what is adultery in the bible

Adultery in the Bible refers to marital infidelity, specifically voluntary sexual activity between a married person and someone other than their spouse. The Bible forbids adultery in the seventh commandment, "You shall not commit adultery". Adultery is considered a great social wrong and a great sin. In the Old Testament, adultery was understood as sexual relations between a married or betrothed woman and a man other than her husband. Leviticus 20:10 defines adultery as sexual intercourse between a man and a married woman who is not his lawful wife, and prescribes the punishment as capital punishment. Jesus affirmed the commandment against adultery and extended it, saying that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Adultery is considered a deadly serious sin that brings Gods consequences.