Adultery and cheating are serious sins that go against God’s commandments and break the trust in relationships He has ordained. The Bible addresses these issues clearly, warning against them and calling believers to purity, faithfulness, and repentance. Whether you are seeking healing, guidance, or simply want to understand God’s view on this topic, these verses provide wisdom and correction rooted in love and truth. Below are seven themes that explore what Scripture says about adultery and cheating.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Cheating Wife
God’s Command Against Adultery
From the beginning, God gave clear commands about the sanctity of marriage. Adultery is not just a betrayal of one’s spouse but also a rebellion against God’s law. God desires faithfulness, and He created marriage to reflect His covenant love. These verses remind us of the seriousness of adultery and God’s standard of holiness.
Exodus 20:14
“You must not commit adultery.”
Leviticus 20:10
“If a man commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, both the man and the woman who have committed adultery must be put to death.”
Proverbs 6:32
“But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool, for he destroys himself.”
Deuteronomy 5:18
“You must not commit adultery.”
Hebrews 13:4
“Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.”
The Heart Behind Adultery
Adultery doesn’t start with the physical act—it begins in the heart. Jesus emphasized that even looking at someone lustfully is the same as committing adultery in the heart. The Bible challenges us to guard our thoughts and desires, not just our actions. True purity begins within.
Matthew 5:27-28
“You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Job 31:1
“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman.”
Proverbs 4:23
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
James 1:14-15
“Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.”
Galatians 5:16
“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.”
The Consequences of Cheating
The Bible is clear that sin has consequences. Cheating and adultery often lead to broken homes, emotional pain, and spiritual death. God’s Word warns us about the outcomes of such actions so we can choose a better path—one of obedience, healing, and restoration.
Proverbs 6:26
“For a prostitute will bring you to poverty, but sleeping with another man’s wife will cost you your life.”
2 Samuel 11:2-4
“Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof… He noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath… Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her.”
Hosea 4:2-3
“You make vows and break them; you kill and steal and commit adultery… That is why your land is in mourning, and everyone is wasting away.”
Proverbs 5:3-5
“For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey… But in the end she is as bitter as poison, as dangerous as a double-edged sword.”
Jeremiah 5:7-9
“They committed adultery and thronged to the houses of prostitutes… Should I not punish them for this?”
God’s Call to Repentance
Despite the gravity of adultery and cheating, God offers hope through repentance. His desire is not to condemn but to restore. If we confess and turn away from our sins, He forgives and makes us new. These verses show God’s mercy and the power of a changed heart.
1 John 1:9
“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”
Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow.”
Proverbs 28:13
“People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.”
Psalm 51:10
“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.”
Acts 3:19
“Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.”
Also Read: Bible Verses About Cheaters
Faithfulness in Marriage
God created marriage to be a covenant—a sacred promise between a husband and wife. Faithfulness is a reflection of God’s own loyalty to His people. These verses encourage couples to remain true to one another and to honor the vows made before God and others.
Malachi 2:15-16
“Guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth… For I hate divorce!” says the Lord.”
Ephesians 5:25
“For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her.”
1 Corinthians 7:2
“But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.”
Colossians 3:19
“Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.”
1 Peter 3:7
“In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together.”
God’s Judgment on the Unfaithful
God is just and will not ignore sin forever. Those who live in unrepentant adultery and cheating will face His judgment. These verses serve as sobering reminders of the need to take sin seriously and to seek forgiveness while there is still time.
Revelation 21:8
“But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft… their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
“Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves… adulterers, or male prostitutes—or those who practice homosexuality—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.”
Galatians 5:19-21
“When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity… Let me tell you again… that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”
Hebrews 10:26-27
“Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins.”
Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven… I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.”
Hope and Restoration Through Christ
Even after betrayal and sin, God’s grace can bring restoration. Through Christ, broken lives and marriages can be healed. These verses speak of hope, new beginnings, and the unending love of God that offers second chances to all who believe and obey.
2 Corinthians 5:17
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”
Romans 8:1
“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.”
Titus 2:11-12
“For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures.”
Isaiah 43:19
“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?”
John 8:10-11
“Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, ‘Where are your accusers?… Neither do I. Go and sin no more.'”