1 Corinthians 6:16 (KJV)

What does 1 Corinthians 6:16 mean?

In 1 Corinthians 6:16, Paul says that sex with a prostitute joins two people as “one body.” He supports that statement with the words “two … shall be one flesh,” treating sexual union as a real joining of persons rather than a casual act involving only separate bodies.

Paul’s question follows his warning in verse 15 about joining parts of Christ’s body to a prostitute. The quoted words come from Genesis 2:24, where they describe a man and his wife becoming “one flesh.” Paul brings those words into his discussion of sex with a prostitute.

The Greek behind 1 Corinthians 6:16

• “joined” — κολλάω (kollaō): The word carries the sense of sticking or joining closely. It gives Paul’s picture of union a sense of close attachment.
• “harlot” — πόρνη (pornē): The word refers to a prostitute, a woman who has sex for payment. Paul’s example concerns a sexual encounter with such a woman.

Why 1 Corinthians 6:16 matters

• Paul draws his point from an earlier Bible passage. The words “two … shall be one flesh” echo Genesis 2:24, giving his readers a familiar description of human union.
• The question belongs to Paul’s discussion of sexual conduct and the body. In verse 18, Paul tells the Corinthians to flee sexual immorality; verse 16 supplies part of his reason by emphasizing the joining that takes place.