from πόρνη; to act the harlot, i.e. (literally) indulge unlawful lust (of either sex), or (figuratively) practise idolatry:--commit (fornication).
Transliteration:porneúō
Pronunciation:porn-yoo'-o
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb πορνεύω (porneúō, `{{G4203}}`) derives from πόρνη (pornē, `{{G4204}}`), meaning "harlot" or "prostitute." Its primary semantic range encompasses two significant dimensions:
1. **Literal Meaning:** To "act the harlot" or "commit fornication." This refers to engaging in unlawful sexual intercourse, encompassing any sexual activity outside of the divinely sanctioned covenant of marriage. It denotes indulgence in illicit lust, applicable to both sexes. This is a broad term for sexual immorality, distinct from but often overlapping with adultery (μοιχεία, `{{G3430}}`), which specifically refers to sexual unfaithfulness within marriage.
2. **Figurative Meaning:** To "practice idolatry" or "commit spiritual harlotry." In this sense, πορνεύω serves as a powerful metaphor for unfaithfulness to God. Just as a physical harlot breaks the covenant of fidelity, so does one who turns away from the true God to worship idols or pursue worldly allegiances. This figurative usage is deeply rooted in Old Testament prophetic tradition, where Israel's idolatry was often depicted as spiritual adultery or prostitution.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb πορνεύω (porneúō, `{{G4203}}`) appears in the New Testament, illustrating both its literal and figurative applications:
* **Literal Context:** In [[1 Corinthians 10:8]], Paul warns against repeating the sins of the Israelites in the wilderness: "Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand." Here, πορνεύω refers to the historical sexual immorality of the Israelites, likely referencing the incident at Peor in [[Numbers 25]], where they engaged in sexual sin and idolatry with Moabite women. This highlights the severe consequences of such actions, leading to divine judgment.
* **Figurative Context:** The book of Revelation prominently employs πορνεύω in a figurative sense to describe the spiritual harlotry of "Babylon the Great." In [[Revelation 18:3]], it states, "For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies." Similarly, [[Revelation 18:9]] reiterates, "And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning." In these passages, "fornication" does not primarily denote physical sexual acts but rather the spiritual and political alliance with the corrupt world system (Babylon), which entices nations and leaders into idolatry, materialism, and rebellion against God. This spiritual πορνεύω signifies unfaithfulness to God through allegiance to worldly power and false worship.
### Related Words & Concepts
Understanding πορνεύω (porneúō, `{{G4203}}`) is enhanced by examining its lexical family and related theological concepts:
* **Lexical Family:**
* πόρνη (pornē, `{{G4204}}`): The noun for "harlot" or "prostitute," from which πορνεύω is derived.
* πορνεία (porneia, `{{G4202}}`): The noun for "fornication," "sexual immorality," or "prostitution." This is the most common term for illicit sexual activity in the New Testament.
* πορνός (pornos, `{{G4205}}`): The noun for "fornicator" or "one who commits sexual immorality."
* **Related Sinful Concepts:**
* μοιχεία (moicheia, `{{G3430}}`): Adultery, specifically sexual unfaithfulness within marriage. While distinct, πορνεία often serves as a broader category that can encompass adultery.
* ἀκαθαρσία (akatharsia, `{{G167}}`): Uncleanness, impurity, often used in conjunction with sexual sin.
* ἀσέλγεια (aselgeia, `{{G766}}`): Lasciviousness, licentiousness, unrestrained indulgence.
* **Theological Concepts:**
* **Idolatry:** The worship of anything other than the one true God. This is the direct spiritual counterpart to πορνεύω in its figurative sense, often depicted as spiritual adultery in the Old Testament (e.g., [[Ezekiel 16]], [[Hosea 1-3]]).
* **Covenant Unfaithfulness:** Both literal sexual immorality and figurative idolatry represent a breaking of covenant with God, who calls His people to exclusive devotion and purity.
* **Defilement:** Acts of πορνεύω are consistently presented as defiling both the individual and the community, rendering them impure before a holy God.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of πορνεύω (porneúō, `{{G4203}}`) is profound, touching upon God's holiness, human purity, and the nature of covenant relationship:
1. **Violation of God's Design:** πορνεύω in its literal sense fundamentally violates God's created order for human sexuality, which is designed for purity, fidelity, and procreation exclusively within the covenant of marriage. It is an act of rebellion against divine wisdom and goodness.
2. **Defilement of the Body:** The New Testament teaches that the believer's body is a temple of the Holy Spirit ([[1 Corinthians 6:18-20]]). To "commit fornication" is therefore to defile this sacred dwelling, demonstrating a lack of reverence for God's presence within the believer.
3. **Exclusion from God's Kingdom:** The practice of πορνεύω is consistently listed among the "works of the flesh" that prevent entry into the kingdom of God ([[Galatians 5:19-21]], [[Ephesians 5:5]]). It marks one as outside the sphere of God's saving grace if unrepented. [[Revelation 21:8]] lists "fornicators" among those whose destiny is the lake of fire.
4. **Spiritual Adultery/Idolatry:** The figurative use of πορνεύω underscores the gravity of spiritual unfaithfulness. Just as sexual immorality breaks a sacred human bond, idolatry and allegiance to worldly systems break the exclusive covenant bond with God. This metaphor highlights that God demands singular devotion from His people and views any turning away to false gods or worldly pursuits as a profound act of betrayal.
5. **Call to Purity:** The presence of πορνεύω in biblical warnings serves as a powerful call to sexual purity and singular devotion to God. It underscores that holiness is not merely an abstract concept but applies directly to one's physical and spiritual fidelity.
### Summary
πορνεύω (porneúō, `{{G4203}}`) is a Greek verb carrying significant weight, signifying both literal sexual immorality and, critically, figurative spiritual idolatry. Rooted in the concept of a "harlot" (πόρνη, `{{G4204}}`), it describes the act of engaging in unlawful lust and, metaphorically, the act of spiritual unfaithfulness to God. Biblical occurrences, such as in [[1 Corinthians 10:8]], illustrate its literal application to historical events of sexual sin, while its prominent use in Revelation ([[Revelation 18:3]], [[Revelation 18:9]]) powerfully depicts spiritual harlotry as the idolatrous alliance of worldly powers with evil. Theologically, πορνεύω represents a profound violation of God's created order for sexuality, a defilement of the believer's body as the Spirit's temple, and a grave act of covenant unfaithfulness that can exclude one from God's kingdom. Its dual meaning underscores the biblical emphasis on both physical purity and absolute devotion to the one true God, equating spiritual idolatry with the profound betrayal inherent in sexual immorality.
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