Rev. Glen Maiden PhD, DMin, LMHC, CSAT, CMAT, CST, ANFT
Author: Rev. Dr. Glen B. Maiden PhD, DMin, CSAT, CMAT, CST, LMHC
Glen earned a PhD in Clinical Sexology, a Doctor of Ministry in the Neuroscience of Addiction and Trauma Recovery, Masters in New Testament and Christian Education., B.A. in Bible, Greek and Hebrew, with certifications in Sex Addiction, Financial Disorders, Trauma Treatment, licensed in mental health counseling, pastoral ministry, and Forest Therapy.
Locales for the Sacred Sex Trade: Mountaintops, Hills; Oak, Poplar, and Terebinth Trees
Wages of a Sacred Sex Trade Worker
When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous (ZNH) wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness (ZNH) to the LORD.”
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So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.
Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the LORD said to Hosea, “Call her Lo-Ruhamah (which means “not loved”), for I will no longer show love to Israel, that I should at all forgive them.
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Yet I will show love to Judah; and I will save them—not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but I, the LORD their God, will save them.”
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After she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, Gomer had another son. (Hosea 1:2-8)
Chapter 1 of Hosea features a plethora of sexual health terms. Promiscuous woman and adulterous wife, and unfaithfulness are all the same root word, ZNH, sacred sex trade participant. “Go marry a promiscuous woman” perhaps is more accurately translated, “a female prolific in sex trade participation.” The term ZNH in the plural form, ZNHNIM, is pronounced zuh-new-NEEM, meaning surpassing or impressive sex trade activity. The singular form for the name of God is El. The plural for God, El, in the Old Testament is Elohim, pronounced el-oh-HEEM. The plural for a singular name most likely denotes supremacy. Gomer, the sacred sex trade worker is described in the plural. She was most likely at the top of her field, well versed in trafficking. The word ZNH appears four times in verse 1. This may mean Hosea intends emphasis.
“Rebuke your mother, rebuke her, for she is not my wife, and I am not her husband. Let her remove the adulterous look from her face and the unfaithfulness from between her breasts (NAAP). (Hosea 2:2)
Hosea pens a new word for unhealthy sexuality, pronounce na-ah-foo-FEEM. (Strong, H5005) The term translates as adultery appearing a single time at this location in the Hebrew Old Testament. Na-ah-foo-FEEM is similar to the Hebrew term for nose or nostril, APH, and adultery, NAP. (Strong, H599, H5003) APH pronounced AWF, can mean nose, nostril, face, the rapid breathing of passion, rage or wrath. AWF occurs 276 times in 269 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. (Strong, H599) The Hebrew word for adultery, NAP, pronounced NAWF, appears 31 tines in 26 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. (Strong, H5003). Syriac and Chaldean cognate languages have a similar term for “face”, pronounced ah-na-FEEM. This is much like the term Hosea uses, na-ah-foo-FEEM. Hosea’s unique term may be best translated as passionate breath or face between the breasts. (BLB, Hosea 2:20; Strong, H5005)
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Their mother has been unfaithful (ZNH)and has conceived them in disgrace. She said, ‘I will go after my lovers (AHB), who give me my food and my water, my wool and my linen, my olive oil and my drink.’ (Hosea 2:5)
She will chase after her lovers (AHB)but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them. Then she will say, ‘I will go back to my husband as at first, for then I was better off than now.’ (Hosea 2:7)
Gomer’s “lovers “is the Hebrew root word for love, AHB, pronounced ah-HAWV. This is a common word for love appearing 211 times in 195 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. (Strong, H157) However, AHB used for lovers of a sacred sex trade worker is unique to the Old Testament. All other references speak of the love of God human affection, or loving objects like a home, righteousness, friends, etc. Hosea’s use of AHB, lovers, is emphatic and distinctive in the entire Old Testament.
She has not acknowledged that I was the one who gave her the grain, the new wine and oil, who lavished on her the silver and gold— which they used for Baal. (Hosea 2:8)
“Therefore I will take away my grain when it ripens, and my new wine when it is ready. I will take back my wool and my linen, intended to cover her naked (KSA, ARWH) body. (Hosea 2:9)
Uncovering the nakedness is a term for incest. Covering the nakedness appears to be recovering unhealthy sexuality. In the Ham incest snap shot the brothers “cover the nakedness” of their father.
But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered (KSA) their father’s naked (ARWH body. Their faces were turned the other way so that they would not see their father naked. (Genesis 9:23)
The phrase cover her naked body of Hosea 2:9 is the exact wording as cover their father’s naked body in Genesis 9:23. These are not sexual assault statements, it appears the opposite. Ham’s brothers attempt to recover the assault against their mother. The Hosea passage seems to be saying that the economic currency which could have recovered Israel will be taken back. Tools
So now I will expose her lewdness (NBLT) before the eyes of her lovers (AHB); no one will take her out of my hands. (Hosea 2:10)
Hosea introduces another sexual health term seen only here in the Hebrew Old Testament. NBLT, pronounced nah-beh-LOOTH defines female genitalia. (Strong, H5040) NBLT builds on the root NBL, meaning foolish or shameful occurring 18 times in 18 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. (Strong, H5036) Lovers builds on the root word, AHB. Could it be that Jesus connected to Hosea’s words when he speaks about the inability to be taken from the embrace of God?
So now I will expose her lewdness (NBLT) before the eyes of her lovers (AHB); no one will take her out of my hands. (Hosea 2:10)
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me,
is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
I and the Father are one.” (John 10:29-30)
This may be another case of Jesus reflecting the teaching and influence of the prophets in his preaching.
I will punish her for the days she burned incense to the Baals; she decked herself with rings and jewelry, and went after her lovers (AHB), but me she forgot,”
declares the LORD.
“Therefore I am now going to allure (PTH) her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her.
PTH, pronounced pah-THACH, occurs 28 times in 26 verses in the Hebrew Old Testament. (Strong, H6601) PTH is used for enticing, seducing, and coercing.
There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she will respond as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt. (Hosea 2:15)
“In that day,” declares the LORD, “you will call me ‘my husband’; you will no longer call me ‘my master.’ (Hosea 2:16)
I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips; no longer will their names be invoked. (Hosea 2:17)
In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the creatures that move along the ground. Bow and sword and battle I will abolish from the land, so that all may lie down in safety. (Hosea 2:18)
I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. (Hosea 2:19)
I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge (YDA)the LORD. (Hosea 2:20)
Hosea introduces the Genesis sexual health premier word for intercourse in Hosea 2:20. The word is intimacy, YDA, pronounced yah-DAW. (Strong, H3045). Appearing 953 times in 874 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament.YDA means intimacy formed in the prefrontal cortex. This part of the brain regulates the fear, anger, and sexual wiring of the limbic system. When the PFC is healthy and online, the limbic system can be regulated. When offline, the brain cannot regulate sexual neural pathways. Specifically, intimacy wires from the insular cortex. The range of meaning includes: to be aware, receive, learn, recognize, differentiate, discover, turn the mind to, understand data, perceive, and genital sexual intercourse. YDA is used in two gang rape snap shots. The sexual offenders of Sodom and the decline to sexual nihilism of Judges both use YDA in violent rape scenes. It seems reasonable this word is used as paradox to contrast the beauty and intimacy of sexual intercourse with erotic violence. (Genesis 19:5; Judges 19:22)
The LORD said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man (ray-AH) and is an adulteress (NAF). Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.” (Hosea 3:1)
So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer and a lethek of barley.
A homer was a Hebrew unit of measurement about 475 pounds. “Half of barley” translates the Hebrew word “lethech,” meaning half of a homer, just under 240 pounds. https://biblehub.com/hosea/3-2.htm
Then I told her, “You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute (ZNH) or be intimate with any man, and I will behave the same way toward you.” (Hosea 3:1-3)
Hosea makes an offer to his estranged wife, Gomer, who has re entered the sacred sex trade.
The preacher states that he will be faithful to her and requests that she not continue working in the sacred sex trade and to refrain from being “intimate with any man”. This phrase in the literal Hebrew states, “Do not participate in the sacred sex trade and do not have to another man.” This makes most sense in English to read, “ …you shall not have another man.”
Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites, because the LORD has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: “There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment (YDA) of God in the land.
There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. (Hosea 4:1-2)
…my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.(YDA) “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children. (Hosea 4:6)
Hosea now reveals the underlying driver for the idolatry of the Israelis. Their relapse to unhealthy sexuality is due to lack of intimacy, DAAT, pronounced DAH-aut. (Strong, H1847) This form of the term YDA, intimacy appears 93 times in 91 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. Its meaning ranges from the highest sense of being seeing God, to motive, intelligence, and to wisdom. The premier sexual health term for sexual intercouerse is used in a masterful way connecting intimacy with God to the lack of compassion and awareness between Gomer and her husband, Hosea. It seems clear Hosea relied on the Book of Genesis and the sexual health positive big picture to communicate intimacy with God and the people of Israel.
“They will eat but not have enough; they will engage in prostitution (ZNH). but not flourish, because they have deserted the LORD to give themselves to prostitution (ZNH); old wine and new wine take away their understanding. (Hosea 4:10)
My people consult a wooden idol, and a diviner’s rod speaks to them. A spirit (RUAH)of prostitution (ZNH)leads them astray; they are unfaithful to their God. (Hosea 4:11)
The word prostitution, ZNH, is a unique form in verse 10. It is called a hiphil verb. The original Hebrew places an “h” at the beginning of ZNH to emphasize that the term possesses the sense of “to cause to” participate in trafficking humans for sex. This is the first time ZNH is used in a “causative” way, perhaps give the term a compelling or coercive meaning. Another new sexual health terms appears in Hosea, “ spirit of prostitution”. The literal rendering is ru-ACH, pronounced roo-AUCH. The CH is a hard K sound in the back of the throat.
They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar and terebinth, where the shade is pleasant. Therefore your daughters turn to prostitution (ZNH) and your daughters-in-law to adultery (NAF).
“I will not punish your daughters when they turn to prostitution (ZNH), nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery (NAF), because the men themselvesconsort with harlots (ZNH) and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes (KDSHA)— a people without understanding (BIN) will come to ruin!
Hosea introduces another new term for intimacy or understanding, BIN, pronounced BEAN. (Strong, H995) Appearing 171 times in 162 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament it gives the sense of knowing intimately but never means genital sexual intercourse. The term is only used as mental understanding.
“Though you, Israel, commit adultery (ZNH), do not let Judah become guilty. “Do not go to Gilgal; do not go up to Beth Aven. And do not swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives!’
The Israelites are stubborn, like a stubborn heifer. How then can the LORD pasture them like lambs in a meadow?
Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!
Even when their drinks are gone, they continue their prostitution (ZNH); their rulers dearly love shameful(KLH) ways. (Hosea 4:10-18)
Hosea 4:18 seems to be a climactic piece. The preacher uses the term ZNH, act out by trafficking humans for sex, in the hiphil verb form two times. It may read as, “Even though they run out of alcohol, they repeatedly choose to act out in the sacred sex trade for money….”
In the same sentence, Hosea takes a shot at rules. He states, they “dearly love shameful ways”. The Hebrew term is KLH, pronounced kah-LOAN and means female genitalia. (Strong, H7034)
As at Adam, they have broken the covenant; they were unfaithful to me there. (Hosea 6:7)
They are all adulterers (NAF), burning like an oven whose fire the baker need not stir from the kneading of the dough till it rises. (Hosea 7:4)
For they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has sold herself to lovers (AHB). (Hosea 8:9)
Do not rejoice, Israel; do not be jubilant like the other nations. For you have been unfaithful (ZNH) to your God; you love the wages of a prostitute (ETN)at every threshing floor. (Hosea 9:1)
In the womb (BTN) he grasped his brother’s heel; as a man he struggled with God. (Hosea 12:3)
The final two sexual health terms are “wages of a sacred sex trade worker” and the “womb” which bore Jacob in Genesis 25:26. Wages from trafficking humans for sex is the Hebrew ETN, pronounced eth-NAWN. (Strong, H868) Appearing 11 tines in 8 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament it carries the sole meaning of earning income from the sacred sex trade. Jacob’s name means to coerce. This may be a sexual violence image touching the Genesis snap shot in which Laban, his father in law, switches brides on Jacob’s wedding night. Laban manipulated the manipulator to coerce an intoxicated Jacob to marry his unattractive daughter, Leah. (Genesis 29:23) The term for sexual intercourse is not YDA, the premier sexual health term, but rather BO, which always mean unhealthy sexuality in Genesis and is never used for the spirituality or compassion of sexual intimacy (Strong, H935)
But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love (BO) to her. (Genesis 29:23)
The Book of Amos
Abuse
Decline of Intimacy, Profane
Sodom and Gomorrah
Virgin
They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name. (Amos 2:7)
“I overthrew some of you as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. You were like a burning stick snatched from the fire, yet you have not returned to me,”
declares the LORD. (Amos 4:11)
“Fallen is Virgin Israel, never to rise again, deserted in her own land, with no one to lift her up.”(Amos 5:2)
In Amos the NIV translation of “use the same girl” for sex is pretty close. The Hebrew term is YLK, pronounced ya-LAWK meaning “to go to”. (Strong, 3212) This verse literally means “going to the same adolescent girl for intercourse.” YLK is also used in the curse of the snake in Genesis 3:14, the rising of the waters in the flood snap shot, and the two incest accounts of Genesis 9:23 and Genesis 19:32. The word profane is the Hebrew trigger word HLL which signals a decline of intimacy with God resulting in unhealthy sexuality.
So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. (Genesis 3:14)
The waters rose and increased greatly on the earth, and the arkfloated on the surface of the water. (Genesis 7:18)
But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered their father’s naked body. Their faces were turned the other way so that they would not see their father naked. (Genesis 9:23)
Let’s get our father to drink wine and then sleep with him and preserve our family line through our father.” (Genesis 19:32)
The Book of Jonah
Idols
“Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. (Jonah 2:8)
The Book of Micah
Idols
Images
Wages of Sacred Sex Trade
Sacred Stones
Asherah Poles
Many
Sacred Sex trade Worker
All her idols will be broken to pieces; all her temple gifts will be burned with fire; I will destroy all her images. Since she gathered her gifts from the wages of prostitutes, as the wages of prostitutes they will again be used.” (Micah 1:7)
I will destroy your idols and your sacred stones from among you; you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands. I will uproot from among you your Asherah poles when I demolish your cities.
(Micha 5:13-14)
Micah uses idols, images, wages of sacred sex trade, sacred stones, Asherah poles, and sacred sex trade worker. This is quite a concentration of sex trade vocabulary in one verse. Wages of the sacred sex trade occurs 11 times in 8 verses. The term is ETN, pronounced et-NAWN. (Strong, H868) Sacred stones, pronounced mas-seh-BAH, has a range of meaning from a single stone to perhaps a pillar of stones. MSBH appears 32 times in 31 verses in the Hebrew Old Testament. (Strong, H4676)
The Book of Nahum
Prolific Sex Trade Participation
…all because of the wanton lust of a prostitute, alluring, the mistress of sorceries, who enslaved nations by her prostitution and peoples by her witchcraft. (Nahum 3:4)
Lift Skirts Over Face
Nakedness
Shame
“I am against you,” declares the LORD Almighty. “I will lift your skirts over your face. I will show the nations your nakedness and the kingdoms your shame. (Nahum 3:5)
Nahum 3:4-5 speaks of the shame of the sacred sex trade. In 3:4 a modern literal translation might look like, “From her prolific sex trade participation, the mistress of sorcery traffics to the nations the selling of humans for sex ….”
Nahum 3:5 has a phrase connecting to incest laws along with two different words for the shame of exposing genitalia. Lift up or uncover, GLH, pronounced ga-LAH is the word used for incest prohibitions in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. (Strong, H1540) Skirt, literally in the Hebrew, “lifting up the hem of your robes upon your face” appears twice in Nahum and Jeremiah. I will pull up your skirts over your face that your shame may be seen. (Jeremiah 13:26).) Nakedness appears twice in the Hebrew Old Testament. The term is MAR, pronounced ma-AR. (Strong, H4626) Shame, QLN, pronounced ka-LOAN, also appears in both the Jeremiah and Nahum citations. (Strong, H7036) These terms for genitalia connect to a sense of shame.
The Book of Habbakuk
Naked
You will be filled with shame instead of glory. Now it is your turn! Drink and let your nakedness be exposed (ARL)! The cup from the LORD’s right hand is coming around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory. (Habbakuk 2:16)
Habbakuk has a single sexual health term, foreskin. The word is ARL, pronounce ah-RAIL. (Strong, H6188) In this passage the sense appears to be exposing the fact that the Israelites did not follow the ritual of circumcision and therefore the foreskin revealed.
The Book of Zephaniah
Idols
Baal
Idolatrous
Molek
“I will sweep away both man and beast; I will sweep away the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea— and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble.” “When I destroy all mankind on the face of the earth,” declares the LORD,
“I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all who live in Jerusalem. I will destroy every remnant of Baal worship in this place, the very names of the idolatrous priests—those who bow down on the roofs to worship the starry host, those who bow down and swear by the LORD and who also swear by Molek, those who turn back from following the LORD and neither seek the LORD nor inquire of him.” (Zephaniah 1:3-6)
The Book of Haggai
Covenant
This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear. (Haggai 2:5)
The Book of Zechariah
Covenant
Rape
As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit. (Zechariah 9:11)
I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. (Zechariah 14:2)
Zechariah has two sexual health terms, covenant and raped. The word rape is SGL, pronounced shu-GALL. Used four times in the Hebrew Old Testament it only connects to sexual violence. (Strong, H7693)
You will be pledged to be married to a woman, but another will take her and rape her. You will build a house, but you will not live in it. You will plant a vineyard, but you will not even begin to enjoy its fruit. (Deuteronomy 28:30)
Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses will be looted and their wives violated. (Isaiah 13:16)
“Look up to the barren heights and see. Is there any place where you have not been ravished? By the roadside you sat waiting for lovers, sat like a nomad in the desert. You have defiled the land with your prostitution and wickedness. (Jeremiah 3:2)
I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. (Zechariah 14:2)
The word detestable thing is the Hebrew TABH, pronounced toe-eh-VAH connecting to idolatry and the sacred sex trade. (Strong, H8441) Desecrated is the trigger word HLL signaling a decline of sexual health and intimacy with God. Godly Offspring is combination of the terms Elohim, the name of God, and seed ZRH.
