In biblical terminology, the term "paramour" refers to a lover, particularly one who is in an illicit or adulterous relationship. The concept of paramours is often associated with infidelity and idolatry, both of which are condemned in the Scriptures. The Bible frequently uses the imagery of unfaithfulness in marriage to illustrate spiritual unfaithfulness to God.

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament frequently addresses the issue of unfaithfulness, both in the literal sense of adultery and in the metaphorical sense of idolatry. The prophets often used the imagery of a faithless spouse to describe Israel's relationship with God. For instance, in the book of Ezekiel, God speaks through the prophet to describe Israel's unfaithfulness: "You engaged in prostitution with the Egyptians, your lustful neighbors, multiplying your acts of promiscuity to provoke Me to anger" (Ezekiel 16:26). Here, the term "prostitution" is used metaphorically to describe Israel's idolatrous practices and alliances with pagan nations.

Similarly, the book of Hosea uses the prophet's own marriage to an unfaithful wife as a symbol of Israel's infidelity to God. Hosea 2:2-5 states: "Rebuke your mother, rebuke her, for she is not My wife, and I am not her husband. Let her remove the adulterous look from her face and the unfaithfulness from between her breasts. Otherwise, I will strip her naked and make her as bare as on the day she was born." This passage highlights the seriousness with which God views spiritual adultery, equating it with the betrayal of a marital covenant.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of paramours is addressed within the broader context of sexual immorality. The apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians, warning against sexual sin: "Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body" (1 Corinthians 6:18). While the term "paramour" is not explicitly used, the admonition against sexual immorality encompasses all forms of illicit relationships, including those with paramours.

The New Testament also emphasizes the sanctity of marriage and the importance of fidelity. Hebrews 13:4 states, "Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers." This verse underscores the expectation of faithfulness within marriage and the consequences of engaging in adulterous relationships.

Spiritual Implications

Throughout the Bible, the imagery of paramours serves as a powerful metaphor for spiritual unfaithfulness. Just as a spouse is expected to remain faithful to their partner, believers are called to remain faithful to God. The worship of idols or the pursuit of worldly desires is likened to adultery, as it represents a betrayal of the covenant relationship with God.

The call to faithfulness is a recurring theme in Scripture, urging believers to reject both physical and spiritual infidelity. The warnings against paramours and the associated imagery serve as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a pure and devoted relationship with God, free from the entanglements of sin and idolatry.(adv.) By or with love, esp. the love of the sexes; -- sometimes written as two words.6370. pilegesh -- concubine
... Word Origin perhaps of foreign origin Definition concubine NASB Word Usage concubine
(22), concubines (14), paramours (1). concubine, paramour. ...
/hebrew/6370.htm - 6k

The Absurdity and Impiety of the Heathen Mysteries and Fables ...
... the art of uncleanness. And those initiated bring a piece of money to
her, as a courtesan's paramours do to her. Then there are ...
/.../clement/exhortation to the heathen/chapter ii the absurdity and impiety.htm

Letter cxxiii. To Ageruchia.
... more tolerable that a woman should marry again than that she should be a prostitute,
and better that she should have a second husband than several paramours. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cxxiii to ageruchia.htm

For There were Even in the Apostles' Times Some who Preached the ...
... Nay, further, if lewd and rich women are likely to enrich moreover their lovers
and paramours, why should not even these parts and arts be undertaken by a man ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/against lying/section 16 for there were.htm

In the Fifteenth Year of Tiberius C??sar and under the Pontificate ...
... Soon not only the Emperors, but their wives, paramours, children, and the creatures
of their vilest lusts, were deified; nay, any private person might attain ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xi in the fifteenth.htm

Letter cxxviii. To Gaudentius.
... Sometimes in the name of religion and under the cloak of a desire for celibacy
they actually desert their husbands in favour of such paramours. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cxxviii to gaudentius.htm

Evil Cannot be Suppressed by the Physical Force of the Government ...
... John 4.with his favorites, the syphilitic drunken Peter with his buffoons, the vicious
Catherine with her paramours, ruled and oppressed the industrious ...
/.../tolstoy/the kingdom of god is within you/chapter x evil cannot be.htm

Letter Lxxix. To Salvina.
... He evidently wished to shew them that he was not so much anxious that they
should take husbands as that they should avoid paramours. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lxxix to salvina.htm

Against Jovinianus.
... For it is better to know a single husband, though he be a second or third, than
to have many paramours: that is, it is more tolerable for a woman to prostitute ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/against jovinianus.htm

Paramours (1 Occurrence)
...Paramours (1 Occurrence). Ezekiel 23:20 She doted on their paramours, whose flesh
is as the flesh of donkeys, and whose issue is like the issue of horses. ...
/p/paramours.htm - 6k

Paran (11 Occurrences)

/p/paran.htm - 13k

Lusted (14 Occurrences)
... (DBY NAS NIV). Ezekiel 23:20 and she lusted after their paramours, whose flesh is
as the flesh of asses, and whose issue is as the issue of horses. ...
/l/lusted.htm - 10k

Genitals (2 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 23:20 She doted on their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of donkeys,
and whose issue is like the issue of horses. (See NIV). ...
/g/genitals.htm - 7k

Emission (7 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 23:20 She doted on their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of donkeys,
and whose issue is like the issue of horses. (See NIV). ...
/e/emission.htm - 8k

Doteth (3 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Ezekiel 23:20 And she doteth on their paramours, Whose flesh 'is' the
flesh of asses, And the issue of horses -- their issue. (YLT). ...
/d/doteth.htm - 7k

Doted (6 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS RSV). Ezekiel 23:20 She doted on their paramours, whose flesh
is as the flesh of donkeys, and whose issue is like the issue of horses. ...
/d/doted.htm - 8k

Paramour (1 Occurrence)
... man or a woman. 2. (n.) Love; gallantry. 3. (adv.) Alt. of Paramours. Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia. PARAMOUR. par'-a-moor (pilleghesh ...
/p/paramour.htm - 7k

Concubinage (1 Occurrence)
... Concubinage (1 Occurrence). Ezekiel 23:20 And she doted upon their paramours, whose
flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose issue is like the issue of horses. ...
/c/concubinage.htm - 7k

Paramours: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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