Infidelity can cause deep pain, and the Bible doesn’t ignore this topic. Today, we’ll explore what scripture says about cheating, forgiveness, and healing. By understanding God’s teachings, we can learn about grace, trust, and moving forward after betrayal.
Also Read: What Does The Bible Say About Boasting And Bragging
What Does The Bible Say About Cheating Wives
Proverbs 5:15-20
“Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares? Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers. May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer— may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love.”
This verse highlights the importance of faithfulness and loyalty in marriage. It urges husbands to find satisfaction within their own marriages and to resist the temptation of seeking pleasure outside of their covenant relationship.
By emphasizing the blessings and joy that come from cherishing one’s own spouse, this verse encourages husbands to appreciate and honor their wives, fostering a strong and loving marital bond.
Proverbs 6:32-33
“But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself. Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away.”
This verse serves as a warning against the destructive consequences of adultery. It emphasizes the lack of wisdom and understanding in engaging in unfaithful behavior, highlighting that those who commit adultery bring shame and ruin upon themselves.
Adultery not only damages the trust and intimacy within a marriage but also brings external consequences, such as societal disgrace and potential physical harm. This verse underscores the importance of fidelity and the severe repercussions of infidelity.
Proverbs 30:20
“This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’”
This verse reveals the deceptive nature of a cheating wife. It describes her actions as those of one who denies any wrongdoing or consequences for her infidelity.
It serves as a cautionary reminder of the danger of self-deception and the need for honesty and accountability in relationships. Trust and open communication are crucial foundations for a strong and faithful marriage.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
This verse provides a broader perspective on the spiritual consequences of adultery. It affirms that adulterers, along with other unrepentant wrongdoers, will not inherit the kingdom of God.
It emphasizes the seriousness of sexual immorality and the importance of living righteous lives. This verse encourages believers to pursue holiness and reminds them of the eternal ramifications of unfaithfulness.
Matthew 5:27-28
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
This verse challenges the notion that adultery is solely an external act. It reveals that even the thoughts and intentions of the heart can be considered adulterous.
By expanding the scope of adultery to include the internal realm, this verse calls believers to purity not only in their actions but also in their minds and hearts. It emphasizes the importance of guarding one’s thoughts and desires in order to maintain faithfulness in marriage.
Proverbs 12:22
“The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.”
This verse emphasizes the value of honesty and trustworthiness in the eyes of the Lord. It affirms that God detests deceitful words and actions, including infidelity.
By contrast, this verse highlights the delight God takes in those who are honest and faithful in their relationships. It underscores the importance of integrity and truthfulness in personal conduct, including marital fidelity.
Proverbs 7:10-12
“Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. (She is unruly and defiant, her feet never stay at home; now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.)”
This verse describes a seductive woman with deceptive intentions, embodying the temptation and allure of an unfaithful wife.
It serves as a cautionary example of the dangers of being lured away by sinful desires and the importance of guarding one’s heart and commitment within a marriage.
Proverbs 2:16-17
“Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words, who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God.”
This verse speaks of the wisdom that can protect one from the influence of a cheating wife. It acknowledges the allure and persuasive words of an unfaithful woman, emphasizing the importance of discernment and righteousness.
It also highlights the significance of honoring the covenant made before God in marriage and the commitment to remain faithful to one’s spouse.
Proverbs 6:26
“For a prostitute can be had for a loaf of bread, but another man’s wife preys on your very life.”
This verse draws a comparison between the consequences of engaging with a prostitute and becoming involved with another man’s wife.
It underscores the destructive nature of adultery, suggesting that it not only harms the relationship but also poses a threat to one’s own well-being and security.
Hebrews 13:4
“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”
This verse emphasizes the sacredness of marriage and the need for purity within the marital relationship.
It reminds believers that God will judge those who engage in adultery and other forms of sexual immorality, highlighting the importance of upholding the sanctity of marriage and remaining faithful to one’s spouse.
Proverbs 5:3-4
“For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword.”