The Book of Malachi
Covenant
Detestable Thing
Trigger Term for Decline of Intimacy and Sexual Health (HLL)
Godly Offspring
My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. (Malachi 2:5)
Judah has been unfaithful. A detestable thing has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem: Judah has desecrated (HLL) the sanctuary the LORD loves by marrying women who worship a foreign god. (Malachi 2:11)
You ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD is the witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant. Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth. (Malachi 2:14-15)
The final sexual health passages in the Old Testament reconnect to the Genesis sexual health big picture. Twice the word Covenant, BRT, occurs touching the early covenant with Noah after the judgement for sexual nihilism and abuse. Covenant is a vision of hope for the intimacy of reconciliation between God and humankind. Detestable is the Hebrew term TBA, pronounced toe-eh-VAH. This word appears 118 times in the Hebrew Old Testament in 112 verses connecting to idolatry and by implication the sacred sex trade. (Strong H8441) The untranslatable Hebrew trigger word for decline of intimacy to unhealthy sexuality and abuse appears, HLL, pronounced ha-LAWL. (Strong, H2490) The NIV translates HLL as desecrated. Godly offspring is ELOHIM ZRA. ELOHIM is the common name for God appearing 2,600 times in 2,246 verses in the Hebrew Old Testament.(Strong, H430) ZRA, pronounced zeh-RAH, means seed occuring 229 times in 209 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. (Strong, H2233)
Locales for the Sacred Sex Trade: Mountaintops, Hills; Oak, Poplar, and Terebinth Trees
Wages of a Sacred Sex Trade Worker
When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous (ZNH) wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness (ZNH) to the LORD.”
So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.
Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the LORD said to Hosea, “Call her Lo-Ruhamah (which means “not loved”), for I will no longer show love to Israel, that I should at all forgive them.
Yet I will show love to Judah; and I will save them—not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but I, the LORD their God, will save them.”
After she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, Gomer had another son. (Hosea 1:2-8)
Chapter 1 of Hosea features a plethora of sexual health terms. Promiscuous woman and adulterous wife, and unfaithfulness are all the same root word, ZNH, sacred sex trade participant. “Go marry a promiscuous woman” perhaps is more accurately translated, “a female prolific in sex trade participation.” The term ZNH in the plural form, ZNHNIM, is pronounced zuh-new-NEEM, meaning surpassing or impressive sex trade activity. The singular form for the name of God is El. The plural for God, El, in the Old Testament is Elohim, pronounced el-oh-HEEM. The plural for a singular name most likely denotes supremacy. Gomer, the sacred sex trade worker is described in the plural. She was most likely at the top of her field, well versed in trafficking. The word ZNH appears four times in verse 1. This may mean Hosea intends emphasis.
“Rebuke your mother, rebuke her, for she is not my wife, and I am not her husband. Let her remove the adulterous look from her face and the unfaithfulness from between her breasts (NAAP). (Hosea 2:2)
Hosea pens a new word for unhealthy sexuality, pronounce na-ah-foo-FEEM. (Strong, H5005) The term translates as adultery appearing a single time at this location in the Hebrew Old Testament. Na-ah-foo-FEEM is similar to the Hebrew term for nose or nostril, APH, and adultery, NAP. (Strong, H599, H5003) APH pronounced AWF, can mean nose, nostril, face, the rapid breathing of passion, rage or wrath. AWF occurs 276 times in 269 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. (Strong, H599) The Hebrew word for adultery, NAP, pronounced NAWF, appears 31 tines in 26 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. (Strong, H5003). Syriac and Chaldean cognate languages have a similar term for “face”, pronounced ah-na-FEEM. This is much like the term Hosea uses, na-ah-foo-FEEM. Hosea’s unique term may be best translated as passionate breath or face between the breasts. (BLB, Hosea 2:20; Strong, H5005)
Their mother has been unfaithful (ZNH)and has conceived them in disgrace. She said, ‘I will go after my lovers (AHB), who give me my food and my water, my wool and my linen, my olive oil and my drink.’ (Hosea 2:5)
She will chase after her lovers (AHB)but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them. Then she will say, ‘I will go back to my husband as at first, for then I was better off than now.’ (Hosea 2:7)
Gomer’s “lovers “is the Hebrew root word for love, AHB, pronounced ah-HAWV. This is a common word for love appearing 211 times in 195 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. (Strong, H157) However, AHB used for lovers of a sacred sex trade worker is unique to the Old Testament. All other references speak of the love of God human affection, or loving objects like a home, righteousness, friends, etc. Hosea’s use of AHB, lovers, is emphatic and distinctive in the entire Old Testament.
She has not acknowledged that I was the one who gave her the grain, the new wine and oil, who lavished on her the silver and gold— which they used for Baal. (Hosea 2:8)
“Therefore I will take away my grain when it ripens, and my new wine when it is ready. I will take back my wool and my linen, intended to cover her naked (KSA, ARWH) body. (Hosea 2:9)
Uncovering the nakedness is a term for incest. Covering the nakedness appears to be recovering unhealthy sexuality. In the Ham incest snap shot the brothers “cover the nakedness” of their father.
But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered (KSA) their father’s naked (ARWH body. Their faces were turned the other way so that they would not see their father naked. (Genesis 9:23)
The phrase cover her naked body of Hosea 2:9 is the exact wording as cover their father’s naked body in Genesis 9:23. These are not sexual assault statements, it appears the opposite. Ham’s brothers attempt to recover the assault against their mother. The Hosea passage seems to be saying that the economic currency which could have recovered Israel will be taken back. Tools
So now I will expose her lewdness (NBLT) before the eyes of her lovers (AHB); no one will take her out of my hands. (Hosea 2:10)
Hosea introduces another sexual health term seen only here in the Hebrew Old Testament. NBLT, pronounced nah-beh-LOOTH defines female genitalia. (Strong, H5040) NBLT builds on the root NBL, meaning foolish or shameful occurring 18 times in 18 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. (Strong, H5036) Lovers builds on the root word, AHB. Could it be that Jesus connected to Hosea’s words when he speaks about the inability to be taken from the embrace of God?
So now I will expose her lewdness (NBLT) before the eyes of her lovers (AHB); no one will take her out of my hands. (Hosea 2:10)
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me,
is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
I and the Father are one.” (John 10:29-30)
This may be another case of Jesus reflecting the teaching and influence of the prophets in his preaching.
I will punish her for the days she burned incense to the Baals; she decked herself with rings and jewelry, and went after her lovers (AHB), but me she forgot,”
declares the LORD.
“Therefore I am now going to allure (PTH) her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her.
PTH, pronounced pah-THACH, occurs 28 times in 26 verses in the Hebrew Old Testament. (Strong, H6601) PTH is used for enticing, seducing, and coercing.
There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she will respond as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt. (Hosea 2:15)
“In that day,” declares the LORD, “you will call me ‘my husband’; you will no longer call me ‘my master.’ (Hosea 2:16)
I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips; no longer will their names be invoked. (Hosea 2:17)
In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the creatures that move along the ground. Bow and sword and battle I will abolish from the land, so that all may lie down in safety. (Hosea 2:18)
I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. (Hosea 2:19)
I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge (YDA)the LORD. (Hosea 2:20)
Hosea introduces the Genesis sexual health premier word for intercourse in Hosea 2:20. The word is intimacy, YDA, pronounced yah-DAW. (Strong, H3045). Appearing 953 times in 874 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament.YDA means intimacy formed in the prefrontal cortex. This part of the brain regulates the fear, anger, and sexual wiring of the limbic system. When the PFC is healthy and online, the limbic system can be regulated. When offline, the brain cannot regulate sexual neural pathways. Specifically, intimacy wires from the insular cortex. The range of meaning includes: to be aware, receive, learn, recognize, differentiate, discover, turn the mind to, understand data, perceive, and genital sexual intercourse. YDA is used in two gang rape snap shots. The sexual offenders of Sodom and the decline to sexual nihilism of Judges both use YDA in violent rape scenes. It seems reasonable this word is used as paradox to contrast the beauty and intimacy of sexual intercourse with erotic violence. (Genesis 19:5; Judges 19:22)
The LORD said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man (ray-AH) and is an adulteress (NAF). Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.” (Hosea 3:1)
So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer and a lethek of barley.
A homer was a Hebrew unit of measurement about 475 pounds. “Half of barley” translates the Hebrew word “lethech,” meaning half of a homer, just under 240 pounds. https://biblehub.com/hosea/3-2.htm
Then I told her, “You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute (ZNH) or be intimate with any man, and I will behave the same way toward you.” (Hosea 3:1-3)
Hosea makes an offer to his estranged wife, Gomer, who has re entered the sacred sex trade.
The preacher states that he will be faithful to her and requests that she not continue working in the sacred sex trade and to refrain from being “intimate with any man”. This phrase in the literal Hebrew states, “Do not participate in the sacred sex trade and do not have to another man.” This makes most sense in English to read, “ …you shall not have another man.”
Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites, because the LORD has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: “There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment (YDA) of God in the land.
There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. (Hosea 4:1-2)
…my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.(YDA) “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children. (Hosea 4:6)
Hosea now reveals the underlying driver for the idolatry of the Israelis. Their relapse to unhealthy sexuality is due to lack of intimacy, DAAT, pronounced DAH-aut. (Strong, H1847) This form of the term YDA, intimacy appears 93 times in 91 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. Its meaning ranges from the highest sense of being seeing God, to motive, intelligence, and to wisdom. The premier sexual health term for sexual intercouerse is used in a masterful way connecting intimacy with God to the lack of compassion and awareness between Gomer and her husband, Hosea. It seems clear Hosea relied on the Book of Genesis and the sexual health positive big picture to communicate intimacy with God and the people of Israel.
“They will eat but not have enough; they will engage in prostitution (ZNH). but not flourish, because they have deserted the LORD to give themselves to prostitution (ZNH); old wine and new wine take away their understanding. (Hosea 4:10)
My people consult a wooden idol, and a diviner’s rod speaks to them. A spirit (RUAH)of prostitution (ZNH)leads them astray; they are unfaithful to their God. (Hosea 4:11)
The word prostitution, ZNH, is a unique form in verse 10. It is called a hiphil verb. The original Hebrew places an “h” at the beginning of ZNH to emphasize that the term possesses the sense of “to cause to” participate in trafficking humans for sex. This is the first time ZNH is used in a “causative” way, perhaps give the term a compelling or coercive meaning. Another new sexual health terms appears in Hosea, “ spirit of prostitution”. The literal rendering is ru-ACH, pronounced roo-AUCH. The CH is a hard K sound in the back of the throat.
They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar and terebinth, where the shade is pleasant. Therefore your daughters turn to prostitution (ZNH) and your daughters-in-law to adultery (NAF).
“I will not punish your daughters when they turn to prostitution (ZNH), nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery (NAF), because the men themselvesconsort with harlots (ZNH) and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes (KDSHA)— a people without understanding (BIN) will come to ruin!
Hosea introduces another new term for intimacy or understanding, BIN, pronounced BEAN. (Strong, H995) Appearing 171 times in 162 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament it gives the sense of knowing intimately but never means genital sexual intercourse. The term is only used as mental understanding.
“Though you, Israel, commit adultery (ZNH), do not let Judah become guilty. “Do not go to Gilgal; do not go up to Beth Aven. And do not swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives!’
The Israelites are stubborn, like a stubborn heifer. How then can the LORD pasture them like lambs in a meadow?
Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!
Even when their drinks are gone, they continue their prostitution (ZNH); their rulers dearly love shameful(KLH) ways. (Hosea 4:10-18)
Hosea 4:18 seems to be a climactic piece. The preacher uses the term ZNH, act out by trafficking humans for sex, in the hiphil verb form two times. It may read as, “Even though they run out of alcohol, they repeatedly choose to act out in the sacred sex trade for money….”
In the same sentence, Hosea takes a shot at rules. He states, they “dearly love shameful ways”. The Hebrew term is KLH, pronounced kah-LOAN and means female genitalia. (Strong, H7034)
As at Adam, they have broken the covenant; they were unfaithful to me there. (Hosea 6:7)
They are all adulterers (NAF), burning like an oven whose fire the baker need not stir from the kneading of the dough till it rises. (Hosea 7:4)
For they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has sold herself to lovers (AHB). (Hosea 8:9)
Do not rejoice, Israel; do not be jubilant like the other nations. For you have been unfaithful (ZNH) to your God; you love the wages of a prostitute (ETN)at every threshing floor. (Hosea 9:1)
In the womb (BTN) he grasped his brother’s heel; as a man he struggled with God. (Hosea 12:3)
The final two sexual health terms are “wages of a sacred sex trade worker” and the “womb” in context of Jacob in Genesis 25:26. Jacob’s name means to coerce. This may be a sexual violence image touching the snap shot in which Laban, his father in law, switches brides on Jacob’s wedding night to coerce Jacob to marry his unattractive daughter, Leah.
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon and Sexual Health
Adultery, nah-AWF
Erotic Rage, Chah-MAWD
Sacred Sex Trade Worker, zah-NAH
Sexual Contact, nah-GAH
Passionate Love, DODE
Seduce, nah-TAH
Give Birth, HOOL
Womb, BEH-ten
Naked, ah-ROME
Ecclesiastes
Naked, ah-ROME
Song
Kiss, nah-SHAWK
Bed, mish-KAWV
Lovers’ Bed, EH-resh
Conceive, hah-RAH
Sexual Arousal, hah-MAH
Breast, SHAWD
Genitalia, REH-ghel
Navel, show-RARE
Pleasant, nah-AHM
Romantic Pleasure, tah-ah-NOOG
Sexual Health Terminology
Passionate Love, DODE
Kiss, nah-SHAWK
Bed, mish-KAWV
Bed, EH-resh
Sexual Arousal, hah-MAH
Pleasant, nah-AIM
Romantic Pleasure, tah-ah-NOOG
Aphrodisiac/mandrake, dew-DAI
Anatomical and Gynecological
Naked, ah-ROME
Womb, BEH-ten
Conceive, ha-RAH
Give Birth, HOOL
Breast, SHAWD
Genitalia, REH-ghel
Navel, show-RARE
Unhealthy Sexuality Terms
Adultery, nah-AWF
Erotic Rage, chah-MAWD
Sacred Sex Trade Worker, zah-NAH
Seduce, nah-TAH
The word for “romantic love” or “ passionate-love boiling over” is DODE appearing 61 times in the Old Testament. Solomon uses DODE one time in Proverbs and 33 times in his romantic memoir called The Song. Over half the occurrences of DODE, passionate love boiling over appear in Solomon’s work. (Strong, H1730)
Come, let’s drink deeply of love (DODE) till morning; let’s enjoy ourselves with love! (Proverbs 7:18)
Kiss is the Hebrew word nah-SHAWK. I enjoy the many nuances of Hebrew terms. The Assyrian word for kiss is the similar sounding nah-SHAW-ku. The Syriac originally meant “to smell”. Arabic lends the facet, to fasten together. (Strong, H5401) Perhaps the idea connects the closeness and scent of a lover’s breath in a tender kiss?
Two words for “bed” appear in Solomon’s writings. The king uses the term for lovers’ bed (EH-resh) and a place of rest (mish-KAWV). Proverbs mentions covering the bed (EH-resh) with linens from Egypt. It is not clearly sexual. In the Song, Solomon connects the bed (EH-resh) with the verdant-fertility of intercourse (Strong, H7488). An Arabic equivalent uses a similar sounding term for sex partner or consort, ah-RAWSH. (Strong, H6210)
I have covered my bed (EH-resh) with colored linens from Egypt.
I have perfumed my bed (mish-KAWV) with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. (Proverbs 7:16-17; Strong, H7901)
She: How handsome you are, my beloved! Oh, how charming! And our bed (EH-resh) is verdant. (Song 1:16)
Sexual arousal is the onomatopoeia, hah-MAH appearing 34 times in the Hebrew Old Testament. The term means to hum like a bee or to be aroused sexually. (Strong, H1993)
My beloved thrust his hand through the latch-opening; my heart began to pound (hah- MAH or hummmm) for him. (Song 5:4)
Solomon uses two terms for pleasure or delight. The word pleasant has a lovely range of meaning in Old Testament Hebrew. David uses nah-AIM for his relationship with Jonathon, Saul’s son, exclaiming their love for one another more pleasurable than the love of a woman. Solomon, commended by God for his wisdom, connects the wisdom of the heart to knowing the pleasure of intimacy. The root word for knowledge in Proverbs 2:10 is the premier term for sexual intimacy first found in Genesis 4:1, yah-DAH. Finally, Solomon links the beauty and pleasure of love with his bride in whom he delights. (Strong, H5276) The second term is tah-ah-NOOG meaning delight, delicate or pleasant. (Strong, H8588)
I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love (nah-AIM) for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women. (2 Samuel 1:26)
For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant (nah-AIM) to your soul. (Proverbs 2:10)
“Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious (nah-AIM)!” (Proverbs 9:17)
How beautiful you are and how pleasing (nah-AIM), my love, with your delights (tah-ah- NOOG)! (Song 7:6)
Gynecological and Anatomical Terms
Naked, ah-ROME
Womb, BEH-ten
Conceive, ha-RAH
Give Birth, HOOL
Breast, SHAWD
Genitalia, REH-ghel
Navel, show-RARE
Sevengynecological words appear in Solomon’s writings: naked, (ah-ROME; Strong, H6174), womb (BEH-ten, Strong, H990), conceive, give birth (hah-RAH, Strong, H2029) and HOOL (Strong, H2342). The Hebrew word for breast is SHAWD, and REH-ghel, foot, appears used for genitalia, and navel (show-RARE).
Everyone comes naked (ah-ROME) from their mother’s womb (BEH-ten), and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands. (Ecclesiastes 5:15)
Scarcely had I passed them when I found the one my heart loves. I held him and would not let him go till I had brought him to my mother’s house, to the room of the one who conceived (hah-RAH) me. (Proverbs 3:4; Strong, H2029)
Your breasts (SHAWD) are like two fawns, like twin fawns of a gazelle that browse among the lilies. (The Song 4:5)
I have taken off my robe— must I put it on again? I have washed my feet (REH-ghel)— must I soil them again? (The Song 5:3)
When there were no watery depths, I was given birth (HOOL), when there were no springs overflowing with water; Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, (HOOL). (Proverbs 8:24-25; Strong, H2342)
Your navel (show-RARE) is a rounded goblet that never lacks blended wine. Your waist is a mound of wheat encircled by lilies.(The Song 7:2; Strong, H8326)
The final sexual health term is mandrake or aphrodisiac. Appearing 7 times in 5 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament mandrake first occurs in Genesis. the mandrake, (dew-DAI), was an ancient Near Eastern aphrodisiac, sedative, and hallucinogen. (Strong, H1736) Understanding the meaning of mandrake requires revisiting the Jacob snap shot of Genesis. During the 20-year stint of coerced servitude to Laban, the Jacob narrative revisits sexual health themes. Rachel, the infertile beloved bride, cannot conceive. Leah, the unwanted and unloved sister bride, cannot stop giving birth. Within 4 years, Leah delivers four sons. Rachel scores zero births. The competition game is on.
