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Sex in the Bible
Take a deeper
look at these surprisingly sensual Scripture verses.
By Sam O’Neal
It always surprises me when
people label the Bible as prudish or anti-sex.
After
all, the Scriptures start out with two naked people living in a garden under
the command to "be fruitful and
multiply."
Abraham spent most of his
senior years attempting to conceive a child with his wife, Sarah.
And
later, Jacob worked for more than 14 years simply because he was desperate to
marry Rachel -- the Scriptures say those years "seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for
her."
The Bible is filled with both
romance and sex!
In my opinion, the sexiest
moment in God's Word occurs in the seventh chapter of Song of Songs, also known
as Song of Solomon.
Let's take a deeper look:
1 How
beautiful are your sandaled feet, princess!
The curves of your thighs are like jewelry,
the handiwork of a master.
The curves of your thighs are like jewelry,
the handiwork of a master.
2 Your
navel is a rounded bowl;
it never lacks mixed wine.
Your waist is a mound of wheat
surrounded by lilies.
it never lacks mixed wine.
Your waist is a mound of wheat
surrounded by lilies.
3 Your
breasts are like two fawns,
twins of a gazelle. Song of Songs 7:1-3
twins of a gazelle. Song of Songs 7:1-3
See what I mean? In these
verses, King Solomon is praising his new bride.
His words are a response to
her elaborate praise of him, including different parts of his body and
personality, in chapter 5.
Notice the intimacy of
Solomon's praise. He mentions her thighs, her navel, her waist, and her
breasts. And he was just getting warmed up!
4 Your
neck is like a tower of ivory,
your eyes like pools in Heshbon
by the gate of Bath-rabbim.
Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon
looking toward Damascus.
your eyes like pools in Heshbon
by the gate of Bath-rabbim.
Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon
looking toward Damascus.
5 Your
head crowns you like Mount Carmel,
the hair of your head like purple cloth—
a king could be held captive in your tresses.
the hair of your head like purple cloth—
a king could be held captive in your tresses.
6 How
beautiful you are and how pleasant,
my love, with such delights!
my love, with such delights!
7 Your
stature is like a palm tree;
your breasts are clusters of fruit.
your breasts are clusters of fruit.
8 I
said, “I will climb the palm tree
and take hold of its fruit.”
May your breasts be like clusters of grapes,
and the fragrance of your breath like apricots.Song of Songs 7:4-8
and take hold of its fruit.”
May your breasts be like clusters of grapes,
and the fragrance of your breath like apricots.Song of Songs 7:4-8
Solomon switches gears in
verses 7-8.
After
comparing her stature to a palm tree and her breasts to clusters of fruit, he
says: "I will climb the palm tree
and take hold of its fruit."
He is declaring his
intentions. He wants to make love with his bride.
And she responds. Take note
of the next section:
9 Your
mouth is like fine wine—
W flowing smoothly for my love,
gliding past my lips and teeth!
W flowing smoothly for my love,
gliding past my lips and teeth!
10 I
belong to my love,
and his desire is for me. Song of Songs 7:9-10
and his desire is for me. Song of Songs 7:9-10
Solomon is the one speaking
at the beginning of verse 9, but then it shifts.
The "W" indicates
where his wife interrupts, completing his sentence and echoing his desire.
They are both talking about mouths
coming together, flowing like wine past lips and teeth. The act of physical
love has begun.
Starting with verse 11, the
bride shares her own thoughts on their experience of making love:
11 Come,
my love,
let’s go to the field;
let’s spend the night among the henna blossoms.
let’s go to the field;
let’s spend the night among the henna blossoms.
12 Let’s
go early to the vineyards;
let’s see if the vine has budded,
if the blossom has opened,
if the pomegranates are in bloom.
There I will give you my love.
let’s see if the vine has budded,
if the blossom has opened,
if the pomegranates are in bloom.
There I will give you my love.
13 The
mandrakes give off a fragrance,
and at our doors is every delicacy—
new as well as old.
I have treasured them up for you, my love.Song of Songs 7:11-13
and at our doors is every delicacy—
new as well as old.
I have treasured them up for you, my love.Song of Songs 7:11-13
The imagery contained in
these verses is not subtle. The lovers spend the night among flowers that are
blooming and blossoms that are opening.
The bride sings about
pomegranates, which are swollen and red when ripe, and about mandrakes, which
were considered the strongest aphrodisiac in the ancient world.
The same ideas are carried in
the picture of "our doors" opening to every delicacy.
This is a night of making
love.
It's important to understand
this isn't their first sexual encounter together.
We know that because we've
already seen their honeymoon in chapter 4.
So, this is a picture of
married people making love in the way God intended -- treasuring each other and
enjoying each other in ways "new as well as old."
Sam O'Neal is a professional writer and editor
with a life-long passion for and appreciation of the Bible. Sam is coauthor
of The Bible Answer Book and Managing Editor of The Quest Study Bible (3rd edition).
Experience
Currently a Content Editor with LifeWay
Christian Resources, Sam O'Neal has also worked for Christianity Today and
Wheaton College. Sam is an experienced writer who has authored or coauthored a
number of books, including:
Education
Sam graduated from Wheaton College in 2002
with a B.A. in English Literature. He is currently pursuing a Masters of
Christian Studies from Union University in Hendersonville, TN.
Sam O'Neal
I love the Bible. It's not only the
best-selling and most-influential book in human history, but the Bible has
literally changed my life as I've sought to honor God and live according to His
principles.
I hope you're excited about the Bible as well.
Sure, the Bible is a little intimidating; it can even seem overwhelming for all
of us at times, myself included. But it's worth it. Please join me as we seek
to engage, explore, and apply the life-changing truths of God's Word.
If you have any questions or comments, please
feel free to email me here
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