What does it mean that fornicators and adulterers God will judge (Hebrews 13:4)?

Just as the sacredness of marriage is endangered in today’s world, so it was in New Testament times. The writer of Hebrews states, “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4, NKJV). In another translation, the verse reads, “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” (Hebrews 13:4, NLT).

Hebrews 13:4 emphasizes the importance of honoring marriage as a holy union between two individuals. Marriage should be valued and upheld by everyone. Ideally, this respect for marriage as an institution extends beyond those who are married to encompass the whole community. The result is a societal standard that prizes and protects the integrity of marital relationships.

The second half of the verse states that God will judge “fornicators and adulterers,” meaning the sexually impure. In God’s eyes, the only acceptable framework for sexual relations is within the exclusive bonds of marriage. God expects married couples, and especially Christian couples, to remain faithful to one another.

In Hebrews 13:4, the word for “fornicators” (pornous in the original Greek) denotes sexually immoral or promiscuous people. In Scripture, fornication generally refers to consensual sexual intercourse between individuals who are not married to each other. So, in the context of this passage, “fornicators” are unmarried people who are sexually impure. The term adulterers (moichous) refers to those who commit adultery or have sex outside of their marriage. They are married people who are sexually impure. Scripture is clear—everyone who practices a lifestyle of sexual immorality, whether married or unmarried, God will judge.

As believers, what we do with our bodies is of great significance to God. The Bible says our bodies are the Lord’s temple, and His Spirit dwells within us (see 1 Corinthians 3:16–17; 2 Corinthians 6:16). The apostle Paul expounds, “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” (1 Corinthians 6:18–20). When we sin sexually, we drag the Lord’s body into the cesspit, defiling His holy temple.

Hebrews 13:4 concludes with a solemn warning: “God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” Paul echoes the warning: “Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers . . . will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9–10). These strong words reveal how seriously God views sexual immorality.

In Ephesians 5:2–6, Paul urges believers to offer their bodies to God as a pleasing sacrifice, with not even a hint of sexual impurity. The passage closes with another stern warning: “You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. . . . Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him” (Ephesians 5:5–6, NLT).

How will God judge fornicators and adulterers? Sometimes, God’s judgment will occur in the sinner’s own body. God gives that person over to “sexual impurity” and “shameful lusts,” and they receive “in themselves the due penalty for their error” (Romans 1:24–27). Doubtless, unrepentant sinners will not escape God’s final, eternal judgment (see Galatians 5:19–21; Revelation 21:8; 22:15).

Christians who engage in sexual sins can receive God’s forgiveness and cleansing (1 John 1:9), but they may forfeit some of their heavenly rewards (see Matthew 16:27; 25:21; 1 Corinthians 3:11–15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Galatians 6:7–9). There are often temporal consequences as well. King David experienced the Lord’s forgiveness after committing adultery with Bathsheba, but not without enduring painful consequences in the months and years that followed. “Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?” (Proverbs 6:27).

Hebrews 13:4 calls for Christians to maintain a deep respect for marriage and a commitment to a lifestyle of sexual purity. We know God will judge fornicators and adulterers. His Word warns us of the spiritual danger of having a lax attitude toward sexual sin. God’s displeasure with sexual immorality ought to motivate us to live holy, pure, and faithful lives before Him. In a world that celebrates and encourages sexual indulgence, may we, as God’s people, stand for the sanctity of marriage.