When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!” Jacob became angry with her and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?” Then she said, “Here is Bilhah, my servant. Sleep with her so that she can bear children for me and I too can build a family through her.”(Genesis 30:1–8)
Jacob apparently recalled stories of his grandfather Abraham utilizing female slaves for coercive reproductive services. Jacob submits to Rachel’s plea to impregnate a surrogate slave. When Leah realizes she can no longer conceive, she repeats surrogacy with her own slave.
When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she took her servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son. Then Leah said, “What good fortune!” So she named him Gad. Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. Then Leah said, “How happy I am! The women will call me happy.” So she named him Asher. (Genesis 30:9–13)
Once again, Jacob faces the coercive power of food as he did with the stealing of Esau’s birth right for a bowl of soup. This time food with sex. Just as Jacob manipulated Esau with stew, Leah, the unwanted and unloved sister-wife, coerces Rachel. Leah challenges Rachel to compel Jacob to have intercourse with Leah using food. The rejected sister barters food for sex using the mandrake plant, an ancient aphrodisiac with hallucinogenic compounds. The progeny of Abraham repeats pimping of family members for sex and food.
During wheat harvest, Reuben went out into the fields and found some mandrake plants, which he brought to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”But she said to her, “Wasn’t it enough that you took away my husband? Will you take my son’s mandrakes too?” “Very well,” Rachel said, “he can sleep with you tonight in return for your son’s mandrakes.” So when Jacob came in from the fields that evening, Leah went out to meet him. “You must sleep with me,” she said. “I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he slept with her that night. God listened to Leah, and she became pregnant and bore Jacob a fifth son. Then Leah said, “God has rewarded me for giving my servant to my husband.” So she named him Issachar. Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. Then Leah said, “God has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honor, because I have borne him six sons.” So she named him Zebulun. Some time later she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah. (Genesis 30:14–21)
As a therapist, I am unable to stop intuiting the sexual wiring of authors and speakers. I wonder if Solomon reflected his problematic sexuality within his writings? Solomon engaged the sacred sex trade by marrying wives who worshiped other deities. Did he have encounters with women who were married or did he touch another man’s wife? In Proverbs 6:25-29 Solomon cites the terms lust or covet, chah-MAWD, zah-NAH-sacred sex trade worker, and nah-GAH, sexual touch with another man’s wife. (Strong, H5060) Paul the Apostle uses the same phrase, it is not good “to touch” a woman, in 1 Corinthians 7:1. The Greek word Paul uses is HOP-toe, meaning to touch. Perhaps Proverbs influenced Paul in this use? The 1 Corinthians 7:1 citation has clear sexual intent by Paul. In addition Paul uses “to touch” with par-NAY-ah as does Solomon in Proverbs 6:25-29.
Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations (to touch, HOP-toe) with a woman.”
But since sexual immorality (par-NAY-ah in Greek and zah-NAH in Hebrew for the sacred sex trade) is occurring, each man should have sexual relations (EH-koe to have) with his own wife, and each woman (EH-koe to have) with her own husband. (1 Corinthians 7:1-2)
The phrase, “each should have sexual relations with” uses the term EH-koe, meaning to have. (Strong, G2192)
Chah-MAWD is the term lust or covet in Proverbs 6:25. Chah-MAWD is used both in the Ten Commands and with Jesus’ sexual health discourse of Matthew 5:28.
Do not lust (chah-MAWD) in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes. (Proverbs 6:25)
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully (epi-thew-MEH-oh) has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:28)
Chah-MAWD means to desire, sexually lust, or covet. (Strong, H2530) An Arabic equivalent means to “loathe”. It seems to have an angry nuance. The Greek word for lust or covet is epi-thew-MEH-oh. (Strong, G1937) Lust builds on two Greek words, epi meaning upon or epic can add a sense of intensity. The second part of the word, thew-MOS has a range of meaning including anger, rage, to breathe violently and the breath of passion. (Strong, G2372) With the nuance of loathe in Arabic and rage in Greek, this word may carry a sense of erotic rage. Could it be that Jesus is not prohibiting all sexual feelings? Is he speaking about the coercive nature of sexually acting out in anger and rage against a partner? (Strong, G2372)
Seduce is a common term used in many ways 216 times in the Hebrew Old Testament. Nah-TAH can mean stretch out like a tent, manipulate, bend morally, or sexual seduction. (H5186)
With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced (nah-TAH) him with her smooth talk. (Proverbs 7:21)
Unless the LORD Almighty had left us some survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah. (Isaiah 1:9)
Idols
Genitalia
Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made. (Isaiah 2:8)
Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. (Genitalia = feet) (Isaiah 6:2)
Virgin
Conceive
Give Birth
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virginwill conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)
Asherah Poles
They will not look to the altars, the work of their hands, and they will have no regard for the Asherah polesand the incense altars their fingers have made. (Isaiah 17:8)
By this, then, will Jacob’s guilt be atoned for, and this will be the full fruit of the removal of his sin: When he makes all the altar stones to be like limestone crushed to pieces, no Asherah poles or incense altars will be left standing. (Isaiah 27:9)
Idols
Images
Menstrual Cloth
Then you will desecrate your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, “Away with you!” (Isaiah 30:22)
Menstrual cloth is the Hebrew term DIH, pronounced dah-WHEY. (Strong, H1739)
Begotten
Brought to Birth
Woe to the one who says to a father, ‘What have you begotten?’ or to a mother, ‘What have you brought to birth?’ (Isaiah 45:10)
Virgin
Go down, sit in the dust, Virgin Daughter Babylon; sit on the ground without a throne, queen city of the Babylonians. No more will you be called tender or delicate. (Isaiah 47:1)
Tools
Nakedness
Shame
Your nakedness will be exposed and your shame uncovered. I will take vengeance; I will spare no one.” (Isaiah 47:3)
Womb
And now the LORD says— he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength— (Isaiah 49:5)
Infertile
Labor
Bear a Child
Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband. (Isaiah 54:1)
Eunuch Intersexual
Covenant
For this is what the LORD says: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant— to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will endure forever. (Isaiah 56:4-5)
Adulterer
Sacred Sex Trade Worker
“But you—come here, you children of a sorceress, you offspring of adulterers (NAF) and prostitutes! (ZNH) (Isaiah 57:3)
Burn with Lust
You burn with lust (HMM) among the oaks and under every spreading tree; you sacrifice your children in the ravines and under the overhanging crags. (Isaiah 57:5) r H2552
Perhaps the Gehenna, Valley of hinnom.
matches the Hebrew חָמַם (ḥāmam), which occurs 13 times in 12 verses in the WLC Hebrew. Range of meaning body warmth to the passion of intercourse.
Idols
The idols among the smooth stones of the ravines are your portion; indeed, they are your lot. Yes, to them you have poured out drink offerings and offered grain offerings. In view of all this, should I relent? (Isaiah 57:6)
A High Place for the Sacred Sex Trade
You have made your bed on a high and lofty hill; there you went up to offer your sacrifices. (Isaiah 57:7)
Uncovered Bed
Lust
Naked Bodies
Behind your doors and your doorposts you have put your pagan symbols. Forsaking me, you uncovered your bed, you climbed into it and opened it wide; you made a pact with those whose beds you love, and you looked with lust on their naked bodies. (Isaiah 57:8)
Molek
You went to Molek with olive oil and increased your perfumes. You sent your ambassadors far away; you descended to the very realm of the dead! (Isaiah 57:9)
Bridegroom
Bride
As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you. (Isaiah 62:5)
Summary
The first two sexual health terms of Isaiah begin with both foreboding and catastrophic judgement scenes of sexual violence. Sodom and Gomorrah fit the prophet’s prediction of Israel’s downfall and exile to Babylon in 586 BCE. (Isaiah 1:9) The cause of the collapse of their civilization and loss of identity-idolatry and the sex trafficking of humans for profit. The next term Isaiah uses is idols in Isaiah 2:8. Idolatry again dovetails with the erotic violence and addictive quality of the sacred sex trade. Other images for addiction or idolatry in Isaiah are:
Asherah poles, high place like a hill, oaks, trees and Molek. The Asherah poles were perhaps images of erect male genitalia whether literal or figurative. These poles most likely signaled the location of shrines build on high places and under trees. Molek is the deity of whom noted for child sacrifice and sex trafficking humans for profit places of worship.
Spiritual intimacy and sexual health merge in Isaiah 6:2.
Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. (Genitalia = feet) (Isaiah 6:2)
It seems reasonable the winged burning ones, seraphim, covered their faces and genitals rather than literal feet. The Hebrew word REH-ghel, feet, can mean genitalia.
Isaiah uses seven gynecological terms in his work spanning, virgin, conceive, give birth, menstrual cloth, womb, infertile, and labor. Menstrual cloth is the singular occurrence of this term in the entire Bible. Women’s health terms include the way of women, monthly cycle, flow of blood, discharge, and this hygiene term. Isaiah uses menstrual cloth to compare idolatry with the contamination by body fluid transfer like ejaculate, the blood of menses, and infectious discharge from both men and women. Infertile appears in a message of hope, Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband. (Isaiah 54:1)
The use of sexual health positive terms for the prediction of the coming messiah. Isaiah 7:14. Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virginwill conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)
Other sexual health positive terms are genitalia, feet, in Isaiah 6:2. Covenant, Eunuch, bride and groom, each are used for the intimacy of reconciliation. (Isaiah 56:4-5; 62:5)
Unhealthy sexuality images are nakedness and shame of Isaiah 47:3. Adultery and sacred sex trade worker are used in the same sentence in Isaiah 57:3. Burn with lust, matches the Hebrew חָמַם (ḥāmam), which occurs 13 times in 12 verses in the WLC Hebrew. Range of meaning body warmth to the passion of intercourse. Uncovered Bed
Lust
Naked Bodies
Behind your doors and your doorposts you have put your pagan symbols. Forsaking me, you uncovered your bed, you climbed into it and opened it wide; you made a pact with those whose beds you love, and you looked with lust on their naked bodies. (Isaiah 57:8)
Jeremiah and Sexual Health Vocabulary
Sexual Health Positive Terms
Womb, BE-ten
Intimacy, YDA
Born, RE-chem
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew (YDA) you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)
Virgin, buh-tue-LAH
Bride Wearing a Crown, ka-LAH
Bridegroom, chah-THAWN
Does a young woman forget her jewelry, a bride her wedding ornaments? Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number. (Jeremiah 2:32)
The first three sexual health terms of Jeremiah are womb, born, and virgin. Womb is the
Hebrew term BE-ten. (Strong, H990). The word for born is the Hebrew phrase, “go out from the womb”. This second term for womb is REH-chem. (Strong, H7358) This is the same root word for compassion or mercy, ra-CHAM. (Strong, H7355) Virgin and bride occur in Jeremiah 2:32-33, the Hebrew are buh-tue-LAH and kah-LAH. (Strong, H1330 and H3618) The word for virgin buh-tue-LAH means a marriageable female who has not had sexual intercourse. The second term comes from a root meaning to place a crown upon. (Strong, H3634) It seems that a woman is first a candidate for marriage, a virgin, and then becomes a bride who wears the wedding day crown or head dress. Jeremiah also uses the bride and bridegroom (chah-THAWN) images in Jeremiah 16:9.
For this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Before your eyes and in your days I will bring an end to the sounds of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride (kah-LAH) and bridegroom (cha-THAWN) in this place. (Jeremiah 16:9)
Sacred Sex Trade Worker, zah-NAH
Lover, ray-AH
Rape, shah-GALL
Prolific Participation in the Sex Trade, zah-NOOT
Forehead (may-TSACH) of a Sacred Sex Trade Worker (zah-NAH)
High Hill
Spreading Tree
Adultery, zah-NAH
Immorality, COLE zah-NOOT
“If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him and marries another man, should he return to her again? Would not the land be completely defiled? But you have lived as a prostitute (zah-NAH)with many lovers (ray-AH)— would you now return to me?”
Look up to the barren heights and see. Is there any place where you have not been ravished (shah-GALL)? By the roadside you sat waiting for lovers, sat like a nomad in the desert. You have defiled the land with your prostitution (zah-NOOT)and wickedness.
Therefore the showers have been withheld, and no spring rains have fallen. Yet you have the brazen look (may-TSACH) of a prostitute (zah-NAH); you refuse to blush with shame.
During the reign of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high (gah-bo-AH) hill (HAR)and under every spreading (rah-ah-NAWN) tree (EHTZ) and has committed adultery (zah-NAH) there.
I thought that after she had done all this she would return to me but she did not, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it.
I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries (nah-AWF). Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery (zah-NAH).
Because Israel’s immorality (COLE, zah-NOOT) mattered so little to her, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stone and wood.
In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to me with all her heart, but only in pretense,” declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 3:1-10)
Ten sexual health terms and images appear in verses 1-10 of Jeremiah 3. The root word for zah-NAH, sacred sex trade worker occurs six times. Six is often an image of evil and coercive sexuality. The range of words for zah-NAH are sacred sex trade worker (zah-NAH), zah-NOOT meaning plural sex trade acts, and the verb zah-NAH to act out in the sacred sex trade. The word translated immorality in Hebrew is COLE zah-NOOT, the “sound” of plural sex trade acts. Another interesting term is “forehead of a sex trade worker” in Jeremiah 3:3. The NIV translates this as “brazen look of a prostitute.” May-TSACH, forehead, is used 13 times in 10 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. (Strong, H4696) The forehead is the Hebrew location of guilt, leprosy, the indication of stubbornness, defiance, and grief. The forehead of a sacred sex trade worker may mean that her look is overt guilt, defiance, trauma, and or grief.
The spreading tree is most likely a place for the practice of the sacred sex trade. Strabo (64 BCE to 24 CE) the Greek historian remarked:
There is a custom prescribed by an oracle for all the Babylonian women to have intercourse with strangers. The women repair to a temple of Aphrodite, accompanied by numerous attendants and a crowd of people. Each woman has a cord round her head; the man approaches a woman, and places on her lap as much money as he thinks proper; he then leads her away to a distance from the sacred grove, and has intercourse with her. The money is regarded as consecrated to Aphrodite. (Strabo 16.1.20)
Both the Medes and Armenians have adopted all the sacred rites of the Persians, but the Armenians pay particular reverence to Anaitis, and have built temples to her honor in several places, especially in Acilisene. They dedicate there to her service male and female slaves; in this there is nothing remarkable, but it is surprising that persons of the highest rank in the nation consecrate their virgin daughters to the goddess. It is customary for these women, after being prostituted for a long period at the temple of Anaitis, to be disposed of in marriage, no one disdaining a connection with such persons (καταπορνευθείσαις πολὺν χρόνον παρὰ τῇ θεῷ μετὰ ταῦτα δίδοσθαι πρὸς γάμον, οὐκ ἀπαξιοῦντος τῇ τοιαύτῃ συνοικεῖν οὐδενός). Herodotus mentions something similar respecting the Lydian women, all of whom prostitute themselves (πορνεύειν γὰρ ἁπάσας). But they treat their paramours with much kindness, they entertain them hospitably, and frequently make a return of more presents than they receive, being amply supplied with means derived from their wealthy connections. They do not admit into their dwellings accidental strangers, but prefer those of a rank equal to their own. (Strabo, 11.14.16)
Jeremiah uses the words circumcise in chapter 4:4 and uncircumcised in chapter 9:26. Circumcise is the Hebrew term MOOL first appearing in the Genesis sexual health big picture of covenant (buh-REETH) with Abraham. MOOL occurs 36 times within 32 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. (Strong, H3145)
This is my covenant (buh-REETH) with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised (MOOL). (Genesis 17:10)
The word for uncircumcised is aw-RAIL. (Strong, H8169) Jeremiah presses the case that Israel is as uncircumcised in heart as non Jewish nations. Deuteronomy first uses the phrase “circumcised in heart”. A circumcised heart is both humble and the path for loving God with heart and soul.
Circumcise (MOOL) your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. (Deuteronomy 10:16)
The LORD your God will circumcise (MOOL) your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. (Deuteronomy 30:6)
Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, circumcise (MOOL) your hearts, you people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, or my wrath will flare up and burn like fire because of the evil you have done— burn with no one to quench it. (Jeremiah 4:4)
“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will punish all who are circumcised (MOOL) only in the flesh—
Egypt, Judah, Edom, Ammon, Moab and all who live in the wilderness in distant places. For all these nations are really uncircumcised, and even the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.” (Jeremiah 9:25-26)
ah-GAWV, lovers
What are you doing, you devastated one? Why dress yourself in scarlet and put on jewels of gold? Why highlight your eyes with makeup? You adorn yourself in vain. Your lovers (ah-GAWV)despise you; they want to kill you. (Jeremiah 4:30)
Jeremiah uses two terms for lovers in his writings. The first is ray-AH found in Jeremiah 3:2. This word translates as lovers only once found at this location. All other 188 citations indicate a close community relationship or friend. The best translation may be close relationship rather than lover. (Strong H7453) The second term is ah-GAWV occurring 8 times in 7 verses meaning extreme affection or sexual desire. (Strong, H5689)
Too
Houses (by-ITH) of Sacred Sex Trade Workers (zah-NAW)
Lusty Stallions, ZOON sue-SEEM
“Why should I forgive you? Your children have forsaken me and sworn by gods that are not gods. I supplied all their needs, yet they committed adultery (nah-AWF) and thronged to the houses (by-ITH) of prostitutes (zah-NAW).
Tools
They are well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing for another man’s wife. (Jeremiah 5:7-8)
Jeremiah uses detailed terms for the trafficking of humans in chapter 5:7-8. He laments that children have given their allegiance to false gods and sex trafficking. Jeremiah then identifies the perpetrators of the sex trade as married adulterers. He states these adulterers throng in crowds to the house (by-ITH) of sex trafficking (za-NAH). The prophet then adds another layer of detail, he compares the mob to well fed (ZOON) stallions (sue-SEEM) sexually aroused in heat for another man’s wife. (Strong, H2109) This image of seducing another man’s wife connects to his use of the word, adultery, which means two people in a sexual relationship. These partners are in a covenant of marriage with others. Other colorful phrases are pull up the skirts, lustful neighing, detestable sexual acts, and hills and in the fields.
