Virginity is a topic addressed from numerous perspectives within the Bible, encompassing both physical and spiritual dimensions. The Bible presents virginity as a state of being, a choice and notably, it also symbolizes purity and dedication specially emphasized in references to the church as the bride of Christ. This summary will sift through the biblical discussions about virginity disclosing a profound and nuanced spiritual understanding.
What Does the Bible Communicate About Physical Virginity?
Within the Bible, physical virginity, particularly, is seen as a quality of profound significance. It indicates the purity and innocence of a person who has not engaged in sexual activity. In both Old and New Testaments, it is highlighted how highly virginity was valued in a cultural and societal context. For instance, in the Hebrew tradition, a woman’s virginity had implications for her marriage, her relations with her spouse and her family’s honor. This cultural attitude towards virginity underscores the Bible’s stance on pre marital sexual purity encouraging devout individuals to maintain their virginity until marriage.
Where Do We Find Spiritual Virginity in the Bible?
Spiritual virginity, however, expands beyond the physical. The Bible often uses the concept of virginity to illustrate spiritual purity and sanctity, presenting the Christian church as a virgin bride ready for her spiritual groom – Christ. It indicates a state of being uncontaminated from the spiritual adulteration of this world, a symbol for those who have preserved themselves from the perversion of false doctrines and sin. References to spiritual virginity are not constrained by gender or marital status but are available to all who choose to dedicate themselves to God and His teachings with an unsullied heart and mind.
Why Does the Bible Emphasize Virginity as Purity and Dedication?
The Bible employs the term “virginity” partly as a metaphor for purity and dedication. These qualities are seen as paramount in a believer’s personal relationship with God. Virginity in this biblical discourse stands for a state of psychic cleanliness, a life unblemished by immorality and undue worldly influences. The Bible employs this metaphor as a call for believers to aspire towards moral purity and singular devotion to righteous living, implying that such dedication makes one suitable for the Kingdom of God. This allegorical use of virginity detracts from the physical realm into the spiritual, directing attention to committed living according to God’s commandments.
Who Is Impacted by the Biblical Teachings on Virginity?
All individuals who adhere to the Christian faith are impacted by the Bible’s teachings on virginity. The emphasis on both physical and spiritual virginity potentially guides a believer’s behavior, attitudes, and decision-making. Those who commit to uphold these teachings may choose to maintain their physical virginity until marriage and aspire to reach spiritual purity and dedication. These principles are applicable regardless of one’s age, gender or societal standing hence underlining the universal influence of these teachings within the Christian community. Interpretations of these teachings may vary but the broad principles of purity and dedication remain as pillars in the faith.
When Is the Concept of Virginity Introduced in the Bible?
The concept of virginity is introduced early in the Bible primarily in the context of marriage in the Old Testament. Over time it gains expanded and deeper connotations. From the narrative of Queen Esther who was chosen for her beauty and virginity, to the story of Mary the mother of Jesus, who conceived while maintaining her virginity – the theme of virginity is chronicled throughout the Bible. The concept is further evolved in the New Testament, with references to the church as the virgin bride of Christ, demonstrating that virginity—in its physical and metaphorical manifestations—is an enduring and multifaceted theme throughout the biblical text.
Below is the full list of bible verses on virginity (King James Version – KJV). The list is ranked in order of popularity and we hope you find the inspiration you need.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Virginity
Genesis 2:24
“24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
Related Themes: Marriage Dating Respecting Your Parents Fidelity Family
Hebrews 13:4
“4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”
1 Corinthians 7:2
“2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.”
Related Themes: Dating Adultery Marriage Lust Abstinence
1 Corinthians 7:8-9
“8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.”
Related Themes: Promiscuity
1 Thessalonians 4:3-8
“3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.”
1 Corinthians 6:18-20
“18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
Revelation 14:4
“4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.”
Deuteronomy 22:13-21
“13 If any man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her,14 And give occasions of speech against her, and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid:15 Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel’s virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate:16 And the damsel’s father shall say unto the elders, I gave my daughter unto this man to wife, and he hateth her;17 And, lo, he hath given occasions of speech against her, saying, I found not thy daughter a maid; and yet these are the tokens of my daughter’s virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city.18 And the elders of that city shall take that man and chastise him;19 And they shall amerce him in an hundred shekels of silver, and give them unto the father of the damsel, because he hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin of Israel: and she shall be his wife; he may not put her away all his days.20 But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel:21 Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father’s house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
“9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
Related Themes: Lust Abomination Lust Abomination
Mark 10:6-8
“6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.”
Related Themes: Earth Marriage Abomination Creativity Family
Romans 12:1-2
“1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
1 Corinthians 7:32-35
“32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.”
Exodus 22:16-17
“16 And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.17 If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.”
Related Themes: Marriage
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
“3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:”
2 Corinthians 11:2
“2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”
Related Themes: Impurity Holiness Envy And Jealousy Purity
Matthew 1:23
“23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
Related Themes: Omnipresence
1 Corinthians 6:18
“18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.”
Isaiah 7:14
“14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
Related Themes: Omnipotence
Deuteronomy 22:21
“21 Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father’s house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you.”
Deuteronomy 22:28-29
“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;29 Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.”
Esther 2:2
“2 Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:”
Judges 19:24
“24 Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing.”
1 Corinthians 7:9
“9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.”
Related Themes: Lust Self-Control Indulgence Marriage Self Destruction
Matthew 5:28
“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.”
Deuteronomy 22:15
“15 Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel’s virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate:”
1 Thessalonians 4:3
“3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:”
Deuteronomy 22:20
“20 But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel:”
1 Corinthians 6:20
“20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
Related Themes: Lust Holiness Self Respect Health Redemption
Matthew 13:55-56
“55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?”
