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Definition of Adultery in Scripture

In the Old Testament, adultery is defined as the voluntary sexual relations of a married person with someone other than their lawful spouse. The Hebrew term na’aph denotes this act specifically. Adultery is a grave violation of God’s moral law and is distinct from other sexual sins, such as fornication (porneia in Greek), which refers to sexual relations between unmarried individuals (1 Corinthians 5:1). The distinction between adulterers (moichoi) and fornicators (pornoi) is maintained in scripture (1 Corinthians 6:9).

Adultery is forbidden in the Ten Commandments: “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18). The prohibition underscores the sanctity of marriage and the family, which are foundational to God’s design for human relationships. Leviticus 18:20 provides a specific prohibition: “You shall not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife to defile yourself with her.” Adultery breaches the covenant of marriage and damages the trust and unity it is meant to preserve.

Punishment for Adultery in the Old Testament

Under the Mosaic Law, adultery was considered such a serious offense that it carried the death penalty. 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 are to be put to death.” While the specific method of execution is not detailed in every instance, stoning is mentioned as a prescribed punishment in certain cases (Deuteronomy 22:22–24). Ezekiel 16:40 also describes stoning as a means of punishment for adultery.

This severe penalty reflects the seriousness with which God views the sin of adultery. It is not merely a private matter but a societal transgression that undermines the integrity of the family and community. Numbers 5:11–31 further illustrates how suspicions of adultery were addressed under the law, with the accused undergoing a ceremonial ordeal to determine guilt or innocence.

Adultery in Israel’s History

Despite the clear prohibitions, adultery was a recurring problem among the Israelites. Job describes the actions of an adulterer: “The eye of the adulterer watches for dusk; he thinks, ‘No eye will see me,’ and he keeps his face concealed” (Job 24:15). Proverbs warns repeatedly about the dangers of adultery: “For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end, she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword” (Proverbs 5:3–4).

Even Israel’s greatest leaders were not immune to this sin. King David committed adultery with Bathsheba and subsequently orchestrated the death of her husband, Uriah, to cover up his wrongdoing (2 Samuel 11:2–27). While David repented deeply for his sin (Psalm 51), the consequences of his actions—family strife, public disgrace, and the death of his child—highlight the far-reaching effects of adultery.

Jeremiah rebuked the widespread adultery among Israel’s leaders and people: “The land is full of adulterers; because of the curse, the land lies parched and the pastures in the wilderness are withered” (Jeremiah 23:10). The prevalence of this sin was symptomatic of Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness to God.

Adultery in the New Testament

The New Testament reiterates and expands the prohibition against adultery. Jesus emphasized the moral seriousness of this sin by addressing not only the act but also the thoughts and intentions behind it. In the Sermon on the Mount, he declared, “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). Jesus’ teaching underscores the heart as the source of sin, reinforcing that righteousness must go beyond external behavior to internal purity.

In John 8:1–11, Jesus famously addressed a case of adultery when a woman was brought before him by the Pharisees. They cited the Mosaic Law, which required her stoning, and sought to test Jesus’ adherence to the law. Jesus responded, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7). While Jesus exposed the hypocrisy of the accusers, he did not condone the woman’s sin, instructing her to “go now and leave your life of sin” (John 8:11). This account highlights both Jesus’ compassion and the call to repentance.

Adultery and Divorce

Jesus addressed the issue of divorce in relation to adultery, providing clarification on the Mosaic Law. In Matthew 5:31–32, he stated, “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

The Jewish debate over divorce during Jesus’ time centered on the interpretation of Deuteronomy 24:1, which permitted divorce for “something indecent.” The school of Hillel allowed divorce for almost any reason, while the school of Shammai restricted it to sexual immorality. Jesus sided with the stricter interpretation, affirming the sanctity of marriage and limiting divorce to cases of marital unfaithfulness.

Matthew 19:8–9 further clarifies Jesus’ teaching: “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” Jesus points back to God’s original design for marriage, emphasizing its permanence and sacredness.

Paul’s Teaching on Divorce and Adultery

The Apostle Paul addressed marital issues in a different cultural and historical context. In 1 Corinthians 7:10–15, Paul instructed believers to remain married, even if their spouse was an unbeliever, as long as the unbelieving spouse was willing to stay. However, he allowed for divorce if the unbelieving spouse chose to leave, stating, “If the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace” (1 Corinthians 7:15).

