What does the Greek word "arsenokoitai" mean?

Definition and Etymology

The Greek term “arsenokoitai” (ἀρσενοκοῖται) appears in the New Testament in 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10. It is formed from two Greek words—“arsen” (ἄρσην), meaning “male,” and “koitē” (κοίτη), meaning “bed.” When combined, the phrase conveys “males who lie (in bed) with males,” pointing to a specific context of sexual activity between men.

The term does not have a heavy presence in extant Greek literature prior to its appearance in the New Testament, which leads many scholars to conclude that it may be a unique or rarely used compound, possibly coined or popularized by the Apostle Paul. The linguistic construction is straightforward—“male” plus “bed”—and indicates a form of same-sex intercourse.

Biblical Occurrences

In the New Testament, “arsenokoitai” appears in lists of behaviors that are set in opposition to the holiness and righteousness taught throughout Scripture. The two primary verses are as follows (Berean Standard Bible):

• 1 Corinthians 6:9: “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts…”

• 1 Timothy 1:9–10: “We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane… for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching.”

In both contexts, “arsenokoitai” appears within vice lists that contrast behaviors inconsistent with the teaching and moral framework upheld by the biblical authors.

Old Testament and Septuagint Influence

A widely accepted view is that Paul drew his terminology from the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament), specifically texts such as Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, which forbid a man lying with another man as with a woman. In these passages, the Greek words “arsen” and “koitē” appear side by side. By combining these terms, 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10 showcase a continuity with the moral prohibitions of the Old Testament.

The Hebrew text of these Levitical passages—and its Greek rendering found in the Septuagint—has been confirmed by a wealth of manuscript evidence, including the Dead Sea Scrolls (for the Hebrew) and early papyri fragments (for the Greek). This consistency supports the conclusion that the moral prohibition against male same-sex intercourse was carried forward into the New Testament era.

Cultural and Historical Background

The Greco-Roman world in which Paul wrote was marked by diverse sexual practices, including pederasty and a variety of same-sex relationships. Historical documents, such as certain writings by ancient Greek philosophers, poets, and Roman historians, depict male-to-male sexual behavior as practiced in certain segments of society.

Against this backdrop, biblical writings present moral directives distinct from prevailing cultural norms. Lists of behaviors in New Testament letters, like those found in 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy, were designed to outline ethical standards for believers, differentiating the early Christian community’s ethics from other facets of Greco-Roman culture.

Lexical Studies and Early Church Writings

Early Greek lexicons (such as those compiled from the writings of the early Church Fathers) and modern scholarly lexicons (e.g., BDAG—Bauer, Danker, Arndt, and Gingrich) define “arsenokoitai” as referring to men engaging in sexual activity with men.

Church Fathers like John Chrysostom and others, who wrote in Greek and were close to the New Testament era, also addressed the issue of same-sex relations and upheld interpretations consistent with a prohibition against men having sexual relations with males. Although they may use different phrases alongside “arsenokoitai” when discussing behavior they deemed unacceptable, the definition aligns with these lexicons and the biblical context.

Interpretative Challenges

Over the centuries, some have proposed alternate meanings for “arsenokoitai.” However, the direct etymology, its pairing with other sexually immoral behaviors, and parallel prohibitions in the Old Testament strongly indicate that the word targets male same-sex intercourse.

• Some propose that “arsenokoitai” references specific exploitative acts (such as pederasty or prostitution), but the context of the Pauline vice lists goes beyond one specific situation; it addresses a pattern of moral standards.

• When considering the immediate literary context—lists that include “sexually immoral” (Greek: πόρνοι, pornoi) and overlapping terms that include “male prostitutes” in some translations—it becomes clearer that “arsenokoitai” is one term among several closely related yet distinct offenses.

Consistency with the Biblical Narrative

This understanding of “arsenokoitai” is consistent with broader biblical teachings about sexuality, from Genesis (where the male-female design is foundational to marriage) to Jesus’ reaffirmation of male-female marriage in discussions about divorce and fidelity (cf. Matthew 19:4–6).

The moral stance in these lists underscores a broader theme of turning away from activities that contradict God’s design. The unity and reliability of biblical manuscripts—supported by comprehensive textual criticism and archaeological discoveries verifying early copies—bolster confidence in the New Testament’s meaning and doctrinal consistency on this matter.

Conclusion

“Arsenokoitai” is a Greek term composed of “male” and “bed,” referring in New Testament contexts to men who engage in same-sex intercourse. Its usage in 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10 reflects continuity with Old Testament moral standards.

Etymological analysis, the wider witness of Scripture, early manuscript evidence (such as the Dead Sea Scrolls for the Old Testament and various Greek manuscripts for the New Testament), and early church commentary converge on the understanding that “arsenokoitai” identifies male same-sex sexual relationships as contrary to biblical commands.

In short, “arsenokoitai” is a term that points specifically to men lying sexually with other men. These scriptural passages thereby contribute to the Bible’s broader ethical teaching on human sexuality, upholding what is understood to be a divinely instituted design—and inviting all believers to honor that design within a faithful, biblical worldview.