μοιχεύω (moicheuō)
moicheuō
to commit adultery
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 12 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb moicheuō means to commit adultery, describing the physical act of unlawful sexual intercourse with someone who is not one’s spouse. In the New Testament, it appears in lists of moral prohibitions alongside other serious sins, such as when Paul includes it among behaviors that exclude people from God’s kingdom (1 Corinthians 6:9) or when Jesus cites it in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:27). It carries the weight of breaking a sacred covenant.
While its primary meaning is literal, the word also functions metaphorically to describe spiritual unfaithfulness. The sources note this usage in Revelation 2:22, where Jesus addresses the church in Thyatira and uses the term to accuse them of participating in idolatry. Here, the language shifts from physical betrayal to a breach of loyalty to God, treating idol worship as a form of adultery against the divine husband.
This dual usage highlights the biblical view that faithfulness is both a moral and a relational commitment. The same word that condemns sexual sin also condemns the heart’s turning away from God toward false gods. Translators typically render it simply as "commit adultery," preserving the directness of the original accusation without softening its severity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word moicheuō carries the weight of breaking a sacred covenant. In the New Testament, it describes the physical act of adultery but also serves as a powerful metaphor for spiritual unfaithfulness. When Jesus addresses the church in Thyatira, He uses this term to accuse them of participating in idolatry, treating their worship of false gods as a breach of loyalty to Him. This dual usage highlights that faithfulness is both a moral and a relational commitment.
Understanding this word helps us see how seriously God views our allegiance. It is not merely about sexual ethics but about the heart’s orientation toward God. Whether in the strict prohibitions of the Law or the deeper teachings of the Sermon on the Mount, the call remains consistent: to remain faithful to the One who loves us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 12 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you will commit adultery,1×
- you may commit adultery,1×
- you do commit adultery1×
- will you commit adultery.’1×
- will you commit adultery,1×
- to commit adultery1×
- to be adulterated;1×
- shall you commit adultery,1×
- shall you commit adultery1×
- has committed adultery with1×
- do you commit adultery?1×
- committing adultery;1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- μοιχεύσῃς,3×
- μοιχεύσεις,2×
- ἐμοίχευσεν1×
- μοιχεύσεις.1×
- μοιχεύοντας1×
- μοιχεύεις;1×
- μοιχεύεις1×
- μοιχεύειν1×
- μοιχεύει.¶1×
- μοιχεύει,1×
- μοιχευομένη·1×
- μοιχευθῆναι·1×
Key Verses
-
Revelation of John 2:22
Behold, I will throw her and those who commit adultery with her into a bed of great oppression, unless they repent of her works.
This verse uses the word metaphorically to describe spiritual unfaithfulness, equating participation in idolatry with adultery against God.
-
Matthew 5:28
but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Jesus expands the scope of the commandment, showing that the heart’s lustful intent is treated as committing adultery in one’s heart.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does moicheuō mean in the New Testament?
How is this word different from general sexual sin?
Where does this word appear in the Bible?
Every Occurrence (12 verses across 7 books)
Matthew 4 verses
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’
Matthew 5:28but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his…
Matthew 5:32but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and…
Matthew 19:18He said to him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder.’ ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ‘You shall not…