Adultery in the Law, Part 3

The translators of the New American Bible1 chose the marriage is unlawful for πορνεία in Matthew 5:32 [Table].  So I will substitute that translation in the NET:

But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the marriage is unlawful, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

The footnote in the New American Bible references Leviticus 18:6-18 rather than Leviticus 20:11-21.  A comparison of the two passages follows.

Leviticus 18:6-18 (NET)

Leviticus 20:11-21 (NET)

No man is to approach any close relative to have sexual intercourse with her.  I am the Lord.  You must not expose your father’s nakedness by having sexual intercourse with your mother.  She is your mother; you must not have intercourse with her.  You must not have sexual intercourse with your father’s wife; she is your father’s nakedness [Table].

Leviticus 18:6-8 (NET)

If a man has sexual intercourse with his father’s wife, he has exposed his father’s nakedness.  Both of them must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves.

Leviticus 20:11 (NET) Table

You must not have sexual intercourse with your sister, whether she is your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she is born in the same household or born outside it; you must not have sexual intercourse with either of them.

Leviticus 18:9 (NET) Table

If a man has sexual intercourse with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or his mother,   so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace.   They must be cut off in the sight of the children of their people.  He has exposed his sister’s nakedness; he will bear his punishment for iniquity.

Leviticus 20:17 (NET) Table

You must not expose the nakedness of your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter by having sexual intercourse with them, because they are your own nakedness.

Leviticus 18:10 (NET)

You must not have sexual intercourse with the daughter of your father’s wife born of your father; she is your sister.  You must not have intercourse with her.

Leviticus 18:11 (NET)

You must not have sexual intercourse with your father’s sister; she is your father’s flesh.  You must not have sexual intercourse with your mother’s sister, because she is your mother’s   flesh.  You must not expose the nakedness of your father’s brother; you must not approach his wife to have sexual intercourse with her.  She is your aunt.

Leviticus 18:12-14 (NET)

You must not expose the nakedness of your mother’s sister and your father’s sister, for such a person has laid bare his own close relative.  They must bear their punishment for iniquity [Table].  If a man has sexual intercourse with his aunt, he has exposed his uncle’s nakedness; they must bear responsibility for their sin, they will die childless [Table].

Leviticus 20:19, 20 (NET)

You must not have sexual intercourse with your daughter-in-law; she is your son’s wife. You must not have intercourse with her.

Leviticus 18:15 (NET)

If a man has sexual intercourse with his daughter-in-law, both of them must be put to death.  They   have committed perversion; their blood guilt is on themselves.

Leviticus 20:12 (NET) Table

You must not have sexual intercourse with your brother’s wife; she is your brother’s nakedness.

Leviticus 18:16 (NET)

If a man has sexual intercourse with his brother’s wife, it is indecency.  He has exposed his brother’s nakedness; they will be childless.

Leviticus 20:21 (NET) Table

You must not have sexual intercourse with both a woman and her daughter; you must not take as wife either her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter to have intercourse with them.  They are closely related to her – it is lewdness.

Leviticus 18:17 (NET)

If a man has sexual intercourse with both a woman and her mother, it is lewdness.  Both he and they must be burned to death, so there is no lewdness in your midst.

Leviticus 20:14 (NET) Table

You must not take a woman in marriage and then marry her sister as a rival wife while she is still   alive, to have sexual intercourse with her.

Leviticus 18:18 (NET)

There are offenses listed in Leviticus 18:6-18 that don’t have a corresponding punishment in Leviticus 20:11-21.  Also there are punishments for offenses in Leviticus 20:11-21 that are not mentioned in Leviticus 18:6-18.  They do appear just outside that arbitrary limit:

You must not have sexual intercourse with a male as one has sexual intercourse with a woman; it is a detestable act.

Leviticus 18:22 (NET)

If a man has sexual intercourse with a male as one has sexual intercourse with a woman, the two of them have committed an abomination.  They must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves.

Leviticus 20:13 (NET) Table

You must not have sexual intercourse with any animal to become defiled with it, and a woman must not stand before an animal to have sexual intercourse with it; it is a perversion.

Leviticus 18:23 (NET)

If a man has sexual intercourse with any animal, he must be put to death, and you must kill the animal [Table].  If a woman approaches any animal to have sexual intercourse with it, you must kill the woman, and the animal must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves [Table].

Leviticus 20:15, 16 (NET)

You must not approach a woman in her menstrual impurity to have sexual intercourse with her.

Leviticus 18:19 (NET)

If a man has sexual intercourse with a menstruating woman and uncovers her nakedness, he has laid bare her fountain of blood and she has exposed the fountain of her blood, so both of them must be cut off from the midst of their people.

Leviticus 20:18 (NET) Table

Both lists combined still comprise a finite set of twelve dimensions.  That addresses my primary discomfort relative to the open-ended translation of πορνεία as immorality in the NET.  One would think I would be happier than I feel about it.  I want to revisit Matthew 5:32 (NET) and 19:9 (NET) with X = porneia (πορνεία).

Matthew 5:32 (NET)

Matthew 19:9 (NET)

I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for X, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Now I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except for X, and marries another commits adultery.

The structure seems to imply that 1) divorce is forbidden, 2) remarriage is adultery, 3) except for πορνεία.  I took Matthew 5:32 to be saying that if the husband who divorced his wife was guilty of πορνεία, Jesus would not consider the divorced wife an adulteress when she remarried, nor hold her new husband guilty of committing adultery.  In Matthew 19:9 I assumed that the divorced wife was guilty of πορνεία and that Jesus would not hold the divorced husband liable for adultery if he remarried.

Is there an implicit permission to divorce a wife guilty of πορνεία in Matthew 19:9?  It may appear so out of context.   But if I bear in mind that Jesus’ original answer to the Pharisees’ question—Is it lawful (ἔξεστιν, a form of ἔξεστι) to divorce a wife for any cause?—was an emphatic no, that apparent permissiveness recedes into the background.  But here’s what happens if I substitute the marriage is unlawful (where the marriage is unlawful = the sets Leviticus 20:11-21 and Leviticus 18:6-18, 19, 22, 23) for X = porneia (πορνεία).

Matthew 5:32 (NET)

Matthew 19:9 (NET)

I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the marriage is unlawful, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Now I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except for the marriage is unlawful, and marries another commits adultery.

Now both the divorced husband and his wife are guilty of πορνεία [e.g., their marriage was unlawful], and both are free of the charge of adultery if remarried.  And divorce in these cases, rather than being forbidden, is obligatory?  And I was entertaining the idea that this was a better translation of πορνεία than immorality?

Though the New American Bible translators were consistent in their translation of Matthew 5:32, 19:9; Acts 15:20, 29, and 21:25, they reverted to immorality in 1 Corinthians 5:1 as opposed to unlawful marriage for πορνεία.  This is the one place where Paul may actually have referred to the law in Leviticus 18:8 and 20:11, and called it πορνεία.

It is widely reported that there is immorality (πορνεία) among you, and immorality (πορνεία) of a kind not found2 even among pagans – a man living with his father’s wife.

