Topical Bible: Harlot

Jump to: Smith's • ATS • ISBE • Easton's • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical literature, the term "harlot" is often used to describe a woman who engages in sexual immorality, particularly prostitution. The concept of harlotry is not only a literal reference to physical acts but also serves as a metaphor for spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry. The Bible frequently uses the imagery of harlotry to illustrate the unfaithfulness of God's people when they turn away from Him to worship other gods.

Old Testament References

The Old Testament contains numerous references to harlotry, both in its literal and metaphorical senses. One of the earliest mentions is found in the account of Tamar in Genesis 38. Tamar disguises herself as a harlot to seduce Judah, her father-in-law, in order to secure her rights within the family lineage. This narrative highlights the complex social and familial dynamics of the time.

In the prophetic literature, harlotry is often used to describe Israel's unfaithfulness to God. The book of Hosea is a prominent example, where the prophet Hosea is commanded by God to marry Gomer, a woman described as a harlot, to symbolize Israel's infidelity. Hosea 1:2 states, "When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, He said to him, 'Go, take for yourself a wife of prostitution and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is committing blatant acts of prostitution by forsaking the LORD.'"

The book of Ezekiel also uses the imagery of harlotry to depict Jerusalem's spiritual adultery. Ezekiel 16:15 says, "But you trusted in your beauty and played the harlot because of your fame. You lavished your favors on everyone who passed by, and your beauty was theirs for the asking."

New Testament References

In the New Testament, the term "harlot" continues to carry both literal and symbolic meanings. Jesus' ministry included interactions with women labeled as harlots, demonstrating His message of redemption and forgiveness. In Matthew 21:31-32 , Jesus says to the chief priests and elders, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did."

The book of Revelation uses the imagery of a harlot to describe the corrupt and idolatrous systems of the world. Revelation 17:1-2 introduces the "great prostitute" who sits on many waters, with whom "the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality."

Theological Implications

The use of the term "harlot" in the Bible serves as a powerful metaphor for unfaithfulness to God. It underscores the seriousness of idolatry and spiritual adultery, portraying them as betrayals of the covenant relationship between God and His people. The prophetic calls to repentance often involve turning away from such harlotry and returning to a faithful relationship with God.

The narratives involving harlots also highlight themes of redemption and grace. Jesus' interactions with women labeled as harlots demonstrate His willingness to forgive and restore those who repent, emphasizing the transformative power of His ministry. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God's desire for reconciliation and restoration with His people, despite their unfaithfulness.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Harlot

That this class of persons existed in the earliest states of society is clear from (Genesis 38:15) Rahab, (Joshua 2:1) is said by the Chald. Paraphr. to have been an innkeeper; but if there were such persons, considering what we know of Canaanitish morals, (Leviticus 18:27) we may conclude that they would, if women, have been of this class. The "harlots" are classed with "publicans," as those who lay under the ban of society, in the New Testament. (Matthew 21:32)

ATS Bible Dictionary

Harlot

An abandoned woman, Proverbs 29:3; a type of idolatrous nations and cities, Isaiah 1:21 Ezekiel 16:1-63 Nahum 3:4. Among the Jews, prostitutes were often foreigners; hence their name of "strange women." They were often devoted to heathen idols, and their abominations were a part of the worship, Numbers 25:1-5 Hosea 4:14; a custom from the defilement of which the house of God was expressly defended, De 23:18.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

(1.) Hebrews zonah (Genesis 34:31; 38:15). In verses 21, 22 the Hebrew word used in kedeshah, i.e., a woman consecrated or devoted to prostitution in connection with the abominable worship of Asherah or Astarte, the Syrian Venus. This word is also used in Deuteronomy 23:17; Hosea 4:14. Thus Tamar sat by the wayside as a consecrated kedeshah.

It has been attempted to show that Rahab, usually called a "harlot" (Joshua 2:1; 6:17; Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25), was only an innkeeper. This interpretation, however, cannot be maintained.

