# sexual immorality ## Related Ideas: fornicate, fornication, immoral ## Definition: The term "sexual immorality" refers to sexual activity that takes place outside the marriage relationship of a man and a woman. This is against God's plan. Older English Bible versions call this "fornication." * This term can refer to any kind of sexual activity that is against God's will, including homosexual acts and pornography. * One type of sexual immorality is adultery, which is sexual activity specifically between a married person and someone who is not that person's spouse. * Another type of sexual immorality is "prostitution," which involves being paid to have sex with someone. * This term is also used figuratively to refer to Israel's unfaithfulness to God when they worshiped false gods. ## Translation Suggestions: * The term "sexual immorality" could be translated as "immorality" as long as the correct meaning of the term is understood. * Other ways to translate this term could include "wrong sexual acts" or "sex outside of marriage." * This term should be translated in a different way from the term "adultery." * The translation of this term's figurative uses should retain the literal term if possible since there is a common comparison in the Bible between unfaithfulness to God and unfaithfulness in the sexual relationship. (See also: [adultery](../kt/adultery.md), [false god](../kt/falsegod.md), [prostitute](../other/prostitute.md), [faithful](../kt/faithful.md)) ## Bible References: * [Acts 15:20](rc://en/tn/help/act/15/20) * [Acts 21:25-26](rc://en/tn/help/act/21/25) * [Colossians 03:5-8](rc://en/tn/help/col/03/05) * [Ephesians 05:03](rc://en/tn/help/eph/05/03) * [Genesis 38:24-26](rc://en/tn/help/gen/38/24) * [Hosea 04:13-14](rc://en/tn/help/hos/04/13) * [Matthew 05:31-32](rc://en/tn/help/mat/05/31) * [Matthew 19:7-9](rc://en/tn/help/mat/19/07) ## Word Data: * Strong's: H2181, H8457, G1608, G4202, G4203 ## Forms Found in the English ULB: fornicate, fornicates, fornication, fornications, immoral, immorality, sexual immorality