Topical Encyclopedia
Intercourse, within the context of the Bible, primarily refers to the physical union between a man and a woman. This act is designed by God to occur within the bounds of marriage, serving both procreative and unitive purposes. The Bible provides numerous references and teachings regarding intercourse, emphasizing its sanctity and the moral framework within which it should occur.
Biblical FoundationsThe concept of intercourse is first introduced in the creation narrative.
Genesis 1:28 states, "God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it.'" This command underscores the procreative purpose of intercourse, as part of God's design for humanity to populate the earth.
In
Genesis 2:24 , the institution of marriage is established: "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." The phrase "one flesh" is often interpreted as a reference to the physical and spiritual union achieved through intercourse, highlighting its role in the marital bond.
Moral and Ethical ConsiderationsThe Bible sets clear boundaries for sexual conduct, reserving intercourse for the marriage relationship. In
Exodus 20:14 , the commandment "You shall not commit adultery" underscores the exclusivity of the marital bond. Adultery, fornication, and other forms of sexual immorality are consistently condemned throughout Scripture.
The New Testament reiterates these principles. In
1 Corinthians 6:18-20 , Paul writes, "Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body." This passage emphasizes the sanctity of the body and the importance of honoring God through sexual purity.
Intercourse as a GiftWithin marriage, intercourse is portrayed as a gift from God, intended to strengthen the bond between husband and wife. The Song of Solomon celebrates the beauty and joy of marital love, using poetic language to describe the intimacy shared between a bride and groom.
Proverbs 5:18-19 encourages marital fidelity and delight: "May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful fawn—may her breasts satisfy you always; may you be captivated by her love forever." This passage highlights the joy and satisfaction found in the exclusive marital relationship.
Warnings and ConsequencesThe Bible also warns of the consequences of engaging in intercourse outside of God's ordained boundaries. In
Hebrews 13:4 , it is written, "Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers." This serves as a reminder of the divine judgment that accompanies sexual sin.
The account of David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11) illustrates the destructive power of adultery, leading to personal and familial turmoil. Similarly, the account of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19) serves as a stark warning against sexual immorality and its societal consequences.
Redemption and RestorationDespite the seriousness of sexual sin, the Bible offers hope for redemption and restoration. In
John 8:11 , Jesus tells the woman caught in adultery, "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more." This demonstrates God's willingness to forgive and restore those who repent and turn away from sin.
1 Corinthians 6:11 provides further assurance: "And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." This passage highlights the transformative power of God's grace for those who seek forgiveness and strive to live according to His commandments.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
n.) A commingling; intimate connection or dealings between persons or nations, as in common affairs and civilities, in correspondence or trade; communication; commerce; especially, interchange of thought and feeling; association; communion.
Greek
3657. homilia -- company, association... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: homilia Phonetic Spelling:
(hom-il-ee'-ah) Short Definition:
intercourse, companionship, conversation Definition
...3352. metoche -- sharing
... fellowship. From metecho; participation, ieIntercourse -- fellowship. see GREEK
metecho. (metoche) -- 1 Occurrence. 3351, 3352. metoche. 3353 ....
2845. koite -- a bed
... koite Phonetic Spelling: (koy'-tay) Short Definition: a bed, marriage bed Definition:
(a) a bed, (b) a marriage bed; plur: repeated (immoral) sexualintercourse...
642. aporphanizo -- to be bereaved
... to make an orphan of. From apo and a derivative of orphanos; to bereave wholly,
ie (figuratively) separate (fromintercourse) -- take. see GREEK apo....
2853. kollao -- to glue, unite
... glue); hence: mid. and pass: I join myself closely, cleave, adhere (to),
I keep company (with), of friendlyintercourse. 2853 (from...
4561. sarx -- flesh
... Indeed, it is used positively in relation to sexualintercourse in marriage (Eph
5:31) -- as well as for the sinless human body of Jesus (Jn 1:14; 1 Jn 4:2,3...
5540. chresis -- use (as in a sexual sense)
... use. From chraomai; employment, ie (specially), sexualintercourse (as an occupation
of the body) -- use. see GREEK chraomai. (chresin) -- 2 Occurrences....
4798. sugchraomai -- to use together with, fig. to associate with
... associate, have dealings with. From sun and chraomai; to use jointly, ie (by
implication) to holdintercourse in common -- have dealings with. see GREEK sun....
2842. koinonia -- fellowship
... From koinonos; partnership, ie (literally) participation, or (social)intercourse,
or (pecuniary) benefaction -- (to) communicate(-ation), communion, (contri...
4327. prosdechomai -- to receive to oneself
... From pros and dechomai; to admit (tointercourse, hospitality, credence, or
(figuratively) endurance); by implication, to await (with confidence or patience...
