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Conjugal infidelity. An adulterer was a [[Text:EBD:Man|man ]] who had illicit intercourse with a [[Text:EBD:Marriage|married ]] or a [[Text:EBD:Betroth|betrothed ]] [[Text:EBD:Woman|woman]], and such a woman was an adulteress. Intercourse between a married man and an unmarried woman was [[Text:EBD:Fornication|fornication]]. Adultery was regarded as a great social wrong, as well as a great [[Text:EBD:Sin|sin]].

The [[Text:EBD:Moses|Mosaic ]] [[Text:EBD:Law|law ]] (Num. 5:11-31) prescribed that the suspected [[Text:EBD:Wife|wife ]] should be tried by the ordeal of the "[[Text:EBD:Water of jealousy|water of jealousy]]." There is, however, no recorded instance of the application of this law. In subsequent times the [[Text:EBD:Rabbi|Rabbis ]] made various regulations with the view of discovering the guilty party, and of bringing about a [[Text:EBD:Divorce|divorce]]. It has been inferred from John 8:1-11 that this sin became very common during the age preceding the destruction of [[Text:EBD:Jerusalem|Jerusalem]].

[[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 apostate [[Text:EBD:Church|church ]] is an adulteress (Isa. 1:21; Ezek. 23:4, 7, 37), and the [[Text:EBD:Jew|Jews ]] are styled "an adulterous [[Text:EBD:Generation|generation]]" (Matt. 12:39). (Comp. Rev. 12.)

{{returnto}} [[Easton's Bible Dictionary]] | [[Adultery]]