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Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

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FORNICATION*

Unchastity, sexual immorality. The word “fornication” is used in the Scriptures to mean several different things.

Its general meaning refers to every kind of illegal sexual intercourse, that is, any intercourse except that between a husband and wife. For example, in 1 Corinthians 5:1 (KJB) the word is used twice to refer to a sin that was being tolerated by the church: a man apparently was cohabitating with his stepmother. In a list of terrible sins in Romans 1:29, the apostle Paul included fornication, apparently intending the term to mean all acts of sexual immorality (KJB). In 1 Corinthians the context suggests that Paul used the word in reference to all sorts of illicit sexual activity (6:13, 18 OET CO1 6:13 · OET CO1 6:18). In 1 Corinthians 7:2 (KJB) Paul used the plural Greek word for “fornications” to imply the various ways in which the sin may manifest itself. He thus gave a reason why people in Corinth should marry and live together properly. One of the sins included in the word’s general sense is adultery.

Show passage in OET: CO1 5:1

OET-RV CO1 5:1

5 Actually, we’ve been hearing that there’s sexual immorality there among you all, and so bad that even non-believers don’t do it: a man is sleeping with his step-mother!

OET-LV CO1 5:1

5 Actually is_being_heard among you_all sexual_immorality, and such sexual_immorality which is not_even among the pagans, so_as the_wife someone of_his father to_be_having.
Show passage in OET: ROM 1:29

OET-RV ROM 1:29

29 and so they were filled with disobedience, wickedness, greed, and malice, and full of envy, murder, strife, and deceit, becoming malicious people, gossips,

OET-LV ROM 1:29

29 having_been_filled with_all unrighteousness, wickedness, greediness, malice, full of_envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness, gossips,
Show passage in OET: CO1 6:13; CO1 6:18

OET-RV CO1 6:13

13 You might say, ‘Food is for the stomach, and the stomach for food,’ but God will eventually abolish them both. Also, the body is not meant to be used for sexual immorality, but rather, for the master, and the master for the body.

OET-RV CO1 6:18

18 Don’t just walk away from sexual immorality, but run away from it, because other forms of disobeying God are outside the body, but sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.

OET-LV CO1 6:13

13 The foods for_the belly, and the belly for_the foods, but the god both this and these will_be_nullifying.
And the body is not the for_sexual_immorality, but for_the master, and the master for_the body.

OET-LV CO1 6:18

18 Be_fleeing the sexual_immorality.
Every sin which if may_practice a_person outside the body is, but the one committing_sexual_immorality against his own body is_sinning.
Show passage in OET: CO1 7:2

OET-RV CO1 7:2

2 However, because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.

OET-LV CO1 7:2

2 But because_of the sexual_immorality, each man the of_himself wife let_be_having, and each woman her own husband let_be_having.

Jump to OET CO1 5:1 section.

Jump to OET ROM 1:29 section.

Jump to OET CO1 6:13 section. · OET CO1 6:18 section.

Jump to OET CO1 7:2 section.

“Fornication” also has a more limited sense of immoral sexual activity between unmarried people. Such a meaning is implied in those biblical lists where both fornication and adultery come together. Jesus’ list of the defiling sins that proceed out of a person’s heart includes “fornication” and “adultery” (Mt 15:19; Mk 7:21). Paul’s list of those sinners who will not inherit the kingdom of God also contains both fornicators and adulterers (1 Cor 6:9, KJB).

Show passage in OET: MAT 15:19

OET-RV MAT 15:19

19 ⇔After all, lust, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, stealing, falsely accusing, and slander, these all come out of the mind.

OET-LV MAT 15:19

19 For/Because out_of the heart are_coming_out evil speculations, murders, adulteries, sexual_immorality, thefts, false_witnesses, slander.
Show passage in OET: MRK 7:21

Combined passage: English MRK 7:21–22 (native MRK 7:21–22; verse text cannot be split).

OET-RV MRK 7:21-22

21-22 ⇔“That’s because evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, arrogance, lust, slander, pride, and foolishness all come from inside people’s hearts and minds.

