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)
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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 |
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| 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.
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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.
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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 (KJV) | ||
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 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 (KJV) | ||
| Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. | Thou shalt have no other gods before me. | “You shall have no other gods before me. |
| οὐκ ἔσονταί σοι θεοὶ ἕτεροι πλὴν ἐμοῦ | οὐκ ἔσονταί σοι θεοὶ ἕτεροι πλὴν ἐμοῦ |
| You shall have no other gods besides me. | Thou shalt have no other gods beside me. |
| Exodus 20:4 (KJV) | ||
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 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 (KJV) | ||
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 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 (KJV) | ||
| 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. |
| 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 ὁ Θεός σου τὸν λαμβάνοντα τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ ματαίῳ |
| 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 (KJV) | ||
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 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 20:15 (KJV) | ||
| 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. |
| οὐ κλέψεις | οὐ κλέψεις |
| You shall not steal. | Thou shalt not steal. |
| Exodus 20:16 (KJV) | ||
| 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. |
| οὐ ψευδομαρτυρήσεις κατὰ τοῦ πλησίον σου μαρτυρίαν ψευδῆ | οὐ ψευδομαρτυρήσεις κατὰ τοῦ πλησίον σου μαρτυρίαν ψευδῆ |
| You shall not testify falsely against your neighbor with false witness. | Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. |
| 2 Kings 9:22 (KJV) | ||
| 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?” |
| 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 |
| 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. |
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.