"fornication, whoredom, Mt. 15:19; Mk. 7:21; Acts 15:20, 29; concubinage, Jn. 8:41; adultery, Mt. 5:32; 19:9; incest, 1 Cor. 5:1; lewdness, uncleanness, genr., Rom. 1:29; from the Hebrew, put symbolically for idolatry, Rev. 2:21; 14:8"
Definition and meaning
fornication, whoredom, Mt. 15:19; Mk. 7:21; Acts 15:20, 29; concubinage, Jn. 8:41; adultery, Mt. 5:32; 19:9; incest, 1 Cor. 5:1; lewdness, uncleanness, genr., Rom. 1:29; from the Hebrew, put symbolically for idolatry, Rev. 2:21; 14:8
In the original Greek the word is written: πορνεία
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 porneia (G4202) across the King James Bible.
But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
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Common questions
Strong's G4202 (porneia) is a Greek word that means: fornication, whoredom, Mt. 15:19; Mk. 7:21; Acts 15:20, 29; concubinage, Jn. 8:41; adultery, Mt. 5:32; 19:9; incest, 1 Cor. 5:1; lewdness, uncleanness, genr., Rom. 1:29; from the Hebrew, put symbolica... It appears 25 times in the King James Bible.
The word porneia (G4202) appears 25 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4202 is porneia, a Greek word defined as: fornication, whoredom, Mt. 15:19; Mk. 7:21; Acts 15:20, 29; concubinage, Jn. 8:41; adultery, Mt. 5:32; 19:9; incest, 1 Cor. 5:1; lewdness, uncleanness. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
porneia is a Greek word found in the New Testament.