This verse portrays the deceptive allure of a cheating wife, using imagery to describe the enticing nature of her words.
However, it also reveals the painful and destructive consequences that follow such betrayal. It serves as a warning against being lured by temporary pleasures, illustrating the ultimate bitterness and harm that adultery brings.
Proverbs 2:18-19
“Surely her house leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead. None who go to her return or attain the paths of life.”
This verse depicts the destructive path that leads to death for those entangled with an unfaithful woman.
It emphasizes the irreversible consequences of adultery, highlighting the tragic loss of life and spiritual destruction that result from pursuing an affair outside the bounds of marriage.
1 Corinthians 7:2
“But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of maintaining sexual purity within the context of marriage.
It encourages husbands and wives to fulfill each other’s sexual needs, promoting faithfulness and unity within the marital relationship as a safeguard against sexual immorality.
Proverbs 9:17-18
“Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!” But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.”
This verse portrays the appeal of forbidden pleasures, likening them to stolen water and secret food.
However, it also reveals the hidden consequences and spiritual death that await those who indulge in such sinful desires. It warns against the temporary sweetness of indulgence, urging individuals to pursue righteousness and avoid the path of adultery.
Job 31:11-12
“For that would have been wicked, a sin to be judged. It is a fire that burns to Destruction; it would have uprooted my harvest.”
This verse expresses the recognition of the wickedness and destructive nature of adultery.
It highlights the potential consequences of engaging in such behavior, likening it to a fire that consumes and destroys. It serves as a reminder to guard against the temptation of infidelity and uphold the integrity of one’s marriage.
Proverbs 21:9
“Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.”
This verse acknowledges the difficulty and strife that can come from being in a relationship with a contentious and unfaithful wife.
It emphasizes the value of peace and stability within the home, suggesting that it is preferable to be in solitude on the rooftop than to dwell in constant conflict with an unfaithful spouse.
Ephesians 5:33
“However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”
This verse speaks to the importance of mutual love and respect within the marriage relationship.
It encourages husbands to love their wives selflessly, just as they love themselves, while reminding wives to respect and honor their husbands. This mutual framework fosters an environment of trust and faithfulness in which infidelity is less likely to occur.
Proverbs 14:1
“The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.”
This verse highlights the contrasting outcomes of a faithful and unfaithful wife.
It emphasizes the wisdom in building a strong and secure household through loyalty and commitment, while also underscoring the detrimental consequences of unfaithfulness, which can lead to the destruction of the marital bond and family unit.
Proverbs 30:23
“Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up: a servant who becomes king, a godless fool who gets plenty to eat, a contemptible woman who gets married, and a servant who displaces her mistress.”
This verse includes a cautionary mention of a contemptible woman who gets married.
While the context and interpretation of this verse can be debated, it serves as a reminder to exercise discernment and wisdom in choosing a spouse, avoiding relationships with individuals of questionable character.
Colossians 3:19
“Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.”
This verse addresses husbands directly, urging them to love their wives and treat them with gentleness and kindness.
By fostering a loving and nurturing environment within the marriage, husbands can contribute to the emotional security and satisfaction of their wives, discouraging any desire for infidelity.
Proverbs 11:16
“A kindhearted woman gains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.”
This verse highlights the value of a woman who possesses kindness and compassion.
By cultivating a nurturing and loving demeanor within the marital relationship, women can earn honor and contribute to the overall satisfaction and fidelity of the marriage.
Ephesians 5:25
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”
This verse emphasizes the sacrificial love that husbands are called to demonstrate towards their wives.
By modeling Christ’s selfless love, husbands can create an environment of security and devotion within the marriage, fostering faithfulness and dissuading any inclination towards infidelity.
Proverbs 6:29
“So is the one who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.”
This verse speaks of the punishment that awaits those who engage in adulterous relationships and violate the sanctity of marriage.
It serves as a reminder that God sees and judges all actions, emphasizing the importance of honoring the commitment and fidelity within the marital covenant.