Still, there is an incident in the Old Testament (Ezra 9, 10) where divorce was utilized as the remedy for another kind of unlawful marriage (Ezra 9:1, 2 NET):

The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the local residents who practice detestable things similar to those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.  Indeed, they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has become intermingled with the local residents.  Worse still, the leaders and the officials have been at the forefront of all of this!

 

Addendum: January 16, 2019
A table comparing 1 Corinthians 5:1 in the NET and KJV follows.

1 Corinthians 5:1 (NET)

1 Corinthians 5:1 (KJV)

It is actually reported that sexual immorality exists among you, the kind of immorality that is not permitted even among the Gentiles, so that someone is cohabiting with his father’s wife. 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.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Ὅλως ἀκούεται ἐν ὑμῖν πορνεία, καὶ τοιαύτη πορνεία ἥτις οὐδὲ ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, ὥστε γυναῖκα τινα τοῦ πατρὸς ἔχειν ολως ακουεται εν υμιν πορνεια και τοιαυτη πορνεια ητις ουδε εν τοις εθνεσιν ονομαζεται ωστε γυναικα τινα του πατρος εχειν ολως ακουεται εν υμιν πορνεια και τοιαυτη πορνεια ητις ουδε εν τοις εθνεσιν ονομαζεται ωστε γυναικα τινα του πατρος εχειν

 

Addendum: October 5, 2021
Tables comparing Leviticus 18:6; 18:7; 18:10; 18:11; 18:12, 18:13; 18:14; 18:15; 18:16; 18:17; 18:18; 18:22; 18:23; 18:19; Ezra 9:1 and 9:2 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Leviticus 18:6; 18:7; 18:10; 18:11; 18:12; 18:13; 18:14; 18:15; 18:16; 18:17; 18:18; 18:22; 18:23; 18:19; Ezra (2 Esdras) 9:1 and 9:2 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Leviticus 18:6 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 18:6 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:6 (NET)

None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness.  I am HaShem. None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD. “‘No man is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations with her.  I am the Lord.

Leviticus 18:6 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 18:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἄνθρωπος ἄνθρωπος πρὸς πάντα οἰκεῗα σαρκὸς αὐτοῦ οὐ προσελεύσεται ἀποκαλύψαι ἀσχημοσύνην ἐγὼ κύριος Ανθρωπος ἄνθρωπος πρὸς πάντα οἰκεῖα σαρκὸς αὐτοῦ οὐ προσελεύσεται ἀποκαλύψαι ἀσχημοσύνην· ἐγὼ Κύριος

Leviticus 18:6 (NETS)

Leviticus 18:6 (English Elpenor)

Person by person shall not approach any of the household of his flesh to uncover shame; I am the Lord. No man shall draw nigh to any of his near kindred to uncover their nakedness; I [am] the Lord.

Leviticus 18:7 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 18:7 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:7 (NET)

The nakedness of thy father, and the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. You must not expose your father’s nakedness by having sexual relations with your mother.  She is your mother; you must not have sexual relations with her.

Leviticus 18:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 18:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀσχημοσύνην πατρός σου καὶ ἀσχημοσύνην μητρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις μήτηρ γάρ σού ἐστιν καὶ οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς ἀσχημοσύνην πατρός σου καὶ ἀσχημοσύνην μητρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις, μήτηρ γάρ σού ἐστιν, οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς

Leviticus 18:7 (NETS)

Leviticus 18:7 (English Elpenor)

You shall not uncover the shame of your father and the shame of your mother, for she is your mother; you shall not uncover her shame. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, for she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.

Leviticus 18:10 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 18:10 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:10 (NET)

The nakedness of thy son’s daughter, or of thy daughter’s daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover; for theirs is thine own nakedness. The nakedness of thy son’s daughter, or of thy daughter’s daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover: for theirs is thine own nakedness. You must not expose the nakedness of your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter by having sexual relations with them, because they are your own nakedness.

Leviticus 18:10 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 18:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀσχημοσύνην θυγατρὸς υἱοῦ σου ἢ θυγατρὸς θυγατρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῶν ὅτι σὴ ἀσχημοσύνη ἐστίν ἀσχημοσύνην θυγατρὸς υἱοῦ σου ἢ θυγατρὸς θυγατρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῶν, ὅτι σὴ ἀσχημοσύνη ἐστίν

Leviticus 18:10 (NETS)

Leviticus 18:10 (English Elpenor)

You shall not uncover their shame—the shame of your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter, for it is your own shame. The nakedness of thy son’s daughter, or thy daughter’s daughter, their nakedness thou shalt not uncover; because it is thy nakedness.

Leviticus 18:11 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 18:11 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:11 (NET)

The nakedness of thy father’s wife’s daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. The nakedness of thy father’s wife’s daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. You must not have sexual relations with the daughter of your father’s wife born of your father; she is your sister.  You must not have sexual relations with her.

Leviticus 18:11 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 18:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀσχημοσύνην θυγατρὸς γυναικὸς πατρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις ὁμοπατρία ἀδελφή σού ἐστιν οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς ἀσχημοσύνην θυγατρὸς γυναικὸς πατρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις, ὁμοπατρία ἀδελφή σού ἐστιν, οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς

Leviticus 18:11 (NETS)

Leviticus 18:11 (English Elpenor)

You shall not uncover the shame of your father’s wife’s daughter; she is your sister by the same father.  You shall not uncover her shame. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of the daughter of thy father’s wife; she is thy sister by the same father: thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.

Leviticus 18:12 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 18:12 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:12 (NET)

Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s sister: she is thy father’s near kinswoman. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s sister: she is thy father’s near kinswoman. You must not have sexual relations with your father’s sister; she is your father’s flesh.

Leviticus 18:12 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 18:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀσχημοσύνην ἀδελφῆς πατρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις οἰκεία γὰρ πατρός σού ἐστιν ἀσχημοσύνην ἀδελφῆς πατρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις, οἰκεία γὰρ πατρός σού ἐστιν

Leviticus 18:12 (NETS)

Leviticus 18:12 (English Elpenor)

You shall not uncover the shame of your father’s sister, for she is your father’s own household. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s sister, for she is near akin to thy father.

Leviticus 18:13 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 18:13 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:13 (NET)

Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother’s sister; for she is thy mother’s near kinswoman. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother’s sister: for she is thy mother’s near kinswoman. You must not have sexual relations with your mother’s sister, because she is your mother’s flesh.

Leviticus 18:13 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 18:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀσχημοσύνην ἀδελφῆς μητρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις οἰκεία γὰρ μητρός σού ἐστιν ἀσχημοσύνην ἀδελφῆς μητρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις, οἰκεία γὰρ μητρός σού ἐστιν

Leviticus 18:13 (NETS)

Leviticus 18:13 (English Elpenor)

You shall not uncover the shame of your mother’s sister, for she is of your mother’s own household. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother’s sister, for she is near akin to thy mother.

Leviticus 18:14 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 18:14 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:14 (NET)

Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy fathers brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt. You must not expose the nakedness of your father’s brother; you must not approach his wife to have marital relations with her.  She is your aunt.

