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μοιχεία

moicheía

G3430 noun

SILEX Entry

Root μοιχ- to commit adultery, to violate marital fidelity

Definition

Act of sexual relations with another person's spouse, specifically the act of violating the marital bond by engaging in sexual intercourse with the spouse of another. The term denotes both the act itself and the breach of fidelity inherent in that act. In broader contexts, refers to the unlawful sexual relationship or unfaithfulness in marriage, and can encompass figurative uses relating to covenantal unfaithfulness.

Semantic Range

adultery (sexual intercourse with a married woman by one not her husband), act of marital unfaithfulness, breach of marriage covenant, figurative: unfaithfulness to God or covenant

Root / Etymology

Derived from μοιχεύω ('to commit adultery'), itself from the root μοιχ- relating to adultery or the adulterer. Cognate with related terms in classical and biblical Greek referring to acts violating marital fidelity. No loanword etymology; the term is native to Greek.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, μοιχεία primarily refers to 'adultery' in the legal and moral sense, specifically the act of sexual relations with a married woman by someone other than her husband. By the Hellenistic and Roman periods, the term retains this strict legal sense but can take on broader social and moral implications. In the Septuagint, μοιχεία is used primarily to translate Hebrew נִאָף (ni’ūf), and refers to the violation of marital covenants, including both legal and ethical dimensions. In Second Temple and New Testament texts, μοιχεία consistently denotes marital infidelity—actual or prohibited sexual relations outside the marriage bond. Figurative uses may appear in reference to spiritual or covenantal unfaithfulness, paralleling Old Testament usage of 'adultery' as a metaphor for betrayal of covenant with God. Standard English translations often render μοιχεία as 'adultery,' which generally captures the core legal and social meaning but may underrepresent metaphoric or covenantal senses present in Jewish and early Christian discourse.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from μοιχεύω; adultery:--adultery.

Root Family

μοιχεία (moicheia) — adultery, marital unfaithfulness, violation of marriage covenant

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G3430-02 μοιχεῖαι moicheiai N NOM F PL adulteries acts of adultery 2
G3430-01 μοιχείᾳ moicheia N DAT F SG adultery in adultery 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G3430-02 Matthew 15:19 μοιχεῖαι moicheiai N NOM F PL acts of adultery
G3430-02 Mark 7:22 μοιχεῖαι moicheiai N NOM F PL adulteries acts of adultery
G3430-01 John 8:3 μοιχείᾳ moicheia N DAT F SG adultery in adultery
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