denotes one "who has unlawful intercourse with the spouse of another," Luk 18:11, 1Co 6:9, Heb 13:4. As to Jam 4:4, see below.
"an adulteress," is used (a) in the natural sense, 2Pe 2:14, Rom 7:3; (b) in the spiritual sense, Jam 4:4; here the RV rightly omits the word "adulterers." It was added by a copyist. As in Israel the breach of their relationship with God through their idolatry, was described as "adultery" or "harlotry" (e.g., Eze 16:15 ff.; Eze 23:43), so believers who cultivate friendship with the world, thus breaking their spiritual union with Christ, are spiritual "adulteresses," having been spiritually united to Him as wife to husband, Rom 7:4. It is used adjectivally to describe the Jewish people in transferring their affections from God, Mat 12:39, Mat 16:4, Mar 8:38. In 2Pe 2:14, the lit. translation is "full of an adulteress" (RV, marg.). "adultery," is found in Mat 15:19, Mar 7:21, Joh 8:3 (AV only). used in the Middle Voice in the NT, is said of men in Mat 5:32, Mat 19:9, Mar 10:11; of women in Mar 10:10. is used in Mat 1:5-28, Mat 5:32 (in Mat 5:32 some texts have No. 1); Mat 19:18, Mar 10:19, Luk 16:18, Luk 18:20, Joh 8:4, Rom 2:22, Rom 13:9, Jam 2:11; in Rev 2:22, metaphorically, of those who are by a Jezebel's solicitations drawn away to idolatry.
