"a prostitute, a whore, harlot, an unchaste female, Mt. 21:31, 32; from the Hebrew, an idolatress, Rev. 17:1, 5, 15"
Definition and meaning
a prostitute, a whore, harlot, an unchaste female, Mt. 21:31, 32; from the Hebrew, an idolatress, Rev. 17:1, 5, 15
In the original Greek the word is written: πόρνη
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of porne (G4204) across the King James Bible.
Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
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Common questions
Strong's G4204 (porne) is a Greek word that means: a prostitute, a whore, harlot, an unchaste female, Mt. 21:31, 32; from the Hebrew, an idolatress, Rev. 17:1, 5, 15 It appears 12 times in the King James Bible.
The word porne (G4204) appears 12 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4204 is porne, a Greek word defined as: a prostitute, a whore, harlot, an unchaste female, Mt. 21:31, 32; from the Hebrew, an idolatress, Rev. 17:1, 5, 15. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
porne is a Greek word found in the New Testament.