Pagan Variations

(Proverbs 6:26 KJV)  For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.

Here we have two varieties of sexual sin.  The first is expressed by “whorish woman” (harlot NASB) (2182).  The second is “adulteress” (802).   There is a difference between a harlot and a prostitute.  The dictionary in my computer does not get into the nuance.  I had to go to Google and even there read with my mind working.  A harlot, or whore, is sexually active but is not necessarily paid.  A prostitute provide service for money.  This word is referring to women who get involved sexually for the fun of it.

The second term in context shows that the first one refers to single women.  “Adulteress” is a compound expression meaning “man’s wife”.  This is adultery.  In the Bible both are condemned.  In the Bible the man is also condemned.  There is no wiggle room.

Our post modern pagan culture still has some sense that adultery is wrong but is zealous about the innocence of pre-marital sex, “as long as you love each other”.  If you call yourself a follower of Jesus then you cannot accept that distortion.

So?  Know who you are in Christ.  Be pure and upright.  Don’t fall for it when others claim the status of saint and live in open sin.  As they say in some churches after reading the scripture, “Hear the word of the Lord”.