harlot

In Jewish tradition

The Torah uses it for a woman of loose conduct. Simeon and Levi ask whether their sister should be treated as one, and Judah mistakes Tamar for one. The law forbids Israelite daughters to serve as one. The prophets also use it as a picture: Isaiah and Ezekiel call faithless Jerusalem a harlot. Samson visits one in Gaza.

Interpretation. Commentators treat it as a serious wrong and also discuss Tamar's case, where her aim was good. The Torah's ban on such conduct is read as protecting the holiness of the family and the land. The prophets' figure is read as showing Israel's unfaithfulness to God as a marriage broken.

Meaning

A woman who has sex for pay, or a woman who is unfaithful. It is an old word. tree →

Examples

• And they said: 'Should one deal with our sister as with a harlot?' (Torah GEN.34.31, JPS 1917) tree →
• When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot; for she had covered her face. (Torah GEN.38.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• There shall be no harlot of the daughters of Israel, neither shall there be a sodomite of the sons of Israel. (Torah DEU.23.17, JPS 1917) tree →
• How is the faithful city become a harlot! (Prophets ISA.1.21, JPS 1917) tree →
• Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the LORD! (Prophets EZK.16.35, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Samson went to Gaza, and saw there a harlot, and went in unto her. (Prophets JDG.16.1, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

A record of the Judaism dictionary, written from the corpus.

Early Modern English

Meaning

a woman who sells her body for sex. tree →

Then and now

No longer used; today we say prostitute.

Examples

• And they said: 'Should one deal with our sister as with a harlot?' (Torah GEN.34.31, JPS 1917) tree →
• When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot; for she had covered her face. (Torah GEN.38.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• There shall be no harlot of the daughters of Israel, neither shall there be a sodomite of the sons of Israel. (Torah DEU.23.17, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Today: prostitute.