I will pull up your skirts over your face that your shame may be seen. …your adulteries and lustful neighings, your shameless prostitution (zah-NAW)! I have seen your detestable acts on the hills and in the fields. Woe to you, Jerusalem! How long will you be unclean?” (Jeremiah 13:26-27)
Pull up your skirts is the Hebrew phrase chah-SAWF SHOOL. Pull up (chah-SAWF) occurs 11 times in 10 verses of he Hebrew Old Testament. It has a sense of “pulling off the bark” of a tree. (Strong, H2834). Skirt, SHOOL, appears 11 times in 10 verses meaning skirt. Lustful neighing (mitz-ha-LAH) appears only two times in the Hebrew Old Testament within the Book of Jeremiah. The prophet seems to enjoy comparing the sexual arousal of sex traffickers with horses in heat mating on the hills. (Strong, H4684) Detestable Sexual Acts is the Hebrew word zee-MAH occurring 29 times in the Hebrew Old Testament. Zee-MAH means heinous crimes like incest and forcing one’s daughter into sex trafficking. (Strong, H2154) Note the use of HLL in Leviticus 19:29 prohibiting coercing daughters into the sex trade. HLL is the untranslatable trigger word often indicating loss of intimacy with God and decline to unhealthy sexuality.
The snorting of the enemy’s horses is heard from Dan; at the neighing (mitz-ha-LAH)of their stallions the whole land trembles. They have come to devour the land and everything in it, the city and all who live there. (Jeremiah 8:16)
…your adulteries and lustful neighings (mitz-ha-LAH), your shameless prostitution! I have seen your detestable acts on the hills and in the fields. Woe to you, Jerusalem! How long will you be unclean?” (Jeremiah 13:27)
Chapters 7-50 contain numerous images for the sacred sex trade. Baal, other gods, Asherah poles, high hills, Molek, Valley of Ben Hinnom, Molek, Bel, and Marduk.
Baal
Other Gods, el-oh-HEEM ah-chah-REEM
“ Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known.” (Jeremiah 7:9)
Baal is the deity most cited in the Old Testament connecting to the sacred sex trade. Baal appears 83 times in 79 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. (Strong, H1167) Other gods appears 60 times in the Hebrew Old Testament. (BLB, other gods) The term other gods occurs as the first command in the decalogue of Exodus 20:3.
“You shall have noothergods beforeme.” (Exodus 20:3)
Jeremiah creates vivid images about the sacred sex trade. He links pulling up the skirts to reveal the genitals, with the sex drive of a horse for adulterers and participants of the sacred sex trade. (Strong, H7036)
I will pull up your skirts over your face that your shame may be seen. …your adulteries (nah-AWF)and lustful neighings, your shameless prostitution (zah-NAW)! I have seen your detestable acts on the hills and in the fields. Woe to you, Jerusalem! How long will you be unclean?” (Jeremiah 13:26-27)
Asherah Poles
Spreading Trees, rah-ah-NAWN ATES
High Hills, gah-bow-AH geeb-AH
Even their children remember their altars and Asherah polesbeside the spreading trees and on the high hills. (Jeremiah 17:2)
Asherah Poles, spreading (rah-ah-NAWN) trees (ATES), high (gah-bow-AH) hills (geeb-AH) are all locales for the practice of the sacred sex trade.
Baal
Valley of Ben Hinnom
Molek
Chemosh
They built high places for Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molek, though I never commanded—nor did it enter my mind—that they should do such a detestable thing and so make Judah sin. (Jeremiah 32:35)
Then Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh, as Israel was ashamed when they trusted in Bethel. (Jeremiah 48:13)
The valley of Ben Hinnom appears 38 times in 10 verses of the NIV. Four of the ten references speak of child sacrifice in the Valley of Ben Hinnom. The typical sacrificial modality was burning the children in fire.(Strong, 2011) Molek was the deity to whom worshippers sacrificed their children. Molek occurs 9 times in 9 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. (Strong, H4432)
Sodom and Gomorrah
As Sodom and Gomorrah were overthrown, along with their neighboring towns,”
“so no one will live there; no people will dwell in it. (Jeremiah 49:18)
Bel
Marduk
“Announce and proclaim among the nations, lift up a banner and proclaim it; keep nothing back, but say, ‘Babylon will be captured; Bel will be put to shame, Marduk filled with terror. Her images will be put to shame and her idols filled with terror.” (Jeremiah 50:2)
Sodom and Gomorrah connect directly to the Genesis sexual health big picture representing coercive violent sexuality first found in Genesis 19. Sodom and Gomorrah appear 77 times in 20 verses of the NIV translation. (BLB, Sodom and Gomorrah) Bel is a form of the name Baal meaning lord or master. The nations of Akkad, Assyria, and Babylonia each worshiped Baal. The use of Bel in this text with Marduk may indicate neo-Babylonian influence. If so, this era correlates exactly to the siege and fall of Jerusalem by Babylonians in 586 BCE.
At the time of Jeremiah’s writing in the 7th century BCE the Babylonians worshipped a deity named “Bel“, meaning “lord”. Bel was a synthesis of Marduk, Enlil, and Dumuzid, the dying deity. Bel came to be known as the god of order and destiny. The cult of Bel cites in the Jewish story of “Bel and the Dragon” from the apocryphal addition to the book of Daniel. Bel mentions in numerous writings of Greek historians. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marduk
Marduk was the calf of the sun deity. When Hammurabi crafted his law code in the 18th century BCE Marduk became the chief deity of the Babylonian pantheon. Marduk is the diety who raped and dismembered Tiamat, the Mesopotamian sea dragon goddess.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marduk
Ezekiel Sexual Health Positive Terms in Order of Appearance
Cover (kah-SAH) Nakedness (ehr-VAH), kah-SAH ehr-VAH An act of compassion contrasted with “uncovering the nakedness” which is an incestuous act
Covenant, buh-REETH
Large(gah-DAWL), Genitals (bah-SAR)
Lovers, ah-HAWV
Pleasure of Intimate Relationship, ah-RAWV
Nude Body, ehr-VAH
Genital Sexual Intercourse, qah-RAV
Monthly Cycle, nee-DAH
Nipples, DAWD
Breasts, SHAWD
Ejaculate, zeer-MAH
Intimacy, yah-DAH
Covenant, buh-REETH
Increase, rah-BAH
At-one-ment/Intimacy, kah-PHAR
Intimacy Terms
Genital Sexual Intercourse, qah-RAV
Pleasure of Intimate Relationship, ah-RAWV
Lover, ah-HAWV
Sexually Mature Partner, DODE
At-one-ment/intimacy, kah-PHAR
Intimacy, yah-DAH
Five terms connect to genital sexual intercourse in Ezekiel; intercourse, qah-RAV, the pleasure of intimacy, ah-RAWV, lovers, ah-HAWV, sexually mature partner, DODE, and yah-DAH, to know intimately.
Qah-RAWV means to draw near, or be near. Eight times in the Hebrew Old Testament qah-RAWV has the meaning of genital sexual intercourse. (Genesis 20:4; Isaiah 8:3; Deuteronomy 22:14; Leviticus 18:6, 14, 19; Ezekiel 18:6; Leviticus 20:16; Strong, H7126) Qah-RAV can be used for unhealthy sexuality or sexual intimacy.
He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife or have sexual relations (qah-RAV) with a woman during her period. (Ezekiel 18:6)
Isaiah chooses draw near, qah-RAV, to describe sexual intimacy with his wife.
Then I made love to (qah-RAV) the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. And the LORD said to me, “Name him Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. (Isaiah 8:3)
Ah-RAWV appears 7 times in 7 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. Ah-RAWV means sweet or pleasurable. (Strong, H6149)
Therefore I am going to gather all your lovers, with whom you found pleasure (ah- RAWV), those you loved as well as those you hated. (Ezekiel 16:37)
Ezekiel seems to enjoy words which sound alike, called homophones. Ah-RAWV, pleasure, and ah-HAWV the root word for lovers, sound similar. (Strong, H157). Ah-HAWV, love, has a range of meaning to desire, to love, to delight. Chaldee is a dialect which influenced Biblical Hebrew. Ah-VAWV in Chaldee though unused in Hebrew has meanings of to germinate, to be fertile, to shoot forth, an ear of corn, and eager pursuit. (BLB, Strong, H157)
Cover (kah-SAH) Nakedness (ehr-VAH), kah-SAH ehr-VAH An act of compassion contrasted with uncovering the nakedness which is an incestuous act
In this Ezekiel snap shot of compassionate presence God is seen as the YBM, redeemer, who betroths the zah-NAH, sex trafficking victim, by spreading the corner of his garment over the bride to be.
”Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love (DODE), I spread (pah-RAWSH) the corner of my garment (kah-RAWSH)over you and covered (kah-SAH)your naked body (ehr-VAH). I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign LORD, and you became mine. (Ezekiel 16:8)
The phrase, spread the corner of my garment is the exact wording in Ruth for the betrothal snap shot of Boaz and Ruth. (Strong, H6566, H3671)
“Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner (pah- RAWSH) of your garment (kah-NAWF) over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.” (Ruth 3:9)
The uncovering (gah-LAH) of nakedness (ehr-VAH), means incest beginning in Genesis 9 with the sexual assault of Ham against his mother. The covering of nakedness or the naked body in this passage however means the opposite, that is to cover the shameful exposure of a victim of trafficking. (Strong, H3680, H6172) “Old enough for love” is the term DODE meaning perhaps sexually mature, or one ripe for love. Solomon adopts this word using it 32 times to speak of his lover in the Song of Solomon. (Strong, H1730)
Covenant, buh-REETH
Increase, rah-BAH
I will make a covenant (buh-REETH) of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant (buh-REETH). I will establish them and increase their numbers (rah-BAH), and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. (Ezekiel 37:26)
Covenant (buh-REETH) and increase (rah-BAH) their numbers connect word for word to the Genesis sexual health positive big picture. Covenant first appears in Genesis 6:18 when God promises to cut a covenant or make a lasting agreement with Noah and his family. Covenant, buh-REETH means to “cut” appearing 284 times in 264 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. (Strong, H1285) Jeremiah describes the serious consequences of breaking covenant, “Those who have violated my covenant and have not fulfilled the terms of the covenant they made before me, I will treat like the calf they cut in two and then walked between its pieces.” (Jeremiah 34:18) Ezekiel uses buh-REETH 15 times. Rah-BAH, increase, features in the preamble to every covenant in Genesis. This sexual health positive keystone phrase is, “Be fruitful and increase.” The first time rah-BAH appears is in Genesis 1:22, “God blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and increase (rah-BAH) in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.’” (Genesis 1:22) In Ezekiel 16 the prophet uses covenant, buh-REETH, plus the word for oath six times. Six is a favorite symbol of Ezekiel’s excellent writing expressing consummate evil.
“ This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will deal with you as you deserve, because you have despised my oath (ah-LAH) by breaking the covenant (buh-REETH).
Yet I will remember the covenant (buh-REETH)I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant (buh-REETH) with you.
Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your sisters, both those who are older than you and those who are younger. I will give them to you as daughters, but not on the basis of my covenant (buh-REETH) with you.
So I will establish my covenant (buh-REETH)with you, and you will know that I am the LORD.
Then, when I make atonement (kah-PHAR) for you for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed and never again open your mouth because of your humiliation, declares the Sovereign LORD.’ ” (Ezekiel 16:20-63)
The closing for chapter 16 uses two intimacy terms, yah-DAH, intimacy, and atonement, kah-PHAR meaning “at-one-ment”. William Tyndall in his 1534 translation of the Bible coins the word for reconciliation as at-one-ment. https://forward.com/culture/11632/at-one-ment-00488/ The fuller meaning includes unity and reconciliation. The Hebrew term kah-PHAR has the range of meaning: to cover, to condone, to appease, cleanse, forgive, be compassionate, pacify, pardon, and reconcile. (Strong, H3722) Yah-DAH, is both the premier term to express God’s relationship with humankind but also sexual intimacy. The Hebrew Biblical word for to be intimate is yah-DAH, and the similar sounding Greek term is OIDA. The meaning for the terms YDA and Greek OIDA range: to know; spiritually, pleasurably, beautifully, compassionately, mutually, consensually, rationally, or emotionally and at times for sexual intercourse (Botterweck and Kittel, 1986).
After the breaking of covenant through the trafficking of humans for sex, benevolent Creator recreates oneness with Israel. In this renewal of intimacy between God and humankind the people He loves will “know” or see that God is the Lord.
On the day you were born (yeh-LED)your cord (SHORE)was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths.
No one looked on you with pity or had compassion enough to do any of these things for you. Rather, you were thrown out into the open field, for on the day you were born (yeh-LED) you were despised.
“ ‘Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, “Live!”
“ ‘Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love (DODE), I spread (pah-RAWSH) the corner of my garment (kah-NAWF)over you and covered (kah-SAH) your naked (ehr-VAH) body. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant (buh-REETH) with you, declares the Sovereign LORD, and you became mine. (Ezekiel 16:1-8)
“ This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will deal with you as you deserve, because you have despised my oath (ah-LAH) by breaking the covenant (buh-REETH).
Yet I will remember the covenant (buh-REETH)I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant (buh-REETH) with you.
Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your sisters, both those who are older than you and those who are younger. I will give them to you as daughters, but not on the basis of my covenant (buh-REETH) with you.
So I will establish my covenant (buh-REETH)with you, and you will know that I am the LORD.
Then, when I make atonement (kah-PHAR) for you for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed and never again open your mouth because of your humiliation, declares the Sovereign LORD.’ ” (Ezekiel 16:20-63)
Large(gah-DAWL), Genitals (bah-SAR)
You engaged in prostitution (zah-NAW) with the Egyptians, your neighbors with large (gah-DAWL), genitals (bah-SAR) and aroused my anger with your increasing promiscuity (zah-NAW). (Ezekiel 16:26)
Nude Body, ehr-VAH
I am going to gather all your lovers (ah-HAWV), with whom you found pleasure (ah- RAWV), those you loved (ah-HAWV) as well as those you hated. I will gather them against you from all around and will strip you (gah-LAH er-VAH) in front of them, and they will see you stark (gah-LAH) naked (er-VAH).
Monthly Cycle, nee-DAH
“Suppose there is a righteous man who does what is just and right.
He does not eat at the mountain shrines (HAR) or look to the idols (gil-LOOL) of Israel. He does not defile (tah-MAH) his neighbor’s wife or have sexual relations (qah-RAV) with a woman during her period (nee-DAH). (Ezekiel 18:5-6)
Nipples, DAWD
Breasts, SHAWD
So you longed for the lewdness (zee-MAH) of your youth, when in Egypt your bosom (DAWD) was caressed and your young breasts (SHAWD) fondled. (Ezekiel 23:21)
Ejaculate, zeer-MAH
There she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission (zeer-MAH)was like that of horses. (Ezekiel 23:20)
Unhealthy Sexuality Terms and Images in Ezekiel
Unhealthy Sexual Behaviors, toe-eh-VAH
Spread (pah-SHAWK ) Legs (REH-gel)
Increasing (rah-BAH) Promiscuity (zah-NAH)
Sacred Sex Trade or Trafficking in Sex, zah-NAH
Lewdness or High Crimes, zee-MAH
Coercive or Violent Sexual Intercourse, shah-CAWV
Payment for Sacred Sex Trade, eth-NAWN
Adulterous person or adultery, nah-AWF
Poured out (shah-PHAWK) your Lust (neh-SHAWK)
Depraved or Unhealthy Sexual Behavior, shah-CHAWT
Expose (gah-LAH) your naked body (er-VAH)
Coercive Sexuality, RA
Unhealthy Sexuality, BO
Heavy Breathing, ah-GAWV
At every street corner you built your lofty shrines (rah-MAH) and degraded your beauty, spreading your legs (pah-SAWK, REH-gel) with increasing (rah-BAH) promiscuity (zah-NAH)to anyone who passed by.
You engaged in prostitution (zah-NAH) with the Egyptians, your neighbors with large (gah-DAWL), genitals (bah-SAR) and aroused my anger with your increasing promiscuity (zah-NAH) So I stretched out my hand against you and reduced your territory; I gave you over to the greed of your enemies, the daughters of the Philistines, who were shocked by your lewd conduct (zee-MAH).
When you built your mounds (GAWV) at every street corner and made your lofty shrines (rah-MAH)in every public square, you were unlike a prostitute (zah-NAH), because you scorned payment (eth-NAWN).
“ ‘You adulterous (nah-AWF) wife! You prefer strangers to your own husband!
All prostitutes (zah-NAH) receive gifts, but you give gifts to all your lovers (ah-HAWV), bribing them to come to you from everywhere for your illicit favors (zah-NAH)…. (Strabo’s citation here)
This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because you poured out (shah-PHAWK) your lust (neh-SHAWK) and exposed (gah-LAH) your naked body (er-VAH) in your promiscuity (zah-NAH) with your lovers (AH-HAWV), and because of all your detestable (toe-eh-VAH) idols (gah-LEEL), and because you gave them your children’s blood, therefore I am going to gather all your lovers (ah-HAWV), with whom you found pleasure (ah-RAWV), those you loved (ah-HAWV) as well as those you hated. I will gather them against you from all around and will strip you (gah-LAH er-VAH) in front of them, and they will see you stark (gah-LAH) naked (er-VAH).
I will sentence you to the punishment of women who commit adultery (nah-AWF) and who shed blood; I will bring on you the blood vengeance of my wrath and jealous anger….
You not only followed their ways and copied their detestable practices, but in all your ways you soon became more depraved (shah-CHAWT) than they….
You would not even mention your sister Sodom in the day of your pride,
before your wickedness (RA) was uncovered (gah-LAH). Even so, you are now scorned by the daughters of Edom and all her neighbors and the daughters of the Philistines—all those around you who despise you. (Ezekiel 16:25-57)
The phrase “detestable practice” translates from the word toe-eh-VAH appearing 118 times in 112 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. Detestable, toe-eh-VAH, connects to behaviors, rituals, or customs associated with foreign gods and idolatry. The Genesis and Exodus use of the term toe-eh-VAH relates to Egyptian culture. When Leviticus uses the word, incest is the context. So, in the first two books of the Bible, the sole context for toe-eh-VAH is Egyptian customs and the practice of incest.(Strong, H8441)
“Turn from your idols (ghih-LOOL) and renounce all your detestable practices (toe-eh- VAH)!“ (Ezekiel 14:6)
They served him by himself, the brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews, for that is detestable (toe-eh-VAH) to Egyptians. (Genesis 43:32)
But Moses said, “That would not be right. The sacrifices we offer the LORD our God would be detestable to the Egyptians. And if we offer sacrifices that are detestable (toe- eh-VAH) in their eyes, will they not stone us? (Exodus 8:26)
“ No one is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the LORD…
Everyone who does any of these detestable (toe-eh-VAH)things—such persons must be cut off from their people.” (Leviticus 18:6-29)
“Spread the legs” is not necessarily a negative phrase. It seems the context cements this as unhealthy sexuality with the words, “Spreading the legs…increasing promiscuity” (sex trafficking). Increasing is the Hebrew term rah-BAH. Rah-BAH is the root word for Rahab of Joshua 2:1. Rahab, a survivor of sex trafficking, assisted Israel’s intel and special ops at the siege of Jericho. She is recorded in the Bible at the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1 as an ancestor of Christ. The Book of Hebrews “hall of faith” honors Rehab along with Abraham, Isaac, Moses, and King David. James too remembers Rahab with high honors as a righteous woman who was faithful to God and survived the coercive abuse of the sacred sex trade.
Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse…. (Matthew 1:5)
By faith the prostitute (sex trafficking survivor) Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. (Hebrews 11:31)
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute (sex trafficking survivor) considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? (James 2:25)
Lewdness or High Crimes, zee-MAH
So I stretched out my hand against you and reduced your territory; I gave you over to the greed of your enemies,
the daughters of the Philistines, who were shocked by your
lewd conduct (zee-MAH). (Ezekiel 16:27)
Zee-MAH means high crimes. Perhaps in our culture we might say, felonious misconduct like trafficking humans and murder. Zee-MAH appears 29 times in 27 verses in the Hebrew Old Testament connecting to incest, trafficking a daughter into the sex trade, murder with dismemberment, and execution by ambush. (Strong, H2154)
Unhealthy Sexuality, shah-CAWV
She did not give up the prostitution (zah-NAH)she began in Egypt, when during her youth men slept with (shah-CAWV) her, caressed her virgin (buh-tue-LAH) bosom (DAWD) and poured out (shah-PHAWK) their lust (zah-NAH)on her. (Ezekiel 23:8)
Shah-CAWV is an important sexual health term. Shah-CAWV meaning coercive sexual intercourse occurs appears 213 times in 194 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. The range of meaning includes: to lie down, coercive genital sexual intercourse, to rape, to die, to sleep, or to stay. Genesis uses shah-CAWV twenty times, fifteen of which refer to unhealthy sexuality. All uses of shah-CAWV in the book of Genesis connect to the unhealthy sexuality of incest, non-consensual intercourse, bartering for sexual favors, rape, and coercive seduction for sexual intercourse. (Strong, H7901)
Payment for offering sexual services is the term eth-NAWN. The payment or price of a sex act with a trafficking victim occurs 11 times in 8 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. (Strong, H868). In this piece Ezekiel seems to mock the sex trade. In Ezekiel’s mind traffickers enjoy the business so much they shun payment.
When you built your mounds at every street corner and made your lofty shrines in every public square, you were unlike a prostitute, because you scorned payment (eth-NAWN). (Ezekiel 16:31)
Adulterous person or adultery, nah-AWF
Poured out (shah-PHAWK) your Lust (neh-SHAWK)
Exposed (gah-LAH) your naked body (ehr-VAH) or uncover (gah-LAH) the nakedness (ehr-VAH) of
“ ‘You adulterous (nah-AWF) wife! You prefer strangers to your own husband!
All prostitutes (zah-NAH) receive gifts, but you give gifts to all your lovers (ah-HAWV), bribing them to come to you from everywhere for your illicit favors (zah-NAH)….
This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because you poured out (shah-PHAWK) your lust (neh-SHAWK) and exposed (gah-LAH) your naked body (er-VAH) in your promiscuity (zah-NAH) with your lovers (AH-HAWV). (Ezekiel 16:32-36)
Adultery is the Hebrew word, nah-AWF. Adultery appears 31 times in 26 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. The first occurrence of this term is found in the Ten Commandments, “Thou shalt not commit adultery (nah-AWF). (Exodus 20:14) Nah-AWF does not only mean adultery between two people in a covenant of marriage with others, but also an image of unhealthy sexuality for decline of Israel’s intimacy with God. As a married partner moves away spiritually from the marriage, so did Israel distance from intimacy with God. (Strong, H5003)
“Pour out lust” is an obscure phrase. Literally in Hebrew it reads, “‘poured out your brass’ and exposed your genitals in the act of sex trafficking with your customers.” (Ezekiel 16:36). Brass is the Hebrew word neh-HOE-sheth, brass. (Strong, H5178) Appearing 140 times in 119 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. The term first appears in Genesis, “Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out ofbronze (neh-HOE-sheth) and iron.” (Genesis 4:22) Brass has a range of meaning: copper, metal coin, brass shackles; a metaphor of value as in brass is less valuable than gold, and one reference to unhealthy sexuality in Ezekiel 16:36. This work permits the Bible to interpret itself. The integrity of numerous texts can validate obscure meanings. Ezekiel may very well have clarified the use of “brass” in his own writings. Ezekiel cites, neh-HOE-sheth, brass, five times. Each use of neh-HOE-sheth refers to liquifying metal in the process of metal working. Brass also represents impurity as opposed to the purity of gold. Could Ezekiel be thinking of molten brass poured out like the passionate heat of intercourse? Is it possible the prophet connects pouring out of sexual desire like the pouring out of “children’s blood” in sacrifice at the end of vs. 36? Does this form an inclusio highlighting a specific idea? Ezekiel 27:13 seems to cement this idea in terms of connecting brass to sex trafficking, “Greece, Tubal and Meshek did business with you; they traded human beings and articles of bronze (neh-HOE-sheth) for your wares.” (Ezekiel 27:13) Note that the locale Tubal is the surname of Tubal-Cain in Genesis 4:22 above.
This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because you poured out your lust (neh-HOE- sheth) and exposed your naked body (ehr-VAH) in your promiscuity with your lovers, and because of all your detestable idols, and because you gave them your children’s blood. (Ezekiel 16:36)
“Son of man, the people of Israel have become dross to me; all of them are the copper (neh-HOE-sheth), tin, iron and lead left inside a furnace. They are but the dross of silver. (Ezekiel 22:18)
As silver, copper (neh-HOE-sheth), iron, lead and tin are gathered into a furnace to be melted with a fiery blast, so will I gather you in my anger and my wrath and put you inside the city and melt you. (Ezekiel 22:20)
Then set the empty pot on the coals till it becomes hot and its copper (neh-HOE- sheth) glows, so that its impurities may be melted and its deposit burned away. (Ezekiel 24:11)
Greece, Tubal and Meshek did business with you; they traded human beings and articles of bronze (neh-HOE-sheth) for your wares. (Ezekiel 27:13)
“Uncover the nakedness of “ is a phrase for incest in Genesis 9 and Leviticus chapters 18, 20 and Deuteronomy 22 and 27. Uncover the nakedness of is used three times in chapter 23 of Ezekiel. Perhaps the best translation connects to Exodus 20:26. Moses helps protect the modesty of clergy as they ascend a public stairway. Apparently as priests process up steep flights of steps for rituals, cleric robes may have billowed in the wind exposing their genitals to gawking worshipers below. This phrase uncover the nakedness of is used in Moses’ regulations for priests. So perhaps the best translation based on the data and context is, “exposing genitals.”
And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts (ahr-VAH) may be exposed (gah-LAH). (Exodus 20:26)
Morally Corrupt, shah-CHAWT
Morally corrupt first appears in the Noah snap shot of Genesis 6-9. Shah-CHAWT appears six times in this sexual nihilism section of Genesis. Six often represents comprehensive evil. The moral corruption of the Noah snap shot declined to erotic violence and incest. (Strong, H7843)
Unhealthy Sexuality, BO
Then I said about the one worn out by adultery (nah-AWF), ‘Now let them use her as a prostitute (zah-NAH), for that is all she is.’And they slept with (BO) her. As men sleep (BO) with a prostitute (BO), so they slept with (BO) those lewd (zee-MAH) women, Oholah and Oholibah. But righteous judges will sentence them to the punishment of women who commit adultery (zah-NAH) andshed blood, because they are adulterous (zah-NAH)and blood is on their hands….
Genesis uses BO, meaning to go into or unhealthy sexual intercourse 16 times. Bo first appears in the decline of humankind to sexual nihilism of Genesis 6:4. AllBO citations in Genesis reflect the unhealthy sexuality of sexual abuse, coercive sex, incest, and sex for food. BO does not appear in chapters 1-5 of the Genesis sexual health big picture. (Strong, H935). BO first occurs in the decline of humankind of chapter 6:4, then coercive intercourse with Hagar and Bilhah the concubine, the incest of Lot’s daughters with their biological father, Laban coercing his son-in-law Jacob to have sex with Leah, the bartering of mandrakes for sexual favors between rival sisters, the fatal Onan coitus interruptus snapshot, and Tamar’s incestuous seduction of her father-in-law. Ezekiel cites BOthree times for the sacred sex trade:“And they slept with (BO) her. As men sleep with (BO) a prostitute, so they slept with (BO) those lewd women, Oholah and Oholibah” (Ezekiel 23:44).
Heavy Breathing or Heavy Breathers, ah-GAWV
“Oholah engaged in prostitution (zah-NAH)while she was still mine; and she lusted (ah- GAWV)after her lovers (ah-HAWV), the Assyrians—warriors clothed in blue, governors and commanders, all of them handsome young men, and mounted horsemen. (Ezekiel 23:5)
Ah-GAWV literally means “heavy breathers” when used in the plural and “heavy breathing” in the singular. Ah-GAWV, appears seven times in the Hebrew Old Testament. Ezekiel uses the term, heavy breathing, ah-GAWV six times. Six is often a symbol of evil. Ah-GAWV sounds very similar to ah-HAWV, the word for lovers. (Strong, H157) It seems the prophet-author enjoys homophones as a literary device that is, “heavy breathers” (ah-GAWV) sounds like “lovers” (ah-HAWV). (Ezekiel 23:5)
Idolatry, Locales, and Images for the Sacred Sex Trade
Idols and Idolatry, ghih-LOOL
Canaanites
Lofty Shrines, rah-MAH
Location for the Sacred Sex Trade, bah-MAH
Idols, tse-LEM
Shrines Where The Sacred Sex Trade is Practiced, HAR
Greece, Tubal, Meshek, Sex Trafficking Regions
Ohalah and Oholibah, Sisters Trafficking in the Sacred Sex Trade
Summary of Idolatry, Locales and Images
Idols and Idolatry, ghih-LOOL
“Son of man, these men have set up idols (ghih-LOOL) in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all? (Ezekiel 14:3)
Canaanites
’This is what the Sovereign LORD says to Jerusalem: Your ancestry and birth were in the land of the Canaanites; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. (Ezekiel 16:1-3)
The first unhealthy sexuality term in Ezekiel orbits the sex trade. The word “idols” appears six times in Ezekiel 14:1-7. Six is often a symbol of evil. Ghih-LOOL, a term of derision or sarcasm, means a log or block. (Strong, H1544). Ghih-LOOL appears 48 times in 45 verses in the Hebrew Old Testament. 37 times or 77 percent of the uses of ghih-LOOL appear in Ezekiel. Canaan is the incestuous offspring of Ham and his biological mother. This is a direct connection to the Genesis sexual health big picture. (Genesis 9:22)
Lofty Shrines, rah-MAH
Location for the Sacred Sex Trade, bah-MAH
Idols, tse-LEM
‘But you trusted in your beauty and used your fame to become a prostitute (zah-NAH). You lavished your favors on anyone who passed by and your beauty became his.
You took some of your garments to make gaudy high places (bah-MAH), where you carried on your prostitution (zah-NAH). You went to him, and he possessed your beauty.
You also took the fine jewelry I gave you, the jewelry made of my gold and silver, and you made for yourself male idols (tse-LEM)and engaged in prostitution (zah-NAH) with them. (Ezekiel 16:15-17)
Shrines Where The Sacred Sex Trade is Practiced, HAR
“Suppose there is a righteous man who does what is just and right.
He does not eat at the mountain shrines (HAR) or look to the idols (gil-LOOL) of Israel. (Ezekiel 18:6)
Lofty Shrines rah-MAH means a mound, high tower, or elevated place for defense or worship. (Strong, H7413) Bah-MAH is a high place for the practice of sex trafficking. (Strong, H1116) Tse-LEM has the nuance of a shadow or image. (Strong, H6754) HAR is a common term for mountain appearing 547 times in 486 verse of the Hebrew Old Testament. The Greek equivalent is the word, HA-ross, mountain. (Strong’s, H2022)
Greece, Tubal, Meshek, Sex Trafficking Regions
“ ‘Greece, Tubal and Meshek did business with you; they traded (rah- KAWL) human beings (NE-phesh ISH)and articles of bronze for your wares. (Ezekiel 27:13)
Ezekiel seems to enjoy citing place names in his work. He calls out Greece, Tubal/Turkey, and Meshek/western Asia Minor as traffickers for the sex trade. Ezekiel uses the term NEPH-esh ISH, soul of a man, perhaps to make the crime of sex trafficking more personal. This may contrast the sex trade with the intimacy of God in Genesis who shares His own breath with humankind.
Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man (ISH) became a living being (NE-phesh). (Genesis 2:7)
Oholah and Oholibah, Two Sisters in the Sacred Sex Trade
“Oholah engaged in prostitution (zah-NAH)while she was still mine; and she lusted (ah- GAWV)after her lovers (ah-HAWV), the Assyrians—warriors clothed in blue, governors and commanders, all of them handsome young men, and mounted horsemen.
She gave herself as a prostitute (zah-NAH) to all the elite of the Assyrians and defiled (tah-MAH)herself with all the idols (gih-LOOL) of everyone she lusted (ah-GAWV) after.
She did not give up the prostitution (zah-NAH)she began in Egypt, when during her youth men slept with (shah-CAWB) her, caressed her virgin (buh-tue-LAH) bosom (DAWD) and poured out (shah-PHAWK) their lust (zah-NAH)on her.
“Therefore I delivered her into the hands of her lovers (ah-HAWV), the Assyrians, for whom she lusted (ah-GAWV).
They stripped her naked (gah-LAH ar-VEH), took away her sons and daughters and killed her with the sword. She became a byword among women, and punishment was inflicted on her.
“Her sister Oholibah saw this, yet in her lust (ah-geh-VAH) and prostitution (zah-NAH) she was more depraved (shah-CHAT) than her sister.
She too lusted (ah-GAWV) after the Assyrians—governors and commanders, warriors in full dress, mounted horsemen, all handsome young men.
Oholah means a sacred sex trade worker who brings her own tent to the sex act. (Strong, H170) Used exclusively by Ezekiel 5 times in 4 verses, Oholibah means “my tent by her”. (Strong, H172) Perhaps these terms can be put in modern language? Oholah is a sex trafficker who provides sexual services for paying clientele in a mobile recreational vehicle. Like a tent she can pull up stakes and move where client demand is high and economy profitable. Oholibah, her sister, also participates in the mobile sacred sex trade. Sister number two also meets with clients in her own trailer parked next to or “by” her sister?
The Book of Genesis begins with God “seeing” the creation. Seven times the Maker of heaven and earth “sees” and declares the goodness and health of the creation. Genital sexual intercourse between Adam and Eve first occurs in Genesis 4:1. The Hebrew word is YDA. This premier sexual health term for intercourse has the range of meaning to know spiritually, emotionally, physically, and intimately. This sexual health positive term appears after six other intimacy images: spiritual intimacy, beauty, rest, pleasure, compassionate presence, and reconciliation.
Intimacy in the General Epistles
Connection with God, taking pleasure in beauty, emotional regulation, and compassion with forgiveness precede the act of sexual intercourse. Could it be intimacy and sexuality are the intended design for humankind? Is it reasonable the loss of intimacy with God and one another lay at the core of problematic sexuality? What do you think might happen if intimacy restores between Maker and sexual partners?
The General Epistles like Genesis speak out against sexual violence and the protection of children. The General Epistles also connect to the same seven intimacies of Genesis chapters 1-4. This summary of the General Epistles connects to the seven intimacies found in Genesis.
Spiritual Intimacy
God sees goodness in humankind, the creation sees the Creator. I see God, benevolent Maker sees into me, intimacy.
But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. (Hebrews 2:9)
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. (1 John 1:1)
The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. (1 John 1:2)
We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:3)
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)
No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. (1 John 3:6)
James sees spiritual purpose in pain. In trauma recovery this is called the meaning making system. After trauma comes the process of organizing what happened, mitigating shame, and then helping others heal.
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. (James 1:12-13)
This spiritual intimacy is a knowing of God.
This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. (Hebrews 8:10-11)
I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. (1 John 2:14)
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1)
We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)
Spiritual intimacy connects us with each other.
We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:3)
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:11)
Intimacy of Beauty
…but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. (Hebrews 1:2)
…who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. (1 Peter 1:2)
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. (1 Peter 1:8)
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves.. (1 Peter 3:3-5)
But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3:13)
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. (1 Peter 4:10)
Compassionate Presence
But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? (Hebrews 2:6)
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. (Hebrews 4:15)
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
…not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)
Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.
Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Hebrews 13:1-6)
Mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:13)
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. (James 3:17)
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. (James 3:18)
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:8)
You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. (James 5:8)
As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. (James 5:11)
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:10)
We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:3)
If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. (1 John 1:6)
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:6-7)
Intimacy of Rest and Emotional Regulation
So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ” (Hebrews 3:11)
And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed?
So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief. (Hebrews 3:18-19)
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
…and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness. (2 Peter 1:6)
Intimacy of Reconciliation
…and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him (Hebrews 5:9)
Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. (Hebrews 7:27)
For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Hebrews 8:12)
How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Hebrews 9:14)
Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:28)
The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. (Hebrews 10:1)
Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”
And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary. (Hebrews 10:16-18)
Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22)
Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.
