The Hebrew word naʼăphûwph, represented by H5005, is a specific term for adultery. Derived from the root נָאַף, it carries the direct meaning of adultery. This word is exceptionally rare, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entire Bible, highlighting its specialized and impactful use.
The single, powerful appearance of H5005 is in Hosea 2:2. In this verse, the prophet conveys God's plea to the nation of Israel, personified as an unfaithful wife. The Lord declares, "let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts." The term is used to describe the depth of Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness, which has broken the covenant relationship, as God states, "she is not my wife, neither am I her husband" Hosea 2:2.
Several related words provide a broader context for the themes of marital fidelity and spiritual unfaithfulness:
- H2181 zânâh (to commit adultery): This primitive root is often used figuratively to describe idolatry. The people of Israel are described as having a "whorish heart" Ezekiel 6:9 and are repeatedly condemned for going "a whoring after the gods of the strangers" Deuteronomy 31:16.
- H2183 zânûwn (adultery; whoredom): This term, also used for figurative idolatry, appears alongside H5005 in Hosea 2:2. The prophet speaks of a "spirit of whoredoms" Hosea 4:12 that leads the people astray and is commanded to take a "wife of whoredoms" as a sign to the nation Hosea 1:2.
- H802 ʼishshâh (woman; wife): This word establishes the covenantal relationship that adultery violates. The command for a man to cleave to his wife Genesis 2:24 stands in stark contrast to God's declaration in Hosea 2:2 that Israel is "not my wife" due to her unfaithfulness.
The theological weight of H5005 is concentrated in its singular, dramatic use.
- Covenant Betrayal: The term frames Israel's idolatry not merely as disobedience but as a profound violation of the sacred, marital covenant between the nation and God.
- Spiritual Adultery: The use of H5005 is a prime example of the biblical metaphor where God is the faithful husband and Israel is his wife. Pursuing other gods is therefore portrayed as the ultimate act of spiritual adultery.
- A Call for Purity: The context in Hosea 2:2 is a plea for repentance. The command to "put away" her adulteries shows that the sin is a defilement that must be removed for the relationship to be restored.
In summary, naʼăphûwph H5005 is a highly specific and potent word for adultery. Its sole use in Hosea 2:2 serves as a critical theological anchor, defining Israel's idolatry as a deep, personal betrayal of its marital covenant with God. Though appearing only once, it provides a vivid and emotionally charged depiction of unfaithfulness and the pain it causes within the divine-human relationship.
TRV