OET-LV MRK 7:21

21 For/Because from inside the heart of_ the _people are_going_out the the evil speculations, sexual_immoralities, thefts, murders, adulteries,
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,

Jump to OET MAT 15:19 section.

Jump to OET MRK 7:21 section.

Jump to OET CO1 6:9 section.

“Fornication” in Matthew 5:32 and 19:9 (as translated by the KJB) is usually taken by biblical students today to refer specifically to adultery (see NLT). The translation of porneia has to do with interpretation rather than translation. Scholars disagree as to whether Jesus’ exceptive phrase relative to divorce has to do with fornication in a general or limited sense. He might have meant adultery alone, or he might have been including it generally with other sexual sins.

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.

Jump to OET MAT 5:32 section.

Jump to OET MAT 19:9 section.

A figurative use of the word “fornication” appears in both the OT and NT. Originating in descriptions of Israel and the church as the Lord’s wife or the bride, apostasy from God and idolatry are called fornication (see, e.g., Jer 2). Ezekiel 16 uses unfaithfulness to marriage vows as a symbol of Jerusalem’s wayward relationship with God. Jerusalem had become an “unfaithful wife” to him. The first three chapters of Hosea use the relationship of the prophet Hosea and his unfaithful wife, Gomer, as an illustration of how the nation of Israel had become guilty of fornication against its “husband,” the Lord, by going after other gods. In the book of Revelation the figurative use of “fornication” and “impure passion” is ascribed to Babylon the great, the mother of harlots (Rv 14:8; 17:2-4; 18:3; 19:2).

Show passage in OET: REV 14:8

OET-RV REV 14:8

8 Then a second messenger followed, saying, “The powerful Bavel (Babylon) has fallen into ruins, the city that caused all the nations to drink from the wine of the passion of her immorality!”

OET-LV REV 14:8

8 And an_other second messenger followed saying:
Fell, fell Babulōn/(Bāⱱel?
) great, the who of the wine of_the rage of_the sexual_immorality of_her, she_has_given_to_drink all the pagans.
Show passage in OET: REV 17:2–4

OET-RV REV 17:2

2 that the rulers of the earth committed sexual immorality with, and those living on the earth were intoxicated from the wine of her sexual immorality.”

OET-RV REV 17:3

3 Then in the spirit I was carried away to a wilderness and I saw a woman sitting on a wild animal that was scarlet and had anti-God names written all over it. It had seven heads and ten horns.

OET-RV REV 17:4

4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stone and pearls. In her hand she was holding a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality,

OET-LV REV 17:2

2 with whom committed_sexual_immorality the kings of_the earth, and were_being_drunk the ones dwelling_in the earth with the wine of_the sexual_immorality of_her.

OET-LV REV 17:3

3 And he_carried_away me into a_wilderness in the_spirit.
And I_saw a_woman sitting on a_wild_animal scarlet, being_full with_names of_slander, having seven heads and ten horns.

OET-LV REV 17:4

4 And the woman was having_been_clothed in_purple and scarlet, and having_been_gilded gold, and stone precious, and pearls, holding a_cup golden in the hand of_her, being_full of_abominations and the unclean of_the sexual_immorality of_her,
Show passage in OET: REV 18:3

OET-RV REV 18:3

3 All the nations have participated in her immoral passions, and the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become wealthy from the power of her luxury.”

OET-LV REV 18:3

3 Because of the wine of_the rage of_the sexual_immorality of_her, have_fallen all the nations, and the kings of_the earth with her committed_sexual_immorality, and the merchants of_the earth by the power of_the sensuality of_her became_rich.
Show passage in OET: REV 19:2

OET-RV REV 19:2

2 because his judgements are true and honest. He’s judged the famous prostitute who was corrupting the earth with her sexual immorality, and he’s avenged her for the murder of his slaves.”

OET-LV REV 19:2

2 Because true and righteous are the judgements of_him, because he_judged the prostitute the great, who was_corrupting the earth with the sexual_immorality of_her, and he_avenged the blood of_the slaves of_him out_of the_hand of_her.

Jump to OET REV 14:8 section.

Jump to OET REV 17:2–4 section.

Jump to OET REV 18:3 section.

Jump to OET REV 19:2 section.

See also Adultery.