Strong's Hebrew
7903. shekobeth -- copulation... 7902, 7903. shekobeth. 7904 . copulation. Transliteration: shekobeth Phonetic
Spelling: (shek-o'-beth) Short Definition:
intercourse.
...4904. mishkab -- place of lying, a couch, act of lying
... From shakab; a bed (figuratively, a bier); abstractly, sleep; by euphemism, carnal
intercourse -- bed((-chamber)), couch, lieth (lying) with. see HEBREW shakab....
7902. shekabah -- (act of) lying, a layer
... Word Origin from shakab Definition (act of) lying, a layer NASB Word Usage carnally*
(1), emission (5),intercourse* (1), layer (2), seminal* (1)....
2233. zera -- a sowing, seed, offspring
... Word Usage carnally* (1), child (1), children (3), descendant (3), descendants
(105), descent (1), family (6), fertile (1), grain (3),intercourse* (2), line (...
Library
Whether UnlawfulIntercourse Causes Affinity?
... OF THE IMPEDIMENT OF AFFINITY (ELEVEN ARTICLES) Whether unlawfulintercourse
causes affinity? Objection 1: It would seem that unlawful...
Whether CarnalIntercourse is an Integral Part of this Sacrament?
... OF MATRIMONY AS A SACRAMENT (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether carnalintercourse is
an integral part of this sacrament? Objection 1: It would...
TheIntercourse of God and his Friend
... GENESIS THEINTERCOURSE OF GOD AND HIS FRIEND. II.... The tone of Abraham's intercession
may teach us how familiar theintercourse with the Heavenly Friend may be....
(Of those who haveIntercourse with Excommunicated Persons, or...
... The Second Epistle. II. (Of those who haveintercourse with excommunicated persons,
or with unbelievers.). Those, too, who are excommunicated...
Whether CarnalIntercourse after Consent Expressed in Words of the...
... OF THE CONSENT TO WHICH AN OATH OR CARNALINTERCOURSE IS APPENDED (TWO ARTICLES)
Whether carnalintercourse after consent expressed in words of the future...
Intercourse of Jesus with the Pagans and the Samaritans.
... CHAPTER XIV.INTERCOURSE OF JESUS WITH THE PAGANS AND THE SAMARITANS. Following
out these principles, Jesus despised all religion which was not of the heart....
Intercourse with Barnabas.
... Book I. Chapter X."Intercourse with Barnabas. While I was urging these
and similar arguments, a great excitement was stirred up...
Intercourse of Sulpitius with Martin.
... Sulpitius Severus On the Life of St. Martin. Chapter XXV.Intercourse of Sulpitius
with Martin. For since I, having long heard accounts...
Thirdly, of ConjugalIntercourse.
... A Treatise against two letters of the pelagians, Chapter 31."Thirdly, of
ConjugalIntercourse. "We say," says he, "that the sexual...
That no one Should haveIntercourse with those with whom the...
... The Epistle of Pope Urban First. V. That no one should haveintercourse with those
with whom the bishop has nointercourse, or receive those whom he rejects....
Thesaurus
Intercourse (6 Occurrences)... communion. Multi-Version Concordance
Intercourse (6 Occurrences). John
... woman?
for Jews have no
intercourse with Samaritans. (DBY). Leviticus
...Adultery (49 Occurrences)
... Conjugal infidelity. An adulterer was a man who had illicitintercourse with a married
or a betrothed woman, and such a woman was an adulteress....
Conversation (30 Occurrences)
... Generally the goings out and in of socialintercourse (Ephesians 2:3; 4:22;
RV, "manner of life"); one's deportment or course of life....
Commerce (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Socialintercourse; the dealings of one person or class in society
with another; familiarity. 3. (n.) Sexualintercourse....
Quarantine (3 Occurrences)
... days, during which a ship arriving in port, and suspected of being infected a malignant
contagious disease, is obliged to forbear allintercourse with the shore...
Converse (5 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To keep company; to hold intimateintercourse; to commune; -- followed by
with.... 4. (n.) Frequentintercourse; familiar communion; intimate association....
Gentiles (150 Occurrences)
... and were to be treated almost on a plane of equality, except certain tribes in Canaan
with regard to whom there were special regulations of non-intercourse....
Whore (14 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) To have unlawful sexualintercourse; to practice lewdness.... 4. (vt) To corrupt
by lewdintercourse; to make a whore of; to debauch. Int....
Fornication (52 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Unlawful sexualintercourse on the part of an unmarried person; the act
of such illicit sexualintercourse between a man and a woman as does not by law...
Tahpanhes (7 Occurrences)
... Especially between 607-587 BC a constantintercourse with the Greek settlers must
have been going on and a widerintercourse than even a Greek colony in...
Resources
What constitutes marriage according to the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about oral sex? | GotQuestions.orgHow far is too far? | GotQuestions.orgIntercourse: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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