Leviticus 18:14 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 18:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀσχημοσύνην ἀδελφοῦ τοῦ πατρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις καὶ πρὸς τὴν γυναῗκα αὐτοῦ οὐκ εἰσελεύσῃ συγγενὴς γάρ σού ἐστιν ἀσχημοσύνην ἀδελφοῦ τοῦ πατρός σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις καὶ πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ οὐκ εἰσελεύσῃ, συγγενής γάρ σού ἐστιν

Leviticus 18:14 (NETS)

Leviticus 18:14 (English Elpenor)

You shall not uncover the shame of your father’s brother, and you shall not approach his wife, for she is your relative. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s brother, and thou shalt not go in to his wife; for she is thy relation.

Leviticus 18:15 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 18:15 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:15 (NET)

Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter-in-law: she is thy son'[s] wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son’s wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. You must not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law; she is your son’s wife.  You must not have sexual relations with her.

Leviticus 18:15 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 18:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀσχημοσύνην νύμφης σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις γυνὴ γὰρ υἱοῦ σού ἐστιν οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς ἀσχημοσύνην νύμφης σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις, γυνὴ γὰρ υἱοῦ σού ἐστιν, οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς

Leviticus 18:15 (NETS)

Leviticus 18:15 (English Elpenor)

You shall not uncover the shame of your daughter-in-law, for she is your son’s wife; you shall not uncover her shame. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter-in-law, for she is thy son’s wife, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.

Leviticus 18:16 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 18:16 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:16 (NET)

Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother’s wife: it is thy brother’s nakedness. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother’s wife: it is thy brother’s nakedness. You must not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; she is your brother’s nakedness.

Leviticus 18:16 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 18:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀσχημοσύνην γυναικὸς ἀδελφοῦ σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις ἀσχημοσύνη ἀδελφοῦ σού ἐστιν ἀσχημοσύνην γυναικὸς ἀδελφοῦ σου οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις, ἀσχημοσύνη ἀδελφοῦ σού ἐστιν.

Leviticus 18:16 (NETS)

Leviticus 18:16 (English Elpenor)

You shall not uncover the shame of your brother’s wife; it is your brother’s shame. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother’s wife: it is thy brother’s nakedness.

Leviticus 18:17 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 18:17 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:17 (NET)

Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter; thou shalt not take her son’s daughter, or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness: they are near kinswomen; it is lewdness. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, neither shalt thou take her son’s daughter, or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness; for they are her near kinswomen: it is wickedness. You must not have sexual relations with both a woman and her daughter; you must not take as wife either her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter to have sexual relations with them.  They are closely related to her—it is lewdness.

Leviticus 18:17 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 18:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀσχημοσύνην γυναικὸς καὶ θυγατρὸς αὐτῆς οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις τὴν θυγατέρα τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτῆς καὶ τὴν θυγατέρα τῆς θυγατρὸς αὐτῆς οὐ λήμψῃ ἀποκαλύψαι τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῶν οἰκεῗαι γάρ σού εἰσιν ἀσέβημά ἐστιν ἀσχημοσύνην γυναικὸς καὶ θυγατρὸς αὐτῆς οὐκ ἀποκαλύψεις· τὴν θυγατέρα τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτῆς καὶ τὴν θυγατέρα τῆς θυγατρὸς αὐτῆς οὐ λήψῃ ἀποκαλύψαι τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῶν, οἰκεῖαι γὰρ σού εἰσιν· ἀσέβημά ἐστι

Leviticus 18:17 (NETS)

Leviticus 18:17 (English Elpenor)

You shall not uncover the shame of a woman and her daughter.  You shall not take her son’s daughter and her daughter’s daughter to uncover their shame, for they are your own household; it is a profane act. The nakedness of a woman and her daughter shalt thou not uncover; her son’s daughter, and her daughter’s daughter, shalt thou not take, to uncover their nakedness, for they are thy kinswomen: it is impiety.

Leviticus 18:18 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 18:18 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:18 (NET)

And thou shalt not take a woman to her sister, to be a rival to her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her lifetime. Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time. You must not take a woman in marriage and then marry her sister as a rival wife while she is still alive, to have sexual relations with her.

Leviticus 18:18 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 18:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)

γυναῗκα ἐπὶ ἀδελφῇ αὐτῆς οὐ λήμψῃ ἀντίζηλον ἀποκαλύψαι τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς ἐπ᾽ αὐτῇ ἔτι ζώσης αὐτῆς γυναῖκα ἐπ᾿ ἀδελφῇ αὐτῆς οὐ λήψῃ ἀντίζηλον ἀποκαλύψαι τήν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς ἐπ᾿ αὐτῇ, ἔτι ζώσης αὐτῆς

Leviticus 18:18 (NETS)

Leviticus 18:18 (English Elpenor)

You shall not take a woman as a rival in addition to her sister, to uncover her shame in addition to her while she is still alive. Thou shalt not take a wife in addition to her sister, as a rival, to uncover her nakedness in opposition to her, while she is yet living.

Leviticus 18:22 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 18:22 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:22 (NET)

Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind; it is abomination. Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. You must not have sexual relations with a male as one has sexual relations with a woman; it is a detestable act.

Leviticus 18:22 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 18:22 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ μετὰ ἄρσενος οὐ κοιμηθήσῃ κοίτην γυναικός βδέλυγμα γάρ ἐστιν καὶ μετὰ ἄρσενος οὐ κοιμηθήσῃ κοίτην γυναικείαν, βδέλυγμα γάρ ἐστι

Leviticus 18:22 (NETS)

Leviticus 18:22 (English Elpenor)

And you shall not sleep with a male as in a bed of a woman, for it is an abomination. And thou shalt not lie with a man as with a woman, for it is an abomination.

Leviticus 18:23 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 18:23 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:23 (NET)

And thou shalt not lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith; neither shall any woman stand before a beast, to lie down thereto; it is perversion. Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. You must not have sexual relations with any animal to become defiled with it, and a woman must not stand before an animal to have sexual relations with it; it is a perversion.

Leviticus 18:23 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 18:23 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ πρὸς πᾶν τετράπουν οὐ δώσεις τὴν κοίτην σου εἰς σπερματισμὸν ἐκμιανθῆναι πρὸς αὐτό καὶ γυνὴ οὐ στήσεται πρὸς πᾶν τετράπουν βιβασθῆναι μυσερὸν γάρ ἐστιν καὶ πρὸς πᾶν τετράπουν οὐ δώσεις τὴν κοίτην σου εἰς σπερματισμόν, ἐκμιανθῆναι πρὸς αὐτό. καὶ γυνὴ οὐ στήσεται πρὸς πᾶν τετράπουν βιβασθῆναι, μυσαρὸν γάρ ἐστι

Leviticus 18:23 (NETS)

Leviticus 18:23 (English Elpenor)

And you shall not give your bed to any quadruped for sowing to bring defilement on it, nor shall any woman stand before any quadruped so as to be mounted, for it is loathsome. Neither shalt thou lie with any quadruped for copulation, to be polluted with it: neither shall a woman present herself before any quadruped to have connexion with it; for it is an abomination.

Leviticus 18:19 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 18:19 (KJV)

Leviticus 18:19 (NET)

And thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is impure by her uncleanness. Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness. “‘You must not approach a woman in her menstrual impurity to have sexual relations with her.

