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μοιχός

moichós

G3432 noun

SILEX Entry

Root μοιχ- to commit adultery, to violate marital fidelity

Definition

A man who engages in sexual relations with the spouse of another, specifically one who is an adulterer, i.e., a man who violates the sanctity of another's marriage. In certain contexts, the term may extend figuratively to one who breaks a covenant, especially in a religious or social sense, but the primary sense is that of a male adulterer.

Semantic Range

male adulterer, man engaging in illicit sex with another man's wife; figuratively, covenant-breaker, apostate

Root / Etymology

The term μοιχός derives from the root μοιχ- which is associated with the concept of adultery and illicit sexual relationships in Greek. It is cognate with the adjective μοιχαλίς (adulteress), and the related noun μοιχεία (adultery). No earlier non-Greek or compound etymology is known; it is considered to be an indigenous Greek formation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, μοιχός is consistently used to denote a man who commits adultery, which was a distinct legal and social offense. The female counterpart is μοιχαλίς. The concept of μοιχεία (adultery) in Greek law generally referred specifically to sexual intercourse between a married woman and a man who was not her husband (the μοιχός). In the Septuagint and New Testament, μοιχός retains this concrete sense, but may also appear in metaphorical contexts, particularly in Jewish and early Christian writings, where 'adultery' becomes a metaphor for breaking covenant fidelity to God (i.e., apostasy or idolatry). Standard English translations often render it simply as 'adulterer,' but the metaphorical use as 'apostate' occurs only in certain figurative passages. There is clear distinction in Greek between μοιχός (male adulterer) and πορνός (fornicator), with μοιχός always implying violation of a marriage bond. The term does not carry the breadth of later English 'adulterer,' which may refer to either partner.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

perhaps a primary word; a (male) paramour; figuratively, apostate:--adulterer.

Root Family

μοιχός (moichos) — to commit adultery, to violate marital fidelity

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G3432-01 μοιχοί moichoi N NOM M PL adulterers male adulterers 2
G3432-02 μοιχοὺς moichous N ACC M PL adulterers male adulterers 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G3432-01 Luke 18:11 μοιχοί moichoi N NOM M PL adulterers male adulterers
G3432-01 1 Corinthians 6:9 μοιχοὶ moichoi N NOM M PL adulterers male adulterers
G3432-02 Hebrews 13:4 μοιχοὺς moichous N ACC M PL adulterers male adulterers
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