נָאַף (na.aph)
na.aph
to commit adultery
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 21 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb naaph means to commit adultery, specifically describing a breach of marital fidelity. In its literal sense, it usually refers to a man having sexual relations with another man's wife, as seen in the legal codes of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. The word carries the weight of a broken covenant, marking a serious violation of social and religious order.
Beyond the physical act, naaph is frequently used as a powerful metaphor for idolatry. Prophets like Jeremiah and Hosea employ this term to describe Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness to God. When Jeremiah speaks of Judah committing adultery with stone and wood (Jeremiah 3:9), he uses the same verb that describes physical infidelity, equating the worship of idols with a betrayal of the marriage bond between God and His people.
This dual usage highlights how ancient Israelites viewed their relationship with Yahweh. Just as adultery destroys trust within a family, turning to other gods was seen as a fundamental breach of loyalty. The prophets did not treat idolatry as merely a theological error but as a relational catastrophe, using the visceral language of marital betrayal to shock listeners into recognizing the severity of their apostasy.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word naaph describes a profound breach of trust, specifically within the covenant of marriage. It is not merely a legal violation but a relational catastrophe that destroys the foundation of intimacy and loyalty. In the ancient context, this act was seen as a betrayal of the entire social and spiritual order, severing the bond that held families and communities together.
Prophets like Jeremiah and Hosea used this heavy language to describe Israel’s idolatry. They equated turning to other gods with marital infidelity, showing that God views faithfulness as a matter of the heart, not just external rules. This metaphor reminds us that our relationship with God is personal and intimate, requiring wholehearted devotion rather than divided loyalties.
Understanding this word helps us see the seriousness of spiritual unfaithfulness in our own lives. It invites us to examine where we might be placing our ultimate trust. The call to fidelity is not about earning love but responding to the covenant relationship God offers, seeking to honor Him with the same loyalty that defines true love.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 21 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you must commit adultery2×
- they commit adultery2×
- he will commit adultery2×
- and/ they committed adultery2×
- adulterous2×
- adulterers2×
- they have committed adultery1×
- the/ adulterer1×
- she committed adultery1×
- and/ will you commit adultery?1×
- and/ the/ adulteress1×
- and/ she committed adultery1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תִּֿנְאָֽ֑ף\׃\ \ס2×
- תְּנָאַֽפְנָה\׃1×
- תְנָאַ֔פְנָה1×
- נֹאֵ֨ף\׀1×
- נֹאֵ֣ף1×
- נָא֞וֹף1×
- נִֽאֲפָה֙1×
- מְנָאֵ֖ף1×
- מְנָאֲפִ֣ים1×
- מְנָֽאֲפִים֙1×
- מְנָ֫אָ֥פֶת1×
- מְנָ֣אֲפִ֔ים1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 20:14
“You shall not commit adultery.
This verse establishes naaph as a fundamental boundary in the Decalogue, defining it as a direct violation of God's command regarding marital fidelity.
-
Jeremiah 3:9
Because she took her prostitution lightly, the land was polluted, and she committed adultery with stones and with wood.
Here the verb is applied metaphorically to idolatry, equating the worship of idols with spiritual infidelity to shock listeners into recognizing their betrayal.
-
Hosea 3:1
Yahweh said to me, “Go again, love a woman loved by another, and an adulteress, even as Yahweh loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods, and love cakes of raisins.”
God commands Hosea to love an adulteress, using the reality of marital brokenness as a living parable for God's persistent love toward unfaithful Israel.
-
Proverbs 6:32
He who commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding. He who does it destroys his own soul.
This passage highlights the self-destructive nature of adultery, noting that the one who commits it lacks understanding and damages his own soul.