Leviticus 18:19 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 18:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ πρὸς γυναῗκα ἐν χωρισμῷ ἀκαθαρσίας αὐτῆς οὐ προσελεύσῃ ἀποκαλύψαι τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς Καὶ πρὸς γυναῖκα ἐν χωρισμῷ ἀκαθαρσίας αὐτῆς οὐκ εἰσελεύσῃ ἀποκαλύψαι τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς

Leviticus 18:19 (NETS)

Leviticus 18:19 (English Elpenor)

And you shall not approach a woman to uncover her shame in the separation of her uncleanness. And thou shalt not go in to a woman under separation for her uncleanness, to uncover her nakedness.

Ezra 9:1 (Tanakh)

Ezra 9:1 (KJV)

Ezra 9:1 (NET)

Now when these things were done, the princes drew near unto me, saying: ‘The people of Israel, and the priests and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. Now when these things had been completed, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the local residents who practice detestable things similar to those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

Ezra 9:1 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Esdras 9:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ὡς ἐτελέσθη ταῦτα ἤγγισαν πρός με οἱ ἄρχοντες λέγοντες οὐκ ἐχωρίσθη ὁ λαὸς Ισραηλ καὶ οἱ ἱερεῗς καὶ οἱ Λευῗται ἀπὸ λαῶν τῶν γαιῶν ἐν μακρύμμασιν αὐτῶν τῷ Χανανι ὁ Εθι ὁ Φερεζι ὁ Ιεβουσι ὁ Αμμωνι ὁ Μωαβι ὁ Μοσερι καὶ ὁ Αμορι ΚΑΙ ὡς ἐτελέσθη ταῦτα, ἤγγισαν πρός με οἱ ἄρχοντες λέγοντες· οὐκ ἐχωρίσθη ὁ λαὸς ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ οἱ ἱερεῖς καὶ οἱ Λευῖται ἀπὸ λαῶν τῶν γαιῶν ἐν μακρύμμασιν αὐτῶν, τῷ Χανανί, ὁ ᾿Εθί, ὁ Φερεζί, ὁ ᾿Ιεβουσί, ὁ ᾿Αμμωνί, ὁ Μωαβὶ καὶ ὁ Μοσερὶ καὶ ὁ ᾿Αμορί,

2 Esdras 9:1 (NETS)

2 Esdras 9:1 (English Elpenor)

And after these things had been done, the rulers approached me, saying, “The people of Israel and the priests and Leuites were not separated from the peoples of the lands with their things put far away, in reference to the Chanani—the Heththi, the Pherezi, the Iebousi, the Ammoni, the Moab, the Mosri and the Amori— And when these things were finished, the princes drew near to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands in their abominations, [even] the Chananite, the Ethite, the Pherezite, the Jebusite, the Ammonite, the Moabite, and the Moserite and the Amorite.

Ezra 9:2 (Tanakh)

Ezra 9:2 (KJV)

Ezra 9:2 (NET)

For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons; so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the peoples of the lands; yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been first in this faithlessness.’ For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass. Indeed, they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has become intermingled with the local residents.  Worse still, the leaders and the officials have been at the forefront of all this unfaithfulness!”

Ezra 9:2 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Esdras 9:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὅτι ἐλάβοσαν ἀπὸ θυγατέρων αὐτῶν ἑαυτοῗς καὶ τοῗς υἱοῗς αὐτῶν καὶ παρήχθη σπέρμα τὸ ἅγιον ἐν λαοῗς τῶν γαιῶν καὶ χεὶρ τῶν ἀρχόντων ἐν τῇ ἀσυνθεσίᾳ ταύτῃ ἐν ἀρχῇ ὅτι ἐλάβοσαν ἀπὸ θυγατέρων αὐτῶν ἑαυτοῖς καὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτῶν, καὶ παρήχθη σπέρμα τὸ ἅγιον ἐν λαοῖς τῶν γαιῶν, καὶ χεὶρ τῶν ἀρχόντων ἐν τῇ ἀσυνθεσίᾳ ταύτῃ ἐν ἀρχῇ

2 Esdras 9:2 (NETS)

2 Esdras 9:2 (English Elpenor)

because they have taken from their daughters for themselves and for their sons, and the holy seed was influenced by the peoples of the lands, and the hand of the rulers was in this faithlessness in the beginning.” For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and their sons; and the holy seed has passed among the nations of the lands, and the hand of the rulers [has been] first in this transgression.

1 Revised New Testament of the New American Bible © 1986 by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD), published by Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York, N.Y.

2 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ονομαζεται (KJV: so much as named) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not (NET: permitted).

Adultery in the Law, Part 2

I first entertained the idea that πορνεία in the New Testament might be defined by Leviticus 20:11-21 because of the similarity in word order between Matthew 15:19 (NET) and the Law in Exodus 20:2-17 (NET)

Exodus 20:2-17 (NET)

Matthew 15:19 (NET)

“I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you from the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water below.  You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children to the third and fourth generations of those who reject me [Table], and showing covenant faithfulness to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold guiltless anyone who takes his name in vain. “Remember the Sabbath day to set it apart as holy [Table].  For six days you may labor and do all your work [Table], but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; on it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your cattle, or the resident foreigner who is in your gates [Table].  For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, and he rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy [Table]. “Honor your father and your mother, that you may live a long time in the land the Lord your God is giving to you.

Exodus 20:2-12 (NET)

For out of the heart come evil (πονηροί, a form of πονηρός) ideas (διαλογισμοὶ, a form of διαλογισμός)…
“You shall not murder.

Exodus 20:13 (NET) Table

murder (φόνοι, a form of φόνος)…
“You shall not commit adultery.

Exodus 20:14 (NET) Table

adultery (μοιχεῖαι, a form of μοιχεία)…
sexual immorality (πορνεῖαι, a form of πορνεῖον)…
“You shall not steal.

Exodus 20:15 (NET)

theft (κλοπαί, a form of κλοπή)…
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

Exodus 20:16 (NET)

false testimony (ψευδομαρτυρίαι, a form of ψευδομαρτυρία)…
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.  You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Exodus 20:17 (NET) Table

slander (βλασφημίαι, a form of βλασφημία).

If I allowed that evil ideas covered idolatrous worship of other gods, taking the Lord’s name in vain, not keeping the Sabbath and not honoring father and mother, then only sexual immorality (πορνεία) [See Addendum below] and slander (βλασφημία) lacked a direct correspondent in the law.  Leviticus 20:11-21 (NET) seemed to fill in that gap for πορνεία.

Exodus 20:14 (NET) Table

Matthew 15:19 (NET)

Leviticus 20:10-21 (NET)

“You shall not commit adultery. …adultery (μοιχεῖαι, a form of μοιχεία)… If a man commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.

