Definition: The term "adultery" in the King James Version (KJV) comes from the Hebrew word "adam," which means a woman who has gone astray or fallen away from her husband's faithfulness, purity, and obedience to God. This verse is often used as a metaphorical way to describe sinful behavior. The definition of "adultery" in the KJV context emphasizes its negative connotation - it refers to adultery between two people, which is inherently forbidden by God's laws (Leviticus 20:13). In modern times, "adultery," while still a moral and spiritual sin, has been used figuratively to mean sexual relations with another person outside of marriage. This usage was introduced into the KJV by the German translation company, Griesemer & Riemann, in the 1950s. The KJV version often portrays adultery as a grave sin that can lead to serious consequences for individuals and society, akin to murder or apostasy from faith (e.g., Leviticus 24:6). It was later revised by the King James Bible Society in 1998, which now refers to adulteration with the same meaning. In summary, "adultery" in the KJV is a negative metaphorical use of the word for sexual behavior outside of marriage. It refers to adultery between two people and can lead to serious consequences under different contexts such as murder, apostasy from faith, or legal penalties within family and community structures.

adulterating