Talking about sin isn’t easy. Sexual sin is particularly challenging to discuss. One reason is that in the past, some churches took harsh or shame-based approaches to address sexual sin. The memory of the damage done during that time haunts us still.
The term whoremongering was once in common use and likely appeared in a sermon or two. It’s an archaic term now, but what is the definition of whoremongering in the Bible? Is it even important for us to know? If we’re not using it any longer, why understand it?
What Does the Word Whoremonger Mean?
A whoremonger, according to the King James Bible Dictionary, is a “sexually immoral person.” Various online dictionaries define the word similarly, relative to the word “whore” with variations of “a man who frequents prostitutes,” “one who lives lecherously,” or simply “a fornicator.” Monger is someone who buys or trades in something. We’re more familiar with the term fishmonger, meaning someone who trades in fish.
At the time of its most popular use, whoremonger essentially referred to a person (a man in those times) who engaged in any sexual intercourse outside of marriage. It doesn’t necessarily mean he frequented professional sex workers. When this term was used, any woman who slept with a man outside of marriage would have earned the title, whether money was exchanged or not.
What Bible Translation Uses the Word Whoremongering?
Whoremonger was used in both the King James Bible and Young’s Literal Translation. If you look at a specific verse using this word, such as Ephesians 5:5, you can compare versions. The word both versions translate as “whoremonger” in that verse comes from Strong’s G4205, the Greek word pornos.
The Wycliffe Bible translates the word “lecher.” The Revised Standard Version (among others) uses “fornicator.” The New Living Translation (in the company of several other popular translations) refers to “immoral, impure person.” The New King James uses “fornicator.” The Amplified Bible uses “person practicing sexual vice or impurity in thought or in life.” Finally, the WorldWide English translation simply reads, “people who use sex wrongly.”
What Makes Whoremongering a Sin?
Pornos, or sexual immorality, or the misuse of sex is sinful because our Creator designed sexual intimacy with a purpose. He made us male and female and determined that when a man leaves his father and mother and marries one woman, they will become one. Sexual intimacy plays a vital role in that union and the procreation of children. However, this marriage between a man and a woman is a picture or image to help us understand Jesus’ relationship with the church.
Jesus loves the church and laid His life down for her, just as a godly husband loves his wife and is willing to lay his life down for his bride. When we act outside of the design of this sexual relationship, we mar this imagery, disrespect our design, and sin against God and our own bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:18 warns, “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin someone commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.” This verse uses the Greek word porneia, similar to pornos, translated as “sexual immorality.”
The Bible teaches that sin is our willful disobedience of God’s laws. It comes from an old archery term to “miss the mark.” There are myriad ways to sin in thought, word, and deed, and all of us “miss the mark.” Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” One complication with the term whoremonger is that it refers to men, just as historically, the term “whore” referred exclusively to women. The truth is both genders can be guilty of sexual immorality, and we should use terms that reflect that in our times. We must remember that God views women’s sins as equally consequential as men’s sins.
Why Should We Talk about Whoremongering Today?
Memories of heavy judgment and lack of compassion may hamper us now from discussing sexual sin. However, it’s probably never going to be easy to talk about the many ways we can “miss the mark” regarding God’s plan for sex. After all, sexual sin involves the most intimate and personal activities of our lives.
Still, it would be wrong to remain bound to past mistakes and refrain from discussing sexual sin altogether. The Bible has much guidance and direction, many commands about our relationships with one another. The instruction is for our good and God’s glory.
It’s a step forward to refrain from inflammatory terms such as whoremonger. But while language evolves, God’s truth and the nature of sin remain the same. We have all sinned in some way. We must approach God’s Word and one another in humility and gentleness. It’s a positive step to retire the term whoremonger, which lends itself to name-calling and judgment, and replace it with terms like the sexually immoral or those who “misuse sex.” Frequenting prostitutes is not the only way to misuse sex. Sadly, there are many ways to miss the mark of God’s plan for sex, and we’re all wise to take the logs out of our eyes before trying to help a brother or sister.