Leviticus 20:10 (NET) Table

sexual immorality (πορνεῖαι, a form of πορνεία)… If a man has sexual intercourse with his father’s wife, he has exposed his father’s nakedness.  Both of them must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves [Table].  If a man has sexual intercourse with his daughter-in-law, both of them must be put to death.  They have committed perversion; their blood guilt is on themselves [Table].  If a man has sexual intercourse with a male as one has sexual intercourse with a woman, the two of them have committed an abomination.  They must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves [Table].  If a man has sexual intercourse with both a woman and her mother, it is lewdness.  Both he and they must be burned to death, so there is no lewdness in your midst [Table].  If a man has sexual intercourse with any animal, he must be put to death, and you must kill the animal [Table].  If a woman approaches any animal to have sexual intercourse with it, you must kill the woman, and the animal must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves [Table].  If a man has sexual intercourse with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or his mother, so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace.  They must be cut off in the sight of the children of their people.  He has exposed his sister’s nakedness; he will bear his punishment for iniquity [Table].  If a man has sexual intercourse with a menstruating woman and uncovers her nakedness, he has laid bare her fountain of blood and she has exposed the fountain of her blood, so both of them must be cut off from the midst of their people [Table].  You must not expose the nakedness of your mother’s sister and your father’s sister, for   such a person has laid bare his own close relative.  They must bear their punishment for iniquity [Table].  If a man has sexual intercourse with his aunt, he has exposed his uncle’s nakedness; they must bear responsibility for their sin, they will die childless [Table].  If a man has sexual intercourse with his brother’s wife, it is indecency.  He has exposed his brother’s nakedness; they will be childless [Table].

Leviticus 20:11-21 (NET)

The advantage of this interpretation is that Leviticus 20:11-21 is a finite list as opposed to the open-ended translation of πορνεία as immorality.  It does not pander to men who want to divorce their wives, remarry, and justify themselves by law.  And it is not without precedent in Bible translation.  The translators of the New American Bible1 understood πορνεία this way in Matthew 5:32, 19:9; Acts 15:20, 29, and 21:25.  The disadvantages will follow.

 

Addendum: September 24, 2021
I thought πορνεῖαι was a form of πορνεία, but according to the Koine Greek Lexicon online it is a form of πορνεῖον: “brothel, a house of prostitution.”  There is only one occurrence of πορνεῖαι in the Septuagint.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
2 Kings 9:22 (Tanakh) Table 2 Kings 9:22 (NET) 4 Reigns 9:22 (NETS)

4 Kings 9:22 (Elpenor English)

And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said: ‘Is it peace, Jehu?’  And he answered: ‘What peace, so long as the harlotries (זְנוּנֵ֞י) of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?’ When Joram saw Jehu, he asked, “Is everything all right, Jehu?”  He replied, “How can everything be all right as long as your mother Jezebel promotes idolatry (zᵊnûnîm, זנוני) and pagan practices?” And it happened, when Ioram saw Iou, that he said, “Is it peace, Iou?”  And Iou said, “What peace?  The whoredoms (πορνεῗαι) of Iezabel your mother and her sorceries are still many.” And it came to pass when Joram saw Ju, that he said, [Is it] peace, Ju?  And Ju said, How [can it be] peace? as yet [there are] the whoredoms (πορνεῖαι) of thy mother Jezabel, and her abundant witchcrafts.

Tables comparing Exodus 20:2; 20:3; 20:4; 20:6; 20:7; 20:12; 20:15 (20:13); 20:16 (20:13) and 2 Kings 9:22 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Exodus 20:2; 20:3; 20:4; 20:6; 20:7; 20:12; 20:15 (20:14); 20:16 and 2 Kings (4 Reigns, 4 Kings) 9:22 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Exodus 20:2 (Tanakh)

Exodus 20:2 (KJV)

Exodus 20:2 (NET)

I am HaShem thy G-d , who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. “I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you from the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery.

Exodus 20:2 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 20:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐγώ εἰμι κύριος ὁ θεός σου ὅστις ἐξήγαγόν σε ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου ἐξ οἴκου δουλείας ἐγώ εἰμι Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου, ὅστις ἐξήγαγόν σε ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου, ἐξ οἴκου δουλείας

Exodus 20:2 (NETS)

Exodus 20:2 (English Elpenor)

I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the Land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

Exodus 20:3 (Tanakh)

Exodus 20:3 (KJV)

Exodus 20:3 (NET)

Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. “You shall have no other gods before me.

Exodus 20:3 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 20:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)

οὐκ ἔσονταί σοι θεοὶ ἕτεροι πλὴν ἐμοῦ οὐκ ἔσονταί σοι θεοὶ ἕτεροι πλὴν ἐμοῦ

Exodus 20:3 (NETS)

Exodus 20:3 (English Elpenor)

You shall have no other gods besides me. Thou shalt have no other gods beside me.

Exodus 20:4 (Tanakh)

Exodus 20:4 (KJV)

Exodus 20:4 (NET)

Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any manner of likeness, of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water below.

Exodus 20:4 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 20:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)

οὐ ποιήσεις σεαυτῷ εἴδωλον οὐδὲ παντὸς ὁμοίωμα ὅσα ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ἄνω καὶ ὅσα ἐν τῇ γῇ κάτω καὶ ὅσα ἐν τοῗς ὕδασιν ὑποκάτω τῆς γῆς οὐ ποιήσεις σεαυτῷ εἴδωλον, οὐδὲ παντὸς ὁμοίωμα, ὅσα ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ἄνω καὶ ὅσα ἐν τῇ γῇ κάτω καὶ ὅσα ἐν τοῖς ὕδασιν ὑποκάτω τῆς γῆς

Exodus 20:4 (NETS)

Exodus 20:4 (English Elpenor)

You shall not make for yourself an idol or likeness of anything whatever is in heaven above and whatever is in the earth beneath and whatever is in the waters beneath the earth. Thou shalt not make to thyself an idol, nor likeness of anything, whatever things are in the heaven above, and whatever are in the earth beneath, and whatever are in the waters under the earth.

Exodus 20:6 (Tanakh)

Exodus 20:6 (KJV)

Exodus 20:6 (NET)

and showing mercy unto the thousandth generation of them that love Me and keep My commandments. And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. and showing covenant faithfulness to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Exodus 20:6 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 20:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ποιῶν ἔλεος εἰς χιλιάδας τοῗς ἀγαπῶσίν με καὶ τοῗς φυλάσσουσιν τὰ προστάγματά μου καὶ ποιῶν ἔλεος εἰς χιλιάδας τοῖς ἀγαπῶσί με καὶ τοῖς φυλάσσουσι τὰ προστάγματά μου

Exodus 20:6 (NETS)

Exodus 20:6 (English Elpenor)

and doing mercy unto thousands, for those who love me and keep my ordinances. and bestowing mercy on them that love me to thousands [of them], and on them that keep my commandments.

Exodus 20:7 (Tanakh)

Exodus 20:7 (KJV)

Exodus 20:7 (NET)

Thou shalt not take the name of HaShem thy G-d in vain; for HaShem will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain . Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold guiltless anyone who takes his name in vain.

Exodus 20:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 20:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

οὐ λήμψῃ τὸ ὄνομα κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου ἐπὶ ματαίῳ οὐ γὰρ μὴ καθαρίσῃ κύριος τὸν λαμβάνοντα τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ ματαίῳ οὐ λήψει τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου ἐπί ματαίῳ· οὐ γὰρ μὴ καθαρίσῃ Κύριος Θεός σου τὸν λαμβάνοντα τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ ματαίῳ

Exodus 20:7 (NETS)

Exodus 20:7 (English Elpenor)

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.  For the Lord will never acquit the one who takes his name in vain. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord thy God will not acquit him that takes his name in vain.

