Bible Verses About Masturbating

While masturbation is often considered taboo or sinful, there is scripture that can be interpreted for or against its Biblical acceptance.

The most famous passage occurs in the story of Onan, where a verse in Genesis seemingly refers to masturbating as a way to denigrate and dispose of one’s seed.

There are other verses that emphasize the importance of maintaining physical purity and control over one’s urges, which masturbation can sometimes violate.

Additional scripture puts forward the idea that sexual intimacy is intended to be shared between two people in a loving relationship, and masturbating may interfere with this ideal.

Overall, there seems to be a message in the Bible regarding masturbation: it is not inherently sinful or wrong, but it must be done mindfully and within certain moral boundaries.

Whether you are struggling with masturbation or simply wanting to better understand God’s perspective on it, there are many Bible verses with implications about masturbating that can provide guidance and wisdom.

Masturbation in the Bible

In the book of Genesis, we are told of a tragic tale involving Judah and his son-in-law Onan.

According to the passage in chapter 38, Judah made a deal with Onan: if Onan would sleep with his deceased brother’s wife as a replacement for his brother, then he would be allowed to have offspring with his own wife. However, instead of fulfilling this obligation, Onan chose to engage in masturbation.

He did this out of spite for his sister-in-law Tamar, who he thought was not worthy of having children. In the end, God punished Onan for his sin by making him die prematurely.

From this, we can assume that masturbation was both shameful and sinful in ancient times.

In 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, Paul gives us a powerful reminder that our bodies are not ours to do with as we please.

Instead, he exhorts us to use our bodies to serve and honor God. One particularly important way to do this, according to Paul’s passage, is by avoiding masturbation.

Clearly, masturbation goes against God’s design for our bodies – it involves subjecting ourselves to the desires of the flesh instead of controlling them and putting them under Christ’s authority.

Moreover, masturbation can become an unhealthy and habitual pattern that distracts us from more meaningful pursuits.

By choosing to abstain from masturbation and devote ourselves fully to God instead, we show him just how much we value his gift of our bodies and the life that he has given us through Christ.

The central message of Exodus 20:14 is that God forbade certain types of sexual behavior, including adultery.

If one holds to the definition of adultery being a sexual act committed outside of marriage then masturbation could be perceived as directly disobeying one of the 10 commandments.

According to the passage, these behaviors are condemned by God as sinful and intrinsically wrong.

While it may be tempting to indulge in such activities, the clear command of God makes it unequivocally clear that they should be avoided at all costs.

Romans 13:14 states that we should live our lives in accordance with the law. This means being mindful of our actions and behaviors, and avoiding things like masturbation, which are often seen as sinful or immoral.

While masturbation may be a personal choice that many people make, it is clear from the passage that this behavior is not aligned with God’s will for us.

By refraining from masturbation, we can focus on more positive, constructive activities instead and better honor God in our lives.

In Ephesians 5:3, the author encourages his readers to guard their hearts against the temptation of masturbation.

He warns that masturbation can be harmful both physically and spiritually, as it can weaken our moral resolve and lead us away from God. Instead, he urges us to seek out healthy and productive channels of expression for our sexual desires.

According to 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, Christians are called to maintain sexual purity in all aspects of their lives. One can surmise that this passage warns against masturbating as a “sexual immoral” and sinful act that is displeasing to God and may lead to detrimental consequences.

Whether you struggle with persistent urges to masturbate or has simply been tempted on occasion by illicit sexual images or fantasies, it is important to remember that seeking help through prayer and meditation can be a powerful way to overcome these temptations and find liberation from this bondage.

In Acts 13:10, we are told of the story of a certain man who was caught masturbating in public. This act was considered extremely shameful and impure by members of the community, as it brought shame upon both the individual and his family.

Many people argued that masturbating was an inherently sinful act, while others maintained that it stemmed from one’s impure thoughts and lustful nature. Despite these differing opinions, it is clear that masturbation was seen as a serious offense in this time period, and those who were caught masturbating were often subjected to harsh punishments.

Nevertheless, the man in our story ultimately escapes any serious consequences for his actions, illustrating that even in such a highly conservative society, there were moments of leniency and mercy.

In the end, then, Acts 13:10 serves as a reminder that even the most seemingly unforgivable acts can be forgiven if we turn to God with true humility and repentance.