In light of what Paul is going to say in verse 4, it is important that he bring in the idea of another man in verse 3. If she lives with (so also Revised Standard Version) is perhaps the best way to render the expression Paul uses here (literally “if she becomes another man’s”). The New English Bible expresses the same thought with a different level of language (“if … she consorts with another man”), while the New American Bible and Jerusalem Bible have “if she gives herself to another.” It may be pressing Paul’s meaning too far to say “if she marries another man” (An American Translation*), although the phrase that the Good News Translation translates if she lives with another man is the same as that translated if she marries another man later in this same verse.

If she lives with another man is most usually translated simply as “if she has relations with another man” or “if she sleeps with another man,” as a specific indication of sexual relations. One can also employ an expression such as “if she goes to live with another man” or “… goes and stays with another man.”

There are terms for an adulteress in nearly all languages, but in some instances the expression may be highly idiomatic—for example, “she becomes a dog,” “she opens herself,” or “she goes from door to door.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .