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Conjugal infidelity[[Text:EBD:Idolatry|Idolatry]], [[Text:EBD:Covetousness|covetousness]], and apostasy are spoken of as adultery spiritually (Jer. 3:6, 8, 9; Ezek. 16:32; Hos. 1:2:3; Rev. 2:22). An adulterer was a man who had illicit intercourse with a married or a betrothed woman, and such a woman was apostate [[Text:EBD:Church|church]] is an adulteress(Isa. Intercourse between a married man 1:21; Ezek. 23:4, 7, 37), and the [[Text:EBD:Jew|Jews]] are styled "an unmarried woman was fornicationadulterous [[Text:EBD:Generation|generation]]" (Matt. Adultery was regarded as a great social wrong, as well as a great sin12:39). (Comp. Rev. 12.)

The Mosaic law (Num. 5:11-31) prescribed that the suspected wife should be tried by the ordeal of the "water of jealousy." There is, however, no recorded instance of the application of this law. In subsequent times the Rabbis made various regulations with the view of discovering the guilty party, and of bringing about a divorce. It has been inferred from John 8:1-11 that this sin became very common during the age preceding the destruction of Jerusalem. Idolatry, covetousness, and apostasy are spoken of as adultery spiritually (Jer. 3:6, 8, 9; Ezek. 16:32; Hos. 1:2:3; Rev. 2:22). An apostate church is an adulteress (Isa. 1:21; Ezek. 23:4, 7, 37), and the Jews are styled "an adulterous generation" (Matt. 12:39). (Comp. Rev. 12.) {{returnto}} [[Easton's Bible Dictionary]]