Bible Dictionary: Lewdness

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Easton's Bible Dictionary

(Acts 18:14), villany or wickedness, not lewdness in the modern sense of the word. The word "lewd" is from the Saxon, and means properly "ignorant," "unlearned," and hence low, vicious (Acts 17:5).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

LEWD; LEWDNESS

lud, lud'-nes (zimmah, mezimmah, nabhluth; poneros, rhadiourgema):

1. In the Old Testament:

There are three Hebrew words translated "lewd," "lewdness":

(1) Zimmah, meaning a "plan," a "purpose," so translated several times and then shading off into "evil plan"; translated also "heinous crime," "wicked purpose or device." It is the most frequent word for "lewdness": Ezekiel 16:27, "lewd way"; found in Judges 20:6 Ezekiel 16:27, 43, 58; Ezekiel 22:9, 11; 23:21, 27, 29, 35, 44-48, 49; 24:13 Hosea 6:9.

(2) Mezimmah means a "plan," generally "(evil) machination"; used only in Jeremiah 11:15, "lewdness."

(3) Nabhluth, meaning "disgrace" in reference to females. Found only in Hosea 2:10; the American Revised Version margin "shame."

2. In the New Testament:

The word translated "lewd," "lewdness" in the King James Version occurs only twice in the New Testament, and in each instance is more correctly translated in the Revised Version (British and American) by another word:

(1) Poneros, found in Acts 17:5, translated in the American Standard Revised Version "vile." The Greek word elsewhere is translated "bad," "evil," "grievous," "harmful," "malicious," "wicked." the King James Version "lewd" gives the wrong impression. The idea of unchastity is not present in the text or context.

(2) Rhadiourgema likewise occurs only once, namely, Acts 18:14, and is correctly translated in the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version "wicked villany." The thought of impurity or lewdness is foreign to the meaning in this connection.

William Edward Raffety

Greek

4467. rhadiourgema -- a reckless act, a crime
... lewdness. From a comparative of rhaidios (easy, ie Reckless) and ergon; easy-going
behavior, ie (by extension) a crime -- lewdness. see GREEK ergon. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4467.htm - 6k

766. aselgeia -- licentiousness, wantonness
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: aselgeia Phonetic Spelling:
(as-elg'-ia) Short Definition: wantonness, lewdness Definition: (outrageous conduct ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/766.htm - 7k

4684. spatalao -- to live riotously
... Word Origin from spatale (lewdness, luxury) Definition to live riotously NASB Word
Usage gives herself (1), led a life of wanton pleasure (1), wanton pleasure ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4684.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

5040. nabluth -- immodesty, shamelessness
... 5039, 5040. nabluth. 5041 . immodesty, shamelessness. Transliteration: nabluth
Phonetic Spelling: (nab-looth') Short Definition: lewdness. ... lewdness. ...
/hebrew/5040.htm - 6k

2154. zimmah -- a plan, device, wickedness
... 2153, 2154. zimmah. 2155 . a plan, device, wickedness. Transliteration: zimmah
Phonetic Spelling: (zim-maw') Short Definition: lewdness. ...
/hebrew/2154.htm - 6k

4209. mezimmah -- purpose, discretion, device
... wickedly (1). wicked device, discretion, intent, witty invention, lewdness,
mischievous device, thought, wickedly. From zamam; a ...
/hebrew/4209.htm - 6k

5179a. nechosheth -- perhaps lust, harlotry
... 5179, 5179a. nechosheth. 5179b . perhaps lust, harlotry. Transliteration:
nechosheth Short Definition: lewdness. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/5179a.htm - 5k

Library

Some Man Will Say, "So Then any Thief Whatever is to be Accounted ...
... It is a heavier sin to commit theft of avarice than of mercy; and likewise it is
a heavier sin to perpetrate lewdness of luxury, than of mercy; and yet is it a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/against lying/section 19 some man will.htm

On the Sinful Woman.
... What avails this lewdness? ... Why did I not win me one man, who might have corrected
my lewdness? For one man is of God, but many are of Satan.". ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/on the sinful woman.htm

