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G1608 Β· Greek Β· New Testament
ἐκπορνΡύω
Ekporneuo
Verb
To Indulge in Sexual Immorality; To Practice Prostitution

Definition

The Greek ekporneuo means to indulge in sexual immorality intensely or thoroughly β€” the ek prefix suggesting excess and completion. It appears only once in the NT, in Jude 7, describing Sodom and Gomorrah's sin: 'They gave themselves up to sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire.' The word captures not just the act but the total surrender to sexual sin.

Usage & Theological Significance

Jude's use of ekporneuo for Sodom's sin specifies the nature of the judgment: they pursued sexual immorality to the extreme, surrendering themselves completely. The result was that they 'serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire' (Jude 7). Jude is warning the church against those who 'pervert the grace of God into a license for immorality' (v.4). Sexual sin is never a private matter in Scripture β€” it is covenant-breaking, dishonoring the image of God, and has eternal consequences. The ekporneuo of Sodom is a perpetual warning.

Key Bible Verses

Jude 7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality (ekporneuo) and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
Genesis 19:5 They called to Lot, 'Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.'
1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.
Revelation 17:2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.
1 Thessalonians 4:3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality.

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