Paul’s teaching complements Jesus’ words by addressing situations that Jesus did not specifically discuss. Jesus dealt with the misuse of divorce under the Mosaic Law, while Paul addressed the challenges of mixed-faith marriages in the early Christian community. In both cases, the focus remains on upholding the sanctity of marriage and fostering peace and righteousness.

Under verse 15 of chapter 7, a husband or wife is not enslaved to a spouse who has left him or her and has refused reconciliation. If the husband or wife, who has been left by the other has done his or her due diligence of trying to reconcile (7:10-13), and they have an unbeliever who will never return, nor ever remarry, the brother or sister is not enslaved and are free to remarry under Paul’s words, not Jesus, because Jesus was not dealing with this particular circumstance. Jesus and Paul were not contradicting each other, just as Paul and James did not contradict each other over faith and works. Paul is complimenting Jesus’ words because he is dealing with an entirely different context and historical setting. However, if anyone argues that Paul was not offering an exception clause to Jesus’ words, then Paul would be contradicting Jesus. There is no reason for Paul to talk about ‘not being enslaved’ to their husband or wife if he were not offering an exception clause to Jesus’ words about divorce, nor would there be a reason for Paul to say, ‘These are not Jesus words, they are mine.’ In other words, Jesus did not touch on this circumstance, ‘I, an inspired apostle, am dealing with it.’ Thus, Paul is offering an exception, so there is no contradiction.

The cited Scriptures from the Book of Matthew present Jesus’s teachings on divorce, emphasizing that a man should not divorce his wife except on grounds of sexual immorality. This was a response to the misuse of divorce provisions in the Mosaic Law, where men were divorcing their wives for trivial reasons. At the time, there was a debate among the Pharisees about the interpretation of Moses’s divorce regulations, with more liberal interpretations allowing for divorce for trivial or superficial reasons.

However, the Apostle Paul, in his letters to the Corinthians, presents an additional perspective in a different historical context. Paul addresses the issue of believers being married to unbelievers, stating that if the unbelieving spouse is willing to stay, the believer should not seek divorce. If, however, the unbelieving spouse decides to leave, the believer is not bound to the marriage and can live in peace.

This does not contradict Jesus’s teachings but adds to them, considering a new circumstance that Jesus did not specifically address. Jesus was dealing with the misuse of divorce under the Mosaic Law, while Paul was dealing with a situation where believers were married to non-believers. Thus, Paul’s words serve as an extension, not a contradiction, of Jesus’s teachings on divorce, addressing a different set of circumstances within a different context and historical setting. It is crucial to consider the historical and situational contexts when interpreting these teachings.

Adultery as a Symbol of Spiritual Unfaithfulness

The Bible frequently uses adultery as a metaphor for spiritual unfaithfulness. Israel’s idolatry and covenant-breaking are likened to an unfaithful spouse. Jeremiah 3:8–9 portrays Israel’s worship of false gods as adultery: “I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery.”

In the New Testament, James 4:4 warns against friendship with the world as spiritual adultery: “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” This imagery emphasizes the seriousness of loyalty to God and the consequences of turning away from him.

Redemption and Restoration

While the Bible condemns adultery, it also offers hope for repentance and restoration. David’s repentance after his sin with Bathsheba demonstrates God’s mercy. Psalm 51 is a heartfelt plea for forgiveness: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions” (Psalm 51:1).

The New Testament assures believers of God’s willingness to forgive those who genuinely repent. First John 1:9 declares, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

A Call to Holiness

The Bible’s teaching on adultery underscores the sanctity of marriage, the seriousness of sin, and the hope of redemption. Christians are called to honor their marital commitments and to pursue purity in thought and action. Hebrews 13:4 exhorts, “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”

Adultery is not merely a personal failing but a breach of God’s design for relationships. Yet, through Christ, there is forgiveness and restoration for those who turn to him in faith. Believers are encouraged to uphold God’s standards, to seek his grace in times of weakness, and to extend compassion to those who have fallen, pointing them to the hope found in the gospel.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).