In the biblical context, an "adulteress" refers to a woman who engages in sexual relations outside the bounds of her marriage, violating the covenantal relationship established between her and her husband. The term is often used in both literal and metaphorical senses throughout the Scriptures, symbolizing unfaithfulness to God.

Old Testament References

The Old Testament law explicitly condemns adultery, and the adulteress is subject to severe penalties. In the Ten Commandments, God commands, "You shall not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14). The Mosaic Law prescribes that both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death: "If a man commits adultery with another man's wife, with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress must surely be put to death" (Leviticus 20:10).

The book of Proverbs frequently warns against the dangers of the adulteress, portraying her as a seductress who leads men astray. Proverbs 5:3-5 states, "Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil, in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to Sheol."

New Testament References

In the New Testament, Jesus addresses the issue of adultery with a focus on the heart's intentions. In the Sermon on the Mount, He expands the understanding of adultery beyond physical acts to include lustful thoughts: "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:28).

The account of the woman caught in adultery in John 8:3-11 highlights Jesus' approach to sin and forgiveness. When the scribes and Pharisees bring the adulteress before Him, seeking to stone her according to the Law, Jesus responds, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her." After her accusers leave, Jesus tells the woman, "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more."

Symbolic Use

The concept of an adulteress is also used metaphorically in Scripture to describe spiritual unfaithfulness. The prophets often depict Israel as an adulteress when the nation turns away from God to worship idols. For example, in the book of Hosea, Israel's infidelity is likened to an adulterous wife: "The land is committing blatant acts of adultery by forsaking the LORD" (Hosea 1:2).

In the book of Revelation, the "great prostitute" or "Babylon" is described as an adulteress, symbolizing the corrupt and idolatrous systems of the world that lead people away from God (Revelation 17:1-5).

Moral and Theological Implications

The biblical portrayal of the adulteress serves as a warning against the destructive nature of unfaithfulness, both in human relationships and in one's relationship with God. Adultery is seen as a serious sin that undermines the sanctity of marriage and reflects a deeper spiritual rebellion. The call to repentance and the offer of forgiveness, as demonstrated by Jesus, emphasize the possibility of redemption and restoration for those who turn away from sin.1. (n.) A woman who commits adultery.

2. (n.) A woman who violates her religious engagements.

3428. moichalis -- an adulteress
... an adulteress. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: moichalis Phonetic
Spelling: (moy-khal-is') Short Definition: an adulteress Definition: (a) an ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3428.htm - 6k802. ishshah -- woman, wife, female
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition woman, wife, female NASB Word Usage
adulteress* (2), any woman (1), childbearing* (1), each (3), each one (1), each ...
/hebrew/802.htm - 6k

2114a. zur -- to be a stranger
... root Definition to be a stranger NASB Word Usage adulteress (3), adulteress* (1),
alien (2), aliens (2), another (2), enemies (1), estranged (4), foreign (2 ...
/hebrew/2114a.htm - 5k

5003. naaph -- to commit adultery
... root Definition to commit adultery NASB Word Usage adulterer (3), adulterers (5),
adulteress (3), adulteresses (2), adulteries (1), adulterous (1), adultery (1 ...
/hebrew/5003.htm - 6k

5237. nokri -- foreign, alien
... Word Origin from the same as neker Definition foreign, alien NASB Word Usage adulteress
(2), adulterous woman (2), alien (2), aliens (1), extraordinary (1 ...
/hebrew/5237.htm - 6k

376. ish -- man
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition man NASB Word Usage adulteress* (1),
all (1), another (2), any (6), any man (21), any man's (4), any one (3), anyone ...
/hebrew/376.htm - 7k

The Story of the Adulteress.
... Part Sixth. From the Third Passover Until Our Lord's Arrival at Bethany. (Time:
One Year Less One Week.) LXXIX. The Story of the Adulteress. (Jerusalem.) ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxxix the story of the.htm

Canon Lxxxvii. She who Has Left Her Husband is an Adulteress if ...
... Canon LXXXVII. She who has left her husband is an adulteress if she has come to
another? ... She who goes from her husband to another man is an adulteress. ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon lxxxvii she who has.htm

Christ Refuses to Interfere in Civil Disputes. (Luke, xii. , 13-15 ...
... Section 209. Christ refuses to interfere in Civil Disputes. (Luke, xii.,
13-15.)"His Decision in the Case of the Adulteress. It ...
/.../section 209 christ refuses to.htm

Jewish Criticism of the Law of Christ.
... our Saviour will say, that when Jesus said, "Whosoever shall put away his own wife,
saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress," [6228] He ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/24 jewish criticism of the.htm

Why Jesus Called them an Adulterous Generation. The Law as Husband ...
... A wife is married to a man by God;" [5573] but the other is a paramour of the soul
which is subject to it, which also on account of it is called an adulteress. ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/4 why jesus called them.htm

But I Marvel, If, as it is Allowed to Put Away a Wife Who...
... 7. But I marvel, if, as it is allowed to put away a wife who is an adulteress,
so it be allowed, having put her away, to marry another. ...
/.../augustine/on the good of marriage/section 7 but i marvel.htm

Of the great Harlot, or Mystic Babylon, with the same Seven-headed ...
... 2. The ten-horned beast carries the harlot or adulteress, and the harlot sits
on the beast: therefore, both exist at one and the same time. ...
/.../mede/a key to the apocalypse/synchronism iii of the great.htm

Letter Lv. To Amandus.
... So then, if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall
be called an adulteress." [1635] And in another place: "the wife is bound by ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lv to amandus.htm

Letter cxcix. Canonica Secunda.
... house with impurity, and, by her wicked life, to wrong her owner; but it is forsooth
far more shocking for the bride to become an adulteress, and, dishonouring ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter cxcix canonica secunda.htm

Rom. vi. 19
... So then, if while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she is called
an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xii rom vi 19.htm

Adulteress (12 Occurrences)
...Adulteress (12 Occurrences). ... (WEB ASV RSV NIV). Romans 7:3 So then if, while the
husband lives, she is joined to another man, she would be called an adulteress. ...
/a/adulteress.htm - 9k

Marries (20 Occurrences)
... Matthew 5:32 but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause
of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when ...
/m/marries.htm - 12k

Adultery (49 Occurrences)
... Conjugal infidelity. An adulterer was a man who had illicit intercourse with a married
or a betrothed woman, and such a woman was an adulteress. ...
/a/adultery.htm - 32k

Released (52 Occurrences)
... (See NAS NIV). Romans 7:3 So then if, while the husband lives, she is joined
to another man, she would be called an adulteress. But ...
/r/released.htm - 21k

Dies (71 Occurrences)
... (WEB WEY NAS RSV NIV). Romans 7:3 So then if, while the husband lives, she
is joined to another man, she would be called an adulteress. ...
/d/dies.htm - 26k

Prohibition (1 Occurrence)
... Romans 7:3 This accounts for the fact that if during her husband's life she lives
with another man, she will be stigmatized as an adulteress; but that if her ...
/p/prohibition.htm - 7k

Commits (39 Occurrences)
... Matthew 5:32 but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause
of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when ...
/c/commits.htm - 18k

Accounts (14 Occurrences)
... Romans 7:3 This accounts for the fact that if during her husband's life she lives
with another man, she will be stigmatized as an adulteress; but that if her ...
/a/accounts.htm - 10k

Stigmatized (1 Occurrence)
... Romans 7:3 This accounts for the fact that if during her husband's life she lives
with another man, she will be stigmatized as an adulteress; but that if her ...
/s/stigmatized.htm - 7k

Accordingly (34 Occurrences)
... Romans 7:3 This accounts for the fact that if during her husband's life she lives
with another man, she will be stigmatized as an adulteress; but that if her ...
/a/accordingly.htm - 17k

Who was Gomer in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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Adulteress: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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