Thou Shalt not Commit Adultery.
... the young were early provided for [married], so that the virgin state was held in
small esteem, neither were public prostitution and lewdness tolerated (as now ...
/.../luther/the large catechism/thou shalt not commit adultery.htm

The Second Canonical Epistle of the Same.
... A married man committing lewdness with a single woman, is severely punished as guilty
of fornication, but we have no canon to treat such a man as an adulterer ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/the second canonical epistle of.htm

The Saviour's Last Command.
... For one who has taught righteousness, purity, truth and mercy, thousands have taught,
by their example, rapacity, drunkenness, lewdness and cruelty. ...
/.../dibble/thoughts on missions/chapter iv the saviours last.htm

But Sometimes a Peril to Eternal Salvation Itself is Put Forth ...
... For why, if those keepers may be enticed to admit us to baptize the man, by our
committing lewdness, do we refuse to do things contrary to chastity, and yet ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/against lying/section 40 but sometimes a.htm

Vindication of Christian Women.
... the skill of Myron, who made a heifer and upon it a Victory because by carrying
off the daughter of Agenor it had borne away the prize for adultery and lewdness ...
/.../tatians address to the greeks/chapter xxxiii vindication of christian women.htm

That the Poetical License which the Greeks, in Obedience to their ...
... of the ancient Romans on this matter is attested by Cicero in his work De Republica,
in which Scipio, one of the interlocutors, says, "The lewdness of comedy ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 9 that the poetical license.htm

Acts xvii. 32-34, xviii. 1
... And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said: If indeed it were any
wrong-doing or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxxix acts xvii 32-34.htm

Certain it Is, Albeit all this Disputation Go from Side to Side...
... violate. For, whatever against our will and without our empowering the same
is by greater force done upon our body, is no lewdness. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/on lying/section 38 certain it is.htm

Thesaurus

Lewdness (68 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary (Acts 18:14), villany or wickedness, not lewdness in the
modern sense of the word. ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. LEWD; LEWDNESS. ...
/l/lewdness.htm - 29k

Lewd (37 Occurrences)
... as, lewd thoughts, conduct, or language. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
LEWD; LEWDNESS. lud, lud'-nes (zimmah, mezimmah, nabhluth ...
/l/lewd.htm - 20k

Enormity (2 Occurrences)
... e-nor'-mi-ti: The marginal rendering in the King James Version of Hosea 6:9 for
"lewdness," and in the Revised Version (British and American) of Leviticus 18:17 ...
/e/enormity.htm - 8k

Prostitution (48 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The act or practice of prostituting or offering the body to an
indiscriminate intercourse with men; common lewdness of a woman. ...
/p/prostitution.htm - 22k

Prostitute (83 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To offer, as a woman, to a lewd use; to give up to lewdness for hire. ... 3.
(a.) Openly given up to lewdness; devoted to base or infamous purposes. ...
/p/prostitute.htm - 33k

Consequences (9 Occurrences)
... sin, and die. (See NIV). Ezekiel 16:58 You have borne your lewdness and your
abominations, says Yahweh. (See NIV). Ezekiel 23:35 Therefore ...
/c/consequences.htm - 8k

Addicted (9 Occurrences)
... And the LORD said to Hosea, Go take to thee a wife addicted to lewdness and children
of lewdness; for the land hath committed great lewdness, departing from ...
/a/addicted.htm - 9k

Whoredom (58 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The practice of unlawful intercourse
with the other sex; fornication; lewdness. 2. (n.) The sin ...
/w/whoredom.htm - 24k

Imitate (13 Occurrences)
... (See NAS NIV). Ezekiel 23:48 Thus will I cause lewdness to cease out of the land,
that all women may be taught not to do after your lewdness. (See NIV). ...
/i/imitate.htm - 10k

Fornications (14 Occurrences)
... and shall take away all thy labour, and shall leave thee naked and bare; so that
the nakedness of thy whoredoms shall be discovered, both thy lewdness and thy ...
/f/fornications.htm - 10k

Bible Concordance

Lewdness (68 Occurrences)

