5 Surprising Things the Bible Says About Sex

The Bible talks more openly about sex and relationships than many people realise. While we often hear about rules against adultery or premarital sex, some teachings might surprise or even shock us today. 

Here are five unexpected examples:

1. Polygamy Was AllowedThe Bible doesn’t clearly forbid having multiple wives. Famous figures like Abraham, Jacob, David, and Solomon had many wives—Solomon even had 700 wives and 300 concubines. Exodus 21:10 even gives instructions on treating multiple wives fairly. Later, the New Testament encourages having only one spouse, but polygamy was normal for many earlier Bible heroes.

2. Forced Marriage After AssaultOne troubling law in the Bible (Deuteronomy 22:28-29) required a man who assaulted an unmarried woman to marry her and pay her father. Back then, this law aimed to provide financial security to the victim, but today the idea is shocking and deeply upsetting.

3. Specific Rules About SemenLeviticus 15:16-18 gives detailed rules about semen. Men who experienced a discharge had to wash and were considered unclean until evening. Even married couples had to bathe after sex. This shows the strict cleanliness rules in ancient Israel.

4. Marrying a Brother-in-lawIn Deuteronomy 25:5-10, if a man died without children, his widow was supposed to marry his brother. This practice, called levirate marriage, was meant to keep property and family names intact. If the brother refused, the widow could publicly shame him. This rule highlights the limited rights women had back then.

5. Ruth’s Bold MoveThe story of Ruth and Boaz (Ruth 3:6-8) hints at premarital intimacy. Ruth secretly visits Boaz at night and “uncovers his feet,” which some interpret as a sign of intimacy. Instead of being punished, Ruth ends up marrying Boaz, and their family line eventually leads to King David.

The Bible’s Views on Sex Are ComplexThese examples show that the Bible’s ideas about sex aren’t always simple or clear-cut. They reflect the complicated social and cultural times in which they were written. So, next time someone says the Bible is straightforward about sex, remind them about these surprising stories.