Intimacy is a key part of human relationships, and the Bible views it as a special bond between husband and wife. Scripture emphasizes respect and commitment in intimate relationships.
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What Does The Bible Say About Intimacy
Song of Solomon 2:10-13
“My beloved spoke and said to me, ‘Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.'”
This passage from the Song of Solomon depicts a deeply intimate conversation between two lovers. It portrays the invitation to arise and come together, symbolizing a longing for physical and emotional intimacy.
The use of descriptive language, such as the changing seasons and blooming flowers, emphasizes the beauty and joy that comes with being intimately connected with a beloved.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples 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, honor God with your bodies.”
This verse reminds believers that their bodies are not their own but are temples of the Holy Spirit. It highlights the importance of honoring God with our bodies, including our physical and sexual actions.
As temples of the Holy Spirit, we are called to treat our bodies with respect and purity, recognizing that intimacy is a sacred gift from God to be cherished within the boundaries of marriage.
Proverbs 5:18-19
“May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer—may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love.”
This proverb celebrates the joy and fulfillment that comes from a loving and intimate relationship within marriage. It describes the wife of one’s youth as a source of blessing and satisfaction.
The poetic language and vivid imagery illustrate the deep affection and emotional connection that should exist between husband and wife, fostering a sense of intimacy and passion within the confines of a committed relationship.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God.”
This passage highlights the importance of maintaining sexual purity and self-control as a reflection of a devoted relationship with God. It emphasizes the need to avoid sexual immorality and to treat our bodies with holiness and honor.
By exercising self-control and adhering to God’s commands regarding sexual intimacy, we demonstrate our commitment to living a life that is pleasing to Him and aligns with His will.
Hebrews 13:4
“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”
This verse underscores the significance of honoring the institution of marriage and maintaining purity within the marriage relationship. It serves as a reminder that God views and judges actions related to sexual immorality.
By upholding the sanctity of marriage and keeping the marriage bed pure, we demonstrate reverence for God’s design and His commandments, guarding against actions that can harm the intimacy and trust within a marriage.
Song of Solomon 4:9-11
“You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace. How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much more pleasing is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume more than any spice! Your lips drop sweetness as the honeycomb, my bride; milk and honey are under your tongue. The fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.”
This passage from the Song of Solomon expresses the deep affection and admiration between lovers. It portrays the captivating power of love and the allure of physical attraction in a committed relationship.
The poetic descriptions of beauty, sweetness, and fragrance convey the intoxicating nature of love and its ability to create a sense of intimacy and desire within a marital union.
1 Corinthians 7:3-4
“The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife.”
This verse emphasizes the mutual responsibility and selflessness that should exist within a marriage when it comes to physical intimacy. It highlights the idea that both husband and wife have a duty to meet each other’s needs.
In a loving and Christ-centered marriage, both partners willingly yield their bodies for the sake of the other’s satisfaction and fulfillment, fostering an environment of trust, love, and deep intimacy.
Proverbs 5:15-17
“Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares? Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers.”
This proverb encourages faithfulness and exclusivity within the marriage relationship. It compares the intimacy shared between husband and wife to water from their own source, cautioning against seeking satisfaction outside of the committed union.
By maintaining marital fidelity and embracing the intimate connection with one’s spouse, a sense of security, trust, and deep intimacy is cultivated, guarding against the erosion of the marriage bond.
1 Peter 4:8
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of deep love within relationships, including marital intimacy. It suggests that love has the power to forgive and heal, fostering a sense of acceptance and understanding.
By prioritizing love in our relationships, including the intimate bond between spouses, we create an environment that is conducive to growth, compassion, and the deepening of emotional and physical intimacy.
Proverbs 18:22
“He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.”
This proverb highlights the blessing and favor that comes from finding a suitable partner in marriage. It reflects the belief that a godly and fulfilling marriage is a gift from the Lord.
In recognizing the goodness and favor bestowed through a healthy marital union, we can nurture and protect the intimacy within the relationship, knowing that it is a precious and valuable blessing from God.