And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:14-16)
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. (1 Peter 3:18)
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 Peter 4:10)
Intimacy of Pleasure
…with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. (Hebrews 10:6)
…equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:21)
And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” (Hebrews 10:38)
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (1 Peter 1:17)
Genital Sexual Intercourse
Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. (Hebrews 13:4)
Hebrews, James, Peter, John, and Jude Sexual Health Vocabulary
The Book of Hebrews
Covenant, διαθήκη, dee-ah-THEY-kay
But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant (ministry) of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant, (διαθήκη, dee-ah-THEY-kay) is established on better promises. (Hebrews 8:6)
Noah and Sexual Nihilism Imagery
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. (Hebrews 11:7)
And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children (καταβολὴν σπέρματος, kah-tah-bow-LANE SPER-ma-toss) because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. (Hebrews 11:11)
Female Sacred Sex Trade Worker, πόρνη, PAR-nay
Rahab
By faith the prostitute (πόρνη, PAR-nay) Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. (Hebrews 11:31)
Male Sacred Sex Trade Worker, πόρνος, PAR-naws
See that no one is sexually immoral (πόρνος, PAR-naws), or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. (Hebrews 12:16)
Honor in Marriage, Τίμιος γάμος, TIH-me-aws GAW-moss
Marriage Bed Kept Pure, κοίτη ἀμίαντος, KOI-tay ah-MEE-awn-toss
Adulterer, μοιχός, moy-KAWS
Male Sacred Sex Trade Workers, πόρνος, PAR-naws
Marriage (γάμος, GAW-moss) should be honored (tίμιος, TIH-me-aws) by all, and the marriage bed kept pure (κοίτη ἀμίαντος, KOI-tay ah-MEE-awn-toss), for God will judge the adulterer (μοιχός, moy-KAWS) and all the sexually immoral (πόρνος, PAR-naws). (Hebrews 13:4)
The Book of James
To Commit Adultery, μοιχεύω, moy-KEU-oh
To Murder, φονεύω, foe-NEW-oh
For he who said, “You shall not commitadultery (μοιχεύω, moy-KEU-oh),” also said, “You shall not murder (φονεύω, foe-NEW-oh).” If you do not commitadultery (μοιχεύω,moy-KEU-oh) but do commit murder(φονεύω, foe-NEW-oh), you have become a lawbreaker. (James 2:11)
The Books of Peter
Tools
New Birth, ἀναγεννάω, aw-naw-ghen-NAW-oh
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth (ἀναγεννάω, aw-naw-ghen-NAW-oh) into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (1 Peter 1:3)
Erotic Rage, ἐπιθυμία, eh-pee-thew-MEE-ah
As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires (ἐπιθυμία, eh-pee-thew-MEE-ah) you had when you lived in ignorance. (1 Peter 1:14)
Debauchery-Immorality, ἀσέλγεια, ah-SELL-gay-ah
Erotic Rage, ἐπιθυμία, eh-pee-thew-MEE-ah
Idolatry (Sacred Sex Trade), εἰδωλολατρία, eye-doe-low-la-TREE-ah
Unhealthy Sexuality, ἀσωτία, ah-so-TEE-ah
For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery (ἀσέλγεια, ah-SELL-gay-a), lust (ἐπιθυμία, eh-pee-thew-MEE-ah),drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry (εἰδωλολατρία, eye-doe-loh-la- TREE-ah). They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living (ἀσωτία, ah-so-TEE-ah), and they heap abuse on you. (1 Peter 4:3-4)
Sexual Violence Images
Tools
…if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly. (2 Peter 2:6)
Adultery, μοιχαλίs, moy-kah-LIS
Seduce, δελεάζω, deh-lee-AH-dzoh
With eyes full of adultery (μοιχαλίs, moy-kah-LIS), they never stop sinning; they seduce (δελεάζω, deh-lee-AH-dzoh)the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood! (2 Peter 2:14)
Balaam
Tools
They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. (2 Peter 2:15)
Tool
The Books of John
Idols and the Sacred Sex Trade, εἴδωλον, AI-doe-lawn
Dear children, keep yourselves from idols (εἴδωλον, AI-doe-lawn). (1 John 5:21)
The Book of Jude
Sexual Violence Images, Sodom and Gomorrah
Sacred Sex Trade, ἐκπορνεύω, ek-par-NEW-oh
Other Flesh, ἕτερος σάρξ, HEH-tew-ross SAR-KS
In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrahand the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality (ἐκπορνεύω, ek-par-NEW-oh) and perversion (HEH-tew-ross SAR- KS). They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire. (Jude 1:7)
Tools
Pollute, μιαίνω, mee-EYE-noh
In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute (μιαίνω, mee-EYE-noh);their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings. (Jude 1:8)
Sexual Violence Image-Aphrodite, ἐπαφρίζω, eh-paw-FRIH-dzoh (possible)
Shame, αἰσχύνη, ai-SKEW-nay
They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up (ἐπαφρίζω, eh-paw-FRIH-dzoh) their shame (αἰσχύνη, ai-SKEW-nay) wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. (Jude 1:13)
Summary
The Book of Hebrews
Covenant, διαθήκη, dee-ah-THEY-kay
Covenant appears 33 times in 30 verses of the NT. The NIV cites covenant 14 times in the Book of Hebrews. Covenant in Greek is διαθήκης, pronounced dia-THEY-case. (Strong, G1242) Every reference to covenant in the Book of Genesis begins with the sexual health positive phrase, “Be fruitful and multiply”. The writer of Hebrews makes the case the new covenant with Jesus is a better platform than the OT covenant. Could this mean that the New Covenant through Christ is a safer sexual health ethic than the Old Testament?
Noah and Sexual Nihilism
Noah appears 55 times in 51 verses of the NIV. The Gospels cite Noah 5 times, Hebrews once, and Peter 3 times. Chapters 6-11 of Genesis teaches families about sexual violence and incest prevention. The outcome for sexual nihilism and abuse was annihilation by tsunami. In Hebrews 11:7 it states that Noah “condemned” the world. Could the condemnation be for sexual nihilism and erotic violence?
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. (Hebrews 11:7)
…to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water. (1 Peter 3:20)
The words for childbearing are unique. The literal Greek phrase is laying down or injecting sperm. The Greek terms are καταβολὴν σπέρματος, pronounced ka-ta-bow-LANE SPER-ma-toss, throwing down sperm. (Strong G4690 and G2602)
Female Sacred Sex Trade Worker, πόρνη, PAR-nay
Rahab
Hebrews 11 to 13 form a porn inclusio of sorts. The section begins with Rahab the faithful female sacred sex trade worker, πόρνη, PAR-nay in Greek. The inclusio ends with the male plural form of the term πόρνος, PAR-naws. (Strong, G4205) Again, translators may have edited the text according to their own sexual politics. The female form of sacred sex trade worker, πόρνη, PAR-nay, always translates as prostitute. The male term for sacred sex trade worker, πόρνος, PAR-naws, never translates accurately. Favored edits for translators are: fornicators, whoremongers, and the sexually immoral instead of male sex trade workers, πόρνος, PAR-naws. Within the porn inclusio emerges a sexual health piece. The author of Hebrews elevates sexual health in marriage using the term honor. He is also sexual health positive when speaking about sexual intercourse in a long term relationship. He states the marriage bed, κοίτη, KOI-tay, is pure. Koite sounds much like the Latin term, coitus. (Strong, 2845)
By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. (Hebrews 11:31)
See that no one is sexually immoral (πόρνος, PAR-naws), or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. (Hebrews 12:16)
Marriage (γάμος, GAW-moss) should be honored (tίμιος, TIH-me-aws)by all, and the marriage bed (κοίτη, KOI-tay) kept pure (ἀμίαντος, ah-MEE-awn-toss), for God will judge the adulterer (μοιχός, moy-KAWS) and all the sexually immoral (πόρνος, PAR-naws).(Hebrews 13:4)
The Book of James
The Book of James sexual health language orbits sexual violence.
For he who said, “You shall not commitadultery (μοιχεύω, moy-KEU-oh),” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commitadultery (μοιχεύω, moy-KEU-oh) but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. (James 2:11)
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute (πόρνη, PAR-nay) considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? (James 2:25)
Tools
You desire (ἐπιθυμία, eh-pee-thew-MEE-ah)but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. (James 4:2)
Adultery connects to murder, Rahab touches the sexual violence of trafficking, and epithumia or lust once again appears with killing and fighting.
The Books of Peter
Like the Genesis author Peter begins his two book series with a sexual health positive phrase, new birth.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth (ἀναγεννάω, aw-naw-ghen-NAW-oh) into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (1 Peter 1:3)
The word Peter uses is ἀναγεννάω, prounounced a-na-gen-NAH-oh. (Strong, G313) This is similar language as the John 3:7 conversation with Nicodemus. John uses the famous phrase γεννάω, gen-NAH-oh, ἄνωθεν, AH-no-then, meaning born again or new birth. (Strong, G1080 and G509)
When Peter speaks about unhealthy sexuality, he uses the familiar erotic rage (ἐπιθυμία, eh-pee-thew-MEE-ah) term linking this violent word with immorality, the coercion of the sacred sex trade, and a word Luke uses in his Gospel. Luke 15 records the snap shot of the Good Father and prodigal son. The lifestyle of the addict son describes as wild living (ἀσωτία, ah-so-TEE-ah). The problematic behavior of the son includes being sexually joined to a Greek citizen for pay. The “righteous” brother further argues the prodigal engaged in the sacred sex trade using the Good Father’s finances. Peter also uses the Sodom and Gomorrah sexual violence image of Genesis 19. He introduces a new sexual health term in 2 Peter 2:14. Peter combines both adultery (μοιχαλίs, moy-kah-LIS) with the new term sexual seduction, (δελεάζω, deh-lee-AH-dzoh)
Peter’s final image is Balaam. This OT unhealthy sexuality figure coerced the people of Israel to participate in the for profit religious economy of sex trafficking.
They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. (2 Peter 2:15)
Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion. (Jude 1:11)
Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols (εἰδωλόθυτος, eye-doe-LAH-thew-toss) and committed sexual immorality (πορνεύω, par-NEW-oh). (Revelation 2:14; Strong, G2532 and G4203)
The Books of John
The Books of John feature numerous intimacy terms and images. The one unhealthy sexuality term John uses is idols connecting to the sacred sex trade.
Dear children, keep yourselves from idols (εἴδωλον, AI-doe-lawn). (1 John 5:21)
The Book of Jude
The Book of Jude focuses primarily on sexual violence terms. Jude uses the familiar
Sodom and Gomorrah, with the word pollute, μιαίνω, mee-EYE-noh. Jude introduces two terms unseen before in the Bible. He adds the preposition ek, to par-NEW-oh, sacred sex trade, ἐκπορνεύω, ek-par-NEW-oh, and the phrase “other flesh”, ἕτερος σάρξ, HEH-tew-ross SARKS.
In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrahand the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality (ἐκπορνεύω, ek-par-NEW-oh) and perversion (HEH-tew-ross SARKS). They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute (μιαίνω, mee-EYE-noh);their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings. (Jude 1:7-8)
The phrase “other flesh”, ἕτερος σάρξ, HEH-tew-ross SARKS, appears once in the Bible. Other NT sexual health passages using the term σάρξ, SARKS are:
and said, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh”? (Matthew 19:5)
So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.( Matthew 19:6)
and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. (Mark 10:8)
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” (Ephesians 5:31)
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires (ἐπιθυμία, eh-pee-thew-MEE-ah) of the flesh. (Romans 13:14)
Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” (1 Corinthians 6:16)
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery. (Galatians 5:19)
The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. (Revelation 17:6)
In the New Testament σάρξ, SARKS appears in sexual health context 9 times. 5 uses of the term connect to sexual health and genital sexual intercourse in marriage. 3 times σάρξ, SARKS connects to the sacred sex trade. Once the term occurs with erotic violence, (ἐπιθυμία, eh-pee-thew-MEE-ah). The majority of uses of σάρξ, SARKS in the New Testament connect to sexual health in marriage. The remainder of the passages relate to the sacred sex trade and erotic violence.
In the Old Testament flesh (σάρξ, SARKS) is used twice in sexual health contexts. When God speaks to Noah about judgement by tsunami for the violence of sexual nihilism, the term flesh (σάρξ, SARKS) is used. The second passage appears with the incest prohibitions of Leviticus 18. Based on the word usage in the OT and NT flesh (σάρξ, SARKS) most likely connects to the sexual violence of human trafficking and incest.
So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people (σάρξ, SARKS) for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. (Genesis 6:13)
No one is to approach any close relative (σάρξ, SARKS) to have sexual relations. I am the LORD. (Leviticus 18:6)
Jude finishes his work with a possible image from Greek sexual health narratives, Aphrodite.
They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up (ἐπαφρίζω, eh-paw-FRIH-dzoh) their shame (αἰσχύνη, ai-SKEW-nay) wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. (Jude 1:13)
Aphrodite emerged from the bloody foam of a violent castration snap shot. She is the goddess of love in Greek sexual health narratives. Her name may connect to the Greek word for foam, ἐπαφρίζω, eh-paw-FRIH-dzoh. Jude then connects this image to shame. Perhaps this is the shame of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3?
“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man’s wife goes astray and is unfaithful to him so that another man has sexual relations (SCBT ZRH) with her, and this is hidden from her husband and her impurity is undetected (since there is no witness against her and she has not been caught in the act). (Numbers 5:13)
Womb
Miscarry
May this water that brings a curse enter your body so that your abdomen swells or your wombmiscarries.” “ ‘Then the woman is to say, “Amen. So be it.” (Numbers 5:22)
Sacred Sex Trade
Decline in Sexual Health: HLL
You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the LORD, that you may obey them and notprostituteyourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. (Numbers 15:39)
While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality (ZNH, sacred sex trade) with Moabite women. (Numbers 25:1)
Genital Sexual Intercourse
…every woman who has slept with (YDA) a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with (YDA) a man. (Numbers 31:17)
Adultery
“You shall not commit adultery. (Deuteronomy 5:18)
Covet
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. (Deuteronomy 5:21)
Fall in Love
If you notice among the captives a beautiful woman and are attracted to her, you may take her as your wife. (Deuteronomy 21:11)
Have Sexual Intercourse With
…and put aside the clothes she was wearing when captured. After she has lived in your house and mourned her father and mother for a full month, then you may go to her and be her husband and she shall be your wife. (Deuteronomy 21:13)
Give Birth to
If a man has two wives, and he loves one but not the other, and both bear him sons but the firstborn is the son of the wife he does not love. (Deuteronomy 21:15)
Genital Sexual Intercourse
Virginity
If a man takes a wife and, after sleeping with her, dislikes her
and slanders her and gives her a bad name, saying, “I married this woman, but when I approached her, I did not find proof of her virginity.” (Deuteronomy 22:13-14)
Incest
A man is not to marry his father’s wife; he must not dishonor his father’s bed. (Deuteronomy 22:30)
Nocturnal Emission
If one of your men is unclean because of a nocturnal emission, he is to go outside the camp and stay there. But as evening approaches he is to wash himself, and at sunset he may return to the camp. (Deuteronomy 23:10-11)
Male and Female Sacred Sex Trade Workers
No Israelite man or woman is to become a shrine prostitute.
You must not bring the earnings of a female prostitute or of a male prostitute into the house of the LORD your God to pay any vow, because the LORD your God detests them both. (Deuteronomy 23:17-18)
YBM
If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her.
The first son she bears shall carry on the name of the dead brother so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.
However, if a man does not want to marry his brother’s wife, she shall go to the elders at the town gate and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to carry on his brother’s name in Israel. He will not fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to me.” (Deuteronomy 25:5-7)
Male Genitals, Private Parts
If two men are fighting and the wife of one of them comes to rescue her husband from his assailant, and she reaches out and seizes him by his private parts. (Deuteronomy 25:11)
Rape
You will be pledged to be married to a woman, but another will take her and rape her. You will build a house, but you will not live in it. You will plant a vineyard, but you will not even begin to enjoy its fruit. (Deuteronomy 28:30)
Afterbirth
…the afterbirth from her womb and the children she bears. (Deuteronomy 28:57)
Summary
The first three sexual health terms in the book of Numbers connect to sexual seduction:
pregnancy by seduction, STA, erotic violence, SCB, and conception in the course of adultery, SCBT ZRH.
“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man’s wife goes astray and is unfaithful to him so that another man has sexual relations (SCBT ZRH) with her, and this is hidden from her husband and her impurity is undetected (since there is no witness against her and she has not been caught in the act). (Numbers 5:13)
These terms reflect a seduction narrative. “Goes astray” is the Hebrew term STA with a range of meaning: deviation from duty, decline, go aside, turn. (Strong, H7847) This word has a nuance in the Ethiopic language “to be seduced”. Either the female or the male initiates the seduction and the result of the affair is conception, SCBT ZRH. These two words literally mean unhealthy sexuality and seed. The Greek translates SCBT ZRH as “sperm in bed”. The idea seems to be when the two partners had intercourse the male ejaculated resulting in conception. (Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon) What follows are the only abortion protocols in the Bible.
The abortion protocol of Numbers 5 involves a questionable pregnancy. In order to determine the fatherhood of a child, the priest administers a “morning after” solution to the female. If it has no effect, then this proves she did not have an affair. However, if her womb, BTN, pronounced be-TEN swells and the child miscarries, YRK NPL, pronounced ya-RAKE naw-PALL, the pregnancy terminates. The Hebrew words imply, “the embryo falls or wastes away”. (Strong, H3409 and H5307) The induced miscarriage then confirms the pregnancy was the result of seduction and adultery.
The term for the sacred sex trade is ZNH appearing in Numbers 15:39. The translators use the words prostitute or sexual immorality. ZNH has little connection to modern prostitution or perceptions of morality. ZNH is the coercive trafficking of humans for profit in a religious setting. ZNH appears six times in Numbers and Deuteronomy.
With the term for sacred sex trade Numbers 25:1 features the trigger word for decline of conscious awareness or escalation of violence and abuse. The word translated “began” is the Hebrew term, HLL, whose majority of uses signals some kind of decline of culture. The pathogenesis or decline of sexual health often begins with the Hebrew word, HLL (Strong, H2490). HLL, חָלַל, pronounced ha-LAL, means to profane, defile, pollute, desecrate, to begin, to defile oneself sexually, to wound, to pierce. The majority of uses for the Hebrew word HLL connect to decline of intimacy with God.
You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the LORD, that you may obey them and notprostituteyourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. (Numbers 15:39)
While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began (HLL) to indulge in sexual immorality (ZNH, sacred sex trade) with Moabite women. (Numbers 25:1)
She shall be brought to the door of her father’s house and there the men of her town shall stone her to death. She has done an outrageous thing in Israel by being promiscuous while still in her father’s house. You must purge the evil from among you. (Deuteronomy 22:21)
You must not bring the earnings of a femaleprostitute or of a male prostitute into the house of the LORD your God to pay any vow, because the LORD your God detests them both. (Deuteronomy 23:18)
And the LORD said to Moses: “You are going to rest with your ancestors, and these people will soon prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake me and break the covenant I made with them.” (Deuteronomy 31:16)
Genital Sexual Intercourse: YDA
The premier sexual health positive term for genital intercourse in Genesis 4:1, YDA, repeats in Numbers 31:17. YDA means emotional, spiritual, and physical intimacy.
…every woman who has slept with (YDA) a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with (YDA) a man. (Numbers 31:17)
Adultery and covet appear in the second telling of the Ten Commandments. These sexual health terms connect word for word to the sexual sobriety and teachings of Jesus and New Testament writers.
