Topical Bible: Harlotry

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Topical Encyclopedia

Definition and Terminology:
Harlotry, often synonymous with prostitution, refers to the act of engaging in sexual relations for payment. In the biblical context, it extends beyond the physical act to symbolize spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry. The term is frequently used in the Bible to describe Israel's unfaithfulness to God through idolatry and alliances with pagan nations.

Old Testament References:
Harlotry is prominently addressed in the Old Testament, where it is both a literal and metaphorical term. In Leviticus 19:29, the Israelites are commanded, "Do not degrade your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will turn to prostitution and be filled with wickedness." This highlights the moral and societal degradation associated with harlotry.

The prophets often use harlotry as a metaphor for Israel's infidelity to God. Hosea's marriage to Gomer, a prostitute, serves as a living parable of Israel's unfaithfulness. Hosea 1:2 states, "Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the LORD." This illustrates the spiritual harlotry of Israel as they pursued other gods.

In Ezekiel 16 and 23, Jerusalem and Samaria are depicted as harlots who have forsaken God for idols and foreign alliances. Ezekiel 16:15 says, "But you trusted in your beauty and played the harlot because of your fame, and you poured out your harlotries on every passerby who might be willing."

New Testament References:
In the New Testament, harlotry continues to symbolize spiritual unfaithfulness. Revelation 17 describes "Babylon the Great" as a harlot, representing false religion and the seduction of worldly power. Revelation 17:5 refers to her as "a mystery: 'Babylon the Great, the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth.'"

The New Testament also addresses the physical aspect of harlotry. In 1 Corinthians 6:15-16, Paul warns believers against sexual immorality, stating, "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body?"

Moral and Spiritual Implications:
Harlotry in the Bible is condemned as a sin that defiles both the individual and the community. It is seen as a violation of the covenant relationship between God and His people. The physical act of harlotry is a metaphor for idolatry, which is considered spiritual adultery against God.

The Bible calls for repentance and restoration from harlotry. In Hosea 14:1, the prophet urges, "Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity." This call to repentance underscores God's desire for His people to return to faithfulness and purity.

Cultural and Historical Context:
In ancient Israel, harlotry was not only a personal sin but also a societal issue. It was often linked to pagan worship practices, where temple prostitution was common. The Israelites were repeatedly warned against adopting the customs of surrounding nations, which included sexual immorality as part of religious rites.

Conclusion:
Harlotry in the Bible serves as a powerful symbol of unfaithfulness and idolatry. It is a reminder of the call to holiness and the exclusive devotion that God requires from His people. Through the imagery of harlotry, the Bible communicates the seriousness of spiritual infidelity and the need for repentance and restoration.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) Ribaldry; buffoonery; a ribald story.

2. (n.) The trade or practice of prostitution; habitual or customary lewdness.

3. (n.) Anything meretricious; as, harlotry in art.

4. (n.) A harlot; a strumpet; a baggage.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

HARLOTRY

har'-lot-ri.

See CRIMES.

Greek

4202. porneia -- fornication
... fornication. From porneuo; harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively,
idolatry -- fornication. see GREEK porneuo. (porneia) -- 8 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4202.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

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

5179. Nchushta' -- perhaps lust, harlotry
... 5178, 5179. Nchushta'. 5179a . perhaps lust, harlotry. Transliteration: Nchushta'
Phonetic Spelling: (nekh-oosh-taw') Short Definition: Nehushta. Nehushta ...
/hebrew/5179.htm - 5k

2181. zanah -- to commit fornication, be a harlot
... Definition to commit fornication, be a harlot NASB Word Usage adulterous (1), become
a harlot (1), commit adultery (1), commits flagrant harlotry (1), fall to ...
/hebrew/2181.htm - 6k

8457. taznuth -- fornication
... Definition: harlotries. Word Origin from zanah Definition fornication NASB Word
Usage harlotries (14), harlotry (4), lust (1). cut down. Or ...
/hebrew/8457.htm - 6k

2183. zenunim -- fornication
... 2182, 2183. zenunim. 2184 . fornication. Transliteration: zenunim Phonetic
Spelling: (zaw-noon') Short Definition: harlotry. Word ...
/hebrew/2183.htm - 6k

2184. zenuth -- fornication
... 2183, 2184. zenuth. 2185 . fornication. Transliteration: zenuth Phonetic
Spelling: (zen-ooth') Short Definition: harlotry. Word ...
/hebrew/2184.htm - 6k

866. ethnah -- the wages (of a harlot)
... reward. From tanah; a present (as the price of harlotry) -- reward. see HEBREW
tanah. 865b, 866. ethnah. 867 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/866.htm - 6k

868. ethnan -- the wages (of a harlot)
... hire, reward. The same as 'ethnah; a gift (as the price of harlotry or idolatry) --
hire, reward. see HEBREW 'ethnah. 867, 868. ethnan. 869 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/868.htm - 6k

