35 Bible Verses About Adultery

Adultery in the Bible

There are 35 Bible verses about adultery and the purpose of these verses is to make people understand that adultery is a curse. It turns man away from God and man falls into sins and leaves the straight path. There are some prophets who fell into this curse but God forgave them after they asked for forgiveness. There is a mention of David in the Holy Bible. David took the wrong path and had the wrong relationship with a married woman. But later he realized his mistake and asked God for forgiveness. God forgave him. Besides, a woman had also sinned and was punished for her sin. There is also a story about Joseph in the Bible. Joseph was a very pious prophet. He was seduced into adultery by a woman. That woman was Potiphar’s wife. She tempted Joseph to sin because of his beauty. But Joseph was God-fearing, so he denied this wrongdoing. While some prophets indulged in this sin, there were many prophets who saved themselves from this sin and adopted the true path of God.

Prohibition of Adultery in The Bible

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Exodus 20:14

Verse

You shall not commit adultery.

Explanation

Adultery is prohibited in this verse. This verse was revealed to Moses and when God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses, one of the commandments in this Ten Commandment was that he was completely forbidden not to commit adultery. It is estimated that God wants to maintain married life and does not want to create any kind of evil in the society. Adultery is a very wrong thing. It also deteriorates physical health and spiritual health. This is strictly against ethics.

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Deuteronomy 5:18

Verse

You shall not commit adultery.

Explanation

This verse was also revealed to the Israelites and in it God forbade people from committing adultery. God sent a revelation to Moses and gave 10 commandments. One of them was this, so we should obey this order and follow it. Do not resort to fornication because committing adultery is a great sin. It destroys a person’s spirituality and makes him fall into sins.

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Leviticus 20:10

Verse

If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death.

Explanation

In this verse adultery has been prohibited and those who are suffering from adultery have been told not to go near adultery. People used to commit adultery with the wives of their neighbors. Also, do not do this. If someone commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, he will be killed. The punishment for adulterers will be that they will be killed so that the rest of the people can learn a lesson.

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Leviticus 18:20

Verse

Do not have sexual relations with your neighbor’s wife and defile yourself with her.

Explanation

Committing adultery is an act of impurity. In this verse, it is forbidden for a person to commit adultery with a neighbor’s woman, because if he does so, both of them will become victims of impurity and both of them will lose their spirituality. Therefore do not follow the path of this sin. One has to protect oneself from this sin and others should not be involved in this mess.

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Proverbs 30:20

Verse

This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’

Explanation

In this verse, the stubbornness of people has been shown that people do evil and turn away. They think that we have not done any evil, they think evil is right. As it is mentioned in this verse about a woman that she is very calm even after committing a sin and says that I have not done anything wrong. This is done by people who are far from God and do not obey God’s orders. In this, we are given a lesson that we should obey God’s orders and listen to His messengers. Only then will we know what is right and what is wrong.

Book

New-Testament

Reference

Matthew 5:27-28

Verse

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Explanation

In this verse we are told about adultery of the heart. God has said that along with the body, a person should protect his eyes, intentions and heart. If a person looks at women with the wrong eyes, then he has committed adultery in his heart. Therefore, along with physical adultery, one should avoid adultery of the heart and keep one’s faith strong and safe.

Book

New-Testament

Reference

Matthew 19:9

Verse

I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.

Explanation

In this verse, it is mentioned in terms of the protection of a pure relationship like marriage and it is said that if a man divorces a woman for no reason, when the woman has not committed any wrongdoing, then that man is guilty of adultery because he has left his wife and married someone else. If he leaves his wife for any reason, meaning that his wife is sinful or unfaithful, then there is no sin on that man.

Book

New-Testament

Reference

Mark 10:11-12

Verse

He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”

Explanation

In this verse also a warning has been given in terms of strengthening the relationship of marriage. And it has been said that if a man divorces his innocent wife and marries another girl, he has committed adultery. Similarly, if a girl leaves her husband for a man and marries another man, she has also committed adultery. Therefore, husband and wife cannot divorce each other without any reason.

Book

New-Testament

Reference

Luke 16:18

Verse

Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Explanation

It is mentioned in this verse that if a woman divorces her husband and marries another man while her husband was faithful and pure. But this woman divorced her husband without reason and married another man. In this situation, this woman will be an adulteress and the man she married will also be an adulterer.

Book

New-Testament

Reference

Matthew 15:19

Verse

For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.

Explanation

It is in this verse that bad thoughts come in the heart of a person and because of these thoughts, people do bad deeds. For example, if thoughts like murder, adultery, lying and deception come into their hearts, then they can also do such acts. Therefore, a person should keep his intentions and hearts pure, only then he can become truly virtuous.

Book

New-Testament

Reference

1 Corinthians 6:9

Verse

Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men.

Explanation

This verse states that God forbids people from doing wrong. And forbids them not to commit adultery and make their married life perfect. But if those people do not do that, God says that He will not admit them to Paradise. They will be punished for their sins. Therefore, if they want to go to heaven, they should not do bad deeds and take the path of good deeds.

