Is the Greek word "porneia" or "pomeia" mistranslated as "fornication"?

[Ave Maria]

Hi everyone. I would like to explore a possible issue of mistranslation in the Bible. Is the Greek word "porneia" or "pomeia" mistranslated as fornication in some Bible translations?

 

[crishmael]

I think it's usually translated along the lines of "sexual immorality" in most modern versions. That seems to be a bit broader than the definition of fornication: voluntary sexual intercourse between two unmarried persons or two persons not married to each other. But individual passages may have different words or terms that may entail a broader or narrower term.

Is there a specific passage you are referring to?

 

[Ave Maria]

I think it's usually translated along the lines of "sexual immorality" in most modern versions. That seems to be a bit broader than the definition of fornication: voluntary sexual intercourse between two unmarried persons or two persons not married to each other. But individual passages may have different words or terms that may entail a broader or narrower term.

Is there a specific passage you are referring to?

Nope. I guess I'll ask another question then. If porneia or pomeia is translated as sexual immorality in modern versions, does sexual immorality include premarital sex or fornication?

 

[Radagast]

I think it's usually translated along the lines of "sexual immorality" in most modern versions...

And that's probably the best translation of porneia (πορνεία), which comes from the word for "prostitute" (which is where the English word "pornography" also comes from).

My two dictionaries (Liddell & Scott and Thayer) translate "fornication, prostitution" and "illicit sexual intercourse." In Biblical usage, that would include all sex outside of marriage.

 

[wildboar]

It's a pretty broad term that would include fornication as well as incest and other unlawful sexual relationships.

 

[Yarddog]

Hi everyone. I would like to explore a possible issue of mistranslation in the Bible. Is the Greek word "porneia" or "pomeia" mistranslated as fornication in some Bible translations?

I couldn't find pomeia in the Greek lexicon. Where is it used in scripture?

Yarddog

 

[Yarddog]

Nope. I guess I'll ask another question then. If porneia or pomeia is translated as sexual immorality in modern versions, does sexual immorality include premarital sex or fornication?

Have you read 1 Corinthians 7? It deals with marriage.

Yarddog

 

[Zebra1552]

Hi everyone. I would like to explore a possible issue of mistranslation in the Bible. Is the Greek word "porneia" or "pomeia" mistranslated as fornication in some Bible translations?

Not in the NAS it's not. It's usually translated as immorality.

 

[barryrob]

FROM http://vines.mike-obrien.net/
Fornication, Fornicator

1 porneia (Noun)
Is used (a) of "illicit sexual intercourse," in Joh. 8:41; Ac. 15:20,29; 21:25; 1Co. 5:1; 6:13,18; 2Co. 12:21; Ga. 5:19; Eph. 5:3; Col. 3:5; 1Th. 4:3; Re. 2:21; 9:21; in the plural in 1Co. 7:2; in Mt. 5:32; 19:9 it stands for, or includes, adultery; it is distinguished from it in 15:19; Mr. 7:21; (b) metaphorically, of "the association of pagan idolatry with doctrines of, and professed adherence to, the Christian faith," Re. 14:8; 17:2,4; 18:3; 19:2; some suggest this as the sense in Re. 2:21.

2 pornos (Noun)
Denotes "a man who indulges in fornication, a fornicator," 1Co. 5:9,10,11; 6:9; Eph. 5:5, RV; 1Ti. 1:10, RV; Heb. 12:16; 13:4, RV; Re. 21:8; 22:15, RV (AV, "whoremonger").

3 porneuo (Verb)
to commit fornication," is used (a) literally, Mr. 10:19; 1Co. 6:18; 10:8; Re. 2:14,20, see (a) and (b) above; (b) metaphorically, Re. 17:2; 18:3,9.

4 ekporneuo (Verb)
A strengthened form of No. 1 (ek, used intensively), "to give oneself up to fornication," implying excessive indulgence, Jude. 1:7.