Find out more. A term connoting, in the broadest sense, the turning of an object or process from its rightful or natural use to a base one. In the narrower sense, it is the term for sexual relations engaged in outside of marriage for professional reasons, either mercenary or religious. The Bible uses three words to denote the prostitute. This word describes the secular prostitute who offers herself for money. In certain instances it appears to be a more general term encompassing the cult prostitute, as well.
There is, however, a distinct term for the cult or religious prostitute. Biblical attitudes toward prostitution. The Biblical attitude toward the practice of prostitution is somewhat ambivalent. On the one hand, the practice is frowned upon, with numerous statements and statutes against it see below. Yet, prostitution is not absolutely condemned and there are several instances where it is reported in a rather neutral atmosphere.
His failure to comply with the law of Levirate marriage is depicted as the serious sin. The penalty of burning which Judah pronounced upon Tamar before he knew his own part prob. Rather, she is known throughout Scripture as Rahab, the prostitute. During the united kingdom, it was two prostitutes who brought the baby to Solomon for adjudication 1 Kings No word of condemnation is recorded.
During the divided kingdom, prostitution continued to exist, for when Hosea was ordered by God to marry a prostitute, he apparently had no difficulty in finding one cf. These references indicate that prostitution continued to be practiced within the Jewish community throughout the entire Biblical period.
Nevertheless, the Bible makes it plain that while prostitution exists, it is not desirable. At the lowest level, a personal and social stigma was attached to the practice. It was forbidden to offer the wages of a prostitute in the Temple Deut One of the reasons why prostitution was abhorrent to God was its direct relationship to all types of evil.
