Original Word: אֶתְנַן
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: ethnan
Pronunciation: et-nan
Phonetic Spelling: (eth-nan')
KJV: hire, reward
NASB: earnings, money, harlot's wages, hire, lovers
Word Origin: [the same as H866 (אֶתנָה - wages)]

1. a gift (as the price of harlotry or idolatry)

hire, reward

The same as 'ethnah; a gift (as the price of harlotry or idolatry) -- hire, reward.

see HEBREW 'ethnah

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
the wages (of a harlot)
NASB Translation
earnings (4), harlot's wages (2), hire (1), lovers (1), money (3).

Overview

The noun אֶתְנַן designates the payment received for sexual immorality, especially prostitution. Scripture employs the term to expose spiritual infidelity, condemn cultic prostitution, and contrast illicit gain with consecrated offerings. Its presence in legal, historical, and prophetic texts underscores the continuity of God’s moral standards from Torah through the prophets.

Hebrew Context and Cultural Setting

In the ancient Near East, prostitution frequently served both commercial and cultic ends. Pagan temples sanctioned ritual intercourse to secure fertility for land and people. Israel’s law thus prohibited dedicating such profits to Yahweh’s sanctuary (Deuteronomy 23:18), safeguarding worship from the contamination of Canaanite rites and affirming that the LORD requires holiness in both source and substance of offerings.

Canonical Distribution

Appearing eleven times, the word spans diverse genres:

• Torah: Deuteronomy 23:18
• Major Prophets: Isaiah 23:17, Isaiah 23:18; Ezekiel 16:31, Ezekiel 16:34, Ezekiel 16:41
• Minor Prophets: Hosea 9:1; Micah 1:7 (three occurrences within the verse)

The clustering in prophetic literature illustrates its potency as a metaphor for covenant violation.

Key Passages

Deuteronomy 23:18 – “You must not bring the wages of a prostitute or the earnings of a dog into the house of the LORD your God to pay any vow, because both are detestable to the LORD your God.”

The verse codifies an ethical boundary: offerings may not proceed from immoral activity. The juxtaposition of “prostitute” and “dog” (male prostitute) broadens the ban to every form of sexual commerce.

Isaiah 23:17-18 – After Tyre’s destruction the city “will commit prostitution with all the kingdoms of the world,” yet “her profit and her earnings will be holy to the LORD; they will not be stored or saved, for her profit will go to those who dwell before the LORD for abundant food and fine clothes.” God can turn even polluted gain into provision for His people once the source itself is purified through judgment, demonstrating sovereign redemption.

Ezekiel 16 – Jerusalem is pictured as an adulterous wife paying rather than receiving wages: “You built your mound at every street corner... Yet you were the opposite of other women in your prostitution; no one solicited you. Instead, you paid them, and you received no payment.” (Ezekiel 16:31, 34). The reversal magnifies Israel’s zeal for idolatry.

Micah 1:7 – “All her carved images will be smashed... Since she gathered wages from a prostitute, they will be used again for a prostitute.” Divine justice ensures that ill-gotten wealth is cyclically stripped away.

Theological Significance

1. Holiness of Worship: God rejects offerings whose origin contradicts His character. Economic exchanges reflect moral choices; unrighteous gain cannot sanctify itself by religious donation.
2. Covenant Fidelity: Sexual imagery conveys Israel’s spiritual adultery. Taking “wages” from idols reveals a heart that prefers false security over covenant love.
3. Divine Reversal: While unrighteous profit cannot bribe God, He can repurpose wealth once the sinner or nation is judged and restored, displaying both purity and grace.

Prophetic Symbolism

Prophets employ אֶתְנַן to dramatize Israel’s apostasy: paying lovers (idols, foreign nations) portrays active pursuit of compromise. The term exposes the futility of alliances and idolatries that promise prosperity but end in ruin. Its visceral connotation jolts the audience, compelling repentance.

Contrast with Legitimate Offerings

Unlike tithes, firstfruits, or freewill offerings—each rooted in gratitude and obedience—prostitution wages are inherently defiled. The sharp boundary guards the sanctuary from syncretism and teaches that the means of acquiring wealth are as important as the act of giving.

Ministry and Discipleship Applications

• Stewardship: Believers must evaluate income sources, ensuring integrity in business and personal finances before dedicating resources to ministry.
• Sexual Purity: The metaphor warns that private immorality undermines public worship. Discipleship must address both heart and habit.
• Mission to Exploitative Cultures: Modern forms of trafficking and commercialized sex echo ancient practices. The church is called to rescue victims, confront systems, and testify that Christ redeems every sphere, transforming even “wages” of shame into instruments of mercy when surrendered to Him.

Conclusion

אֶתְנַן serves as a sobering reminder that God examines the origin of our offerings and the loyalty of our hearts. Through law and prophecy alike, Scripture unites in declaring that holiness, not mere ritual, defines acceptable worship, while also revealing a Redeemer who can cleanse and consecrate all who return to Him.

אֶתְנַ֖ן אֶתְנַ֥ן אֶתְנַ֨ן אֶתְנַנֶּ֙יהָ֙ אֶתְנָ֔ן אֶתְנָ֗ן אֶתְנָֽן׃ אתנן אתנן׃ אתנניה וְאֶתְנַ֛ן וְאֶתְנַנָּ֗הּ ואתנן ואתננה לְאֶתְנַנָּ֑ה לאתננה מֵאֶתְנַ֤ן מאתנן ’eṯ·nan ’eṯ·nān ’eṯ·nan·ne·hā ’eṯnan ’eṯnān ’eṯnannehā etNan etnanNeiha lə’eṯnannāh lə·’eṯ·nan·nāh leetnanNah mê’eṯnan mê·’eṯ·nan meetNan veetNan veetnanNah wə’eṯnan wə’eṯnannāh wə·’eṯ·nan wə·’eṯ·nan·nāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts