For a Christian, the Bible provides direct access to the word of God. So, it is natural to look to it for guidance in not only spiritual matters but also everyday life. Particularly, the Bible’s teachings on sexuality are valuable to help us navigate our world that is full of temptations.
The Bible is very clear about sex as the divinely ordained spiritual component of marriage. It approves and encourages enjoyment in the marital bed. But it is equally scornful of adultery and lust outside the confines of marriage. They are considered a sin, along with other acts of sexual promiscuity.
But, if you look for what does the Bible says about masturbation, you won’t find similar clear answers. So, the issue is open for interpretation. But you can rely on interpretations of many Bible verses to get an understanding of how a Christian should view masturbation.
Is Masturbation a Sin?
The Bible does not explicitly mention masturbation as a sin. This fact is a key point of contention for classifying masturbation as a sin.
In case of acts such as adultery and theft, the Bible verses specifically mention their sinful nature. But, for masturbation, no such verse exists. So, people often argue that if masturbation were a sin, then the Bible would have forbidden it.
However, moral frameworks of the Bible not only operate in explicit directions. The Bible verses often contain broader directions that have to be interpreted for guidance in case of masturbation. So, the absence of explicit prohibition does not mean permissibility for the act.
When we examine what does the bible say about masturbation, there are a couple of relevant passages to help us interpret its sinful nature –
Matthew 5:28
28 – “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Jesus has told us that lust is a sin – both in act and in intention. Lustful thoughts and masturbation animate the urge to masturbate. And masturbation will also lead to more lustful thoughts. So, the above Bible passage is often quoted to classify masturbation as a sin.
The Apostle Paul urges the believers in Corinthians 6:18 to “flee from sexual immorality.” He uses the specific word porneia, which refers to a broad range of sexual sins. Masturbation is not explicitly associated with the word porneia. But, as it is a sexual act outside marriage, masturbation could be considered sexual immorality and, therefore, a sin.
What Does The Bible Say About Masturbation?
While there is no direct condemnation of masturbation in the Bible, it has many relevant passages that can be interpreted to understand the view about the act. So, to understand what the bible says about masturbation, we have to examine the following Bible verses –
Genesis 38:9-10
“But Onan knew that the child would not be his, so whenever he had intercourse with his brother’s wife, he spilled it on the ground, to keep from giving offspring to his brother. What he did was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death also.”
This passage speaks about Onan, the son of Judas. He was obligated under the Levirate law to father children with his brother’s widow. But, such offspring would not be considered as his heir.
So, Onan avoided impregnating her by spilling his seed on the ground during intercourse. In the Lord’s sight, this was a wicked act. So, he put Onan to death.
Onan’s act of ‘spilling his seed on the ground’ is interpreted as masturbation or self-pleasure. So, God’s displeasure with the act is often equated to God’s disapproval of masturbation.
Historically, the word ‘Onanism’ was even used to refer to masturbation.
But, a key point to keep in mind is that Onan’s act was not that of self-stimulation. His sin was that of refusing the obligation to secure his dead brother’s lineage.
Leviticus 15:16-18
“When a man has an emission of semen, he must bathe his whole body with water, and he will be unclean till evening. Any clothing or leather that has semen on it must be washed with water, and it will be unclean till evening. If a man lies with a woman and has an emission of semen, both of them shall bathe themselves in water and be unclean until the evening.”
Deuteronomy 23:10-11
“If one of your men is unclean because of a nocturnal emission, he is to go outside the camp and stay there. But as evening approaches, he is to wash himself, and at sunset, he may return to the camp.”
These two Bible verses talk about the ritual uncleanness of seminal emission. This interpretation of ritual uncleanness extends to even seminal emission during marital intercourse. According to the Old Testament, ritual uncleanness referred to ceremonial purity rather than a mortal sin. So they do not have a negative judgment.