Jephthah's mother is called a "strange woman" (Judges 11:2). This, however, merely denotes that she was of foreign extraction.

In the time of Solomon harlots appeared openly in the streets, and he solemnly warns against association with them (Proverbs 7:12; 9:14. See also Jeremiah 3:2; Ezek. 16:24, 25, 31). The Revised Version, following the LXX., has "and the harlots washed," etc., instead of the rendering of the Authorized Version, "now they washed," of 1 Kings 22:38.

To commit fornication is metaphorically used for to practice idolatry (Jeremiah 3:1; Ezek. 16:15; Hosea throughout); hence Jerusalem is spoken of as a harlot (Isaiah 1:21).

(2.) Hebrews nokriyah, the "strange woman" (1 Kings 11:1; Proverbs 5:20; 7:5; 23:27). Those so designated were Canaanites and other Gentiles (Joshua 23:13). To the same class belonged the "foolish", i.e., the sinful, "woman."

In the New Testament the Greek pornai, plural, "harlots," occurs in Matthew 21:31,32, where they are classed with publicans; Luke 15:30; 1 Corinthians 6:15,16; Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25. It is used symbolically in Revelation 17:1, 5, 15, 16; 19:2.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) A churl; a common man; a person, male or female, of low birth.

2. (n.) A person given to low conduct; a rogue; a cheat; a rascal.

3. (n.) A woman who prostitutes her body for hire; a prostitute; a common woman; a strumpet.

4. (a.) Wanton; lewd; low; base.

5. (v. i.) To play the harlot; to practice lewdness.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

HARLOT

har'-lot: This name replaces in the Revised Version (British and American) "whore" of the King James Version. It stands for several words and phrases used to designate or describe the unchaste woman, married or unmarried, e.g. zonah, 'ishshah nokhriyah, qedheshah; Septuagint and New Testament porne. porneia is used chiefly of prenuptial immorality, but the married woman guilty of sexual immorality is said to be guilty of porneia (Matthew 5:32; Matthew 19:9; compare Amos 7:17 Septuagint). These and cognate words are applied especially in the Old Testament to those devoted to immoral service in idol sanctuaries, or given over to a dissolute life for gain. Such a class existed among all ancient peoples, and may be traced in the history of Israel. Evidence of its existence in very early times is found (Genesis 38). It grew out of conditions, sexual and social, which were universal. After the corrupting foreign influxes and influences of Solomon's day, it developed to even fuller shamelessness, and its voluptuous songs (Isaiah 23:16), seductive arts (Proverbs 6:24), and blighting influence are vividly pictured and denounced by the prophets (Proverbs 7:10; Proverbs 29:3 Isaiah 23:16 Jeremiah 3:3; Jeremiah 5:7 Ezekiel 16:25; compare Deuteronomy 23:17). Money was lavished upon women of this class, and the weak and unwary were taken captive by them, so that it became one of the chief concerns of the devout father in Israel to "keep (his son) from the evil woman," who "hunteth for the precious life" (Proverbs 6:24, 26). From the title given her in Prov, a "foreign woman" (23:27), and the warnings against "the flattery of the foreigner's tongue" (6:24; compare 1 Kings 11:1 Ezra 10:2), we may infer that in later times this class was chiefly made up of strangers from without. The whole subject must be viewed in the setting of the times. Even in Israel, then, apart from breaches of marriage vows, immoral relations between the sexes were deemed venial (Deuteronomy 22:28). A man was forbidden to compel his daughter to sin (Leviticus 19:29), to "profane (her) and make her a harlot," but she was apparently left free to take that way herself (compare Genesis 38). The children of the harlot, though, were outlawed (Deuteronomy 23:2), and later the harlot is found under the sternest social ban (Matthew 21:31, 32).

