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adultery

ADULTERY

In Jewish thought adultery was seen as the willful violation of the marriage contract by either of the parties through sexual intercourse with a third party. When the Pharisees, hoping to twist the Law in favor of the husband, put the question, "Why then did Moses command to give her a certificate and divorce her?" Jesus replied, "Because of your hardness of heart, Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way . . . . whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another commits adultery" (Matt 19:3-9).

According to the Law it is adultery for the man as well as the woman to have a sexual relationship with a person other than the legal spouse.

In ancient times, however, exception was made among the nations generally in favor of the man. He might have more wives than one or have intercourse with a person not espoused or married to him without being considered an adulterer.

Adultery was sexual intercourse with the married wife, or the betrothed bride of another man. In the seventh commandment (Ex 20:14) all manner of lewdness or unchastity in act or thought seems to be meant (Matt. 5:28).