Result of Adultery

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Proverbs 6:24-29

Verse

Keeping you from your neighbor’s wife, from the smooth talk of a wayward woman. Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes. For a prostitute can be had for a loaf of bread, but another man’s wife preys on your very life. Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.

Explanation

It is explained in this verse that do not look at someone’s wife in a wrong way and do not bring wrong thoughts in your heart because of her beauty and keep yourself strong and also keep your faith strong. Don’t be influenced by the seductive look of any woman. If you sleep with a woman, you think you will not be punished? If someone keeps fire in his lap, the fire touches his body and burns his clothes. So stay away from adultery. Moreover, if you commit adultery, you will be punished.

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Proverbs 7:5-27

Verse

They will keep you from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words. At the window of my house I looked down through the lattice. I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense. He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in. Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. (She is unruly and defiant, her feet never stay at home; now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.) She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said: “Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home. So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you! I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning; let’s enjoy ourselves with love! My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon.” With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life. Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say. Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths. Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.

Explanation

In this verse, the story is told that a man is going home with his food and a woman stops him on the way. The night is dark and the woman’s dress is not suitable. She uses her seductive words to seduce the man. The woman tells him that my husband is not at home today and I have made my bed very well. So come to my house and we will stay together till morning. He goes to the woman’s house. With this one step of a man he goes to death because he took the path of sin. In this verse, Jesus is advising that avoid this sin and do not fall under anyone’s temptation, keep your faith strong in your heart. If we choose the path of sin, we will be punished and it will be very bad for us.

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Jeremiah 5:7-8

Verse

Why should I forgive you? Your children have forsaken me and sworn by gods that are not gods. I supplied all their needs, yet they committed adultery and thronged to the houses of prostitutes. They are well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing for another man’s wife.

Explanation

In this verse, God is expressing his anger and saying that how can he forgive such people who disobeyed God? They did what God forbade. God forbade committing adultery, but these people started committing adultery and sleeping with other men’s wives. They will be punished for these sins. Along with physical adultery, God will not forgive adultery of the heart.

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Ezekiel 23:37

Verse

For they have committed adultery and blood is on their hands. They committed adultery with their idols; they even sacrificed their children, whom they bore to me, as food for them.

Explanation

In this verse God is addressing Israel saying that they disobeyed God and committed adultery with their idols. They started worshiping idols instead of God. God gave the word adultery to those who left their true religion and true God and joined idols. God said that these are the people who commit adultery with their idols and sacrifice their children. God feels sorry for them.

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Hosea 4:13-14

Verse

They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar and terebinth, where the shade is pleasant. Therefore your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery. “I will not punish your daughters when they turn to prostitution, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery, because the men themselves consort with harlots and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes— a people without understanding will come to ruin!

Explanation

God has described the mistakes of the Israelites in this verse. God says that the Israelites, who were supposed to worship God and obey His commandments, took the wrong path and began to believe in false gods. They used to go to a high mountain and burn lamps there. This was completely against God’s teachings and their daughters became involved in immorality and immortality. So God says He will punish these women as well as these men because these men are involved.

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Proverbs 5:8-10

Verse

Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house, lest you lose your honor to others and your dignity to one who is cruel, lest strangers feast on your wealth and your toil enrich the house of another.

Explanation

It is mentioned in this verse that if a person does wrong and goes towards adultery, he loses his honor as well as his wealth. Because when a man goes to a prostitute, he gives her money and in that act he wastes his money and loses his respect in the society. Therefore, one should stay away from adultery and follow the straight path of God.

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Jeremiah 3:8-9

Verse

I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery. Because Israel’s immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stone and wood.

Explanation

In this verse, God has said about the people of Israel and Judah that those people did not obey God. God blessed them so much, but they still disobeyed God and worshiped idols instead of God. In this verse, God has said that because of worshiping idols, those people used to commit adultery with stones and wood. It means that they committed adultery spiritually because love for false gods arose in their hearts.

Book

New-Testament

Reference

Romans 7:2-3

Verse

For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him. So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.

Explanation

In this verse, Jesus is telling that if a woman divorces her husband and marries another man, she will be an adulteress, but if her husband is dead, she can remarry according to Christian law. She will not be an adulterer. This gives us a lesson that if the husband is alive, a woman cannot marry anyone else. If her husband is dead, she is free then she can marry another person.

Book

New-Testament

Reference

Galatians 5:19

Verse

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery.

Explanation

In this verse, Paul is admonishing and saying that a man considers his own desires as everything. He uses wrong ways to satisfy his desires. In which obscenity, adultery and fornication are included. But if he kills his desires and follows the path of God, he can avoid these bad deeds. Similarly, he can avoid the punishment of God.

Book

New-Testament

Reference

Revelation 2:20-22

Verse

Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways.

Explanation

In this God is talking about those people who call themselves prophets but they do not work for the welfare of people and divert them from the path of God. These are false prophets who did not come from God. Their purpose is to lead people down wrong paths. In addition, women who lead men to sins, God says about all of them that He will punish them very severely.

