Bible Verses

The Best 50+ Bible Verses About Sex Before Marriage

Created:
January 15, 2025
|
Updated:
January 29, 2025
|
Author:
Joseph Cox

Curious about what the Bible says on the topic of sex before marriage? You're not alone. Many people seek guidance from scripture to navigate this complex and often sensitive subject.

In this article, we'll explore a collection of Bible verses that offer insights and perspectives. Whether you're looking for clarity, wisdom, or simply a deeper understanding, these passages provide valuable context.

50 Bible Verses About Sex Before Marriage

10 Bible Verses on Sex Before Marriage Consequences

1 Corinthians 6:18
  • "Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body." — 1 Corinthians 6:18
  • "Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge." — Hebrews 13:4
  • "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." — Galatians 5:19-21
  • "But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;" — Ephesians 5:3
  • "Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." — Colossians 3:5
  • "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." — Revelation 21:8
  • "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God;" — 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
  • "Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; He who does so destroys his own soul." — Proverbs 6:32
  • "Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband." — 1 Corinthians 7:2
  • "Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due." — Romans 1:24-27

10 Bible Verses on Purity and Sex Before Marriage

1 Timothy 4:12
  • "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity." — 1 Timothy 4:12
  • "Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." — 2 Timothy 2:22
  • "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things." — Philippians 4:8
  • "But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.'" — 1 Peter 1:15-16
  • "How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word." — Psalm 119:9
  • "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." — Matthew 5:8
  • "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." — James 1:27
  • "And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." — 1 John 3:3
  • "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age." — Titus 2:11-12
  • "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life." — Proverbs 4:23

10 Bible Verses on Temptation and Sex Before Marriage

1 Corinthians 10:13
  • "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." — 1 Corinthians 10:13
  • "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death." — James 1:14-15
  • "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." — Matthew 26:41
  • "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." — Galatians 5:16
  • "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world." — 1 Peter 5:8-9
  • "Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." — 2 Corinthians 10:5
  • "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." — Romans 13:14
  • "Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, do not stray into her paths; for she has cast down many wounded, and all who were slain by her were strong men. Her house is the way to hell, descending to the chambers of death." — Proverbs 7:25-27
  • "And it came to pass after these things that his master's wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, 'Lie with me.' But he refused and said to his master's wife, 'Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?' So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her." — Genesis 39:7-10
  • "For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world." — 1 John 2:16

10 Bible Verses on Marriage Sanctity and Premarital Sex

Genesis 2:24
  • "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." — Genesis 2:24
  • "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." — Matthew 19:5-6
  • "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband." — Ephesians 5:31-33
  • "But from the beginning of the creation, God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." — Mark 10:6-9
  • "Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge." — Hebrews 13:4
  • "Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control." — 1 Corinthians 7:3-5
  • "Yet you say, 'For what reason?' Because the Lord has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously; yet she is your companion and your wife by covenant. But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth. 'For the Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce, for it covers one's garment with violence,' says the Lord of hosts. 'Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.'" — Malachi 2:14-16
  • "He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord." — Proverbs 18:22
  • "I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases." — Song of Solomon 8:4
  • "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken." — Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

10 Bible Verses on Abstinence and Sex Before Marriage

1 Corinthians 7:1-2
  • "Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband." — 1 Corinthians 7:1-2
  • "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor." — 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4
  • "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." — 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
  • "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." — Romans 12:1-2
  • "Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul." — 1 Peter 2:11
  • "But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." — 1 Corinthians 9:27
  • "And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." — Galatians 5:24
  • "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." — Colossians 3:2
  • "Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people's sins; keep yourself pure." — 1 Timothy 5:22
  • "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God." — Romans 6:12-13

What Does the Bible Say About Sex Before Marriage

The Bible offers a clear and consistent message about sex before marriage, emphasizing the importance of purity, self-control, and the sanctity of marriage. Verses like 1 Corinthians 6:18 and Hebrews 13:4 highlight the spiritual and physical consequences of sexual immorality, urging believers to honor their bodies and relationships. These teachings are not meant to condemn but to guide individuals towards a life that aligns with God's will.

Purity is a recurring theme, as seen in 1 Timothy 4:12 and Philippians 4:8, encouraging believers to lead lives that reflect their faith. The call to flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness (2 Timothy 2:22) serves as a reminder that maintaining purity is a continuous effort, supported by a community of like-minded individuals. This pursuit of purity is not just about avoiding sin but about embracing a lifestyle that honors God and oneself.

Temptation is a universal challenge, but the Bible reassures us that God provides a way to overcome it (1 Corinthians 10:13). By walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16) and staying vigilant (1 Peter 5:8-9), believers can resist the lure of premarital sex. The sanctity of marriage is underscored in Genesis 2:24 and Ephesians 5:31-33, portraying it as a divine union that should be respected and cherished. By adhering to these teachings, individuals can build relationships founded on love, respect, and spiritual integrity.

How to Apply Sex Before Marriage Bible Verses in Daily Life

Applying the teachings of sex before marriage in daily life involves intentional actions and mindful decisions. Start by setting personal boundaries that align with your values and beliefs. Communicate these boundaries clearly in your relationships to ensure mutual respect and understanding.

Engage in regular prayer and meditation to seek strength and guidance. Surround yourself with a supportive community that shares your commitment to purity and can offer encouragement and accountability.

  • Practice self-control by avoiding situations that may lead to temptation.
  • Focus on building emotional and spiritual connections rather than physical ones.
  • Study Bible verses regularly to reinforce your commitment and gain deeper insights.

Consider seeking mentorship from a trusted spiritual leader or counselor who can provide wisdom and support. Engage in activities that promote personal growth and fulfillment, reducing the focus on physical desires.

Remember, the journey towards purity is ongoing and requires continuous effort and dedication. Explore more prayers and Bible verses on PrayersFor or use our Bible Verse Generator to deepen your understanding and faith.

Start Your Day with Faith and Inspiration!
Sign up to receive a daily prayer and Bible verse straight to your inbox. Begin each morning with words of hope and guidance.
Thank you for subscribing! 🌟Coming soon!
Oops! Something went wrong, please try again.
OTHER RELATED PRAYERS & VERSES