Changing the language for more contemporary understanding is not the same as compromising the serious nature of sexual sin. In fact, if we retain the outdated language, it might be easier for modern believers to dismiss sexual sin as archaic. True ancient wisdom is still true and will remain true throughout time. The truth that sexual conduct must align with God’s Word to benefit individuals, families, and all of society is one such truth.
How Do We Talk to Someone about Sexual Sin?
There are several things we need to keep in mind when we’re discussing sexual sin with other people.
First, it’s good to remember that whenever we speak with another person about sin, we speak from sinner to sinner. When we find salvation in Jesus, we speak as one forgiven and freed sinner to a sinner. Even so, none of us can claim any righteousness of our own. Hence, retiring the term whoremonger is a positive sign that we have moved away from self-righteousness.
Second, we must be willing to have a full conversation, even if it’s awkward. Pornos isn’t always translated using specific behaviors. It can be a broad term for misusing sex or sexual activity outside God’s design. Since terms like “immoral person” or “lecher” can be vague, the societal or cultural interpretation of “immoral” may shift. Therefore, we must discuss definitions before discussing sexual sin. For example, we would no longer be shocked if a Christian man admitted to seeing a woman’s ankle. At one time, that may have earned him the title of lecher but no longer.
Third, talking about what qualifies as right or wrong, decent or indecent sexual behavior, means we must slow down the dialog, allowing room for nuance and clarifying terms. Many people won’t make time for slow nuanced conversation these days. It’s become all too easy for us to take the social media approach and jump to conclusions. In the long run, this gets us nowhere. Believers who want to discuss Scripture’s teachings on sexual immorality must resist the urge to reduce the message to something short and snappy, easily translated to memes or tweets. By simply saying that sexual relationships and behavior are a holy and complex topic best given proper time and thought, we can invite people into an offline conversation or refer them to longer, more expansive resources created by respected Bible teachers. One-liners and status updates aren’t sufficient for understanding and respecting one another on the broad and sensitive topic of sexual immorality.
How Can We Help Christians Who Struggle with Sexual Sins?
How can we help one another live in obedience to God’s commands on sexual behavior without inflicting greater harm on each other? It’s good to move beyond harsh terms like whoremonger, but silence on the topic will also cause harm.
1. When discussing, teaching or preaching about sexual sin to believers, remember there are likely victims of sexual abuse or individuals struggling with secret sexual thoughts or behavior. Victimization and private sexual sins can lead to depression, self-loathing, despair, and feeling beyond help. We can speak with uncompromising confidence in God’s Word and yet employ loving, gentle delivery. We can refer to the challenges of remaining true to God’s commands in a society where temptations and abuse are rampant. Use 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 as a guide when speaking: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” Isaiah 55:11 says, “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” We can trust the Holy Spirit doesn’t need us to coat God’s Word with shame.
2. When speaking either to groups or individuals on the topic, be careful to point to the hope of Christ always. Remind people that all sin is wrong. Pride is as wrong as adultery. Self-righteousness is as wrong as sex outside of marriage or pornography. All our hope for overcoming sin is in Christ. It begins with a relationship with Jesus but becoming free from strongholds may require support from other believers, even professionals, and may not be instantaneous but occur over time. Offer assurance that repeated failures or offenses doesn’t mean someone will never escape but indicate they may need different support.
3. Always be prepared with local and online resources for support for those who struggle with sexual sins of every nature. Have information ready so that when individuals approach for assistance, you have Scriptures, practical steps, and compassionate counsel ready to share.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Pra-chid
This article is part of our Christian Terms catalog, exploring words and phrases of Christian theology and history. Here are some of our most popular articles covering Christian terms to help your journey of knowledge and faith:
The Full Armor of God
The Meaning of "Selah"
What Is Grace? Bible Definition and Christian Quotes
What is Discernment? Bible Meaning and Importance
What Is Prophecy? Bible Meaning and Examples
