### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb G1608 (ekporneúō) is a compound word formed from the preposition ἐκ (ek), meaning "out of" or "from," and the verb πορνεύω (porneúō, `{{G4203}}`), meaning "to commit fornication" or "to act as a harlot." The prefix ἐκ in this context serves as an intensifier, emphasizing the completeness or utter surrender to the act described by the base verb. Thus, ekporneúō signifies "to give oneself over completely to fornication," "to be utterly unchaste," or "to abandon oneself entirely to sexual immorality." While its primary literal meaning pertains to illicit sexual acts, the broader semantic range of πορνεύω and its cognates in biblical literature often extends metaphorically to spiritual unfaithfulness, idolatry, and apostasy, particularly in the Old Testament prophetic tradition where Israel's turning away from God is depicted as harlotry. In the New Testament, ekporneúō retains this intensified sense, pointing to a profound and deliberate plunge into unchastity.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb G1608 (ekporneúō) appears only once in the New Testament, specifically in the Epistle of Jude.
* [[Jude 1:7]]: "just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing a punishment of eternal fire."
In this verse, Jude uses the historical judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah as a stark warning against the false teachers and their immoral conduct. The phrase "indulged in sexual immorality" (ἐκπορνεύσασαι) directly refers to the extreme and pervasive sexual depravity of these cities. The aorist participle indicates a completed action, highlighting their definitive and total abandonment to unchastity, specifically "going after strange flesh" (σαρκὸς ἑτέρας ἀπελθοῦσαι). This phrase is often interpreted as referring to homosexual acts, bestiality, or even sexual relations with demonic entities, underscoring the unnatural and extreme nature of their sin. The use of ekporneúō here powerfully conveys the depth of their moral corruption, which led to their exemplary destruction, serving as a terrifying precedent for those who similarly give themselves over to ungodliness. The intensity of the verb underscores the severity of the sin and the justification for the commensurate divine judgment.
### Related Words & Concepts
The study of G1608 is enriched by examining its relationship to other key terms:
* πορνεύω (porneúō, `{{G4203}}`): The base verb from which ekporneúō is derived. It broadly refers to committing fornication, prostitution, or idolatry. Its usage is more common and covers a wider range of illicit sexual activity than G1608, which specifically denotes an intensified, complete surrender to such acts.
* πορνεία (porneia, `{{G4202}}`): The noun form, meaning "fornication," "sexual immorality," or "prostitution." It is a comprehensive term for all illicit sexual relations outside of marriage, including adultery, premarital sex, homosexuality, and incest. Metaphorically, it also denotes spiritual harlotry or idolatry.
* πόρνη (porne, `{{G4204}}`): The noun for "harlot" or "prostitute."
* μοιχεύω (moicheuō, `{{G3431}}`): To commit adultery. While πορνεία is a broader term for sexual sin, μοιχεύω specifically refers to infidelity within marriage. The sin of Sodom, described by ekporneúō, falls under the broader category of πορνεία due to its extreme and unnatural nature, rather than being solely adultery.
* In the Old Testament, the Hebrew verb זָנָה (zanah, `{{H2181}}`) frequently describes both literal prostitution and, more significantly, Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness to God through idolatry and covenant breaking. This metaphorical usage of "harlotry" to describe spiritual apostasy finds its parallel in the New Testament's understanding of πορνεία and, by extension, the intensified ekporneúō as a complete turning away from divine standards.
### Theological Significance
The singular occurrence of G1608 in [[Jude 1:7]] carries profound theological weight. It highlights the extreme nature of sin, particularly that which involves a complete and deliberate abandonment to immorality. The use of ekporneúō underscores:
1. **Gravity of Sin:** It portrays sexual sin not as a minor transgression but as a profound act of rebellion and utter depravity when one "gives oneself over" to it. This intensifier emphasizes the wilful and complete surrender to unchastity.
2. **Divine Judgment:** The example of Sodom and Gomorrah serves as a stark reminder of God's righteous judgment against such egregious sin. The punishment of "eternal fire" (πυρὸς αἰωνίου) is presented as a direct consequence of their utter moral corruption, demonstrating that God will not tolerate unbridled wickedness.
3. **Warning to Believers:** In the context of Jude's epistle, ekporneúō serves as a severe warning to those within the early Christian communities who were being led astray by false teachers promoting licentiousness. It calls believers to holiness and faithfulness, reminding them of the dire consequences of spiritual and moral apostasy. The implication is that just as Sodom and Gomorrah utterly abandoned themselves to sin, so too can individuals or communities abandon themselves to ungodliness, inviting divine wrath.
4. **Nature of Apostasy:** While literally referring to sexual sin, the broader context of Jude's warnings against false teachers suggests that ekporneúō also implicitly speaks to a spiritual "giving oneself over" to unfaithfulness, mirroring the Old Testament concept of Israel's spiritual harlotry.
### Summary
The Greek verb G1608 (ekporneúō) signifies "to give oneself over completely to fornication" or "to be utterly unchaste," with the prefix ἐκ serving as an intensifier of the base verb πορνεύω (`{{G4203}}`). Its sole New Testament occurrence in [[Jude 1:7]] powerfully describes the extreme sexual depravity of Sodom and Gomorrah, which led to their exemplary destruction by divine judgment. This term underscores the gravity of sin, particularly when there is a complete and deliberate abandonment to immorality, whether literal sexual unchastity or metaphorical spiritual apostasy. The theological significance of ekporneúō lies in its emphatic portrayal of the severity of sin and its direct correlation with God's righteous and inescapable judgment, serving as a timeless warning for all who would contemplate surrendering to ungodliness.
TRV