Christians believe that the New Covenant (established by Jesus Christ) supersedes the Old Testament. So, practices of ritual purity are usually seen within their historical context and not as a condemnation of masturbation.
Is Masturbation Selfish According to the Bible?
If you look at what the Bible says about masturbation being selfish, you will not find a direct answer. However, some passages are relevant to the selfishness of the act.
1 Corinthians 7:4 says, “The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise, the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.”
1 Corinthians 7:2 – “Each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.”
According to the Bible, your sexuality is designed for marriage and serving a spouse. So, as masturbation is an act outside of marital sexual relations, you can interpret it as selfish and self-gratifying.
In Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus says that we should love God with all our body, mind, and soul. But masturbation is self-centered and seeks indulgence of momentary gratification. So, the act is a deviation from God’s direction. Masturbation also reduces the other person to a mere object. So, it goes against the commandment to love others as we love ourselves.
Are Christians Allowed to Masturbate according to the Bible?
The Bible does not directly prohibit anyone from masturbation as it does in the case of adultery. At the same time, neither does it explicitly allow or encourage masturbation. So, Christians have to rely on God’s words about sex, immorality, and sin for direction about what the bible says about masturbation.
For instance, sex is a sacred part of God’s joyful design for marriage. As masturbation is outside of marriage, it is a violation of the spouse’s right to your body. So, one can conclude that for a Christian, the Bible does not allow masturbation.
Masturbation: God’s Thoughts vs. Your Thoughts
When you look at what the Bible says about masturbation to understand God’s thoughts, you will not find direct prohibition. But God is specific about sexual intimacy as a divinely ordained and spiritual part of marital relationships. The Bible expressly prohibits sex outside of marriage as a sin and adultery.
Intrusive sexual thoughts and masturbation can feel normal to you. After all, advertising, social media, and a lot of our online content normalize sexual desire. Masturbation is also considered a healthy practice. But your thoughts on masturbation may not be in line with God’s thoughts on masturbation.
When you consider God’s view on marriage and sex, you can not help but see that masturbation is at odds with God’s word.
FAQ on What Does The Bible Say About Masturbation?
1. Is masturbation mentioned in the Bible?
Ans. No. The Bible does not explicitly mention masturbation. However, it does contain references to acts of ejaculation that are not part of sexual intercourse.
For instance, consider the case of Onan, who ‘spilled his seed to the ground.’ His act was not about self-pleasure. But, historically, masturbation was referred to as Onanism due to this association.
The Old Testament of the Bible also speaks about seminal emissions. These discharges were considered impure and required ritual cleansing. But they are not mentioned as a sin or do not have a negative moral judgment in the eyes of the Bible.
2. Is maturation a sin according to the bible
Ans. When you look for what the Bible says about masturbation, you will not find it referenced as a sin. In case of adultery and theft, etc., the Bible is explicit about the sinful and immoral nature of those acts. So, to understand the sinful nature of masturbation, we have to examine a couple of interpretations.
God striking Onan (the son of Judas) dead for spilling his seed during intercourse is often quoted as proof of masturbation’s sinful nature. But Onan’s offense was defying his obligation to impregnate his brother’s wife. His act was not self-stimulatory.
There are Bible passages in the Old Testament that prescribe purification practices in case of seminal discharge. But, those refer to ritual purification practices rather than the atonement of sin.
3. What does the Bible say about self-pleasure?
The Bible does not explicitly mention anything about self-pleasure. It is a grey area open for interpretation. We have to draw our conclusions based on what the Bible says about sexuality and other virtues.
For instance, the Bible says that sexual intimacy should only be part of the marital bed. It holds that spouses should have sexual relations only with each other. Your spouse owns your body, and you are the owner of your spouse’s body.
But self-pleasure excludes your wife or husband. So, it violates that basic commandment of the Bible. Self-pleasure is also self-centered. It focuses on your own gratification. So, it violates God’s commandment to love others as you love yourself.