Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Marital Sex?
12 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Marital Sex in the Bible
What does the Bible say about marital sex? Browse 20 carefully selected verses that illuminate this biblical theme.
Top 10 Verses About Marital Sex
- 1Genesis 1:28
“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. moveth: Heb. creepeth”
KJV - 2Genesis 2:24
“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
KJV - 3
- 4Leviticus 15:16
“And if any man's seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even.”
KJV - 5Deuteronomy 22:28
“If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found;”
KJV - 6Proverbs 3:27
“Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. them: Heb. the owners thereof”
KJV - 7
- 8Matthew 5:28
“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”
KJV - 9Galatians 5:16
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. ye: or, fulfil not”
KJV - 10Ephesians 5:33
“Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Marital Sex? (7 Verses)
“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. moveth: Heb. creepeth”
“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
“And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.”
“And if any man's seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even.”
“If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found;”
“Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. them: Heb. the owners thereof”
“Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Marital Sex? (5 Verses)
“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. ye: or, fulfil not”
“Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
“Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Marital Sex
- 1
Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.
- 2
Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about marital sex. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
- 3
Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.
- 4
Memorise at least one key verse about marital sex and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.
Practical Application
Studying what the Bible says about marital sex is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:
Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on marital sex needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about marital sex with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.
Pray through the key verses about marital sex, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.
How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Marital Sex?
You have studied 12 verses about marital sex. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.