Library

An Appeal and a Response
... ignore them. Squalor, poverty, debauchery, harlotry, oppression, war, and
ignorance are existing evils which must have attention. We ...
/.../howard/standards of life and service/xx an appeal and a.htm

Man and the New Covenant.
... and not Israel but ye men of Israel are called to turn to their God.(799) As the
Prophet's indictments proceed his burden ceases to be the national harlotry. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/2 man and the new.htm

Rule for Interpreting those Sayings and Actions which are Ascribed ...
... not proper for one woman to have several husbands, because a woman does not in that
way become more fruitful, but, on the contrary, it is base harlotry to seek ...
/.../on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 12 rule for interpreting those.htm

Now the Saints of Ancient Times Were, under the Form of an Earthly ...
... not proper for one woman to have several husbands, because a woman does not in that
way become more fruitful, but, on the contrary, it is base harlotry to seek ...
/.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books/chapter 20 now the saints.htm

The Children of the Poor.
... And still another traitorous legion that, equipped with the fascinations of the
bottle and the shamelessness of harlotry, appeals to the passions of the brutal ...
/.../chapin/humanity in the city/discourse vii the children of.htm

Chapter xxxviii
... about three months that is was reported to Judah: Tamar, thy daughter-in-law, has
played the harlot; and, mark, she is also pregnant as a result of her harlotry ...
/.../leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxviii.htm

A Home Question
... aristocracy? Do they not cast off those whom they have debauched, and help to
feed the stream of harlotry with the refuse of their lusts? ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/a home question.htm

On the Words Incarnate, and Made Man.
... In the lifetime of Moses, the law-giver who had said, Thou shalt not commit adultery,
a man dared to enter a place of harlotry and transgress [1362] . ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture xii on the words.htm

His Earliest Oracles. (ii. 2-iv. 4. )
... sister treacherous Judah was not afraid, but also went and played the harlot.9.
And it came to pass that, through the wantonness of her harlotry, she polluted ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/1 his earliest oracles ii.htm

Letter Lxix. To Oceanus.
... Can it be possible that the stains of marriage are indelible, and that
harlotry is judged more leniently than honourable wedlock? ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lxix to oceanus.htm

Thesaurus

Adultery (49 Occurrences)
... While the phrases "harlotry," "commit harlotry," in Scripture denote the breach
of wedlock (on the part of a woman), in the rabbinical writings a clear ...
/a/adultery.htm - 32k

Harlotry (37 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The trade or practice of prostitution; habitual or customary lewdness. 3.
(n.) Anything meretricious; as, harlotry in art. ...HARLOTRY. har'-lot-ri. ...
/h/harlotry.htm - 17k

Harlotries (22 Occurrences)
... (See JPS). Jeremiah 13:27 Thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy
harlotry, on the hills in the field have I seen thy detestable acts. ...
/h/harlotries.htm - 13k

Crimes (22 Occurrences)
... Found only in Matthew 5:33 in the sense of committing perjury (epiorkeo). Harlotry. ...
See also Fornication, Harlotry, and Whoredom below. Rape. ...
/c/crimes.htm - 44k

Crime (45 Occurrences)
... Found only in Matthew 5:33 in the sense of committing perjury (epiorkeo). Harlotry. ...
See also Fornication, Harlotry, and Whoredom below. Rape. ...
/c/crime.htm - 51k

Trading (24 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Ezekiel 16:29 Thou hast moreover multiplied thy harlotry with the land of
traffic, even with Chaldea; and yet thou didst not have enough herewith. ...
/t/trading.htm - 13k

Committing (30 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 3:9 and it came to pass through the lightness of her harlotry, that the
land was polluted, and she committed adultery with stones and with stocks ...
/c/committing.htm - 15k

Abel-shittim (1 Occurrence)
... During the stay there occurred the Balaam incident (Numbers 22-24), and the harlotry
with Moab and Midian (Numbers 25) and the war with Midian (Numbers 31), in ...
/a/abel-shittim.htm - 10k

Abelshittim (1 Occurrence)
... During the stay there occurred the Balaam incident (Numbers 22-24), and the harlotry
with Moab and Midian (Numbers 25) and the war with Midian (Numbers 31), in ...
/a/abelshittim.htm - 10k

Shameless (2 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 13:27 Thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy harlotry,
on the hills in the field have I seen thy detestable acts. ...
/s/shameless.htm - 7k

Resources

What does the Bible say about prostitution? Will God forgive a prostitute? | GotQuestions.org

What are the consequences of nations turning away from God? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that the marriage bed is undefiled (Hebrews 13:4)? | GotQuestions.org

Harlotry: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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

Concordance

Harlotry (37 Occurrences)

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 moreover, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.
(See JPS 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.
(See JPS NAS RSV)

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

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.
(See NAS)

Leviticus 21:14
A widow, or one divorced, or a profaned woman, or a harlot, these shall he not take; but a virgin of his own people shall he take to wife.
(See NAS)