The subject takes on even a darker hue when viewed in the light of the hideous conditions that prevailed in ancient Syria affecting this practice. The harlot represented more than a social peril and problem. She was a qedheshah, one of a consecrated class, and as such was the concrete expression and agent of the most insidious and powerful influence and system menacing the purity and permanence of the religion of Yahweh. This system deified the reproductive organs and forces of Nature and its devotees worshipped their idol symbols in grossly licentious rites and orgies. The temple prostitute was invested with sanctity as a member of the religious caste, as she is today in India. Men and women thus prostituted themselves in the service of their gods. The Canaanite sanctuaries were gigantic brothels, legalized under the sanctions of religion. For a time, therefore, the supreme religious question was whether such a cult should be established and allowed to naturalize itself in Israel, as it had done in Babylon (Herodotus i.199) and in Greece (Strabo viii.6). That the appeal thus made to the baser passions of the Israelites was all too successful is sadly clear (Amos 2:7 Hosea 4:13). The prophets give vivid pictures of the syncretizing of the worship of Baal and Astarte with that of Yahweh and the extent to which the local sanctuaries were given over to this form of corruption. They denounced it as the height of impiety and as sure to provoke Divine judgments. Asa and Jehoshaphat undertook to purge the land of such vile abominations (1 Kings 14:24; 1 Kings 15:12; 1 Kings 22:46). The Deuteronomic code required that all such "paramours" be banished, and forbade the use of their unholy gains as temple revenue (Deuteronomy 23:17, 18. Driver's note). The Levitical law forbade a priest to take a harlot to wife (Leviticus 21:7). and commanded that the daughter of a priest who played the harlot should be burned (Leviticus 21:9).

See ASHTORETH; IMAGES; IDOLATRY.

It is grimly significant that the prophets denounce spiritual apostasy as "harlotry" (the King James Version "whoredom"). But it would seem that the true ethical attitude toward prostitution was unattainable so long as marriage was in the low, transitional stage mirrored in the Old Testament; though the religion of Yahweh was in a measure delivered from the threatened peril by the fiery discipline of the exile.

In New Testament times, a kindred danger beset the followers of Christ, especially in Greece and Asia Minor (Acts 15:20, 29 Romans 1:24 1 Corinthians 6:9 Galatians 5:19). That lax views of sexual morality were widely prevalent in the generation in which Christ lived is evident both from His casual references to the subject and from His specific teaching in answer to questions concerning adultery and divorce (compare Josephus, Ant, IV, viii, 23; Vita, section 76; Sirach 7:26; 25:26:00; 42:9, and the Talm). The ideas of the times were debased by the prevalent polygamous customs, "it being of old permitted to the Jews to marry many wives" (Josephus, BJ, I, xxiv, 2; compare Ant, XVII, i, 2). The teaching of Jesus was in sharp contrast with the low ideals and the rabbinical teaching of the times. The controversy on this question waxed hot between the two famous rival rabbinical schools. Hillel reduced adultery to the level of the minor faults. Shammai opposed his teaching as immoral in tendency. kata pasan aitian (Matthew 19:3), gives incidental evidence of the nature of the controversy. It was characteristic of the teaching of Jesus that He went to the root of the matter, making this sin to consist in "looking on a woman to lust after her." Nor did He confine Himself to the case of the married. The general character of the terms in Matthew 5:28, pas ho blepon, forbids the idea that gunaika, and emoicheusen, are to be limited to post-nuptial sin with a married woman. On the other hand it is a characteristic part of the work of Jesus to rescue the erring woman from the merciless clutches of the Pharisaic tribunal, and to bring her within the pale of mercy and redemption (Matthew 21:31, 32). He everywhere leaned to the side of mercy in dealing with such cases, as is indicated by the traditional and doubtless true narrative found in the accepted text of the Fourth Gospel (John 7:53-8:11).

