Arsenokoitai

⮜ Notes Overview

The word "arsenokoitai" in 1 Cor. 6:9 (and 1 Tim. 1:10) is a compound word that combines "ἄρσενος" (arsenos), meaning "man," and "κοίτην" (koite, from whence we derive the word "coitus"), which functioned for Paul and the LXX translators as a euphemism for sex acts. This word appears to be a reference to Lev. 18:22 and 20:13 LXX ^[1], where the two words "arsenos" and "koite" are used in both verses to prohibit men from lying with other men as they would with a woman. Therefore Paul's use of "arsenokoitai" in this context clearly refers to male-male sexual activity ^[2]. The word "arsenokoitai" is not found in any prior Greek literature, so it seems to be a coinage of the apostle Paul, directly referencing the law in LXX Leviticus. Thus it functions for Paul as a condemnation of male-male sexual behavior in 1 Cor. 6:9.

Lev. 18:22 LXX:

καὶ μετὰ ἄρσενος [arsenos] οὐ κοιμηθήσῃ κοίτην [koite] γυναικός βδέλυγμα γάρ ἐστιν

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↑ The law in Lev. 20:13 defines the civil punishment for the action, whereas Lev. 18:22 is purely a moral prohibition for which the Canaanites were being "vomited out of the land".
↑ BDAG 135 s.v. ἀρσενοκοίτης states, "a male who engages in sexual activity w. a pers. of his own sex"

[1] The law in Lev. 20:13 defines the civil punishment for the action, whereas Lev. 18:22 is purely a moral prohibition for which the Canaanites were being "vomited out of the land".

[2] BDAG 135 s.v. ἀρσενοκοίτης states, "a male who engages in sexual activity w. a pers. of his own sex"

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