The Bible speaks openly about human relationships and physical closeness. From the Old Testament laws to the teachings of Jesus, it gives clear guidance on what is sacred and what is off-limits. Some of these rules were cultural for ancient times, but all of them carried the message that intimacy is not just physical, it is spiritual too.
Here are 10 intimate acts that the Bible forbids, with verses and reasons behind them.
1. Incest
Leviticus 18 lists relations with close family members as forbidden. It wasn’t only about morality, but also about protecting family trust and health. Breaking this boundary was seen as dishonoring God’s design for families.
2. Bestiality
Leviticus 18:23 calls relations with animals detestable. This was viewed as a violation of the order of creation. The command was repeated to make it clear: humans were set apart and should not mix with animals in this way.
3. Same-Sex Relations (Male with Male)
Leviticus 18:22 speaks against male-to-male intimacy. Different Christian traditions debate how this applies today, but in the original law it was considered outside God’s covenant order.
4. Adultery
Exodus 20:14 makes this one of the Ten Commandments. Being physically involved with someone else’s spouse was seen as betrayal — breaking trust, destroying families, and dishonoring marriage as a sacred covenant.
5. Fornication
The New Testament often warns against “sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18), which included premarital intimacy and other acts outside marriage. The teaching was meant to protect people from heartbreak and spiritual harm.
6. Intimacy During Menstruation
Leviticus 18:19 and 20:18 forbid closeness during a woman’s menstrual period. At that time, this was tied to ritual purity laws in Israel. While some see it as cultural, it was a serious boundary in Old Testament times.
7. Sleeping With a Neighbor’s Wife
Mentioned in Leviticus 18:20 and Proverbs 6:29, this was not only adultery but also a betrayal of community trust. The Bible described it as corrupting and destructive, both to families and to society.
8. Prostitution
Deuteronomy 23:17 warns against prostitution, calling it dishonorable. Throughout the Bible, it was tied to idolatry and betrayal. While Jesus later showed compassion to those caught in it, the act itself was condemned.
9. Lustful Thoughts
In Matthew 5:28, Jesus expanded the idea of purity by saying that even looking at someone lustfully is like committing adultery in the heart. This teaching shifted the focus from just outward acts to inner thoughts and desires.
10. Ritual or Idolatrous Intimacy
Some cultures in the Old Testament mixed intimacy with idol worship. The Bible condemned this strongly (Deuteronomy 27, Leviticus 20). It was seen as corrupting both the body and the spirit, turning something sacred into something profane.
Final Thought
The Bible’s warnings were not only about controlling behavior — they were about protecting people, families, and communities. Intimacy was created as something meaningful, not careless. Some of these laws may feel ancient in today’s culture, but their core message is timeless: treat closeness with respect, and never use it in ways that destroy love or dignity.