Matthew 5:32 But I say to you, That whoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of lewdness, causeth her to commit adultery: and whoever shall marry her that is divorced, committeth adultery.
(WBS)

Matthew 19:9 And I say to you, Whoever shall put away his wife, except for lewdness, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoever marrieth her who is put away, committeth adultery.
(WBS)

Mark 7:22 covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness.
(See NIV)

Acts 15:20 But that we write to them that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from lewdness, and from things strangled, and from blood.
(WBS)

Acts 15:29 That ye abstain from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from lewdness: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye will do well. Fare ye well.
(WBS)

Acts 18:14 And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:
(KJV)

Acts 21:25 As concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from lewdness.
(WBS)

1 Corinthians 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is lewdness among you, and such lewdness as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
(WBS)

1 Corinthians 5:9 I have written to you in this epistle, not to associate with persons guilty of lewdness:
(WBS)

1 Corinthians 6:13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for lewdness, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
(WBS)

1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee lewdness. Every sin that a man doeth, is without the body; but he that committeth lewdness, sinneth against his own body.
(WBS)

1 Corinthians 7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid lewdness, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
(WBS)

1 Corinthians 10:8 Neither let us commit lewdness, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
(WBS)

2 Corinthians 12:21 And lest, when I come again, my God may humble me among you, and I shall bewail many who have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness, and lewdness, and lasciviousness, which they have committed.
(WBS)

Ephesians 5:3 But lewdness and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
(WBS)

Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; lewdness, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
(WBS)

1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from lewdness.
(WBS)

1 Peter 4:3 For we have spent enough of our past time doing the desire of the Gentiles, and having walked in lewdness, lusts, drunken binges, orgies, carousings, and abominable idolatries.
(WEB)

2 Peter 2:7 And delivered just Lot, grieved with the habitual lewdness of the wicked:
(WBS)

Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit lewdness.
(WBS)

Revelation 2:20 Notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, who calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit lewdness, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.
(WBS)

Revelation 2:21 And I gave her time to repent of her lewdness, and she repented not.
(WBS)

Revelation 9:21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their lewdness, nor of their thefts.
(WBS)

Revelation 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her lewdness.
(WBS)

Revelation 17:2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed lewd deeds, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her lewdness.
(WBS)

Revelation 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet-color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her lewdness:
(WBS)

Revelation 18:9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed lewdness and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
(WBS)

Revelation 19:2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great harlot, who corrupted the earth with her lewdness, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
(WBS)

Genesis 38:24 And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told to Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter-in-law hath played the harlot; and also, behold she is with child by lewdness: and Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.
(WBS)

Leviticus 18:17 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter; thou shalt not take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness; they are near kinswomen: it is wickedness.
(See JPS NAS)

Leviticus 19:29 Profane not thy daughter, to make her a harlot; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness.
(See JPS WBS NAS)

Leviticus 20:5 Then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all that go astray after him, to commit lewdness with Molech from among their people.
(WBS)

Leviticus 21:9 And the daughter of any priest, if she shall profane herself by lewdness, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.
(WBS)

Numbers 25:1 And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit lewdness with the daughters of Moab.
(WBS)

Judges 20:6 I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel; for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS)

Jeremiah 3:2 Lift up thy eyes to the high places, and see where thou hast not been lain with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy acts of lewdness, and with thy wickedness.
(WBS)

Jeremiah 3:9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her lewdness, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.
(WBS)

Jeremiah 11:15 What has my beloved to do in my house, seeing she has worked lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from you? when you do evil, then you rejoice.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS)

Jeremiah 13:27 I have seen your abominations, even your adulteries, and your neighing, the lewdness of your prostitution, on the hills in the field. Woe to you, Jerusalem! You will not be made clean; how long shall it yet be?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS)

Ezekiel 16:17 Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and hast made to thyself images of men, and hast committed lewdness with them.
(WBS)

Ezekiel 16:20 Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne to me, and these hast thou sacrificed to them to be devoured. Is this of thy lewdness a small matter,
(WBS)

