πόρνη (pornē)
pornē
prostitute
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 12 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun porne refers to a woman who engages in sexual activity for payment, commonly translated as prostitute or harlot. In the New Testament, it appears in contexts ranging from Jesus’ parables about tax collectors and prostitutes entering the kingdom ahead of religious leaders (Matthew 21:31) to Paul’s warning against uniting with such a person (1 Corinthians 6:15). The term carries a strong sense of moral defilement and transactional intimacy.
Its most striking usage is metaphorical in Revelation, where "Babylon the Great" is called a porne. This image portrays Rome, or more broadly any power system opposed to God, as an unfaithful partner who seduces nations into idolatry and injustice (Revelation 17:1-5). The sources note this draws on Old Testament prophetic language, where Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness is described as prostitution. Here, the word shifts from individual sin to systemic corruption.
The term derives from a root meaning "to sell," emphasizing the commercial nature of the act. Translators often use "prostitute" for clarity, though some modern versions choose "harlot" or "sex worker" depending on context. The biblical usage consistently highlights betrayal of covenant loyalty, whether in personal morality or corporate idolatry.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word for prostitute in the New Testament carries a heavy weight of broken trust and transactional intimacy. In passages like Matthew 21, Jesus places prostitutes alongside tax collectors as those who entered God’s Kingdom before the religious elite. This startling comparison highlights that no one is too far gone for grace. The barrier to God’s love is not past sin, but the refusal to repent. When we see how quickly these marginalized figures responded to John the Baptist, it reminds us that humility opens doors that pride keeps shut.
Paul takes this concept further in 1 Corinthians, warning that our bodies belong to Christ. He uses the image of joining oneself to a prostitute to illustrate the spiritual danger of idolatry. The point is not merely about sexual ethics, but about loyalty. We are called to a covenant relationship with God that excludes other masters. This call to exclusive devotion applies to every area of life, urging us to keep our hearts fixed on Him alone.
Revelation expands this imagery to describe systemic corruption, calling Babylon a great prostitute who seduces nations into injustice. Yet even here, the narrative ends with judgment and the triumph of righteousness. The hope for believers is not in avoiding temptation entirely, but in remaining faithful to Christ despite the world’s pressures. This word ultimately points to the seriousness of our spiritual union and the depth of God’s desire for our undivided hearts.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 12 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- prostitute7×
- prostitutes4×
- [them] of a prostitute1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- πόρνη3×
- πόρνης2×
- πόρνην2×
- πόρναι2×
- πορνῶν2×
- πόρνῃ1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 21:31
Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering into God’s Kingdom before you.
This verse highlights Jesus’ radical inclusion, showing that those society rejected entered the Kingdom before the religious leaders who claimed righteousness.
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I Corinthians 6:15
Don’t you know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be!
Paul uses this strong metaphor to warn believers against idolatry by contrasting their union with Christ against joining a prostitute.
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Hebrews 11:31
By faith Rahab the prostitute didn’t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.
Rahab is cited as an example of faith, demonstrating that God’s grace extends to those with scandalous pasts who turn to Him.
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Revelation of John 17:5
And on her forehead a name was written, “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”
This verse identifies Babylon the Great as a prostitute, symbolizing systemic spiritual unfaithfulness and corruption on a global scale.