fornication

Any type of illicit sexual activity. Included in the realm of sexual misconduct in the OT are seduction, rape, sodomy, bestiality, certain forms of incest, prostitution (male or female), and homosexual acts (Lev 18; Lev 19:20-22; Lev 19:29; Lev 20:10-21). In the NT, almost any form of sexual activity outside the marriage relationship could be designated as fornication or “immorality” (1Cor 6:9; 2Cor 12:21; Eph 5:5; Col 3:5; 1Thess 4:3; 1Tim 1:10; Heb 13:4; Jude 1:7).