In the context of the Bible, the term "whore" is often used to describe a woman who engages in sexual immorality, particularly prostitution. The term is also employed metaphorically to describe spiritual unfaithfulness, especially in relation to idolatry and the worship of false gods. The Bible addresses the concept of whoredom both in literal and figurative senses, emphasizing the moral and spiritual consequences of such behavior.

Old Testament References

The Old Testament frequently addresses the issue of prostitution and sexual immorality. In the Law of Moses, prostitution is condemned, and Israelites are warned against engaging in such practices. Leviticus 19:29 states, "Do not degrade your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will turn to prostitution and be filled with wickedness."

The prophets often use the imagery of whoredom to describe Israel's unfaithfulness to God. In the book of Hosea, the prophet is commanded to marry a promiscuous woman as a symbol of Israel's infidelity. Hosea 1:2 says, "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.'"

Similarly, the book of Ezekiel uses vivid imagery to describe Jerusalem's spiritual adultery. Ezekiel 16:30 declares, "How weak-willed is your heart, declares the Lord GOD, while you do all these things, the acts of a shameless prostitute!"

New Testament References

In the New Testament, the term "whore" is less frequently used, but the concept of sexual immorality is addressed with equal seriousness. The apostle Paul warns against sexual immorality in his letters to the early churches. In 1 Corinthians 6:18 , Paul exhorts believers, "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."

The book of Revelation uses the imagery of a "great prostitute" to symbolize the corrupt and idolatrous systems of the world. Revelation 17:1-2 describes, "Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, 'Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.'"

Moral and Spiritual Implications

Throughout the Bible, whoredom is depicted as a serious sin with both moral and spiritual implications. It is often associated with idolatry, unfaithfulness, and a turning away from God. The biblical narrative consistently calls for repentance and a return to faithfulness, emphasizing God's desire for purity and holiness among His people.

The Bible's treatment of the subject serves as a warning against the dangers of both physical and spiritual infidelity, urging believers to remain steadfast in their commitment to God and His commandments.

The Downfall, 1616-1621.
... measures. They attacked the Brethren in hot, abusive language. They declared
that the wives of Protestant ministers were whores. They ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter xiv the downfall 1616-1621.htm

Whether Simple Fornication is a Mortal Sin?
... in Deut., qu.37] on Dt.23:17, says: "This is a prohibition against going with whores,
whose vileness is venial." For instead of "venial" it should be "venal ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether simple fornication is a.htm

The Great Duty of Charity Recommended
... They had rather spend their estates on their hawks and hounds, on their whores,
and earthly, sensual, devilish pleasures, than comfort , nourish, or relieve ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/the great duty of charity.htm

"Thou Shalt Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother. "
... instruction, government and improvement of the people, must now serve the
stable-boys, mule-drivers, yea, not to use plainer language, Roman whores and knaves ...
/.../luther/a treatise on good works/thou shalt honor thy father.htm

CHAP. II. 4-25 (2-23).
... in their contempt of God, in their sinful superstitions, and in every kind of
wickedness, had gone to such lengths, that they were like whores who do not ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap ii 25-apr 2-23.htm

The Seventh Commandment
... By means of a whorish woman, a man is brought to a piece of bread.' Proverbs 6:26.
Whores are the devil's horse-leeches, sponges that suck in money. ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 7 the seventh commandment.htm

"Wash You, Make You Clean; Put Away the Evil of Your Doings from ...
... them. But alas, there is as little good to be said; he drinks not, swears
not, whores not, steals not. Nay, but what doth he well? ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xi wash you make.htm

2 Cor. Iv. 8, 9
... they who have lived a married life, often considered their life not worth the living;
what shall we say of those who have been swept down into whores' deep pits ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily ix 2 cor iv.htm

The Shame and Spitting
... O thou brazen thing called sin, thou hast, indeed, as the prophet saith, "a whores
forehead"; thou hast a demons heart, hell burns within thee. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 25 1879/the shame and spitting.htm

The vision of Paul.
... And he said to me: [3936] These are they who join themselves not to their own husbands
and wives but to whores, and therefore they unceasingly pay the proper ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the vision of paul/the vision of paul.htm

Whores (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Whores (2 Occurrences). Revelation 17:5 and upon
her forehead was a name written: 'Secret, Babylon the ...
/w/whores.htm - 7k

Whoremongers (8 Occurrences)

/w/whoremongers.htm - 8k

Whoredom (58 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 16:33 They give gifts to all whores: but thou givest thy gifts to all thy
lovers, and hirest them, that they may come unto thee on every side for thy ...
/w/whoredom.htm - 24k

Kicketh (6 Occurrences)
... daughters when they commit whoredom, And after your spouses when they commit adultery,
For they with the harlots are separated, And with the whores they do ...
/k/kicketh.htm - 8k

Whoremonger (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) A whoremaster; a lecher; a man who frequents the
society of whores. Multi-Version Concordance Whoremonger (4 Occurrences). ...
/w/whoremonger.htm - 7k

Whore's (1 Occurrence)

/w/whore's.htm - 6k

Earth's (9 Occurrences)
... Revelation 17:5 and upon her forehead was a name written: 'Secret, Babylon the Great,
the Mother of the Whores, and the Abominations of the earth.' (See RSV). ...
/e/earth's.htm - 8k

Bribing (1 Occurrence)
... Ezekiel 16:33 To all whores they give a gift, And -- thou hast given thy gifts to
all thy lovers, And dost bribe them to come in unto thee, From round about ...
/b/bribing.htm - 6k

Spouses (2 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/s/spouses.htm - 7k

Givest (31 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 16:33 They give gifts to all whores: but thou givest thy gifts to all thy
lovers, and hirest them, that they may come unto thee on every side for thy ...
/g/givest.htm - 15k

What is a whoremonger in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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