EXO 20:14

OET-RV EXO 20:14

• 14 You mustn’t commit adultery.

OET-LV EXO 20:14

14 Not you _must _commit _adultery.

Show passage in OET: DEU 5:18

OET-RV DEU 5:18

• 18 Don’t commit adultery.

OET-LV DEU 5:18

18 And_not you _must _commit _adultery.

Show passage in OET: JER 23:11–14

OET-RV JER 23:11

11 Yes, both prophet and priest are compromised—
⇔ even in my house I’ve discovered their wickedness.
§ That is Yahweh’s declaration.

OET-RV JER 23:12

12 Therefore their path will become slippery.
⇔ They’ll be pushed into the darkness and will fall into it
⇔ because I’ll send them disaster in the year of their punishment.
§ That is Yahweh’s declaration.

OET-RV JER 23:13

13 Among the prophets in Shomron (Samaria), I’ve seen offensive behaviour:
⇔ they prophesied by Ba’al and led my people Yisrael (Israel) astray.

OET-RV JER 23:14

14 Also, among the prophets in Yerushalem (Jerusalem), I’ve seen horrible things:
⇔ They commit adultery and walk in lies.
⇔ They empower those who do evil,
⇔ → so that no one turns their back on wickedness.
⇔ They’re all like Sedom to me.
⇔ ≈ The people in Yerushalem are like Amorah (Gomorrah),

OET-LV JER 23:11

11 If/because both prophet as _well _as priest they _are _polluted also in_house _of_my I _have _found wickedness _of_their the _utterance _of YHWH.

OET-LV JER 23:12

12 For_so/thus/hence it _will _become path _of_their to/for_them like_slippery _places in_darkness they _will _be _pushed _down and_they _will _fall on_it if/because I _will _bring on_them calamity the _year _of their _punishment _of_their the _utterance _of YHWH.

OET-LV JER 23:13

13 And_among_the _prophets _of Shomrōn I _saw offensiveness they _prophesied by_Baˊal and_they _caused _to _err DOM people _of_my DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

OET-LV JER 23:14

14 And_among_the _prophets _of Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) I _have _seen a _horrible_thing they _have _committed _adultery and_they _have _walked in_falsehood and_they _have _strengthened the _hands _of evil-doers to_not they _have _turned _away anyone from_evil _of_his they _have _become to_me of _them _of_all like_Şədom and_inhabitants _of_its like_ˊAmorāh/(Gomorrah).

Show passage in OET: EZE 22:11

OET-RV EZE 22:11

11 Men who sleep with their neighbours’ wives, and men who sleep with their own daughters-in-law, even men who abuse their own sisters or half-sisters. All these are done within you.

OET-LV EZE 22:11

11 And_a _man with the _wife _of his/its_neighbour he _has _done abomination and_a _man DOM his/its_daughter-in-law he _has _defiled in_wickedness and_a _man DOM sister _of_his the _daughter _of his/its_father he _has _humiliated in_you.

Show passage in OET: MAL 3:5

OET-RV MAL 3:5

5 This is what Commander-in-chief Yahweh says, “At that time, I’ll come to you all to judge you. I’ll quickly testify against all those who practice sorcery, against adulterers, against those who lie in court, against those who don’t pay their workers fairly, against those who mistreat widows and orphans, against those who don’t treat the foreigners among you decently, and against those who refuse to honour me.

OET-LV MAL 3:5

5 And_I _will _draw _near to_you(pl) for_judgement and_I _will _be a _witness who_hastens on_sorcerers and_on_adulterers and_on_who]_swear _an _oath to_falsehood and_on_those _who_defraud _of (of)_the_hire _of a _hired _labourer a _widow and_a _fatherless _one and_those _who_thrust _aside _of (of)_a _sojourner and_not they_fear _me YHWH soldiers/messengers he _says.

Jump to OET EXO 20:14 section.

Jump to OET DEU 5:18 section.

