זְנוּנִים (za.nun)
za.nun
fornication
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew word zĕnûnîm refers to sexual immorality, specifically covering adultery, fornication, and prostitution. It appears in five verses across the Old Testament, with significant usage in Hosea, II Kings, and Genesis. The term captures acts that violate marital fidelity or social boundaries, often carrying a strong moral and religious weight.
In its biblical context, zĕnûnîm is frequently linked to idolatry, where spiritual unfaithfulness is described using the language of sexual infidelity. For example, in Hosea, the prophet’s marriage serves as a metaphor for Israel’s covenant betrayal, with zĕnûnîm illustrating the depth of this broken relationship. This connection highlights how physical sin was viewed as a reflection of deeper spiritual corruption.
Translators typically render zĕnûnîm as "fornication" or "adultery," though these English terms may not fully convey its broader implications in Hebrew thought. The word underscores the seriousness of breaking covenantal bonds, whether between individuals or between God and His people, making it a powerful symbol of disloyalty in Scripture.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word zĕnûnîm carries a heavy weight in Scripture, describing not just physical acts but a deep rupture in trust. In the Old Testament, it often bridges the gap between human behavior and spiritual loyalty. When prophets used this term, they were highlighting how breaking covenantal bonds with others mirrors breaking them with God. This connection reminds us that our relationships are never isolated from our faith.
For your daily life, this word invites honesty about where your heart truly rests. It challenges the idea that private choices remain separate from public witness. The biblical narrative shows that integrity in one area affects the whole person. Finding peace comes from aligning your actions with the truth you profess, recognizing that faithfulness is a holistic commitment.
When we stumble, the path forward involves returning to the source of true loyalty. This word does not condemn us but calls us back to a relationship defined by steadfast love. It offers a sobering yet hopeful reminder that our lives are meant to reflect reliability and trust in God.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- prostitution<s>4×
- to/ prostitution<s>1×
- [the] prostitutions of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- זְנוּנִים֙3×
- לִ/זְנוּנִ֑ים1×
- זְנוּנֵ֞י1×
- זְנוּנִ֔ים1×
Key Verses
-
Hosea 1:2
When Yahweh spoke at first by Hosea, Yahweh said to Hosea, “Go, take for yourself a wife of prostitution and children of unfaithfulness; for the land commits great adultery, forsaking Yahweh.”
This verse establishes the metaphorical link between marital unfaithfulness and Israel's spiritual abandonment of Yahweh.
-
Hosea 4:12
My people consult with their wooden idol, and answer to a stick of wood. Indeed the spirit of prostitution has led them astray, and they have been unfaithful to their God.
Here the term describes a 'spirit' that actively leads people astray through idolatry, showing its broader moral scope.
-
Genesis 38:24
About three months later, Judah was told, “Tamar, your daughter-in-law, has played the prostitute. Moreover, behold, she is with child by prostitution.” Judah said, “Bring her out, and let her be burned.”
This occurrence grounds the term in a specific historical narrative of legal and social consequences for sexual immorality.