πορνεύω
porneúō
G4203 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To engage in sexual intercourse outside the bounds of marital union; specifically, to practice prostitution or sexual immorality. In broader usage, to act in ways considered sexually unfaithful or promiscuous by the prevailing cultural or legal standards. By extension, in certain figurative contexts, to practice infidelity toward a deity, i.e., to participate in religious or cultic behaviors viewed as spiritual betrayal or idolatry.
Semantic Range
to have illicit sexual relations, to practice prostitution, to commit sexual immorality, to be sexually unfaithful, to engage in sexual misconduct, to be unchaste, (figuratively) to be religiously unfaithful or pursue idolatry
Root / Etymology
From the noun πόρνη (pornē, 'prostitute'), itself derived from the root πορν-; ultimately of uncertain further origin, possibly linked to the idea of trafficking or trading, but this is debated.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, πορνεύω generally referred to the act of practicing prostitution, often in the specific sense of a woman selling sex, although the verb could also apply to men. In the Septuagint, the verb sometimes renders Hebrew זָנָה (zanah, 'to be unfaithful sexually' or 'to act as a prostitute') and frequently carries the same dual register: literal sexual immorality or prostitution and, contextually, metaphorical unfaithfulness to Israel's deity (especially in prophetic literature). In the New Testament, πορνεύω commonly denotes sexual relations outside of recognized marital relationships, closely associated with πορνεία (sexual immorality), but can also carry the metaphorical sense of idolatry or covenantal unfaithfulness, especially in the vein of earlier Hebrew Bible usage. English translations often narrow the term to 'fornicate' or 'commit fornication,' but in Koine Greek contexts the word includes a range of sexual misconduct, not limited to pre- or extra-marital sex, and the figurative use for religious unfaithfulness may be missed in standard renderings. The contextual meaning depends heavily on the surrounding text and prevailing social-religious norms. Differentiated from μοιχεύω (moicheuō, 'to commit adultery'), which specifically refers to violating a marriage bond.
Translation Consistency
porneúō most commonly and directly means to engage in illicit sexual intercourse or sexual immorality. ‘Fornicate’ is the standard single-word English verb that captures that core sense (including prostitution and sexual unfaithfulness) and can carry the figurative sense of spiritual unfaithfulness; other choices (e.g., ‘commit,’ ‘prostitute,’ or multiword phrases) are either too generic, narrower, or less consistent for all forms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from πόρνη; to act the harlot, i.e. (literally) indulge unlawful lust (of either sex), or (figuratively) practise idolatry:--commit (fornication).
Root Family
πορνεύω (porneuō) — engage in illicit sexual activity, practice prostitution, be sexually unfaithful
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4203-01 |
ἐπόρνευσαν | eporneusan | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
have committed fornication | they engaged in sexual immorality | they fornicated | 3 |
G4203-04 |
πορνεῦσαι | porneusai | V AOR ACT INF |
to commit sexual immorality | to engage in illicit sexual activity | to fornicate | 2 |
G4203-02 |
πορνεύωμεν | porneuomen | V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL |
let us commit fornication | let us practice sexual immorality | let us practice sexual immorality | 1 |
G4203-05 |
πορνεύσαντες | porneusantes | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
committed immorality | having practiced sexual immorality | having committed sexual immorality | 1 |
G4203-03 |
πορνεύων | porneuon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
who commits sexual immorality | sexually unfaithful man | one committing sexual immorality | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
8 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4203-03 |
1 Corinthians 6:18 | πορνεύων | porneuon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
who commits sexual immorality | sexually unfaithful man | one committing sexual immorality |
G4203-02 |
1 Corinthians 10:8 | πορνεύωμεν | porneuomen | V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL |
let us commit fornication | let us practice sexual immorality | let us practice sexual immorality |
G4203-01 |
1 Corinthians 10:8 | ἐπόρνευσαν | eporneusan | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
committed | they engaged in sexual immorality | they fornicated |
G4203-04 |
Revelation 2:14 | πορνεῦσαι | porneusai | V AOR ACT INF |
to commit sexual immorality | to engage in illicit sexual activity | to fornicate |
G4203-04 |
Revelation 2:20 | πορνεῦσαι | porneusai | V AOR ACT INF |
to commit sexual immorality | to engage in illicit sexual activity | to fornicate |
G4203-01 |
Revelation 17:2 | ἐπόρνευσαν | eporneusan | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
have committed fornication | they engaged in sexual immorality | they fornicated |
G4203-01 |
Revelation 18:3 | ἐπόρνευσαν | eporneusan | V AOR ACT IND 3P PL |
have committed fornication | they engaged in sexual immorality | they fornicated |
G4203-05 |
Revelation 18:9 | πορνεύσαντες | porneusantes | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
committed immorality | having practiced sexual immorality | having committed sexual immorality |