Jump to OET JER 23:11–14 section.

Jump to OET EZE 22:11 section.

Jump to OET MAL 3:5 section.

The NT echoes that clear condemnation. Where there is no repentance, adultery excludes those who practice it from God’s kingdom (1 Cor 6:9). It is the very opposite of love of one’s neighbor (Rom 13:9-10), and it stands under the judgment of God himself (Heb 13:4).

Show passage in OET: CO1 6:9

OET-RV CO1 6:9

9 Or don’t you all know that those who disobey God won’t inherit his kingdom? Don’t let yourselves be deceived: those who are sexually immoral or idolaters or adulterers, or men who submit to or perform homosexual acts,

OET-LV CO1 6:9

9 Or not you _all _have _known that the_unrighteous of_god the_kingdom not will _be _inheriting?
Not be _being _deceived, neither the_sexually _immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor sodomisers,

Show passage in OET: ROM 13:9–10

OET-RV ROM 13:9

9 which is: Don’t commit adultery. Don’t murder. Don’t steal. Don’t covet what others have. All of those, plus any other commands, can be summarised as: Love your neighbour like you love yourself.

OET-RV ROM 13:10

10 If you love people near to you, you won’t do evil to them, thus love fulfills God’s law.

OET-LV ROM 13:9

9 For/Because which:
Not you _will _be _committing _adultery:
Not you _will _be _murdering:
Not you _will _be _stealing:
not you _will _be _coveting, and if any other command in the message this, is _being _summed _up, in that:
You _will _be _loving the neighbour of _you as yourself.

OET-LV ROM 13:10

10 The love to _the one near evil not is _doing, therefore the_fullness of_the_law the love is.

Show passage in OET: HEB 13:4

OET-RV HEB 13:4

4 Marriage needs to be honoured by everyone and the marriage relationship kept pure, because God will judge adulterers and those who are sexually immoral.

OET-LV HEB 13:4

4 Honored is the wedding in all and the bed be undefiled, the_sexually _immoral for and adulterers will _be _judging the god.

Jump to OET CO1 6:9 section.

Jump to OET ROM 13:9–10 section.

Jump to OET HEB 13:4 section.

In the OT the penalty for adultery is death—for both the man and the woman (Lv 20:10; Dt 22:22). The same applies if the woman is single but engaged to another man, assuming she has not been raped (in which case only the man is to be executed—Dt 22:23-27). The refrain “You will cleanse the land from evil” (22:24) shows that adultery was considered a serious threat to society’s health, not simply an attack on the family lives of the two people involved.

Show passage in OET: LEV 20:10

OET-RV LEV 20:10

10 Any man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, maybe even his neighbours wife, must be executed—both the man and the woman.

OET-LV LEV 20:10

10 And_a _man who he _will _commit _adultery DOM a _wife _of a _man who he _will _commit _adultery DOM the _wife _of his/its_neighbour surely _(die) the_adulterer and_the_adulteress he _will _be _put _to _death.

Show passage in OET: DEU 22:22

OET-RV DEU 22:22

22 If a man is discovered sleeping with another man’s wife, then both of them must be executed. That’s how you’ll remove evil from Yisrael.

OET-LV DEU 22:22

22 If/because a _man he _will _be _found lying with a _woman married _of a _husband and_ also both _of_them the_man who_lay with the_woman and_the_woman _they _will _die and_you _will _remove the_evil from_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

Show passage in OET: DEU 22:23–27

OET-RV DEU 22:23

23 If a young woman is engaged to a man, and another man sleeps with her,

OET-RV DEU 22:24

24 then you must execute both of them at the city gate by throwing rocks at them—the young woman because she didn’t scream, and the man for defiling another man’s fiancée.

OET-RV DEU 22:25

25 If the man found the young woman out in the countryside and overpowers her and rapes her, then the man must be executed

OET-RV DEU 22:26

26 but don’t do anything to that woman because she’s not worthy of death. (This is similar to the case of a man murdering another man out in the countryside.)