George B. Eager

Greek

4204. porne -- a prostitute
... Word Origin probably from pernemi (to export for sale) Definition a prostitute NASB
Word Usage harlot (6), harlots (1), prostitute (2), prostitutes (3). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4204.htm - 6k

4203. porneuo -- to commit fornication
... From porne; to act the harlot, ie (literally) indulge unlawful lust (of either sex),
or (figuratively) practise idolatry -- commit (fornication). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4203.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

2181. zanah -- to commit fornication, be a harlot
... zanah. 2182 . to commit fornication, be a harlot. Transliteration: zanah Phonetic
Spelling: (zaw-naw') Short Definition: harlot. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/2181.htm - 6k

6948. qedeshah -- harlot, whore
... 6947, 6948. qedeshah. 6949 . harlot, whore. Transliteration: qedeshah Phonetic
Spelling: (ked-ay-shaw') Short Definition: harlot. ... of qadesh, qv. harlot, whore ...
/hebrew/6948.htm - 5k

868. ethnan -- the wages (of a harlot)
... 867, 868. ethnan. 869 . the wages (of a harlot). Transliteration: ethnan
Phonetic Spelling: (eth-nan') Short Definition: earnings. ...
/hebrew/868.htm - 6k

7343. Rachab -- a harlot in Jericho
... 7342, 7343. Rachab. 7344 . a harlot in Jericho. Transliteration: Rachab
Phonetic Spelling: (raw-khawb') Short Definition: Rahab. ...
/hebrew/7343.htm - 6k

866. ethnah -- the wages (of a harlot)
... 865b, 866. ethnah. 867 . the wages (of a harlot). Transliteration: ethnah
Phonetic Spelling: (eth-naw') Short Definition: wages. ...
/hebrew/866.htm - 6k

802. ishshah -- woman, wife, female
... 2), any woman (1), childbearing* (1), each (3), each one (1), each woman (1), every
(1), everyone (1), female (3), girls* (1), harem* (5), harlot's* (2), harlot ...
/hebrew/802.htm - 6k

7788. shur -- perhaps to travel, journey
... Travel about. A primitive root; properly, to turn, ie Travel about (as a harlot
or a merchant) -- go, singular See also shiyr. see HEBREW shiyr. 7787, 7788. ...
/hebrew/7788.htm - 6k

8566. tanah -- to hire
... hire. A primitive root; to present (a mercenary inducement), ie Bargain with (a
harlot) -- hire. 8565, 8566. tanah. 8567 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/8566.htm - 5k

Library

The Judgment of the Harlot.
... EXPOSITION OF THE APOCALYPSE. The Judgment of the Harlot. "And one of the
seven angels, who had the seven bowls, came and talked ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the judgment of the harlot.htm

Of the great Harlot, or Mystic Babylon, with the same Seven-headed ...
... PART I. SYNCHRONISM III. Of the great Harlot, or Mystic Babylon, with the
same Seven-headed and Ten-horned Beast. Of the great Harlot ...
/.../mede/a key to the apocalypse/synchronism iii of the great.htm

Of the Hundred and Forty-four Thousand Sealed, who were virgins ...
... PART I. SYNCHRONISM IV. Of the Hundred and Forty-four Thousand Sealed, who
were Virgins, with the Babylonian Harlot and the Beast. ...
/.../mede/a key to the apocalypse/synchronism iv of the hundred.htm

Of the Metropolis of Christian Apostasy, the Mystic Babylon.
... or the mystic Babylon, is the city Rome, or, as we now say, the Roman see; from
the spouse of Christ in former times, become not only the harlot, but also the ...
/.../mede/a key to the apocalypse/of the metropolis of christian.htm

Of the Gods Peculiar to the Romans, and their Sacred Rites.
... For she was the wife of Faustulus, and on account of her prostitution she was called
among the shepherds wolf, [85] that is, harlot, from which also the ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xx of the gods peculiar.htm

Whether the Husband is Bound by Precept to Put Away his Wife when ...
... Objection 3: Further, it is written (1:Cor.6:16): "He who is joined to a harlot
is made one body." Now a man cannot at once be a member of a harlot and a ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the husband is bound.htm

