Adultery According to the Bible

In the Bible, adultery is taken very seriously. At its core, adultery means breaking the promise of faithfulness in marriage by having sexual relations with someone other than your spouse. The word itself is linked to the idea of “adulterating” or corrupting something pure. In this case, the purity of marriage by bringing in a third person.

From the very beginning, Scripture teaches that marriage is a sacred union between one man and one woman. In Genesis 2:24, we see God’s design: “a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Jesus later repeats this in Mark 10:7–9, showing that marriage is meant to be a lifelong commitment.

According to the 10 commandments adultery breaks this design and is strictly forbidden: “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14). The Bible doesn’t go into deep explanations here, because the meaning was already well understood. Throughout Scripture, God consistently warns against adultery and the pain it causes.

But over time, people have tried to find ways around this command. For example, polygamy, which is marrying more than one person, was practiced in the Old Testament. While it wasn’t counted as adultery back then because the extra wives were considered legal spouses, it still went against God’s original design. And if a man in a polygamous relationship had relations with someone outside those legal wives, it was still considered adultery.

In today’s world, divorce and remarriage can be used to try and avoid the label of adultery. But Jesus addresses this directly in Luke 16:18 and Mark 10:11–12, teaching that divorcing your spouse just to marry someone else doesn’t remove guilt. If the reason behind the divorce is rooted in lust or selfish desire, it’s still considered adultery in God’s eyes. Jesus also goes further in Matthew 5:27–28, saying that even looking at someone with lust is a form of adultery in the heart.

The Book of Proverbs gives strong warnings about the dangers of adultery. Proverbs 6:25–29 speaks vividly about how it can destroy a person’s life: “Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife.” Verse 32 says clearly, “He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself.”

Adultery brings consequences, both spiritually and personally. But it’s not beyond God’s forgiveness. In 1 Corinthians 6:9–11, Paul reminds believers that while adulterers and other sinners won’t inherit the kingdom of God, many in the church were once like that. Yet through faith in Jesus, they were “washed, sanctified, and justified.”

So, while adultery is a serious sin, the Bible also offers a message of hope: through repentance and faith, there is forgiveness and the chance to start fresh.

Can an Adulterer Go To Heaven?

This is a question many people wrestle with, especially if they or someone they love has committed adultery. According to the biblical definition of adultery, it is a serious sin, one that breaks trust, damages relationships, and violates God’s command. 

In 1 Corinthians 6:9–10, adulterers are listed among those who “will not inherit the kingdom of God.” This might seem like a final judgment, but the very next verse offers hope: “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 6:11, ESV).

This powerful passage shows us that someone who has committed adultery in the Bible is not beyond redemption. Yes, adultery is a sin, but it is not an unforgivable one. Anyone, an adulterer, adulteress, or anyone guilty of any sin, can be forgiven if they turn to God in genuine repentance and faith.

The Bible is clear: it’s not about being perfect, but about being made new in Christ. While committing adultery has real consequences, it does not disqualify someone from God’s grace. So, if you're wondering, “Can an adulterer go to heaven?” the answer is yes, through repentance, faith, and God’s mercy.

This is not a license to sin but a powerful reminder that even the worst chapters of our lives can be redeemed. God’s forgiveness is real, and no one is beyond the reach of His grace.

What Is The Punishment for Adultery in the Bible?

Understanding the biblical punishment for adultery requires looking at both the Old and New Testaments. Under the Old Covenant, given to ancient Israel, adultery was treated as a capital offense. 

Leviticus 20:10 states clearly: “If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.” This strict punishment was meant to preserve the holiness of the community and set Israel apart from surrounding nations known for their immoral practices.

It’s important to note that this judgment applied equally to both parties. There was no cultural allowance for one and condemnation for the other. Both the adulterer and adulteress were held accountable.

However, when Jesus came, He established a new covenant. The civil laws tied to Israel’s theocracy no longer apply in the same way. While the adultery sin is still serious, Christians are not instructed to carry out earthly punishments like death. 

Instead, the New Testament emphasizes the eternal consequences of unrepentant sin, stating that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). This speaks of spiritual separation from God, not a legal or physical sentence.

