What does the Bible say about extra marital affairs?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible teaches that sexual intimacy belongs exclusively within the covenant of marriage and that adultery is a serious sin against God and one’s spouse. From Genesis 2:24 onward, marriage is presented as a one-flesh union, honored and guarded by faithfulness. Exodus 20:14 plainly forbids adultery, while Jesus deepens this command by exposing both unfaithful actions and desires of the heart in Matthew 5:32 and Matthew 19:9. Proverbs 6:27-29 warns that such sin brings destructive consequences. Yet Christ receives repentant sinners, calling them to turn from sexual sin and live in holiness. By God’s grace, believers may pursue fidelity, self-control, forgiveness, and restoration where repentance is genuine.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Hebrews 13:4

    Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

  • Genesis 2:24

    Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh.

  • Matthew 19:9

    I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her when she is divorced commits adultery."

  • Mark 10:11-12

    [11] He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery against her. [12] If a woman herself divorces her husband, and marries another, she commits adultery."

  • Matthew 5:32

    but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.

  • Proverbs 6:27-29

    [27] Can a man scoop fire into his lap, And his clothes not be burned? [28] Or can one walk on hot coals, And his feet not be scorched? [29] So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife. Whoever touches her will not be unpunished.

  • Proverbs 6:32

    He who commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding. He who does it destroys his own soul.

  • Exodus 20:14

    "You shall not commit adultery.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:2

    But, because of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:18

    Flee sexual immorality! "Every sin that a man does is outside the body," but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

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