The Sixth vial.
... In the 17th chapter of the Apocalypse, the angel informs the revelator that he will
show him "the judgment of the great harlot who sitteth on many waters," (17 ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the sixth vial.htm

On the Same Words of the Gospel, John xiv. 6, "I am the Way," Etc.
... And He hath addressed her as in a sense a harlot, to warn her to return: very often
by the Prophets doth He reproach her as a harlot, but yet not despaired of ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon xcii on the same.htm

Hebrews xi. 28-31
... seven days. By faith, the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed
not, when she had received the spies with peace.". [1 ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xxvii hebrews xi 28-31.htm

The Seventh vision "In Heaven"
... In A and A we have the first and fourth utterances, while in B and B we have the
Harlot and the Wife set in strong and severe contrast; the smoke of the one in ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the seventh vision in heaven.htm

Thesaurus

Rahab (14 Occurrences)
... how it had fared with them (Joshua 2:1-7). They had been exposed to danger in Jericho,
and had been saved by the fidelity of Rahab the harlot, to whose house ...
/r/rahab.htm - 16k

Astray (116 Occurrences)
... Exodus 34:15 lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they
play the harlot after their gods, and sacrifice unto their gods, and one call ...
/a/astray.htm - 36k

Departing (20 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV). Psalms 73:27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish:
Thou hast destroyed all them that play the harlot, 'departing' from thee. ...
/d/departing.htm - 12k

Whore (14 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A woman who practices unlawful sexual commerce with men, especially
one who prostitutes her body for hire; a prostitute; a harlot. ...
/w/whore.htm - 11k

Prostitution (48 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. PROSTITUTION. pros-ti-tu'-shun. See CRIMES; HARLOT;
PUNISHMENTS. Multi-Version Concordance Prostitution (48 Occurrences). ...
/p/prostitution.htm - 22k

Whoredoms (34 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 16:15 But thou didst trust in thy beauty, and playedst the harlot because
of thy renown, and pouredst out thy whoredoms on every one that passed by ...
/w/whoredoms.htm - 17k

Lewdness (68 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/l/lewdness.htm - 29k

Oho'lah (4 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). Ezekiel 23:5 And Oholah played the harlot when she was Mine; and she
doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians, warriors, (See RSV). ...
/o/oho'lah.htm - 7k

Leafy (22 Occurrences)
... thy yoke, and burst thy bonds; and thou saidst, I will not serve; for upon every
high hill and under every green tree thou didst bow thyself, playing the harlot...
/l/leafy.htm - 12k

Fornications (14 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 16:15 But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot
because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that ...
/f/fornications.htm - 10k

Resources

What will be the end times, one-world religion? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Rahab in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of porneia in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Harlot: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Harlot (87 Occurrences)

1 Corinthians 6:15
Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

1 Corinthians 6:16
What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Hebrews 11:31
By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

James 2:25
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Revelation 17:1
Then one of the seven angels who were carrying the seven bowls came and spoke to me. "Come with me," he said, "and I will show you the doom of the great Harlot who sits upon many waters.
(WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Revelation 17:15
He also said to me, "The waters which you have seen, on which the Harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes, nations and languages.
(WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Revelation 17:16
And the ten horns that you have seen--and the Wild Beast--these will hate the Harlot, and they will cause her to be laid waste and will strip her bare. They will eat her flesh, and burn her up with fire.
(WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Revelation 19:2
True and just are His judgments, because He has judged the great Harlot who was corrupting the whole earth with her fornication, and He has taken vengeance for the blood of His bondservants which her hands have shed."
(WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Genesis 34:31
And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Genesis 38:15
When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Genesis 38:21
Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where is the harlot, that was openly by the way side? And they said, There was no harlot in this place.
(KJV JPS WBS RSV)

Genesis 38:22
And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her; and also the men of the place said, that there was no harlot in this place.
(KJV JPS WBS RSV)