Ephesians 5:25-26
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word.”
This passage instructs husbands to love their wives sacrificially, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her. It emphasizes the role of husbands in fostering an environment of love, nurture, and spiritual growth within the marriage bond.
By loving their wives selflessly and actively participating in their spiritual growth and well-being, husbands contribute to the deepening of intimacy and the establishment of a thriving and fulfilling marital relationship.
Genesis 2:24
“That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”
This verse highlights the profound spiritual and physical unity established within marriage. It symbolizes the leaving behind of one’s family of origin in order to establish a new and intimate bond with a spouse.
By recognizing the oneness that is created through marriage, couples can nurture and protect the intimacy within their relationship, fostering a deep sense of connection, trust, and unity.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
These verses from the well-known “Love Chapter” of the Bible depict the characteristics of genuine love. They provide a framework for establishing and nurturing a loving and intimate relationship.
By embodying these qualities in our interactions with our spouse, we create an environment conducive to deep intimacy, trust, and growth, paving the way for a truly fulfilling and God-honoring marriage.
1 Corinthians 7:2
“But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.”
This verse highlights the importance of sexual faithfulness within the confines of marriage. It acknowledges the reality of sexual temptation and encourages married couples to find their fulfillment and satisfaction within their own relationship.
By channeling their sexual desires exclusively toward each other, couples promote trust, security, and a deepening of intimacy that is vital for a thriving and God-honoring marriage.
Proverbs 30:18-19
“There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a young woman.”
This proverb portrays the mystery and wonder of the intimate relationship between a man and a woman. It acknowledges the unique dynamics and deep connection that exist within a romantic and marital union.
By acknowledging and cherishing the beauty and mystery of the marital bond, couples can cultivate an appreciation for the depth of intimacy that is possible within their relationship.
1 Corinthians 13:13
“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
This verse affirms the supreme importance of love in all aspects of life. It reminds us that love is the foundation for genuine intimacy, both within a marital relationship and in our relationship with God and others.
By prioritizing love within our marriages, we set the stage for the development of deep connection, trust, and a thriving sense of intimacy that can withstand the challenges that life may bring.
Proverbs 31:10
“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.”
This verse extols the value and worth of a virtuous and noble wife. It emphasizes the significance of character and integrity in fostering a deep and meaningful intimacy within a marriage.
By recognizing and appreciating the worth of our spouse and fostering virtues such as kindness, respect, and selflessness, we lay the foundation for a fulfilling and intimate relationship that reflects God’s design for marriage.
Ephesians 5:33
“However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”
This verse provides a roadmap for fostering intimacy within marriage. It calls husbands to love their wives as they love themselves and encourages wives to respect their husbands.
By embracing these roles and treating our spouse with love, honor, and respect, we create an environment that is conducive to deep intimacy, trust, and mutual growth within the marriage relationship.
Genesis 1:27-28
“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’
This passage highlights the divine creation of man and woman and the blessing bestowed upon them to be fruitful and multiply. It affirms the goodness of physical intimacy and the importance of procreation within the bounds of marriage.
By recognizing and embracing the sacredness of sexual intimacy as part of God’s plan for humanity, couples can experience a deepening of intimacy and joy in their relationship, aligning with God’s purposes for marriage.
1 Corinthians 7:5
“Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
This verse addresses the importance of sexual intimacy within marriage and encourages couples to avoid prolonged periods of withholding physical affection from one another.
By maintaining a healthy and regular pattern of intimacy, couples foster a sense of closeness, strengthen their bond, and guard against the potential temptations that can arise due to unmet physical and emotional needs.
Ecclesiastes 9:9
“Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun.”
This verse encourages married couples to enjoy and cherish the intimate relationship and love they share. It recognizes that life can be challenging and transient but emphasizes the importance of finding joy and fulfillment within the marital bond.
By actively seeking and cultivating moments of intimacy, couples can experience a sense of purpose, satisfaction, and lasting joy within their relationship, even amidst the uncertainties of life.