“You shall not commit adultery.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This commandment doesn't just forbid the physical act of adultery; it extends to the heart and mind. Jesus’ teaching clarifies that lustful thoughts are a form of adultery, revealing God’s expectation of inner purity alongside outward actions.
“You shall not commit adultery.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This commandment follows the prohibition against murder, addressing a different but equally fundamental aspect of respecting our neighbor: their family and personal integrity. It underscores the sanctity of marriage and the home as foundational to Israel's society, directly confronting acts that destabilize these core relationships. The context makes clear this isn't just about outward actions but also the internal desires that lead to such betrayals, extending the law's reach into the heart.
What makes adultery so serious? It's more than just a personal mistake; it strikes at the very foundation of family and society.
This commandment, the seventh in God's list, is about more than just physical actions. It’s a divine protection for the marriage covenant, the bedrock of family and social order.
A Sacred Union
Marriage, as God originally designed it, creates a profound unity – the two becoming 'one flesh.' Adultery tears apart this sacred bond, causing immense damage not only to the individuals involved but also to children and the wider community. It’s an invasion of the deepest personal trust and commitment.
Divine Equality
Interestingly, God’s law in this area shows no favoritism. Both men and women who commit adultery are equally accountable. This reflects God’s perspective: there is no respect of persons or sexes when it comes to upholding the sanctity of marriage.
Did you know that breaking this commandment can happen long before any physical act?
Jesus himself expanded the meaning of the seventh commandment, showing that true purity starts on the inside. It’s not just about outward behavior; it’s about the desires and thoughts of our hearts.
Guarding Your Gaze
Jesus said that looking at someone with lustful intent is already adultery in the heart. This means that our thoughts and desires are under God's authority too. What we choose to focus on, what we dwell on mentally, can either build up or tear down our inner commitment to purity.
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Beyond Adultery
This commandment doesn't just forbid adultery (the act between married individuals) but also encompasses fornication and all forms of sexual impurity. It calls us to a life of chastity, including guarding our minds against impure thoughts, words, and influences.
Understand the original words
na'aph · Hebrew Verb
Sexual relations between a married person and someone other than their spouse; it is a violation of the covenant of marriage established by God.
Jesus expands the seventh commandment, showing that even lustful thoughts, not just the physical act, are considered adultery in God's eyes, echoing the command's call for inner purity.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20Paul powerfully connects sexual immorality (including adultery) to dishonoring God's temple, which is our bodies, emphasizing that our bodies belong to Christ. This highlights the profound spiritual implications of the commandment.
Hebrews 13:4This verse directly upholds the sanctity of marriage and condemns sexual immorality, reinforcing the core principle behind the prohibition of adultery as essential for honoring God.
Proverbs 6:23-35This passage graphically depicts the severe consequences and destruction that adultery and sexual sin bring, serving as a stark warning that underscores the wisdom and protective nature of God's command.
Leviticus 18:20This verse specifically prohibits adultery, showing its place within the broader Mosaic Law concerning sexual purity and its seriousness as a violation of God's covenant and the sanctity of relationships.
ellicottExodus 20:14: "Thou shalt not commit adultery."
(14) Thou shalt not commit adultery. —Next to the duty of respecting a man’s life is placed that of respecting his domestic peace and honour. Adultery is an invasion of the household, a destruction of the bond which unites the family, a dissolution of that contract which is the main basis of social order. It was forbidden by all civilised communities, and in uncivilised ones frequently punished with death. The Mosaic enactments on the subject are…
clarkeExodus 20:14: "Thou shalt not commit adultery."
Thou shalt not commit adultery - Adultery, as defined by our laws, is of two kinds; double, when between two married persons; single, when one of the parties is married, the other single. One principal part of the criminality of adultery consists in its injustice. 1. It robs a man of his right by taking from him the affection of his wife. 2. It does him a wrong by fathering on him and obliging him to maintain as his own a spurious offspring - a ch…
This commandment doesn't just forbid the physical act of adultery; it extends to the heart and mind. Jesus’ teaching clarifies that lustful thoughts are a form of adultery, revealing God’s expectation of inner purity alongside outward actions.
This commandment follows the prohibition against murder, addressing a different but equally fundamental aspect of respecting our neighbor: their family and personal integrity. It underscores the sanctity of marriage and the home as foundational to Israel's society, directly confronting acts that destabilize these core relationships. The context makes clear this isn't just about outward actions but also the internal desires that lead to such betrayals, extending the law's reach into the heart.
This commandment follows the prohibition against murder, addressing a different but equally fundamental aspect of respecting our neighbor: their family and personal integrity. It underscores the sanctity of marriage and the home as foundational to Israel's society, directly confronting acts that destabilize these core relationships. The context makes clear this isn't just about outward actions but also the internal desires that lead to such betrayals, extending the law's reach into the heart.
"“You shall not commit adultery." — This commandment doesn't just forbid the physical act of adultery; it extends to the heart and mind. Jesus’ teaching clarifies that lustful thoughts are a form of adultery, revealing God’s expectatio…
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Last reviewed October 2026