Harlotry in the Bible

[Phidippides]

It seems that in various parts of the Bible (passages from Revelation recently made me think of this) that harlotry is used as the most negative kind of reference.  Why is this?  I understand why it is a generally negative reference in the first place, but it seems like it has a special connotation.

[Donald Baker]

It seems that in various parts of the Bible (passages from Revelation recently made me think of this) that harlotry is used as the most negative kind of reference.  Why is this?  I understand why it is a generally negative reference in the first place, but it seems like it has a special connotation.

I think it does because harlotry is where you rescind your loyalty and love and give it to someone else which taints the original loving relationship forever.  With God, Israel plays the harlot when she gets involved with the foreign gods of the people around her.  Idolatry and harlotry are one and the same to God.

[Phidippides]

Ok, actually that makes sense when viewed in light of infidelity.