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

Exodus 34:15
lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they play the harlot after their gods, and sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee and thou eat of his sacrifice;
(ASV NAS RSV)

Exodus 34:16
and thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters play the harlot after their gods, and make thy sons play the harlot after their gods.
(ASV NAS RSV)

Leviticus 17:7
And they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices unto the he-goats, after which they play the harlot. This shall be a statute forever unto them throughout their generations.
(ASV NAS RSV)

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.
(ASV JPS WBS NAS RSV)

Leviticus 20:5
then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all that play the harlot after him, to play the harlot with Molech, from among their people.
(ASV NAS RSV)

Leviticus 20:6
And the soul that turneth unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto the wizards, to play the harlot after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
(ASV NAS RSV)

Leviticus 21:7
They shall not take a woman that is a harlot, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God.
(ASV JPS YLT NAS RSV)

Leviticus 21:9
And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the harlot, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.
(ASV JPS NAS RSV)

Leviticus 21:14
A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Numbers 15:39
and it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of Jehovah, and do them; and that ye follow not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to play the harlot;
(ASV NAS)

Numbers 25:1
And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit harlotry with the daughters of Moab.
(Root in JPS ASV NAS RSV)

Deuteronomy 23:17
There shall be no prostitute of the daughters of Israel, neither shall there be a sodomite of the sons of Israel.
(See JPS WBS)

Deuteronomy 23:18
Thou shalt not bring the hire of a harlot, or the wages of a dog, into the house of Jehovah thy God for any vow: for even both these are an abomination unto Jehovah thy God.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS NAS RSV)

Deuteronomy 31:16
And Jehovah said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and play the harlot after the strange gods of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.
(ASV NAS RSV)

Joshua 2:1
And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Joshua 6:17
And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Joshua 6:22
But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Joshua 6:25
And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Judges 2:17
And yet they hearkened not unto their judges; for they played the harlot after other gods, and bowed themselves down unto them: they turned aside quickly out of the way wherein their fathers walked, obeying the commandments of Jehovah; 'but' they did not so.
(ASV DBY NAS RSV)

Judges 8:27
And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel played the harlot after it there; and it became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.
(ASV DBY NAS RSV)

Judges 8:33
And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and played the harlot after the Baalim, and made Baal-berith their god.
(ASV DBY NAS RSV)

Judges 11:1
Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Judges 16:1
Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Judges 19:2
And his concubine played the harlot against him, and went away from him unto her father's house to Beth-lehem-judah, and was there the space of four months.
(ASV JPS WBS NAS)

1 Chronicles 5:25
And they trespassed against the God of their fathers, and played the harlot after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God destroyed before them.
(ASV NAS RSV)

2 Chronicles 21:11
Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and made the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot, and led Judah astray.
(ASV NAS)

2 Chronicles 21:13
but hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot, like as the house of Ahab did, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father's house, who were better than thyself:
(ASV NAS)

Psalms 73:27
For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: Thou hast destroyed all them that play the harlot, 'departing' from thee.
(ASV)

Psalms 106:39
Thus were they defiled with their works, And played the harlot in their doings.
(ASV NAS RSV)

Proverbs 6:26
For on account of a harlot a man is brought to a piece of bread; And the adulteress hunteth for the precious life.
(ASV JPS YLT NAS RSV)

Proverbs 7:10
And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Proverbs 23:27
For a harlot is a deep ditch; And a foreign woman is a narrow pit.
(ASV JPS YLT NAS RSV)

Isaiah 1:21
How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 23:15
And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Isaiah 23:16
Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Isaiah 23:17
And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that Jehovah will visit Tyre, and she shall return to her hire, and shall play the harlot with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.
(ASV NAS RSV)

Isaiah 57:3
But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the harlot.
(ASV DBY JPS RSV)