OET-RV DEU 22:27

27 When that man found her out in the countryside, then she would have cried out for help, but no one was there to save her.

OET-LV DEU 22:23

23 If/because he _will _be a _young _woman a _virgin betrothed to_a _man and_he_will _find _her a _man in_city and_he _will _lie with_her/it.

OET-LV DEU 22:24

24 And_you(pl)_will _bring _out DOM both _of_them to the _gate _of the_city the_that and_you(pl)_will _stone DOM_them with_stones and_they _will _die DOM the on the _thing _of (of)_that not she _cried _for _help in_city and_DOM the_man on the _thing _of (of)_that he _has _humiliated DOM the _wife _of his/its_neighbour and_you _will _remove the_evil from_midst _of_your.

OET-LV DEU 22:25

25 And_if in _the_field the_man he _will _find DOM the betrothed and_he _will _take _hold on_her the_man and_he _will _lie with_her/it and_ the_man who he _lay with_her/it _he _will _die for_him/it_being _alone.

OET-LV DEU 22:26

26 And not you _will _do anything there_belongs_not mmm sin _of death if/because just_as someone he _will _arise on his/its_neighbour and_he_will _kill _him life is_so the_matter (the)_this.

OET-LV DEU 22:27

27 If/because in_country he_found _her she _cried _for _help the betrothed and_there_was_not a _deliverer to/for_her/it.

Show passage in OET: DEU 22:24

OET-RV DEU 22:24

24 then you must execute both of them at the city gate by throwing rocks at them—the young woman because she didn’t scream, and the man for defiling another man’s fiancée.

OET-LV DEU 22:24

Jump to OET LEV 20:10 section.

Jump to OET DEU 22:22 section.

Jump to OET DEU 22:23–27 section.

Jump to OET DEU 22:24 section.

With such serious consequences, it was important to establish guilt beyond doubt. In cases of serious suspicion but insufficient evidence, the wife concerned was put through an elaborate ritual test that included taking an oath and drinking bitter water. The result was not a matter of chance because she stood in the Lord’s presence (Nm 5:11-31).

In both the OT and NT, the language of adultery is used figuratively to describe human unfaithfulness to God. The OT prophets likened God’s covenant relationship with his people to marriage (Is 54:5-8; cf. Rv 21:2), so in their eyes the breaking of that relationship, especially by idolatry, was equivalent to spiritual adultery (Jer 5:7-8; 13:22-27; Ez 23:37).

Show passage in OET: ISA 54:5–8

OET-RV ISA 54:5

5 because your husband is the one who made you—
⇔ his name is Commander-in-chief Yahweh.
⇔ Yisrael’s (Israel’s) holy one is your protector.
⇔ He’s called the god of the whole world.

OET-RV ISA 54:6

⇔  6 Yes, Yahweh has called you back
⇔ as if you were an abandoned wife with a wounded spirit,
⇔ ≈ or a young wife who was rejected.
¶ Your god says:

OET-RV ISA 54:7

7 I abandoned you for a little while,
⇔ ^ but now I’ll bring you back with great compassion.

OET-RV ISA 54:8

8 I kept away from you for a while in a flood of severe anger,
⇔ but with my permanent loyal commitment, I’ll have compassion on you.
¶ Yahweh who paid the price for your freedom says:

OET-LV ISA 54:5

5 If/because is_your(pl)_of_husband(s) your(pl)_of_maker(s) is_YHWH soldiers/messengers his/its_name and_is_redeemer _of_your the _holy_one_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) the _god _of all _of the_earth/land he _is _called.

OET-LV ISA 54:6

6 If/because like_a _wife who _has _been_abandoned and_who_is_grieved _of spirit he_will _call _you YHWH and_a _wife _of youth(s) if/because she _is _rejected god _of_your he _says.