Exodus 20:12 (Tanakh)

Exodus 20:12 (KJV)

Exodus 20:12 (NET)

Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which HaShem thy G-d giveth thee. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. “Honor your father and your mother, that you may live a long time in the land the Lord your God is giving to you.

Exodus 20:12 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 20:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)

τίμα τὸν πατέρα σου καὶ τὴν μητέρα ἵνα εὖ σοι γένηται καὶ ἵνα μακροχρόνιος γένῃ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς τῆς ἀγαθῆς ἧς κύριος ὁ θεός σου δίδωσίν σοι τίμα τὸν πατέρα σου καὶ τὴν μητέρα σου, ἵνα εὖ σοι γένηται, καὶ ἵνα μακροχρόνιος γένῃ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς τῆς ἀγαθῆς, ἧς Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου δίδωσί σοι

Exodus 20:12 (NETS)

Exodus 20:12 (English Elpenor)

Honor your father and your mother so that it may be well with you and so that you may be long-lived on the good land that the Lord your God is giving you. Honour thy father and thy mother, that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest live long on the good land, which the Lord thy God gives to thee.

Exodus 20:13 (Tanakh)

Exodus 20:15 (KJV)

Exodus 20:15 (NET)

Thou shalt not murder; Thou shalt not commit adultery; Thou shalt not steal; Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not steal. “You shall not steal.

Exodus 20:15 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 20:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)

οὐ κλέψεις οὐ κλέψεις

Exodus 20:14 (NETS)

Exodus 20:14 (English Elpenor)

You shall not steal. Thou shalt not steal.

Exodus 20:13 (Tanakh)

Exodus 20:16 (KJV)

Exodus 20:16 (NET)

Thou shalt not murder; Thou shalt not commit adultery; Thou shalt not steal; Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

Exodus 20:16 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 20:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)

οὐ ψευδομαρτυρήσεις κατὰ τοῦ πλησίον σου μαρτυρίαν ψευδῆ οὐ ψευδομαρτυρήσεις κατὰ τοῦ πλησίον σου μαρτυρίαν ψευδῆ

Exodus 20:16 (NETS)

Exodus 20:16 (English Elpenor)

You shall not testify falsely against your neighbor with false witness. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

2 Kings 9:22 (Tanakh)

2 Kings 9:22 (KJV)

2 Kings 9:22 (NET)

And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said: ‘Is it peace, Jehu?’  And he answered: ‘What peace, so long as the harlotries of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?’ And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu?  And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many? When Joram saw Jehu, he asked, “Is everything all right, Jehu?”  He replied, “How can everything be all right as long as your mother Jezebel promotes idolatry and pagan practices?”

2 Kings 9:22 (Septuagint BLB)

4 Kings 9:22 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς εἶδεν Ιωραμ τὸν Ιου καὶ εἶπεν εἰ εἰρήνη Ιου καὶ εἶπεν Ιου τί εἰρήνη ἔτι αἱ πορνεῗαι Ιεζαβελ τῆς μητρός σου καὶ τὰ φάρμακα αὐτῆς τὰ πολλά καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς εἶδεν ᾿Ιωρὰμ τὸν ᾿Ιού, καὶ εἶπεν· εἰ εἰρήνη ᾿Ιού; καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Ιού· τί εἰρήνη; ἔτι αἱ πορνεῖαι ᾿Ιεζάβελ τῆς μητρός σου καὶ τὰ φάρμακα αὐτῆς τὰ πολλά

4 Reigns 9:22 (NETS)

4 Kings 9:22 (English Elpenor)

And it happened, when Ioram saw Iou, that he said, “Is it peace, Iou?”  And Iou said, “What peace?  The whoredoms of Iezabel your mother and her sorceries are still many.” And it came to pass when Joram saw Ju, that he said, [Is it] peace, Ju?  And Ju said, How [can it be] peace? as yet [there are] the whoredoms of thy mother Jezabel, and her abundant witchcrafts.

Adultery in the Law, Part 1

I want to study the background information in the Old Testament to see if I can understand what Jesus, Paul and the New Testament writers meant by πορνεία.  Since I’m treating πορνεία like the unknown X, I’ll track the Hebrew word נָאַף (nā’ap̄), equivalent to μοιχάω in Greek, to commit adultery.

The first occurrence is Exodus 20:14 (NET) [Table]: You shall not commit adultery (nā’ap̄, תנאף).  And the next is Leviticus 20:10 (NET Table) where the penalty for ינאף (nā’ap̄) is described:

If a man commits adultery (nā’ap̄, ינאף) with his neighbor’s wife, both the adulterer (nā’ap̄, הנאף) and the adulteress (nā’ap̄, והנאפת) must be put to death [See Addendum below].

What follows is a list of other capital offenses (Leviticus 20:11 NET Table):

If a man has sexual intercourse (šāḵaḇ, ישכב) with his father’s wife, he has exposed his father’s nakedness.  Both of them must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves.

I assume that the father was already dead, otherwise the law is redundant and falls under נָאַף (nā’ap̄).  Similarly in Leviticus 20:12 (NET) I assume that the son was dead:

If a man has sexual intercourse (šāḵaḇ, ישכב) with his daughter-in-law, both of them must be put to death.  They have committed (ʿāśâ, עשׁו) perversion (teḇel, תבל); their blood guilt is on themselves.

The list continues (Leviticus 20:13-16 NET):

If a man has sexual intercourse (šāḵaḇ, ישכב) with a male as one has sexual intercourse (miškāḇ, משכבי) with a woman, the two of them have committed (ʿāśâ, עשׁו) an abomination (tôʿēḇâ, תועבה).  They must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves.  If a man has sexual intercourse (lāqaḥ, יקח) with both a woman and her mother, it is lewdness (zimmâ, זמה).  Both he and they must be burned to death, so there is no lewdness (zimmâ, זמה) in your midst [See Addendum below].  If a man has (nāṯan, יתן) sexual intercourse (šᵊḵōḇeṯ, שכבתו) with any animal, he must be put to death, and you must kill the animal.  If a woman approaches any animal to have sexual intercourse (rāḇaʿ, לרבעה) with it, you must kill the woman, and the animal must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves.

In Leviticus 20:17 (NET) offenders are to be cut off (probably executed) in the sight of the children of their people, and in verse 18 (NET), cut off from the midst of their people.

If a man has sexual intercourse (lāqaḥ, יקח) with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or his mother, so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace (ḥeseḏ, חסד).  They must be cut off in the sight of the children of their people.  He has exposed his sister’s nakedness; he will bear his punishment for iniquity [Table].  If a man has sexual intercourse (šāḵaḇ, ישכב) with a menstruating woman and uncovers her nakedness, he has laid bare her fountain of blood and she has exposed the fountain of her blood, so both of them must be cut off from the midst of their people.

Finally, the punishment incurred in Leviticus 20:19-21 was childlessness.

