Biblical Answer

Understanding the Meaning of Arsenokoitai

The Greek term "arsenokoitai" is a compound word made up of two parts: "arsen" meaning "man" and "koite" meaning "bed". In the context of Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament used by Jews in the first century) uses the term to describe men who engage in sexual activity with other men. The meaning of "arsenokoitai" is clear: it refers to men who have sex with other men.

This understanding of "arsenokoitai" is consistent with the consensus of modern English translations, which also translate the term as "men who have sex with other men" or "men who lie with men". The word "arsenokoitai" is derived from the Holiness Code of Leviticus, which prohibits men from engaging in sexual activity with other men. In 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10, Paul uses the term "arsenokoitai" to describe those who engage in this sin.

It's worth noting that some scholars have suggested that Paul may have been speaking specifically against pederasty (sexual relations between an adult and a child), but this interpretation is not supported by the text. The meaning of "arsenokoitai" is clear: it refers to men who engage in sexual activity with other men, and it is derived from the Holiness Code of Leviticus. As such, it is a term that describes a specific sin that is forbidden in the Bible.