What Does the Bible Say About Having Sex Before Marriage?

Hebrews 13:4 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

Matthew 5:28 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

1 John 1:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Ephesians 5:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.

Proverbs 16:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

Proverbs 5:18-19 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.

Exodus 21:22-25 ESV / 3 helpful votes

“When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman's husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

Genesis 2:24 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Revelation 22:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

James 5:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

James 4:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,

1 Thessalonians 4:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;

Colossians 3:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Galatians 5:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,

1 Corinthians 6:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.

1 Corinthians 6:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” ...

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,

Romans 8:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 6:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 3:23-24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Romans 1:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,

Jeremiah 1:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Isaiah 49:1-26 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name. He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God.” And now the Lord says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him— for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength— ...

Psalm 139:14-16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Psalm 139:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

Deuteronomy 25:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“When men fight with one another and the wife of the one draws near to rescue her husband from the hand of him who is beating him and puts out her hand and seizes him by the private parts,

Numbers 23:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

Exodus 32:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And the Lord relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.

Exodus 20:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“You shall not murder.

Exodus 20:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Genesis 9:5-6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.

Genesis 2:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

36 Bible Verses about Having Sex Before Marriage

Hebrews 13:4 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Matthew 5:28 ESV / 4 helpful votes

1 John 1:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Ephesians 5:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Proverbs 16:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Proverbs 5:18-19 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Exodus 21:22-25 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Genesis 2:24 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Revelation 22:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

James 5:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

James 4:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Thessalonians 4:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Colossians 3:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Galatians 5:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 6:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 6:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 6:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Romans 8:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Romans 6:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Romans 3:23-24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Romans 1:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Jeremiah 1:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Isaiah 49:1-26 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Psalm 139:14-16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Psalm 139:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Deuteronomy 25:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Numbers 23:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Exodus 32:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Exodus 20:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Exodus 20:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Genesis 9:5-6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Genesis 2:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Suggest a Verse

Enter a Verse Reference (e.g., John 3:16-17)

36 Bible Verses about Having Sex Before Marriage

Hebrews 13:4 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:28 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 1:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 16:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 5:18-19 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Exodus 21:22-25 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 2:24 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 22:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 5:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 4:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Thessalonians 4:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 3:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 5:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 6:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 6:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 6:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 8:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 6:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 3:23-24 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 1:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jeremiah 1:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 49:1-26 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 139:14-16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 139:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Deuteronomy 25:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Numbers 23:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Exodus 32:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Exodus 20:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Exodus 20:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 9:5-6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 2:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Suggest a Verse

Enter a Verse Reference (e.g., John 3:16-17)

Hebrews 13:4 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Matthew 5:28 ESV / 4 helpful votes

1 John 1:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Ephesians 5:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Proverbs 16:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Proverbs 5:18-19 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Exodus 21:22-25 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Genesis 2:24 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Revelation 22:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

James 5:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

James 4:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Thessalonians 4:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Colossians 3:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Galatians 5:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 6:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 6:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 6:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Romans 8:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Romans 6:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Romans 3:23-24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Romans 1:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Jeremiah 1:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Isaiah 49:1-26 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Psalm 139:14-16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Psalm 139:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Deuteronomy 25:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Numbers 23:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Exodus 32:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Exodus 20:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Exodus 20:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Genesis 9:5-6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Genesis 2:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes