μοιχεία (moicheia)
moicheia
adultery
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun moicheia refers specifically to the act of adultery, a sexual violation of the marriage covenant. In the New Testament, it appears in only four verses, primarily within the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, where Jesus lists it among the evils that originate from within the human heart (Matthew 15:19; Mark 7:21). It also features prominently in John 8:3-4, where religious leaders attempt to trap Jesus with a woman caught in the act.
While often translated simply as "adultery," the term carries significant legal and moral weight in its original context. It denotes the specific crime of sexual intercourse with someone who is married to another person, distinct from general sexual immorality or fornication. The sources highlight its usage in the Septuagint as well, where it translates Hebrew terms like na’aph, linking New Testament teaching directly to the ancient Israelite understanding of marital fidelity.
This word underscores the seriousness with which Scripture views marital boundaries. By placing moicheia alongside other grave sins like theft and slander, Jesus emphasizes that internal desires are just as destructive as external actions. The term serves as a stark reminder that integrity in relationships is central to righteous living, reflecting the high standard of holiness expected in biblical ethics.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word moicheia points to a specific breach of the marriage covenant, carrying the full weight of legal and moral consequence in biblical times. It is not a vague term for general immorality but names the concrete act of violating marital fidelity. Jesus places this sin alongside others like theft and slander to show that our internal desires hold real power over our actions.
When religious leaders brought a woman caught in moicheia before Jesus, they expected condemnation. Instead, He offered grace without ignoring the seriousness of the act. This tension reminds us that while God calls us to high standards of integrity, His mercy meets us in our failures. We are invited to pursue honesty in relationships, knowing that Christ’s forgiveness restores what we have broken.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- adultery2×
- adulteries,1×
- adulteries1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- μοιχεῖαι,2×
- μοιχείᾳ1×
- μοιχεία1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 15:19
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies.
Jesus lists adulteries among the evils that originate from within the human heart, highlighting the internal source of external sin.
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John 8:3
The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery. Having set her in the middle,
The phrase 'taken in adultery' identifies the specific legal charge brought against the woman, grounding the narrative in real-world consequences.
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Galatians 5:19
Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness,
Paul includes adultery in the list of fleshly deeds, contrasting it with the fruit of the Spirit to show how sin disrupts community life.