πορνεία
porneia
sexual sin
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word πορνεία (porneia) is defined as "sexual sin." Its semantic domain indicates that it falls under the broader categories of sin and righteousness. This term is used 26 times in the Bible, suggesting its importance in the narrative and teachings of the New Testament. The range of usage for πορνεία is quite broad, encompassing various forms of sexual immorality. Without further context, it is difficult to pinpoint specific behaviors, but its association with sin and righteousness implies that it is considered a grave moral transgression. The frequency of its occurrence in the Bible highlights its significance in the authors' message, emphasizing the importance of sexual purity and the consequences of engaging in such behaviors. The significance of πορνεία lies in its connection to the broader themes of sin, righteousness, and moral accountability. Its emphasis on sexual sin serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a high moral standard in personal relationships and behaviors.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
26 total occurrences across the text
but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.
Matthew 15:19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies.
Matthew 19:9I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her when she is divorced commits adultery.”
Mark 7:21For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts,
John 8:41You do the works of your father.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God.”
Acts 15:20but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.
Acts 15:29that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.”
Acts 21:25But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written our decision that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from food offered to idols, from blood, from strangled things, and from sexual immorality.”
Romans 1:29being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret slanderers,
1 Corinthians 5:1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles, that one has his father’s wife.
1 Corinthians 5:1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles, that one has his father’s wife.
1 Corinthians 6:13“Foods for the belly, and the belly for foods,” but God will bring to nothing both it and them. But the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
1 Corinthians 6:18Flee sexual immorality! “Every sin that a man does is outside the body,” but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
1 Corinthians 7:2But, because of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
2 Corinthians 12:21that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness, sexual immorality, and lustfulness which they committed.
Galatians 5:19Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness,
Ephesians 5:3But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints;
Colossians 3:5Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
1 Thessalonians 4:3For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality,
Revelation 2:21I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.
Revelation 9:21They didn’t repent of their murders, their sorceries, their sexual immorality, or their thefts.
Revelation 14:8Another, a second angel, followed, saying, “Babylon the great has fallen, which has made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality.”
Revelation 17:2with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality. Those who dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her sexual immorality.”
Revelation 17:4The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of the sexual immorality of the earth.
Revelation 18:3For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality, the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from the abundance of her luxury.”
Revelation 19:2for his judgments are true and righteous. For he has judged the great prostitute, who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and he has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.”