OET-LV ISA 54:7

7 For_a _moment small I_abandoned _you and_in_compassion(s) great I_will _gather _you.

OET-LV ISA 54:8

8 In_a _flood _of severe _anger I _hid face _of_my a _moment from_you and_in_covenant _loyalty _of perpetuity I_will _have _compassion _on _you redeemer _of_your YHWH he _says.

Show passage in OET: REV 21:2

OET-RV REV 21:2

2 Then I saw the chosen city—the new Yerushalem (Jerusalem)—coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride all dressed up for her husband,

OET-LV REV 21:2

2 And the city the holy, Hierousalaʸm/(Yərūshālayim) the_new, I _saw coming _down out _of the heaven from the god, having _been _prepared as a_bride, having _been _adorned for _the husband of _her.

Show passage in OET: JER 5:7–8

OET-RV JER 5:7

7 How could I forgive you for that?
⇔ Your children have abandoned me and have made oaths by things that are not gods.
⇔ I satisfied them, but they committed adultery
⇔ and ritually cut themselves at the prostitute’s house.

OET-RV JER 5:8

8 They were well-fed, lusty horses,
⇔ each man neighing at his neighbour’s wife.

OET-LV JER 5:7

7 Where for_this will _I _forgive to/for_you(fs) children _of_your they_have _abandoned _me and_they _have _sworn by_not gods and_I _satisfied them and_they _committed _adultery and_the_house _of a _prostitute they _cut _themselves.

OET-LV JER 5:8

8 Horses well _fed lustful they _are everyone to the _wife _of his/its_neighbour they _neigh.

Show passage in OET: JER 13:22–27

OET-RV JER 13:22

22 Then as a country you’ll ask why those things have happened to you.
⇔ It’s the magnitude of your disobedience that’s caused your skirt to be lifted
⇔ and your body to be treated with violence.

OET-RV JER 13:23

23 An Kushi (Ethiopian) person can’t change their skin colour
⇔ ≈ and a leopard can’t change its spots.
⇔ Similarly you all aren’t able to do good
⇔ as you’re all so accustomed to doing evil.

OET-RV JER 13:24

24 I’ll scatter them like straw that’s blown across the wilderness by the wind.

OET-RV JER 13:25

25 Yahweh declares that that’s your part of your inheritance
⇔ as you’ve forgotten me and trusted in lies.

OET-RV JER 13:26

26 So I’ll also pull your skirt up over your face
⇔ and then your shame will become visible.

OET-RV JER 13:27

27 I’ve seen your adultery and neighing—
⇔ the wickedness of your prostitution on the hills and across the countryside.
⇔ I’ve seen your detestable behaviour.
⇔ You won’t end well, Yerushalem (Jerusalem).
⇔ How long will you remain ‘unclean’?

OET-LV JER 13:22

22 And_because/when you _will _say in_heart _of_your why have_they _happened _to _me these_things in_the _greatness _of your _iniquity _of_your of _your(pl)_robe _of_the _skirts they _have _been _uncovered heels _of_your they _have _suffered _violence.

OET-LV JER 13:23

23 Will_ a _Kūshiy/(Cushite) _he _change skin _of_his and_a _leopard spots _of_its also you(pl) you(pl)_will _be _able to_do _good Oh_those_accustomed _of (of)_to _do _evil.

OET-LV JER 13:24

24 And_I_will _scatter _them like_chaff which_passes _away to/for_wind/breath/spirit the _wilderness.

OET-LV JER 13:25

25 This lot _of_is_your the _portion _of your(pl)_measure(s)_of_your from_with_me the _utterance _of YHWH that you _have _forgotten me and_you _have _trusted in_falsehood.

OET-LV JER 13:26

26 And_also I I _will _strip _off of _your(pl)_robe _of_the _skirts over face _of_your and_ shame _of_your _it _will _be _visible.