You must not expose the nakedness of your mother’s sister and your father’s sister, for such a person has laid bare his own close relative.  They must bear their punishment for iniquity [Table].  If a man has sexual intercourse (šāḵaḇ, ישכב) with his aunt, he has exposed his uncle’s nakedness; they must bear responsibility for their sin, they will die childless [Table].  If a man has sexual intercourse with (lāqaḥ, יקח) his brother’s wife, it is indecency (nidâ, נדה).  He has exposed his brother’s nakedness; they will be childless.

I assume that the execution of this sentence was intentionally left to God (in the form of reproductive issues) rather than to men (infanticide).  But it would be difficult to demonstrate except in the most oblique way.  Abraham (Abram) for instance married his niece1 Sarai more than four hundred thirty years2 before the law prohibited3 such marriage.  What is intriguing about this is that until God intervened, fulfilling his promise to Abram, Sarai was barren; she had no children.4

Whether these sentences were ever actually executed in a systematic way in Israel is a question I’ll leave for others.  My interest is simply to introduce the question:  Is Leviticus 20:11-21 what Jesus, Paul and the New Testament writers meant by the Greek word πορνεία?

 

Addendum: January 16, 2019
A table comparing Galatians 3:17 in the NET and KJV follows.

Galatians 3:17 (NET)

Galatians 3:17 (KJV)

What I am saying is this: The law that came four hundred thirty years later does not cancel a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to invalidate the promise. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

τοῦτο δὲ λέγω· διαθήκην προκεκυρωμένην ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ ὁ μετὰ τετρακόσια καὶ τριάκοντα ἔτη γεγονὼς νόμος οὐκ ἀκυροῖ εἰς τὸ καταργῆσαι τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν τουτο δε λεγω διαθηκην προκεκυρωμενην υπο του θεου εις χριστον ο μετα ετη τετρακοσια και τριακοντα γεγονως νομος ουκ ακυροι εις το καταργησαι την επαγγελιαν τουτο δε λεγω διαθηκην προκεκυρωμενην υπο του θεου εις χριστον ο μετα ετη τετρακοσια και τριακοντα γεγονως νομος ουκ ακυροι εις το καταργησαι την επαγγελιαν

 

Addendum: September 17, 2021
Note 21 in the NET reads:

The reading of the LXX minuscule mss has been followed here (see the BHS footnote a-a). The MT has a dittography, repeating “a man who commits adultery with the wife of” (see the explanation in J. E. Hartley, Leviticus [WBC], 328). The duplication found in the MT is reflected in some English versions, e.g., KJV, ASV, NASB, NIV.

Both versions of the Septuagint I’ve been using seem to confirm the Masoretic text here.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Leviticus 20:10 (Tanakh/KJV) Leviticus 20:10 (NET) Leviticus 20:10 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:10 (Elpenor English)

And the man that committeth adultery (יִנְאַף֙) with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery (יִנְאַ֖ף) with his neighbour’s wife, both the adulterer (הַנֹּאֵ֖ף) and the adulteress (וְהַנֹּאָֽפֶת) shall surely be put to death. If a man commits adultery (nā’ap̄, ינאף) with his neighbor’s wife, both the adulterer (nā’ap̄, הנאף) and the adulteress (nā’ap̄, והנאפת) must be put to death. A person who commits adultery (μοιχεύσηται) with the wife of a man or who commits adultery (μοιχεύσηται) with the wife of his neighbor—let both the adulterer (μοιχεύων) and the adulteress (μοιχευομένη) by death be put to death. Whatever man shall commit adultery (μοιχεύσηται) with the wife of a man, or whoever shall commit adultery (μοιχεύσηται) with the wife of his neighbour, let them die the death, the adulterer (μοιχεύων) and the (μοιχευομένη) adulteress.

The Greek translations of זִמָּ֖ה (zimmâ) in Leviticus 20:14 surprised me enough to be highlighted.  I’m not grasping the general, specific, technical or emotional connotations of זִמָּ֖ה (zimmâ), ἀνόμημά or ἀνομία apparently.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Leviticus 20:14 (Tanakh) Leviticus 20:14 (NET) Leviticus 20:14 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:14 (Elpenor English)

And if a man take (יִקַּ֧ח) with his wife also her mother, it is wickedness (זִמָּ֣ה): they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness (זִמָּ֖ה) among you. If a man has marital relations (lāqaḥ, יקח) with both a woman and her mother, it is lewdness (zimmâ, זמה).  Both he and they must be burned to death, so there is no lewdness (zimmâ, זמה) in your midst. He who takes (λάβῃ) a wife and her mother—it is transgression of the law (ἀνόμημά); they shall burn both him and them with fire, and there shall be no lawlessness (ἀνομία) among you. Whosoever shall take (λάβῃ) a woman and her mother, it is iniquity (ἀνόμημά): they shall burn him and them with fire; so there shall not be iniquity (ἀνομία) among you.

Tables comparing Leviticus 20:12; 20:13; 20:14; 20:15; 20:16; 20:18; 20:21 and Genesis 11:30 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Leviticus 20:12; 20:13; 20:14; 20:15; 20:16; 20:18; 20:21 and Genesis 11:30 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Leviticus 20:12 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 20:12 (KJV)

Leviticus 20:12 (NET)

And if a man lie with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death; they have wrought corruption; their blood shall be upon them. And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them. If a man goes to bed with his daughter-in-law, both of them must be put to death.  They have committed perversion; their blood guilt is on themselves.

Leviticus 20:12 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 20:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐάν τις κοιμηθῇ μετὰ νύμφης αὐτοῦ θανάτῳ θανατούσθωσαν ἀμφότεροι ἠσεβήκασιν γάρ ἔνοχοί εἰσιν καὶ ἐάν τις κοιμηθῇ μετὰ νύμφης αὐτοῦ, θανάτῳ θανατούσθωσαν ἀμφότεροι· ἠσεβήκασι γάρ, ἔνοχοί εἰσι

Leviticus 20:12 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:12 (English Elpenor)

And if anyone lies with his daughter-in-law, let both of them by death be put to death, for they have behaved impiously; they are liable. And if any one should lie with his daughter-in-law, let them both be put to death; for they have wrought impiety, they are guilty.

Leviticus 20:13 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 20:13 (KJV)

Leviticus 20:13 (NET)

And if a man lie with mankind, as with womankind, both of them have committed abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. If a man goes to bed with a male as one goes to bed with a woman, the two of them have committed an abomination.  They must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves.

Leviticus 20:13 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 20:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ὃς ἂν κοιμηθῇ μετὰ ἄρσενος κοίτην γυναικός βδέλυγμα ἐποίησαν ἀμφότεροι θανατούσθωσαν ἔνοχοί εἰσιν καὶ ὃς ἂν κοιμηθῇ μετά ἄρσενος κοίτην γυναικός, βδέλυγμα ἐποίησαν ἀμφότεροι· θανάτῳ θανατούσθωσαν, ἔνοχοί εἰσιν

Leviticus 20:13 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:13 (English Elpenor)

And he who lies with a male in a bed for a woman, both have committed an abomination; by death let them be put to death; they are liable. And whoever shall lie with a male as with a woman, they have both wrought abomination; let them die the death, they are guilty.

Leviticus 20:14 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 20:14 (KJV)

Leviticus 20:14 (NET)

And if a man take with his wife also her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you. And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you. If a man has marital relations with both a woman and her mother, it is lewdness.  Both he and they must be burned to death, so there is no lewdness in your midst.