“You shall not commit adultery. (Deuteronomy 5:18)
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. (Deuteronomy 5:21)
A new sexual health term appears in Deuteronomy 21:11. The word is HSHK, pronounced khaw-SHAWK. (Strong, H2836) The range of meaning includes to cling, join, love, take pleasure in, set in love.
If you notice among the captives a beautiful woman and are attracted to her, you may take her as your wife. (Deuteronomy 21:11)
Another intercourse term appears, “to go to”. The Hebrew word is BOE, and can mean sexual intercourse.
…and put aside the clothes she was wearing when captured. After she has lived in your house and mourned her father and mother for a full month, then you may go to her and be her husband and she shall be your wife. (Deuteronomy 21:13)
The word draw near, QRB, can also mean sexual intercourse. In this case when a man has intercourse with a new bride and she cannot demonstrate that she is a virgin on the wedding night, then the groom has legal grounds to divorce her.
If a man takes a wife and, after sleeping with her, dislikes her
and slanders her and gives her a bad name, saying, “I married this woman, but when I approached her, I did not find proof of her virginity.” (Deuteronomy 22:13-14)
Genesis 6-11 is the sexual health snap shot laying the foundation for protecting children from sexual violence. Chapter six gives the back story to the judgement of flooding the earth and the rescuing of Noah and his family on the ark. This translation is based on the Hebrew text and the Book of Enoch, a first century BCE non Biblical source.
“When (unhealthy sexuality increased, HLL) among human beings on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and married any of them they chose. Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not (fight) with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years. (Sexual predators coerced, BO unhealthy sexuality) the daughters of humans and impregnated them. They were the (infamous tyrants of history).” (Genesis 6:1-4)
HLL, unhealthy sexuality, of verse one can connect to form an inclusio with verse four, “sexual predators coerced.”This proposed translation not only connects more closely to the version of Enoch but seems to make a coherent transition to the next section.
The Lord saw how great the (violent abuse, RA, רע) of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only (coercive, RA, רע) all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the crea- tures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. (Genesis 6:5-8)
The author of Numbers and Deuteronomy uses exact vocabulary from the flood snapshot in Genesis 6-11; HLL, BO, and the phrase for incest, “uncovering” the skirt. It appears the Genesis 6-11 snapshot influenced the prohibition for incest in Deuteronomy 22:30.
A man is not to marry his father’s wife; he must not dishonor his father’s bed. (Deuteronomy 22:30)
Reproduction reflected the power to create. Ancient man revered reproductive fluids and used numerous hygiene protocols for menstruation and transmission of semen.
If one of your men is unclean because of a nocturnal emission, he is to go outside the camp and stay there. But as evening approaches he is to wash himself, and at sunset he may return to the camp. (Deuteronomy 23:10-11)
The sacred sex trade with the coercive sex trafficking of humans for profit is the underlying driver for the exile of the people of Israel. Jesus teaches that one reason for divorce is active participation in the sacred sex trade. Paul and the writer of Revelation both agree that the sexual violence of the sex trade has not place in God’s kingdom. Two specific terms for the sex trade appear in Deuteronomy 23:17-18.
No Israelite man or woman is to become a shrine prostitute.
You must not bring the earnings of a female prostitute or of a male prostitute into the house of the LORD your God to pay any vow, because the LORD your God detests them both. (Deuteronomy 23:17-18)
Let there be no female holy sacred sex trade worker from the sons of Israel. Let there be no male holy sacred sex trade worker from the sons of Israel. (Deuteronomy 23:17)
Two new terms appear for the first time in the Old Testament, the payment for intercourse with a sacred sex trade worker, אֶתְנַן, eth-NAWN and profit, מְחִיר, meh-HERE, from the sex trade. (Strong, H868 and H4242)
Do not bring payment for intercourse with a female sacred sex trade worker, nor profit from sex with a male sex trade worker (dog) to the house of the Lord your God. (Deuteronomy 23:18)
Deuteronomy 25-28 outline “various laws” for the people of Israel. The sexual health terms are the YBM or marriage laws in the event of the death of a husband. Marriage codes permit a surviving brother to marry the widowed sister in law for protection and inheritance. This is kind of a life insurance policy for ancient Near Eastern women. (Deuteronomy 25:5-7) So, if two guys fist fight, and the wife intervenes by grabbing the opponent’s private parts or genitals, then she is to be punished. (Deuteronomy 25:11) Protection from sexual violence is an ongoing theme from Genesis 6-11 with incest prevention, the Sodom and Gomorrah snap shot, Christ’s mandate against child abuse in Matthew 18, Paul’s zero tolerance for condemnation, and the Book of Revelation’s concern for sex trafficking. The final two sexual health terms predict sexual violence when Israel loses intimacy with God. The word for rape is SGL, pronounced sha-GAWL. ( Strong, H7693) SGL appears four times in the Hebrew OT and always means sexual violence. The last term is afterbirth, שִׁלְיָה, pronounced shill-YAH. (Strong, H7953) The author predicts the violence of the Assyrian invasion of 722 BCE, and the Babylonian sacking of Jerusalem in 586 BCE. With prolonged siege and starvation, the writer predicts mothers will consume the placenta of their children. (Strong, H7988)
You will be pledged to be married to a woman, but another will take her and rape her. You will build a house, but you will not live in it. You will plant a vineyard, but you will not even begin to enjoy its fruit. (Deuteronomy 28:30)
…the afterbirth from her womb and the children she bears. (Deuteronomy 28:57)
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality (porneia) among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. (1 Corinthians 5:1)
Pornoi, male sex trade workers
Malakoi, finely dressed
Arsenkoitai, men in bed
Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral (male sex trade workers) nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men (malakoi, men in fine apparel) who have sex with men (arsenkoitai), men in bed). (1 Corinthians 6:9)
Revelry, group sex (possible)
Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” (1 Corinthians 10:7)
Sexual Touch
Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” (1 Corinthians 7:1)
Come together for sexual intimacy
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. (1 Corinthians 7:5)
Summary
Paul the Apostle wrote 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament. The first sexual health term he uses in Corinthians is porneia, the sacred sex trade.
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality (porneia) among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. (1 Corinthians 5:1)
The next term translates, “sleeping with his father’s wife.” The literal translation is:
It is heard that sex trafficking is practiced among you, and this kind of the sex trade is not practiced among the gentiles, a certain man has the wife of his father.
The phrase “has the wife” is similarly used in Matthew 14:4 and Mark 6:18.
John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” (Matthew 14:4)
For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” (Mark 6:18)
The exact words in the Greek of 1 Corinthians 5:1 for “have” or sexual intercourse are used in the Gospel accounts of Matthew 14:4 and Mark 6:18. Matthew and Mark reflect on the motive for John the Baptizer’s execution. John challenged Herod’s incestuous relationship with his brother’s wife. For this reason, John was arrested and eventually executed. To have a wife in the Gospel accounts means incest. Paul uses the same phrase in 1 Corinthians 7:2. Some Corinthians appear to be advocating abstinence to counter the proliferation of sex trafficking in their community. Paul responds,
Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”
But since sexual immorality (porneia, sex trafficking) is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.
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.
Do not deprive each other (from sexual intimacy) 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. (1 Corinthians 7:1-5)
Respectfully, the majority of translations mistakenly edited the word porneia, sex trafficking, to read a generalized sexual immorality. The King James Version and Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition use the word “fornication.” Fornication may not be accurate because this specific sexual behavior occurs between two people who are not married. It seems reasonable the female was married to the certain man’s father. Paul and the Greek language are much more specific. The term is porneia, the trafficking of humans in the sacred sex trade for profit. Apparently, Paul heard a convert was engaged in the sacred sex trade. This “certain man” was perhaps having intercourse with his step mother or he may have been trafficking her for financial gain? The pagans did not have clear incest boundaries as did Judaism and Christianity, but the idea someone might traffic a family member like a step mother for economic gain is noteworthy to Paul.
Malakoi has a wide range of meaning in classic literature from finely dressed, effeminate, to the partner of a same sex relation which might be called the bottom. The bottom is a term used in a same sex relationship for the one receiving penetration. The “top” is the one who does the penile penetrating. In the New Testament malakos is the singular of the plural malakoi, meaning finely dressed. Malakoi appears three times in the Bible.
Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral (male sacred sex trade workers) nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men (malakoi, men in fine apparel). (1 Corinthians 6:9)
If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes (malakoi)? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. (Matthew 11:8)
If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes (malakoi)? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. (Luke 7:25)
The simplest translation is usually the most accurate. Since two thirds of the references are “fine clothes” it makes sense to translate malakoi as finely dressed males. In context of the list in 1 Corinthians 5:1 Paul places malakoi in a word group which may relate to those engaged in the sacred sex trade (porneia), idol worship of the sex trade, intercourse with married people within the sacred sex trade, and finally the term arsenkoitai, literally, “men in bed.” The Matthew and Luke references to malakoi connect to John the Baptist. Most likely Jesus did not mean John the Baptist participated in the sex trade but meant, “finely dressed” like those who wear expensive palace attire as opposed to John who dressed in humble clothing. If malakoi relates to the sex trade, then it seems appropriate to translate it in context. This may mean Paul references the fine apparel of those in the sex trade, perhaps the “bottom” of a same sex relationship who is penetrated by the “top” sex trafficker.
Arsenkoitai pronounced ar-sen-KOY-tai is composed of two Greek words, arsen meaning male, and koites meaning bed. When Paul uses this term in 1 Corinthians 6:9, he cites arsenkoitai at the end of a list of unhealthy sexual behaviors not permitted in the kingdom of God.
Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral (pornoi, male sex trade workers) nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men (arsenkoitai). (1 Corinthians 6:9)
Arsenkoitai connects word for word to the sexual health terms of Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13.
If a man has sexual relations (κοίτην, koite, bed) with a man (ἄρσενοςarsen, male) as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. (Leviticus 20:13)
Some scholars suggest Paul invents a new word, arsenkoitai. This is not the case. Paul uses exact wording from Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13. In addition, an entry in Liddel and Scott reads arsenokoites, pronounced ar-sen-ko-EE-tase, meaning unnatural sexual offenses. Same sex relationships were not unnatural offenses in Greek culture in fact male on male intercourse was normalized. Most likely this refers to pederasty or the Greek custom of sexual intercourse with children. (Liddel and Scott, p. 104)
Paul makes direct connection word for word with the Leviticus passages to the 1 Corinthians 6:9 citation of arsenkoitai. The understanding of these passages in Leviticus can be assisted by looking at the Hebrew text.
Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable. (Leviticus 18:22)
If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. (Leviticus 20:13)
With Biblical Hebrew terms:
Do not have SCB (unhealthy sexual relations)with a ZCR (male child) as one does with an ISSHAH (woman); that is detestable. (Leviticus 18:22)
If an ISH (adult male) has SCB (unhealthy sexual relations) with a ZCR (male child) as one does with an ISSHAH (woman), both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. (Leviticus 20:13)
ZCR, pronounced zaw-CAR,can mean prepubescent XY male child as well as an adult male. ZCR appears 82 times in 80 verses of OT. Within the Pentateuch 18 times ZCR means prepubescent child. 16 times in the Pentateuch ZCR means sexually mature male. The majority use of ZCR connects to prepubescent male children. The direct context of Leviticus 18 and 20 mandates against incest. The term arsenkoitai most likely means sex with children as the Hebrew of Leviticus 18 and 20 suggest. If incest is the stream of thinking, then the concern of the apostle may be to protect children from sexual violence and trafficking perpetrated by family members.
Revelry is the Greek term παίζω, pronounced pie-ID-zo, to make sport like a child at play. (Strong, G3816)
Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” (1 Corinthians 10:7)
Revelry is included in sexual health vocabulary because of its connection to Exodus 32:6.
So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.
The LXX Greek Old Testament uses the term paizo exactly as 1 Corinthians 10:7. The Hebrew word is the root for Issac meaning “to laugh”. In Genesis 26:8; and 39:14, 17 the term clearly connects to sexual foreplay, or adultery. Each of the bold italic terms is the root word for Isaac, or laugh. In this case, most likely meaning foreplay for intercourse or adultery.
When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelek king of the Philistines looked down from a window and saw Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah. (Genesis 26:8)
She called her household servants. “Look,” she said to them, “this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed. (Genesis 39:14)
Then she told him this story: “That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me. (Genesis 39:17)
So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry. (Exodus 32:6)
In 1 Corinthians chapter 7 Paul responds to a query about sexual touch and abstinence from genital sexual intercourse in marriage.
Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to (touch) have sexual ` relations with a woman.” (1 Corinthians 7:1)
The Greek word is literally “to touch”, pronounced HOP-toe. (Strong, G681) To touch appears 40 times in 38 verses of the Greek New Testament. The range of meaning includes 14 times for Jesus appropriately touching the sick and blessing children, the diseased touching Christ for healing, and once for sexual touch in 1 Corinthians 7:1. Paul then gives the Corinthians sexual health positive encouragement “to be” sexual intimate after short periods of abstinence from intercourse. Finally he admonishes the Corinthians to re-connect after a focus on spirituality with genital sexual intimacy.
Do not deprive each other (from sexual intimacy) 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. (1 Corinthians 7:1-5)
The phrase, come together sexually, uses the word “to be”, εἰμί, pronounced ey as in they, ey-ME. (Strong, G1510) This term may connect to the Greek word geneithen, “to become”, first appearing in Romans. (Strong, G1096)
So then, if she has sexual relations (geneithen)with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man. (Romans 7:3)
Translation Concerns
The word for male sex trade workers is never translated accurately in the New Testament. The term pornoi, pronounced PAR-noy, means plural male sex trade workers. The word for female sex trade workers, pornai, pronounced PAR-nai, is always translated as prostitute. The term for male sacred sex trade worker appears 10 times and is never translated accurately. The edit reads sexually immoral, or immoral. This glaring error cannot be an accident. Clearly the translators edited pornoi to be the sexually immoral rather than male sex trafficker and at the same time translated the feminine pornai as prostitutes.
The 7 Intimacies of Genesis 1-4
Genesis pictures seven kinds of intimacy in chapters 1-4. The Spirit hovers over the waters like a mother bird nurtures her young. (Genesis 1:2) Nature reflects the stunning beauty of God’s creative mind. (Genesis 1:3-25) After six days of creation, God sets the stage for humankind to regulate neural pathways with rest. (Genesis 2:3) The creation forms in a framework of pleasure, the phrase Garden of Eden means “pleasure paradise”. (Genesis 2:8) Humankind is not intended to live isolated, but rather in community of compassionate presence. (Genesis 2:18) Reconciliation precedes the final intimacy of genital sexual intercourse with the word, YDA, to know spirituality, emotionally, and physically. (Genesis 3:21-4:1)
Since the Genesis 1-4 sexual health positive big picture connects spiritual intimacy with sexual intercourse, so do the writings of Paul. After Paul’s prohibitions for trafficking humans for profit and sexual violence, he connects to the seven intimacies of Genesis.
Spiritual Intimacy
But whoever loves God is known by God. (1 Corinthians 8:3)
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.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:4-13)
Do everything in love. (1 Corinthians 16:14)
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. (2 Corinthians 5:14)
…to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. (Ephesians 1:6)
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:4-10)
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children
and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2)
However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. (Ephesians 5:33)
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”(Galatians 5:13-14)
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.
God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. (Philippians 1:7-10)
In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives. (Colossians 1:6-9)
Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8)
I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers,
because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus.
I pray that your partnership (intimacy) with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.
Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people, yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.
Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. (Philemon 1:4-12)
Intimacy of Beauty
Grace (beauty) and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I always thank my God for you because of his grace (beauty) given you in Christ Jesus. (1 Corinthians 1:3-4)
By the grace (beauty) God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. (1 Corinthians 3:10)
But by the grace (beauty) of God I am what I am, and his grace (beauty) to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace (beauty) of God that was with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10)
The grace (beauty) of the Lord Jesus be with you. (1 Corinthians 16:23)
Grace (beauty) and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.(2 Corinthians 1:2)
Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace (beauty). (2 Corinthians 1:12)
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace (beauty) that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 4:15)
As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace (beauty) in vain. (2 Corinthians 6:1)
And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace (beauty) that God has given the Macedonian churches. (2 Corinthians 8:1)
I have fought the good (beautiful) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7)
In everything set them an example by doing what is good (beautiful). In your teaching show integrity, seriousness. (Titus 2:7)
…who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good (beautiful). (Titus 2:14)
This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good (beautiful). These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. (Titus 3:8)
Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good (beautiful), in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives. (Titus 3:14)
Regulation of Neural Pathways through Rest
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 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.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:18-24)
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7)
Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. (Titus 1:8)
Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. (Titus 2:2)
…to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. (Titus 2:5-6)
It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. (Titus 2:12)
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:16-17)
May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. (1 Thessalonians 3:13)
The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (1 Timothy 1:5)
…who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:4)
Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach. (1 Timothy 3:2)
But godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Timothy 6:6)
Intimacy of Pleasure
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,
he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ. (Ephesians 1:7-9)
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,
and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength. (Ephesians 1:18-19)
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:9-10)
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him. (Colossians 1:19)
But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. (1 Thessalonians 3:6)
How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? (1 Thessalonians 3:9)
Compassionate Presence
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. (Ephesians 3:16-20)
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32)
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. (Philippians 2:1-2)
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Colossians 3:12)
Reconciliation
Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake. ((2 Corinthians 2:10)
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5)
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding. (Ephesians 1:7-8)
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace,
and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household. (Ephesians 2:14-19)
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.
Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else. (Galatians 6:1-4)
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. (Philippians 4:1-3)
…and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:12-14)
…and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Colossians 1:20)
But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. (Colossians 1:22)
My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:3)
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. (Colossians 3:13-15)
Physical Intimacy of Genital Sexual Intercourse
Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”
But since sexual immorality (porneia, sacred sex trafficking) is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.
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.
Do not deprive each other (from sexual intimacy) 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. (1 Corinthians 7:1-5)
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.
For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.
Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
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
and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church-for we are members of his body.
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”
This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.
However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. (Ephesians 5:21-33)
Intimacy with God and sexual health have been foundational in the Book of Genesis for 3500 years. The Gospels and Jesus mirror exact terminology and ethics as Genesis. Paul too mirrors the Genesis sexual health positive big picture as Christ did. Seven times in Genesis chapters 1-4, a number often symbolizing completeness or perfection, the Genesis Creator “sees” the creation and the masterwork “sees” God. This intimate knowing is spiritual, beautiful, regulates neural pathways with rest, is pleasurable, present in compassion, and reconciles broken relationships. The last of the Genesis intimacies of “seeing or knowing” is sexual intercourse between Adam and Eve. This premier sexual health positive term for sexual intercourse is the Hebrew word YDA, to know intimately experientially, spiritually, and physically.