Book

New-Testament

Reference

1 Corinthians 10:8

Verse

We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.

Explanation

In this verse, Paul gives God’s message to the people and says that even in the old times, people were victims of adultery and obscenity and God sent down punishment on them. Come out of this curse and follow the path of God.

Book

New-Testament

Reference

Hebrews 13:4

Verse

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

Explanation

In this verse God says to stop adultery. He says that God has made a pure path which is marriage. Man and woman should marry instead of committing adultery. Because there is a blessing in marriage and the bed of the husband and wife after marriage is pure. It is a great sin to establish a relationship without marriage.

Book

New-Testament

Reference

1 Peter 2:11

Verse

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.

Explanation

In this verse, it is mentioned that man’s desires make him do wrong. Therefore, a person should not think about the wrong desires of his heart and should not try at all to fulfill them. One should fulfill one’s desires by using the pure ways that God has given, because these evils destroy the spirituality of man and also destroy the peace of life.

How to Maintain The Faith?

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Proverbs 5:3-5

Verse

For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave.

Explanation

In this verse, it is mentioned about such a wicked woman whose lips are like honey. And her voice sounds so melodious that any man can get lost in her drunkenness. But finally this woman takes this man to the grave, destroys this world and the hereafter. Therefore, one should not look at external beauty and should follow the path of purity.

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Proverbs 2:16-19

Verse

Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words, who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God. Surely her house leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead. None who go to her return or attain the paths of life.

Explanation

In this verse it is advised that women who disobey their husbands and disobey God’s orders are very dangerous. If you fall under their temptation, they will ruin your hereafter along with themselves. So you have to be careful, don’t fall into their temptations and keep fearing God and keep walking on the straight path.

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Proverbs 6:32

Verse

But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself.

Explanation

In this verse it is mentioned about a man who commits adultery and goes to wicked women. This verse states that the man is very foolish who wastes his life and spirituality and follows the wrong path. Who can be more foolish than this person who destroys his world and the hereafter?

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Malachi 3:5

Verse

“So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,” says the Lord Almighty.

Explanation

In this verse, God tells people that He tests people and those who do not meet this test and indulge in wickedness, adultery, lies will be severely punished. Those who disobey God’s orders and follow their own desires will have their residence in hell.

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Ecclesiastes 7:26

Verse

I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner she will ensnare.

Explanation

In this verse it is mentioned that some women are very dangerous. She traps men in her net. Weak men fall into her trap whereas men whose faith is strong escape from their traps. In this verse, these women are said to be bitterer than death. And it has been said that more bitter than death is a woman who tries to trap a man, seduce him and provoke him to sin.

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Job 31:1

Verse

I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.

Explanation

In this verse there is advice for us. In it, Job is saying that he has made a promise to himself and the promise is that he will never look at a woman wrongly and will protect his faith. This gives us the advice that we have to protect our eyes and keep our faith strong.

Book

New-Testament

Reference

Ephesians 5:3

Verse

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.

Explanation

This verse also tells us to stay away from bad deeds, greed and immorality and advises us that if we stay away from these evils, our life will become pure.

Book

New-Testament

Reference

Colossians 3:5

Verse

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

Explanation

It is mentioned in this verse that a person can lead an honorable and pure life only if he gives up fornication, immorality, wrong actions and greed and put them to death. Only by abandoning these wrong things can a person lead a peaceful and virtuous life. Further, God is pleased with those who do good deeds.

Book

New-Testament

Reference

1 Thessalonians 4:3

Verse

It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality.

Explanation

In this verse, Paul is conveying the command of God to the people and says that God commands to always go towards purity and stay away from things that are wrong and unlawful. Do deeds that are good.

Book

New-Testament

Reference

Philippians 4:8

Verse

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Explanation

In this verse, Paul advises and says to always keep good thoughts in your heart and pay attention to the things that are pure and right. Do not pay attention to the wrong things, in this way they will be able to do good deeds and stay away from impurity. The benefit of this will be that the person will not go away from God and his world and the hereafter will be good.

Book

New-Testament

Reference

1 Corinthians 7:2

Verse

But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.

Explanation

In this verse it is advised that the society has become very corrupt and people are attracted towards adultery. In this situation, the husband and wife should maintain relations with each other. The wife should go to her husband for her satisfaction and the husband should go to his wife for his satisfaction. Only then can the distortion of the society be correct.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

By reading these verses, we realize that adultery is a great sin and it is very difficult to get rid of it because God has created desires in the heart of man. And when man tries to fulfill these desires, he takes the path of evil. Therefore, in these verses, it is advised to suppress one’s desires and not look at women in a wrong way. Do not pay attention to the wrong thoughts that arise in the heart and follow the orders of God. Only then can a person lead a dignified life. These verses instruct us to follow the path of God and urge us to avoid evil practices like adultery because if we engage in this adultery, our end will be very bad. We will be humiliated in this world and God’s punishment will be revealed in the hereafter. Therefore, we should read the Bible verses, incorporate it into our lives and live according to God’s rules.