Ezekiel 16:22 And in all thy abominations and thy deeds of lewdness thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, when thou wast naked and bare, and wast polluted in thy blood.
(WBS)

Ezekiel 16:33 They give gifts to all lewd women: but thou givest thy gifts to all thy lovers, and hirest them, that they may come to thee on every side for thy lewdness.
(WBS)

Ezekiel 16:34 And the contrary is in thee from other women in thy unlawful commerce, whereas none followeth thee to commit lewdness: and in that thou givest a reward, and no reward is given to thee, therefore thou art contrary.
(WBS)

Ezekiel 16:36 Thus says the Lord Yahweh, Because your filthiness was poured out, and your nakedness uncovered through your prostitution with your lovers; and because of all the idols of your abominations, and for the blood of your children, that you gave to them;
(See NAS)

Ezekiel 16:43 Because you have not remembered the days of your youth, but have raged against me in all these things; therefore, behold, I also will bring your way on your head, says the Lord Yahweh: and you shall not commit this lewdness with all your abominations.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 16:58 You have borne your lewdness and your abominations, says Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 22:9 Slanderous men have been in you to shed blood; and in you they have eaten on the mountains: in the midst of you they have committed lewdness.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 23:17 And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their lewdness, and she was polluted with them, and her mind was alienated from them.
(WBS)

Ezekiel 23:21 Thus you called to memory the lewdness of your youth, in the handling of your bosom by the Egyptians for the breasts of your youth.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 23:27 Thus will I make your lewdness to cease from you, and your prostitution brought from the land of Egypt; so that you shall not lift up your eyes to them, nor remember Egypt any more.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 23:29 and they shall deal with you in hatred, and shall take away all your labor, and shall leave you naked and bare; and the nakedness of your prostitution shall be uncovered, both your lewdness and your prostitution.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 23:35 Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: Because you have forgotten me, and cast me behind your back, therefore you also bear your lewdness and your prostitution.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 23:44 For every one went in unto her, as men go in unto a harlot; so went they in unto Oholah and unto Oholibah, the lewd women.
(See RSV)

Ezekiel 23:48 Thus will I cause lewdness to cease out of the land, that all women may be taught not to do after your lewdness.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 23:49 They shall recompense your lewdness on you, and you shall bear the sins of your idols; and you shall know that I am the Lord Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 24:13 In your filthiness is lewdness: because I have cleansed you and you weren't cleansed, you shall not be cleansed from your filthiness any more, until I have caused my wrath toward you to rest.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Hosea 1:2 The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go take to thee a wife addicted to lewdness and children of lewdness; for the land hath committed great lewdness, departing from the LORD.
(WBS)

Hosea 2:4 And I will not have mercy upon her children; for they are the children of lewdness.
(WBS)

Hosea 2:10 Now I will uncover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and no one will deliver her out of my hand.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Hosea 4:10 For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall be guilty of lewdness, and shall not increase: because they have ceased to take heed to the LORD.
(WBS)

Hosea 4:11 Lewdness and wine and new wine take away the heart.
(WBS)

Hosea 4:12 My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth to them: for the spirit of lewdness hath caused them to err, and they have gone astray from under their God.
(WBS)

Hosea 4:13 They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shade of them is agreeable: therefore your daughters shall be guilty of lewdness, and your spouses shall commit adultery.
(WBS)

Hosea 4:14 I will not punish your daughters when they are guilty of lewdness, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for they themselves are separated with prostitutes, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.
(WBS)

Hosea 5:3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou art guilty of lewdness, and Israel is defiled.
(WBS)

Hosea 5:4 They will not frame their doings to turn to their God: for the spirit of lewdness is in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD.
(WBS)

Hosea 6:9 And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS)

Subtopics

Lewdness

Related Terms

Lewd (37 Occurrences)

Enormity (2 Occurrences)

Prostitution (48 Occurrences)

Prostitute (83 Occurrences)

Consequences (9 Occurrences)

Addicted (9 Occurrences)

Whoredom (58 Occurrences)

Imitate (13 Occurrences)

Fornications (14 Occurrences)