denotes one "who has unlawful intercourse with the spouse of another," Luke 18:11; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Hebrews 13:4 . As to James 4:4 , see below.
"an adulteress," is used (a) in the natural sense, 2 Peter 2:14; Romans 7:3; (b) in the spiritual sense, James 4:4; here the RV rightly omits the word "adulterers." It was added by a copyist. As in Israel the breach of their relationship with God through their idolatry, was described as "adultery" or "harlotry" (e.g., Ezekiel 16:15 ff; 23:43 ), so believers who cultivate friendship with the world, thus breaking their spiritual union with Christ, are spiritual "adulteresses," having been spiritually united to Him as wife to husband, Romans 7:4 . It is used adjectivally to describe the Jewish people in transferring their affections from God, Matthew 12:39; 16:4; Mark 8:38 . In 2 Peter 2:14 , the lit. translation is "full of an adulteress" (RV, marg.).
"adultery," is found in Matthew 15:19; Mark 7:21; John 8:3 (AV only).
used in the Middle Voice in the NT, is said of men in Matthew 5:32; 19:9; Mark 10:11; of women in Mark 10:10 .
is used in Matthew 5:27,28,32 (in ver. 32 some texts have No. 1); Matthew 19:18; Mark 10:19; Luke 16:18; 18:20; John 8:4; Romans 2:22; 13:9; James 2:11; in Revelation 2:22 , metaphorically, of those who are by a Jezebel's solicitations drawn away to idolatry.