Leviticus 20:14 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 20:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὃς ἐὰν λάβῃ γυναῗκα καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτῆς ἀνόμημά ἐστιν ἐν πυρὶ κατακαύσουσιν αὐτὸν καὶ αὐτάς καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ἀνομία ἐν ὑμῗν ὃς ἂν λάβῃ γυναῖκα καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτῆς, ἀνόμημά ἐστιν, ἐν πυρὶ κατακαύσουσιν αὐτὸν καὶ αὐτάς, καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ἀνομία ἐν ὑμῖν

Leviticus 20:14 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:14 (English Elpenor)

He who takes a wife and her mother—it is transgression of the law; they shall burn both him and them with fire, and there shall be no lawlessness among you. Whosoever shall take a woman and her mother, it is iniquity: they shall burn him and them with fire; so there shall not be iniquity among you.

Leviticus 20:15 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 20:15 (KJV)

Leviticus 20:15 (NET)

And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death; and ye shall slay the beast. And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast. If a man has sexual relations with any animal, he must be put to death, and you must kill the animal.

Leviticus 20:15 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 20:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ὃς ἂν δῷ κοιτασίαν αὐτοῦ ἐν τετράποδι θανάτῳ θανατούσθω καὶ τὸ τετράπουν ἀποκτενεῗτε καὶ ὃς ἂν δῷ κοιτασίαν αὐτοῦ ἐν τετράποδι, θανάτῳ θανατούσθω, καὶ τὸ τετράπουν ἀποκτενεῖτε

Leviticus 20:15 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:15 (English Elpenor)

And he who gives his sleeping-with to a quadruped, by death let him be put to death, and you shall kill the quadruped. And whosoever shall lie with a beast, let him die the death; and ye shall kill the beast.

Leviticus 20:16 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 20:16 (KJV)

Leviticus 20:16 (NET)

And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. If a woman approaches any animal to copulate with it, you must kill the woman, and the animal must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves.

Leviticus 20:16 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 20:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ γυνή ἥτις προσελεύσεται πρὸς πᾶν κτῆνος βιβασθῆναι αὐτὴν ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ ἀποκτενεῗτε τὴν γυναῗκα καὶ τὸ κτῆνος θανάτῳ θανατούσθωσαν ἔνοχοί εἰσιν καὶ γυνή, ἥτις προσελεύσεται πρὸς πᾶν κτῆνος βιβασθῆναι αὐτὴν ὑπ᾿ αὐτοῦ, ἀποκτενεῖτε τὴν γυναῖκα καὶ τὸ κτῆνος· θανάτῳ θανατούσθωσαν, ἔνοχοί εἰσιν

Leviticus 20:16 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:16 (English Elpenor)

And a woman who shall approach any animal for her to be mounted by it—you shall kill the woman and the animal; by death the shall be put to death; they are liable. And whatever woman shall approach any beast, so as to have connexion with it, ye shall kill the woman and the beast: let them die the death, they are guilty.

Leviticus 20:18 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 20:18 (KJV)

Leviticus 20:18 (NET)

And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness–he hath made naked her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood–both of them shall be cut off from among their people. And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people. If a man goes to bed with a menstruating woman and uncovers her nakedness, he has laid bare her fountain of blood, and she has exposed the fountain of her blood, so both of them must be cut off from the midst of their people.

Leviticus 20:18 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 20:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἀνήρ ὃς ἂν κοιμηθῇ μετὰ γυναικὸς ἀποκαθημένης καὶ ἀποκαλύψῃ τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς τὴν πηγὴν αὐτῆς ἀπεκάλυψεν καὶ αὕτη ἀπεκάλυψεν τὴν ῥύσιν τοῦ αἵματος αὐτῆς ἐξολεθρευθήσονται ἀμφότεροι ἐκ τοῦ γένους αὐτῶν καὶ ἀνήρ, ὃς ἂν κοιμηθῇ μετὰ γυναικὸς ἀποκαθημένης καὶ ἀποκαλύψῃ τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην αὐτῆς, τὴν πηγὴν αὐτῆς ἀπεκάλυψε, καὶ αὕτη ἀπεκάλυψε τὴν ῥύσιν τοῦ αἵματος αὐτῆς· ἐξολοθρευθήσονται ἀμφότεροι ἐκ τῆς γενεᾶς αὐτῶν

Leviticus 20:18 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:18 (English Elpenor)

And a man who lies with a woman who sits apart and uncovers her shame—he has laid bare her spring, and she has laid bare her flow of blood; both of them shall be exterminated from their race. And whatever man shall lie with a woman that is set apart [for a flux], and shall uncover her nakedness, he has uncovered her fountain, and she has uncovered the flux of her blood: they shall both be destroyed from among their generation.

Leviticus 20:21 (Tanakh)

Leviticus 20:21 (KJV)

Leviticus 20:21 (NET)

And if a man shall take his brother’s wife, it is impurity: he hath uncovered his brother’s nakedness; they shall be childless. And if a man shall take his brother’s wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother’s nakedness; they shall be childless. If a man has marital relations with his brother’s wife, it is indecency.  He has exposed his brother’s nakedness; they will be childless.

Leviticus 20:21 (Septuagint BLB)

Leviticus 20:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὃς ἂν λάβῃ τὴν γυναῗκα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ ἀκαθαρσία ἐστίν ἀσχημοσύνην τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ ἀπεκάλυψεν ἄτεκνοι ἀποθανοῦνται ὃς ἐὰν λάβῃ γυναῖκα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ, ἀκαθαρσία ἐστίν· ἀσχημοσύνην τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ ἀπεκάλυψεν, ἄτεκνοι ἀποθανοῦνται

Leviticus 20:21 (NETS)

Leviticus 20:21 (English Elpenor)

He who takes the wife of his brother—it is impurity; he has uncovered his brother’s shame; they shall die childless. Whoever shall take his brother’s wife, it is uncleanness; he has uncovered his brother’s nakedness; they shall die childless.

Genesis 11:30 (Tanakh)

Genesis 11:30 (KJV)

Genesis 11:30 (NET)

And Sarai was barren; she had no child. But Sarai was barren; she had no child. But Sarai was barren; she had no children.

Genesis 11:30 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 11:30 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἦν Σαρα στεῗρα καὶ οὐκ ἐτεκνοποίει καὶ ἦν Σάρα στεῖρα καὶ οὐκ ἐτεκνοποίει

Genesis 11:30 (NETS)

Genesis 11:30 (English Elpenor)

And Sara was barren, and she was not bearing children. And Sara was barren, and did not bear children.

1 Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran…. And Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves.  The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milcah and Iscah. (Genesis 11:27a, 29 NET)  Was Sarah the Sister and Wife of Abraham?

2 Galatians 3:17

3 I am assuming that, You must not expose the nakedness of your father’s brother; you must not approach his wife to have sexual intercourse with her (Leviticus 18:14 NET), includes a niece (who literally exposes the nakedness of her father’s brother). Reversibility seems to be indicated in the command against sexual intercourse with a sister (Leviticus 20:17 NET): …so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace.

4 Genesis 11:30 NET