Jeremiah 2:20
For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 3:1
They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 3:6
The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 3:8
And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 5:7
How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses.
(Root in KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 6:9
And those of you that escape shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captive, how that I have been broken with their lewd heart, which hath departed from me, and with they eyes, which play the harlot after their idols: and they shall loathe themselves in their own sight for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.
(ASV NAS)

Ezekiel 16:15
But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 16:16
And of thy garments thou didst take, and deckedst thy high places with divers colours, and playedst the harlot thereupon: the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 16:17
Thou didst also take thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest for thee images of men, and didst play the harlot with them;
(ASV JPS NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 16:26
Thou hast also committed fornication with the Egyptians, thy neighbors, great of flesh; and hast multiplied thy whoredom, to provoke me to anger.
(See JPS NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 16:28
Thou hast played the whore also with the Assyrians, because thou wast unsatiable; yea, thou hast played the harlot with them, and yet couldest not be satisfied.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 16:30
How weak is thy heart, saith the Lord Jehovah, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an impudent harlot;
(ASV JPS NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 16:31
In that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as an harlot, in that thou scornest hire;
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 16:34
And the contrary is in thee from other women, in that thou didst solicit to harlotry, and wast not solicited; and in that thou givest hire, and no hire is given unto thee, thus thou art contrary.
(Root in JPS ASV NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 16:35
Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the LORD:
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 16:41
And they shall burn thine houses with fire, and execute judgments upon thee in the sight of many women: and I will cause thee to cease from playing the harlot, and thou also shalt give no hire any more.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 20:30
Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Do ye pollute yourselves after the manner of your fathers? and play ye the harlot after their abominations?
(ASV NAS)

Ezekiel 23:3
and they committed harlotries in Egypt; they committed harlotries in their youth; there were their bosoms pressed, and there their virgin breasts were bruised.
(Root in JPS ASV NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 23:5
And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours,
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 23:19
Yet she multiplied her whoredoms, in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 23:30
These things shall be done unto thee, for that thou hast played the harlot after the nations, and because thou art polluted with their idols.
(ASV NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 23:43
Then said I of her that was worn out by adulteries: Still they commit harlotries with her, even her.
(Root in JPS ASV RSV)

Ezekiel 23:44
Yet they went in unto her, as they go in unto a woman that playeth the harlot: so went they in unto Aholah and unto Aholibah, the lewd women.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Hosea 2:5
For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Hosea 3:3
And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Hosea 4:10
And they shall eat, and not have enough, they shall commit harlotry, and shall not increase; because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.
(Root in JPS ASV NAS RSV)

Hosea 4:12
My people ask counsel at their stock, and their staff declareth unto them; for the spirit of harlotry hath caused them to err, and they have gone astray from under their God.
(Root in JPS ASV NAS RSV)

Hosea 4:13
They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and offer upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because the shadow thereof is good; therefore your daughters commit harlotry, and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.
(Root in JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV)

Hosea 4:14
I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.
(Root in KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Hosea 4:15
Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Hosea 4:18
When their carouse is over, they take to harlotry; her rulers deeply love dishonour.
(Root in JPS ASV NAS RSV)

Hosea 5:3
I, even I, know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from Me; for now, O Ephraim, thou hast committed harlotry, Israel is defiled.
(Root in JPS ASV NAS RSV)

Hosea 9:1
Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, like the peoples; for thou hast played the harlot, departing from thy God; thou hast loved hire upon every grain-floor.
(ASV DBY JPS NAS RSV)

Joel 3:3
And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Amos 7:17
Therefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Micah 1:7
And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate: for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they shall return to the hire of an harlot.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Nahum 3:4
Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Harlot

Harlot (Prostitute): Hire of, not to be Received at the Temple

Harlot (Prostitute): Machinations of

Harlot (Prostitute): Rahab

Harlot (Prostitute): Shamelessness of

Harlot (Prostitute): To be Shunned

Related Terms

Astray (116 Occurrences)

Departing (20 Occurrences)

Whore (14 Occurrences)

Prostitution (48 Occurrences)