Numbers 25:1
And Israel abode in Shittim; and the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab:
(See JPS)

Jeremiah 3:2
Lift up thine eyes unto the high hills, and see: where hast thou not been lain with? By the ways hast thou sat for them, as an Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy harlotries and with thy wickedness.
(See NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 3:9
And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that the land was polluted, and she committed adultery with stones and with stocks.
(See JPS NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 13:27
I have seen thine abominations, even thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, on the hills in the field. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! thou wilt not be made clean; how long shall it yet be?
(See JPS)

Ezekiel 16:25
Thou hast built thy lofty place at every head of the way, and hast made thy beauty an abomination, and hast opened thy feet to every one that passed by, and multiplied thy harlotries.
(See 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 16:29
Thou hast moreover multiplied thy whoredom unto the land of traffic, unto Chaldea; and yet thou wast not satisfied herewith.
(See JPS NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 16:34
And thou art different from other women in thy whoredoms, in that none followeth thee to play the harlot; and whereas thou givest hire, and no hire is given unto thee, therefore thou art different.
(See JPS)

Ezekiel 23:8
Neither hath she left her harlotries brought from Egypt; for in her youth they lay with her, and they bruised her virgin breasts; and they poured out their lust upon her.
(See RSV)

Ezekiel 23:11
And her sister Oholibah saw this, yet was she more corrupt in her doting than she, and in her harlotries more than her sister in her harlotries.
(See RSV)

Ezekiel 23:14
And she increased her harlotries; for she saw men portrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans portrayed with vermilion,
(See RSV)

Ezekiel 23:17
The Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their prostitution, and she was polluted with them, and her soul was alienated from them.
(See NAS)

Ezekiel 23:18
So she uncovered her harlotries, and uncovered her nakedness; then My soul was alienated from her, like as My soul was alienated from her sister.
(See RSV)

Ezekiel 23:19
Yet she multiplied her harlotries, remembering the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.
(See RSV)

Ezekiel 23:27
Thus will I make thy lewdness to cease from thee, and thy whoredom brought from the land of Egypt; so that thou shalt not lift up thine eyes unto them, nor remember Egypt any more.
(See JPS NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 23:29
and they shall deal with thee in hatred, and shall take away all thy labour, and shall leave thee naked and bare; and the nakedness of thy harlotries shall be uncovered, both thy lewdness and thy harlotries.
(See RSV)

Ezekiel 23:35
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD: Because thou hast forgotten Me, and cast Me behind thy back, therefore bear thou also thy lewdness and thy harlotries.'
(See RSV)

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

Ezekiel 43:7
And he said unto me, Son of man, this is the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever. And the house of Israel shall no more defile my holy name, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, and by the dead bodies of their kings in their high places;
(See JPS NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 43:9
Now let them put away their whoredom, and the dead bodies of their kings, far from me; and I will dwell in the midst of them for ever.
(See JPS NAS)

Hosea 1:2
When Jehovah spake at the first by Hosea, Jehovah said unto Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredom and children of whoredom; for the land doth commit great whoredom, departing from Jehovah.
(See JPS NAS RSV)

Hosea 2:2
Plead with your mother, plead; for she is not My wife, neither am I her husband; and let her put away her harlotries from her face, and her adulteries from between her breasts;
(See NAS RSV)

Hosea 2:4
Yea, upon her children will I have no mercy; for they are children of whoredom;
(See JPS NAS RSV)

Hosea 4:10
And they shall eat, and not have enough; they shall play the harlot, and shall not increase; because they have left off taking heed to Jehovah.
(See JPS RSV)

Hosea 4:11
Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the understanding.
(See JPS NAS)

Hosea 4:12
My people ask counsel at their stock, and their staff declareth unto them; for the spirit of whoredom hath caused them to err, and they have played the harlot, departing from under their God.
(See JPS NAS RSV)

Hosea 4:13
They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters play the harlot, and your brides commit adultery.
(See JPS)

Hosea 4:14
I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for the men themselves go apart with harlots, and they sacrifice with the prostitutes; and the people that doth not understand shall be overthrown.
(See JPS)

Hosea 4:18
Their drink is become sour; they play the harlot continually; her rulers dearly love shame.
(See JPS RSV)

Hosea 5:3
I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me; for now, O Ephraim, thou hast played the harlot, Israel is defiled.
(See JPS)

Hosea 5:4
Their doings will not suffer them to turn unto their God; for the spirit of whoredom is within them, and they know not Jehovah.
(See JPS NAS RSV)

Hosea 6:10
In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing: there whoredom is found in Ephraim, Israel is defiled.
(See JPS NAS RSV)

Subtopics

Harlotry

Harlotry: Forbidden

Harlotry: Punishment of

Related Terms

Harlotry (37 Occurrences)

Harlotries (22 Occurrences)

Crimes (22 Occurrences)

Crime (45 Occurrences)

Trading (24 Occurrences)

Committing (30 Occurrences)