in every form of it was sternly condemned by the Mosaic law ( Leviticus 21:9 ; 19:29 ; Deuteronomy 22:20 Deuteronomy 22:21 Deuteronomy 22:23-29 ; 23:18 ; Exodus 22:16 ). (See ADULTERY .)

But this word is more frequently used in a symbolical than in its ordinary sense. It frequently means a forsaking of God or a following after idols ( Isaiah 1:2 ; Jeremiah 2:20 ; Ezek. 16; Hosea 1:2 ; 2:1-5 ; Jeremiah 3:8 Jeremiah 3:9 ).

These dictionary topics are from
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.