Masturbation in the Bible - Is it a Sin?

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Compiled by The BibleStudyTools Staff on 02/19/2021
Masturbation in the Bible - Is it a Sin?

Masturbation in the Bible - What does the Bible say about Masturbation?

The Bible does not discuss masturbation explicitly or mention whether or not it is a sin. However, there are some verses which have been interpreted to be referencing masturbation implicitly. The scripture quote most commonly associated with masturbation is the tale of Onan in Genesis 38:9–10. Some explain this passage to mean that “spilling your seed” is a sin. Although in the story, Onan withdrew from performing his duty to provide a successor for his late brother.

Another biblical quote sometimes employed as an indication that masturbation is a sin is Matthew 5:27–30. Jesus speaks against having lustful intentions and then says, “If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.” While there is obviously an association between lustfulness and masturbation, it is doubtful that Jesus was referencing to the particular sin of masturbation in this verse.

For more of an in-depth study, visit our article: Does the Bible Teach Masturbation is a Sin?

Discover the Bible verses that are commonly associated with masturbation and related topics such as sexual immorality, lustfulness, and temptation in the collection of scripture quotes below.

Photo credit: Aaron Burden

1 Corinthians 9:27

27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
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1 Corinthians 10:13

1 Corinthians 10:13
13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
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1 John 2:16

16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.
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1 Peter 2:11

11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.
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1 Corinthians 6:18

18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.
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2 Timothy 2:22

22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
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Galatians 5:16

Walk in the Spirit
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
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Romans 8:6

6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
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Romans 13:14

14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
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Genesis 38:9-10

9 But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother.
10 What he did was wicked in the LORD’s sight; so the LORD put him to death also.
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James 1:13-14

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;
14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.
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Galatians 5:19-21

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
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1 Corinthians 7:3-5

3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.
4 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.
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.
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1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;
4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable,
5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God;
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Matthew 5:27-30

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’
28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
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