OET-LV JER 13:27

27 Adulteri(es)_of_your and_neighings _of_your the _wickedness _of your _prostitution _of_your on hills in _the_field I _have _seen things _of_your _detestable woe to/for_you(fs) Oh _Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) not you _are _clean after when yet.

Show passage in OET: EZE 23:37

OET-RV EZE 23:37

37 since they’ve committed adultery, and also have blood on their hands. They’ve committed adultery by worshipping their idols, and they’ve even caused their sons to pass through the fire to be considered as food for their idols.

OET-LV EZE 23:37

37 If/because they _have _committed _adultery and_blood is_on_hands _of_their and_DOM idols _of_their they _have _committed _adultery and_also DOM children _of_their whom they _bore to_me they _made _pass _through to/for_them for_food.

Jump to OET ISA 54:5–8 section.

Jump to OET REV 21:2 section.

Jump to OET JER 5:7–8 section.

Jump to OET JER 13:22–27 section.

Jump to OET EZE 23:37 section.

Jesus used the same imagery to characterize those who either rejected his claims or showed their lack of faith in him by demanding unnecessary extra signs of his deity (Mt 12:39; 16:4; Mk 8:38). And in another vivid NT passage, James describes God as a loving, jealous husband coming to deal with his adulterous people who have become good friends with the world and its false standards (Jas 4:4).

Show passage in OET: MAT 12:39

OET-RV MAT 12:39

39 “It’s an evil and adulterous generation that’s looking for a sign,” answered Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus), “and no sign will be given to it apart from the sign of the prophet Yonah (Jonah).

OET-LV MAT 12:39

39 But he answering said to _them, A_ evil and adulterous _Generation is _seeking _after a_sign, and a_sign ˓will˒_ not _be _being _given to _it, except not/lest the sign of _Yōnas/(Yōnāh) the prophet.

Show passage in OET: MAT 16:4

OET-RV MAT 16:4

4 “This is an evil and adulterous generation that’s wanting a sign, and no sign will be given to it except for the sign of Yonah (Jonah).” Then he left them and went away.

OET-LV MAT 16:4

4 A_ evil and adulterous _generation is _seeking _after a_sign, and a_sign ˓will˒_ not _be _being _given to _it, except not/lest the sign of _Yōnas/(Yōnāh).
And having _left them he _went _away.

Show passage in OET: MRK 8:38

OET-RV MRK 8:38

38 Yes, anyone who’s ashamed of me and my message in front of this adulterous and sinful generation, the son of humanity will likewise be ashamed of them when he comes clearly displaying his father’s greatness and bringing the holy messengers.”

OET-LV MRK 8:38

38 For/Because whoever if may _be _ashamed _of me and the my messages in the this the adulterous and sinful generation, the son of_ the _man ˓will˒_ also _be _being _ashamed of _him whenever he _may _come in the glory of _the father of _him with the the holy messengers.

Show passage in OET: JAM 4:4

OET-RV JAM 4:4

4 You’re just like prostitutes. Don’t you realise that if you befriend the world then you’re opposing God, so anyone who befriends the world makes themself an enemy of God.

OET-LV JAM 4:4

4 Adultresses.
Not you _all _have _known that the friendship with _the world, enmity the of_god is?
Whoever therefore if may _be _wished a_friend to _be of _the world, an_enemy of_ the _god is _being _appointed.

Jump to OET MAT 12:39 section.

Jump to OET MAT 16:4 section.

Jump to OET MRK 8:38 section.

Jump to OET JAM 4:4 section.

This is the special theme of the prophet Hosea. God used the prophet’s own experience of a marriage broken by adultery to teach the seriousness of his people’s unfaithfulness to him (Hos 2:2-6) and his keen longing for a full reconciliation (3:1-5). Spiritual infidelity, like physical adultery, brings God’s judgment. But in both cases his overwhelming desire is for a mended relationship following sincere repentance (Jer 3:1-14; Ez 16:1-63).