Proverbs gives us a deeper look at the consequences of adultery in everyday life. The writer warns that it leads to dishonor, ruin, and even destruction. Proverbs 6:32 says, “He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself.” Emotional scars, broken relationships, and shattered trust often follow.

Thankfully, the New Testament also gives us hope. In John 8, Jesus confronts a crowd ready to stone a woman caught in adultery. Rather than condemn her, He forgives her and gently calls her to turn away from sin. This moment captures the heart of Jesus’ ministry, full of truth, but also overflowing with grace.

While adultery is a sin, it is not beyond forgiveness. Jesus took the punishment of sin upon Himself, making restoration possible for anyone who turns to Him. The story of the woman caught in adultery reminds us that Jesus does not ignore sin, but He also does not cast away those who are willing to repent.

List of Adulterers in the Bible

Numerous Bible characters fell into temptation and broke this important commandment, and their stories are valuable teachings about the consequences of such actions. Here is a list of five of these characters, complete with Bible verses about adultery:

David

“David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her.” - 2 Samuel 11:4 (ESV)

David, Israel’s king, committed adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah. Though he was a man after God’s own heart, his failure in this moment led to serious consequences, including the death of their first child. David later repented deeply (see Psalm 51), demonstrating that adultery in the Bible is serious but forgivable.

Bathsheba

“And the woman conceived, and she sent and told David, ‘I am pregnant.’” - 2 Samuel 11:5 (ESV)

Bathsheba was involved in the act of adultery with David. While the text doesn't clarify her level of consent, she is often noted in discussions of adulterous women in the Bible. Her story, however, doesn't end in scandal. She later becomes the mother of Solomon.

The Woman Caught in Adultery

“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” - John 8:7 (ESV)

“Jesus stood up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.’” - John 8:10–11 (ESV)

This unnamed woman was caught in adultery and brought before Jesus. While the crowd demanded punishment, Jesus extended mercy and called her to repentance. Her story illustrates the balance between grace and truth and is a powerful picture of how adultery in the New Testament is treated with both seriousness and compassion.

Gomer

“And the Lord said to me, ‘Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the children of Israel.’” - Hosea 3:1 (ESV)

Gomer, the wife of the prophet Hosea, was unfaithful. God commanded Hosea to love her again, using their marriage as a symbol of His own love for Israel. Gomer represents not just physical but spiritual adultery, showing how unfaithfulness deeply wounds but also how God’s love pursues and restores.

The Israelites (Spiritual Adultery)

“She saw that for all the adulteries of that faithless one, Israel, I had sent her away with a decree of divorce.” - Jeremiah 3:8 (ESV)

God often describes Israel’s worship of false gods as spiritual adultery. Though not physical, their unfaithfulness to the covenant is treated with the same gravity. This metaphor is consistent throughout the prophets, highlighting the relational pain of betrayal and the call to repentance.

Learn More With The Bible Chat App

Having something to turn to is important in such delicate and complicated moments of life. Seeking answers from Scripture, whether you have sinned or are experiencing the pain of someone else wronging you, can bring you peace in the midst of emotional and spiritual turmoil.

With the Bible Chat app, you can always ask questions, read Bible passages, and discover prayers based on what your needs are in the moment. Download the app from the App Store or Google Play and carry the Bible’s wisdom with you right on your phone.

Conclusion

Adultery is a serious sin and one of the 10 commandments. The Bible repeatedly stresses how important marriage is, and ruining its sanctity and falling into the temptation of sexual immorality is condemned and punished. While the severity with which adulterers are judged and punished has changed from the Old Testament to the New Testament, this doesn’t mean the Biblical view on this sin has become less damning.

However, no sinner is completely lost. As Jesus forgave the woman who committed adultery, He can forgive and show mercy to all of us, as long as we repent.

References

• What does the Bible say about adultery?, https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-adultery.html, accessed on 29.05.2025;
• What is the biblical punishment for adultery?, https://www.gotquestions.org/punishment-for-adultery.html, accessed on 29.05.2025;
• The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

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