μοιχάω (moichaō)
moichaō
to commit adultery
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb moichaō means to commit adultery, specifically engaging in sexual relations with someone who is married to another person. In the New Testament, it appears only four times, primarily within Jesus’ teachings on marriage found in Matthew and Mark. The word describes a concrete violation of the marital bond, focusing on the act itself rather than just an internal feeling.
Its meaning is rooted in the noun for "adulterer" (moichos). While the Old Testament often uses this concept to describe Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness to God, the New Testament usage here is strictly literal. It applies to both men and women, as seen when Jesus addresses a husband divorcing his wife for adultery or a woman leaving her husband. The sources note that in the classical Greek and Septuagint, the form could be active or middle voice, but the New Testament consistently uses the middle voice to describe the man’s action.
Translators render this word simply as "commit adultery" or "adulteress." It carries significant legal and moral weight in its context, marking a serious breach of covenant. By using this specific term, the texts highlight the gravity of breaking marriage vows, distinguishing it from general sexual immorality by pinpointing the betrayal of a specific spouse.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word moichaō points to the serious breach of marriage vows. In the New Testament, it describes the act of committing adultery, a violation that breaks the covenant between spouses. Jesus used this term to highlight the gravity of divorce and remarriage when no biblical ground exists. It reminds us that marriage is a sacred bond, not merely a social contract.
For those navigating difficult relationships, these verses offer both clarity and comfort. They affirm the value of fidelity while acknowledging the pain of brokenness. The call to faithfulness is not about earning love but reflecting God’s steadfast commitment to His people. Even in hardship, we can trust that God sees our struggles and offers grace for healing.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- commits adultery.3×
- she commits adultery.1×
- commits adultery1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- μοιχᾶται.¶3×
- μοιχᾶται.1×
- μοιχᾶται1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 5:32
but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.
This verse uses moichaō to show how unjust divorce makes an innocent spouse appear as an adulteress, emphasizing the moral weight of breaking marriage vows.
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Matthew 19:9
I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her when she is divorced commits adultery.”
Here, Jesus explicitly links remarriage after divorce (without cause) to committing adultery, reinforcing the lifelong nature of the marital covenant.
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Mark 10:11
He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.
This occurrence highlights that divorcing and remarrying constitutes adultery against the former spouse, underscoring the relational harm caused by such actions.
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Mark 10:12
If a woman herself divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
By applying moichaō to a woman who divorces her husband, Jesus affirms that the moral standard of fidelity applies equally to both genders.