πορν-εία G4202
Sexual immorality, fornication; any illicit sexual conduct outside the covenant of marriage, also used figuratively for idolatry
Porneia is the broad Greek term for sexual immorality, encompassing fornication, adultery, incest, and every form of illicit sexual conduct. Jesus cites it as the sole exception clause for divorce (Matt 5:32; 19:9), and it appears in vice lists alongside theft and murder (Matt 15:19; Mark 7:21). In the Septuagint and Revelation, the term extends metaphorically to spiritual unfaithfulness — idolatry as harlotry against God. The word's range is deliberately wide: it names not one specific act but the entire category of covenant-breaking sexual behavior.
Senses
1. sexual immorality / fornication — Illicit sexual conduct broadly conceived, including fornication, adultery, and incest, set in opposition to covenant faithfulness. Jesus names it as the one ground for divorce (Matt 5:32; 19:9), and Paul lists it among works of the flesh. Spanish 'fornicación,' French 'débauche/fornication,' and German 'Hurerei/Unzucht' all reflect the word's breadth. In prophetic-apocalyptic contexts (Rev 17–18) the term extends to idolatrous unfaithfulness, portraying spiritual betrayal through the metaphor of sexual infidelity. 25×
AR["الزِّنا", "الزِّنى", "الزِّنَا", "الزِّنَى", "زِناها", "زِناً", "زِنًى", "زِنَاهُمْ", "زِنَى"]·ben["ব্যভিচার", "ব্যভিচার,", "ব্যভিচার-থেকে।", "ব্যভিচারে", "ব্যভিচারের", "ব্যভিচারের-জন্য,"]·DE["Hurerei", "Unzucht"]·EN["fornication", "sexual-immorality"]·FR["débauche", "fornication"]·heb["הַ-", "וְ-", "זְנוּת", "זְנוּתָהּ"]·HI["व्यभिचअर", "व्यभिचअर,", "व्यभिचार", "व्यभिचार-से"]·ID["percabulan", "percabulan,", "percabulan.", "perzinaan", "perzinahan"]·IT["fornicazione"]·jav["jina", "jina,", "jina.", "laku-jina", "laku-jina.", "laku-jina;", "palanyahanipun"]·KO["음행", "음행,", "음행-에게", "음행-의", "음행과", "음행에서", "음행은", "음행을", "음행의"]·PT["de-fornicação.", "fornicar.", "fornicação", "fornicação,", "imoralidade", "imoralidade,", "prostituição", "prostituíção"]·RU["блуд", "блуд,", "блуда", "блуда.", "блуде", "блудодейства", "блудодеянии", "блудодеяния", "блуду,"]·ES["de-fornicación", "fornicación"]·SW["na", "uasherati", "uasherati,", "uasherati.", "uzinzi"]·TR["fahişeliğinin", "fahişeliğiyle", "fuhsu", "fuhusa", "fuhuş", "fuhuşlarından", "fuhuştan", "fuhuşun", "fuhuşundan", "fuhştan", "için-", "o-", "zinacılığın"]·urd["حرامکاری", "حرامکاری-سے", "حرامکاری-کی", "حرامکاری-کے", "حرامکاری-کے-لیے", "زنا", "زناکاری"]
Matt 5:32, Matt 15:19, Matt 19:9, Mark 7:21, John 8:41, Acts 15:20, Acts 15:29, Acts 21:25, 1 Cor 5:1, 1 Cor 5:1, 1 Cor 6:13, 1 Cor 6:18 (+13 more)
Related Senses
H2896a 1. good (quality or moral) (305×)H7563 1. wicked person (259×)H7451c 1. moral evil or wickedness (234×)H5771 1. iniquity, sin, wrongdoing (222×)H6662 1. righteous person (substantive) (195×)G0266 1. sin, failure, transgression (173×)H2403b 1. sin, transgression (170×)H2617a 1. Covenant faithfulness, steadfast love (167×)H2398 1. Qal: to sin, commit sin (165×)H6666 1. righteousness, moral uprightness (145×)G5485 1. grace, divine favor (141×)H7451a 1. morally evil, wicked (129×)H2403b 2. sin-offering, sacrifice for sin (120×)G2570 1. good, right, excellent (98×)H6588 1. transgression, offense against God (88×)G0018 1. good (moral quality) (85×)H2896b 1. good, what is good (85×)H7451b 1. evil, wickedness (moral) (83×)H7451a 2. evil, harm, calamity (80×)G1342 1. righteous, upright (of persons) (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
πορν-εία, Ionic dialect πορν-είη, ἡ, prostitution, Refs 5th c.BC+; of a man, Refs 4th c.BC+; fornication, unchastity, NT __II metaphorically, idolatry, LXX