זָנָה zanah (H2181) literally means to be spread abroad. זָנָה zanah comes from the root זָנ zan (H2177, H2178) which means “different kinds” when referring to a storehouse (cf. Psalms 144:13), ointments (cf. 2 Chronicles 16:14), and music (cf. Daniel 3:7). זָנָה zanah is also connected with the word זִין ziyn (H2109, H2110) which means to feed on grain (cf. Jeremiah 5:8), fruit from trees (cf. Daniel 4:12), or food harvested from the crops or flock. Thus, fornication according in a Hebraic sense can mean a person who spreads themselves abroad with various sexual activities in order to be fed. Some Bible dictionaries define זָנָה zanah to mean a person who is highly-fed and therefore wanton (sexually unrestrained or having many casual sexual relationships).
In Greek, πορνείας porneías (G4202) means to prostitute one’s body to the lust of another; to give one’s self to unlawful sexual intercourse. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word pornography is from porne (G4204) “prostitute or harlot” who was originally bought or purchased + graphein (G1125) meaning “to write.” So, by definition, pornography is activity (writing or pictures or films etc.) of no literary or artistic value other than to stimulate sexual desire. During ancient times, pornography was obscene paintings, especially in temples of Bacchus, the pagan Greek god of the grape-harvest, winemaking and wine, of fertility, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, festivity and theatre. The Greek word porneías is most often translated as “fornication” and modernly defined as sexual intercourse between people not married to each other. πόρνη porne (G4204) metaphorically means to be given to idolatry, to worship idols; to permit one’s self to be drawn away by another into idolatry.
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