Biblical Definitions of Important Terms

     Some visitors to our website may have a limited or non-existant understanding of the Biblical definitions to many of the words we take for granted in our everyday usage. There is a great deal of confusion within the Body of Messiah regarding the Kingdom Order of man and woman. In the Western world, we generally interpret Scripture with a Greco-Roman cultural bias, which often restricts or obscures the meaning of the original text. As a result, we tend to "degenderize" the Bible in an attempt to make sexual matters all-inclusive, but the fact is that the Scriptures are ALWAYS gender specific when dealing with issues of sex, marriage, divorce, remarriage and adultery.

     Whether or not we like what Scripture says on these matters, the original Hebrew and Greek words speak for themselves. Elohim created mankind as male and female with a revealed intention for how we are to relate to one another, and anyone teaching contrary to His Word, whether deliberately or through ignorance, is promoting false doctrine. The spirit of Jezebel has become so accepted and dominating that very few religious leaders are willing to speak out against the rampant feminism that is pervading the assembly.

     Below is a list of some of the most commonly misunderstood Scriptural terms in use today. It is our hope that by seeing the world's current definitions and the Biblical definitions side by side, it will help clarify many of these terms for our readers. Please let us know if a specific term needs further clarification or if we've missed an important definition.

Term Secular Definition Biblical Definition (Hebrew / Greek)
Adulterer A man who has committed adultery. [na'aph (H5003) / moichos (G3432)] - MALE-only term.

A man who causes a married or betrothed woman to have sexual intercourse with a man other than her husband.

Adulteress A woman who has committed adultery. [na'aph (H5003) / moichalis (G3428)] - FEMALE-only term.

A married or betrothed woman who has sexual intercourse with a man other than her husband.

Adultery Voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a partner other than the lawful husband or wife. [na'aph (H5003) / moichao (G3429)].

Violation of a marriage covenant; consisting of a married or betrothed woman who has sexual intercourse with a man other than her husband.

Child A person who has not attained maturity or the age of legal majority (usually 18). [yeled (H3206) / paidion (G3813)]

A boy or a girl from the age of infancy to the onset of puberty (usually 13 for males, 12 for females).

Divorce The "legal" dissolution or termination of a state-recognized "secular marriage", by either the husband or the wife, resulting in the voiding of the "government marriage license." [shalach (H7971) / apoluo (G630)]

The punishment and necessary consequence of marital unfaithfulness on the part of the wife; consisting of a married man finding a "matter of uncoveredness" (virginity fraud) in his wife and subsequently writing her a "certificate of divorcement", giving the certificate to her, and then sending her out of his house, resulting in the termination of the marriage covenant for both parties.

Divorced A person whose state-recognized "secular marriage" has been "legally" dissolved or terminated. [garash (H1644) / apostasion (G647)] - FEMALE-only term.

A woman who has been given a "certificate of divorcement" and sent away by her husband.

Husband A married man. ['iysh (H376) / aner (G435)] - MALE-only term.

A man who has taken a wife in marriage.

Man A male who has attained maturity or the age of legal majority (usually 18). ['iysh (H376) / anthropos (G444)] - MALE-only term.

A male who has reached the onset of puberty (usually 13). As a general rule, men took a wife either when they received their inheritance or obtained their own resources.

Marriage The "legal" state- recognized union of two people (commonly a man and woman as husband and wife, but also a man and a man or a woman and a woman), resulting in a "government marriage license." (Subject to change) [chathan (H2859) / gamos (G1062)]

The formation of a marriage covenant; consisting of a man and a woman, of their own free will, often in the presence of witnesses, committing themselves to each other as husband and wife, and then consummating that commitment with the sexual union.

Virgin A person who has not had sexual intercourse. [bethuwlah (H1330) / parthenos (G3933)] - FEMALE-only term.

A female who has reached the onset of puberty and has never had sexual intercourse with a man.

Whore A woman who has promiscuous sexual intercourse, usually for money. [zanah (H2181) / porne (G4204)] - FEMALE-only term.

A woman who has voluntary sexual intercourse with a man other than her husband.

Whoremonger Someone who consorts with whores. [zanah (H2181) / pornos (G4205)] - MALE-only term.

A man who has voluntary sexual intercourse with a woman other than his wife.

Whoring Sexual intercourse between a man and a woman not married to each other. [zanah (H2181) / porneia (G4202)]

Unlawful sexual relations; consisting of a man (married or unmarried) having sexual intercourse with a woman other than his wife (including a woman who prostitutes her body for hire), a man uncovering the nakedness of specific family members, a man uncovering the nakedness of a woman during her menses, a man having anal sexual intercourse with another male, and a man or a woman having sexual intercourse with an animal.

Widow A woman who has lost her husband by death and has not remarried. ['almanah (H490) / chera (G5503)] - FEMALE-only term.

A woman who has lost her husband by death and has not remarried.

Widower A man who has lost his wife by death and has not remarried. * No such concept exists. *
Wife A married woman. ['ishshah (H802) / gune (G1135)] - FEMALE-only term.

A woman who is joined to her husband in marriage.

Woman A female who has attained maturity or the age of legal majority (usually 18). ['ishshah (H802) / thelus (G2338)] - FEMALE-only term.

A female who has reached the onset of puberty (usually 12). As a general rule, women were given in marriage when they were old enough to bear children.

 
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