The Gospels, assembled from approximately 50-90 CE, also begin with intimacy and sexual health. After 400 years of silence between the Old Testament and the New, the Gospel platform for humankind is the intimacy of, “God is with you”, Immanuel. Mary the mother of Jesus conceived the Christ child as recorded by Matthew and Luke without sexual violence. In nearly all ancient Near East origin stories, deities perpetrate brutal acts of sexual violence against other gods and humans. In contrast the God of Genesis and the Gospels crafts sexual health boundaries with blessing, healing, and protection for victims of trauma and their children.
The Book of Romans written perhaps in the mid first century CE too begins with intimacy and sexual health. Paul the Apostle lays the foundation of intimacy with God through knowing Christ. Apostolic words use familiar terms like, descendent, Father and Son. (Romans 1:1-7) Paul longs to visit the Roman Christians he cares for who are “loved by God and called to be holy.…” (Romans 1:7-11) Paul seeks emotional and spiritual connection with both the God of his understanding and the people he loves. He does so with a view toward sexual safety and health.
October 28, 312 CE Flavius Valerius Constantinus advanced his army southward just outside of Rome. Hours before the bloody conflict he “saw” a vision of Christ. Constantine the Great “sees” the cross of Jesus in a profound spiritual experience. He immediately ordered the symbol of Christ to be painted on military standards and shields of his soldiers. The result? Constantine annihilated enemy forces at the Milvian Bridge setting the stage for one of the great revolutions in history. In 313 Constantine, now undisputed ruler of Rome, issued the Edict of Milan granting Christians favored status. This law protected Christians not only from the precedence of 200 years of military violence but allowed conversion of pagan assets to serve Christians and their clergy. The October 28, 312 transformation of an Emperor began in part with the sexual health words of Paul the Apostle to “The Romans”.
How did the message of the Book of Romans endure two centuries of holocaust before the Edict of Milan? What might Constantine and typical Romans citizens find relevant in the message of Paul to the Romans? The first chapter of Romans explicitly addressed sexual health. After opening remarks, Paul speaks to the wrath of God against sexual violence.
Could it be Christ’s sexual sobriety and passion to protect children made inroads into one of the most sexualized cultures in history? How did Christianity gain traction in the first century Mediterranean culture of violent sexual exploitation? Is it possible Christ’s non judgement moved fear filled people to seek the sexual safety of Jesus? Might it be the Gospels accomplished what the Graeco-Roman pantheon of cults could not, that is to address serial sexual abuse of children and the economic exploitation of trafficking humans? It seems reasonable these healthy pieces of New Testament Christianity touched not only the average Roman but may have compelled a king to become a follower of Christ and change human history. Could the silencing of this beautifully spiritual, pleasurable, compassionate, and reconciling message of sexual health lay at the heart of organized religion’s decline now?
The Book of Romans features 14 distinct sexual health terms. Nine of the words and images specifically address sexual exploitation. Four terms are not used previous to Romans. These four are: natural sexual relations, sex offending against children (possible), intimacy, and coitus (koy-TAY). In order of appearance all the sexual health terms of Romans are:
Sinful (Sexual) Desire, Lust, Covet: epithumeo
Sexual Impurity: akatharsia, pronounced ah-ka-thar-SEE-ah
Natural Sexual Relations: phusis chreisin
Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. (Romans 1:24)
Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. (Romans 1:26)
(Possible) Sexual Violence Against Children: arsen
In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men (possibly boys), and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. (Romans 1:27)
Adultery: moicheuo
You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? (Romans 2:22)
Circumcision: peritemno
Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. (Romans 2:25)
Womb
Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead— since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. (Romans 4:19)
Intimacy of Sexual Relations: geneithen
So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man. (Romans 7:3)
Childbirth
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. (Romans 8:22)
Coitus, Koite
Not only that but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. (Romans 9:10)
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality (koite) and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. (Romans 13:13)
Sodom and Gomorrah
It is just as Isaiah said previously: “Unless the Lord Almighty had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah. (Romans 9:29)
Covenant: diatheykay
And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” (Romans 11:27)
Lewdness, immorality: aselgeia
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery (aselgeia), not in dissension and jealousy. (Romans 13:13)
Abuse: oneidizo
The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me. (Romans 15:3)
Summary of Romans Sexual Health Vocabulary
The summary centers on the sexual health terms yet unseen in the New Testament. The words are: natural sexual relations, sex offending against children (possible), intimacy, and coitus (koy-TAY). Sinful sexual desire and sexual impurity appear first in the Gospels then again in Paul’s writings. These terms are included in this summary as possible links to sexual violence and the sacred sex trade among Pauls’s concerns for the Romans.
Sinful (Sexual) Desire, Lust, Covet
Epithumeo, pronounced epi-thu-ME-oh, the Greek term for sinful desire, lust or covet, builds on two words, epi and thumeo. Epi pronounced e-PEE is a preposition often added to the beginning of words to increase the intensity of emotion. Thumeo pronounced thoo-ME-oh has a range of meaning to be fierce, be in a heat, breathe violently, rage, and alcohol intoxication driving the drinker insane or to commit homicide. The root of the word thumeo is the term thuo meaning to slaughter. (Strong, G2372) Add the preposition epi to the term thumeo and the intensity of violence or rage escalates in meaning. Thumos, the noun meaning anger has no material difference to the term rage in the New Testament. Anger and rage often appear together. (Kittle Vol 3., p. 168)
Unhealthy Sexuality or Violence Passages Connected to Epithumeo, Lust
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully (epithumeo, lust) has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:28)
He longed (epithumeo, lust) to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. (Luke 15:16)
Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. (Romans 1:24)
Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. (Romans 1:26)
What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting (epithumeo, lust) really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet (epithumeo, lust).” (Romans 7:7)
The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” (epithumeo, lust) and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Romans 13:9)
Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on (epithumeo, lust) evil things as they did. (1Corinthians 10:6)
For the flesh desires (epithumeo, lust) what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. (Galatians 5:17)
You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet (epithumeo, lust) but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. (James 4:2)
During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long (epithumeo, lust) to die, but death will elude them. (Revelation 9:6)
Non Sexual Longing or Desire Using the Word Epithumeo, Lust
For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed (epithumeo, lust) to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. (Matthew 13:17)
…and longing (epithumeo, lust) to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. (Luke 16:21)
Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long (epithumeo,lust) to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. (Luke 17:22)
And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired (epithumeo, lust) to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. (Luke 22:15)
I have not coveted (epithumeo, lust) anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. (Acts 20:33)
Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires (epithumeo, lust) a noble task. (1Timothy 3:1)
We want (epithumeo, lust) each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. (Hebrews 6:11)
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long (epithumeo, lust) look into these things. (1 Peter 1:12)
This study highlights the anger and rage facets of epithumeo or lust. When Jesus states that epithumeo (lust) of another human, is the same as adultery, does he mean all sexual desire or attraction are taboo? Or is the case made that conspiring for angry, rage-filled exploitive-sex equals adultery? The Hebrew word for lust or covet is HMD. (Strong, H2530) An Arabic equivalent lends the meaning, “to loathe”. (https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2530/niv/wlc/0-1/) Can a nuance of loathing add support for the ban on malevolent sexual rage rather than mandating against all sexual desire or attraction?
Sexual Impurity, (pronounced ah-kar-thar-SEE-ah)
Paul next perhaps speaks to a motive for sexual health. Sexual impurity pronounced in the Greek, ah-ka-thar-SEE-ah, occurs 10 times in 10 verses of the Greek New Testament. (Strong, G167) The term impurity appears 49 times in 43 verses of the Greek Septuagint (LXX) Old Testament. 18 times the word occurs in Leviticus for hygiene protocols like: ritual contamination through contact with body fluids, the aftermath of rebellion against God (Leviticus 16:16), harvesting protocols (Leviticus 19:3), incest, non kosher foods, and direct contact with skin disease or a corpse. The Prophets add idolatrous practices to the Leviticus hygiene protocols. Hosea 2:10 perhaps is the backdrop of the Romans 1:24 passage.
So now I will expose her lewdness before the eyes of her lovers; no one will take her out of my hands. (Hosea 2:10)
Hosea uses the word lewdness or in the Greek (LXX) akatharsia in the context of the sacred sex trade. 10 times Ezra and the Prophets connect akatharsia to the exploitation of the sex trade. The data seems to point to akatharsia connecting to the coercion of trafficking humans for sex.
The New Testament uses the word akatharsia for hygiene protocols, as righteousness leading to holiness, 5 times appearing in context with sacred sex trade, and 3 times with aselgeia.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean (akatharsia). (Matthew 23:27)
Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity (akatharsia) for the degrading of their bodies with one another. (Romans 1:24)
I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity (akatharsia) and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. (Romans 6:19)
I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity (akatharsia), sexual sin (porneia, sacred sex trade) and debauchery (aselgeia) in which they have indulged. (2 Corinthians 12:21)
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality (porneia, sacred sex trade), impurity (akatharsia) and debauchery (aselgeia). (Galatians 5:19)
Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality (aselgeia) so as to indulge in every kind of impurity (akatharsia), and they are full of greed. (Ephesians 4:19)
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality (porneia, sacred sex trade), or of any kind of impurity (akatharsia) or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. (Ephesians 5:3)
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality (porneia, sacred sex trade), impurity (akatharsia), lust (epithumeo), evil and greed, which is idolatry. (Colossians 3:5)
For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure (akatharsia) motives, nor are we trying to trick you. (1 Thessalonians 2:3)
For God did not call us to be impure (akatharsia) but to live a holy life. (1 Thessalonians 4:7)
Natural Sexual Relations, (pronounced phew-si-KANE CHRAY-sin)
After establishing the motive for sexual health, Paul addresses the nature of human sexuality with the phrase, “natural sexual relations” made by two Greek words, phusikane chreisin. Natural sexual relations, φυσικὴν, is pronounced phew-si-KANE. CHRAY-sin is pronounced with a hard ch sound as in “chorus”. Phusikein appears 3 times in the NT and means inborn nature or corresponding to nature as opposed to contrary to nature. (Strong, G5446)
Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations (τὴν φυσικὴν χρῆσιν) for unnatural ones.
In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations (τὴν φυσικὴν χρῆσιν)with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. (Romans 1:26-27)
But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct (φυσικὰ, phusika) born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish. (2 Peter 2:12)
The snapshots of women in the Genesis sexual health big picture who exchanged natural relations for coercive violent sex are: the intoxication with incest between Noah’s wife and her son Ham of Genesis 9:21-25, the Sodom and Gomorrah account of violent sex offenders in Genesis 19:1-29, the deliberate doping of Lot by his daughters to rape their father on two occasions in Genesis 19:30-38, and the attempted seduction and rape of Joseph by Potiphar’s wife in Genesis 39:6-19. Sodom and Gomorrah, the image of sexual violence and rage is specifically mentioned in Romans 9:29:
It is just as Isaiah said previously: “Unless the Lord Almighty had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah. (Romans 9:29)
This Sodom and Gomorrah passage cited by Paul from Isaiah 1:9 falls in the direct context of the violence of the sacred sex trade and murder. Gesenius’ Hebrew lexicon defines the Hebrew word murder (RSH) as serial homicide. (BLB Gesenius, Strong, H2573)
See how the faithful city has become a prostitute! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her— but now murderers! (Isaiah 1:21)
The Genesis sexual health positive big pictures links to three snap shots in the life of Christ touching unnatural sexual relations. During the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:29 Jesus addresses the erotic rage of fantasy sex. He compares mental violent sex to be as culpable as adultery. At Jacob’s well, a symbol of sexual coercion, Christ converts a Samaritan woman with history of unethical non monogamy in John 4. Finally, Jesus pronounces non judgement for a female victimized and seduced by religious leaders in John 7:53-8:11. All images of female unnatural sexual relations connect to the violence of incest with intoxicants, sexual offending, the coercion of the sacred sex trade, attempted sexual seduction of Jospeh by a female authority figure, erotic-rage fantasy, unethical non monogamy, and sexual abuse by religious leaders.
Both Paul (50 CE) and the great philosopher Plato (428-347 BCE) use the word “phusis” when condemning sexual assault of male children by older men. (TDNT, Vol. 9, p. 262) Plato reasoned that intercourse with children is contrary to nature, “phusis”. No ancient author before Plato took a stand against sex with children. Other philosophers of Plato’s era justified pederasty because sex with children was according to the “phusis” or nature of Aphrodite. As backstory, the Greek goddess of love and beauty was conceived in a violent genitalia dismemberment scene. In Hesiod‘s Theogony, Aphrodite emerges from the blood spatter and foam (ἀφρός, pronounced awf-ROSS) produced by Uranus‘ severed genitals. On the coast of Cythera Cronus amputated his father Uranus’ genitals with a sickle throwing them into the sea. As red foamy waves roll onto shore, a sex goddess is born. Aphrodite is the Greek deity of beauty and sexuality. On the island of Cyprus, Zeus, overcome by his daughter’s beauty, attempted to rape Aphrodite. When the goddess pulled out from the violent rape of her father, Zeus’ semen ejaculated on the earth goddess Gaia who then gave birth to bizarre offspring. Later Aphrodite herself repeats “unnatural sexual relations”by having a sexual affair with her own father. As punishment, Hera cursed Aphrodite with hideous mutant offspring. Incest, rape, and brutality connect to these terms. The Aphrodite violent sexual health narrative very well may be the backdrop of Paul’s use of “phusis” or unnatural sexual relations in Romans. One aspect of this work adds credible ancient witnesses to the understanding of sexual health texts. Specifically, Plato and Paul the Apostle use exact terminology with the word, “phusis”. Unnatural sexual relations or “phusis” appears to connect to sexual violence against children.
Chreisin appears once in the New Testament and once in the Old Testament LXX at 1 Samuel 1:28. Liddel and Scott Classic Greek lexicon cites numerous ancient authors use chreisin for sexual intercourse.
The data from the Genesis sexual health big picture, the life and sexual ethic of Christ, Greek sexual health origin stories, and Plato appear to point to the content of unnatural sexual relations to be sexual violence and specifically sexual abuse of children. At no place in the Bible does unnatural sexual relations equate with same sex attraction between consenting adults.
Sexual Violence Against Children;
The culturally accepted grooming and sexual assault of prepubescent boys by older men, called pederasty, may be the common ground for the relevance of the Gospel with the average citizen of Paul’s era. Could this be the motive for the widespread acceptance of Christianity by 318 CE? Sexual violence against children may be an appropriate translation by examining the Greek term arsen, XY male; the phrase natural relations, lust, and the word, penalty. These terms will be compared to Old Testament LXX Greek usage, Greek sexual health images, Old Testament Hebrew, and the Old Testament sexual health image of Belial.
The text in question is:
In the same way the men (arsen) also abandoned natural relations (phusis chraysin) with women and were inflamed with lust (orexei) for one another. Men (arsen) committed shameful acts with other men (arsen, possibly boys), and received in themselves the due penalty (antimisthian) for their error. (Romans 1:27)
The literal translation is, “Likewise also men abandoned the natural way of intercourse with a woman consumed with their violent desire for one another, men in men (possibly boys), achieving the shame and reward which received the payback for their error.”
Male adult, or male prepubescent child, arsen, occurs 9 times in 7 verses of the NT. 3 times arsen designates male gender, XY. 4 times the term clearly means prepubescent male. Arsen appears 49 times in 47 verses of the LXX OT. 13 times the OT meaning of arsen connects to the gender of animals. 16 times arsen designates male gender, XY. 10 times arsen distinguishes a prepubescent male child from an adult, XY. Exodus 1:16,18,22; Leviticus 12:2,7; 18:22; 20:13; Numbers 3:40; Isaiah 66:7; Jeremiah 20:15. (Strong, G730)
The word for lust in this passage is not the expected epithumia. The Greek term for lust in Romans 1:27 is ὀρέξει, (orexei pronounced OH-rex-ei) appearing once in the NT and not at all in the LXX OT. Liddel and Scott Lexicon states this word can mean violent assault with a weapon or hand. (Liddel and Scott, p. 496)
The term for “reward” or “payback” (antimisthian) is used one other time by Paul at 2 Corinthians 6:13-16 in direct context of idolatry with the trafficking of humans for sex.
As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
What harmony is there between Christ and Belial or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (2 Corinthians 6:13-16).
The term Belial in 2 Corinthians 6:15 also connects to sexual violence, idolatry, and the sacred sex trade.
…troublemakers (Belial) have arisen among you and have led the people of their town astray, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (gods you have not known). (Deuteronomy 13:13)
Eli’s sons were scoundrels (Belial); they had no regard for the LORD. (1 Samuel 1:12)
Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept (coerced sex with, SCB) with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. (1 Samuel 2:22)
Now turn those wicked men (Belial) of Gibeah over to us so that we may put them to death and purge the evil from Israel.” But the Benjamites would not listen to their fellow Israelites. (Judges 20:13)
Arsen meaning a prepubescent XY male parallels the Hebrew meaning of the word ZCR in Leviticus 18:22 and Leviticus 20:13. the following translation may be the simplest in from the LXX Greek Old Testament.
“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with a man (arsen) as one does with a woman; that is detestable.’” (Leviticus 18:22)
“ ‘If a man has sexual relations with a man (arsen) as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.’” (Leviticus 20:13)
With Biblical Hebrew terms:
“ ‘Do not have SCB (coercive sex)with a ZCR (male prepubescent child) as one does with a ISSHAH (woman); that is detestable.’” (Leviticus 18:22)
“ ‘If an ISH (adult male) has SCB (unhealthy sexual relations) with a ZCR (male prepubescent child) as one does with an ISSHAH (woman), both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.’” (Leviticus 20:13)
If prepubescent boy connects to arsen in these passages, the translation may look like this:
Do not have sexual relations with a prepubescent boy (arsen) as one does with a woman. (Leviticus 18:22)
If a man has intercourse with a prepubescent boy (arsen) as he does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. (Leviticus 20:13)
In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Adult males had intercourse with prepubescent boys (arsen), and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. (Romans 1:27)
There are 13 directives regarding incest in Leviticus 18. 5 times chapter 18 speaks to non incestuous unhealthy sexuality. The context of chapter 18 favors Leviticus 18:22 to be a prohibition about unhealthy sexual intercourse with close relationships. In this case, perhaps mandating against child abuse.
Sexual Intimacy; Geneithen, (pronounced ge-NAY-then)
Paul then connects human sexuality to emotional and spiritual intimacy. This word geneithen is most likely understood, “to be intimate with, or being with”. Paul uses this same language to speak about intimacy with Christ in Romans 7:4. Clearly he is talking about an intimate spiritual union. The use of geneithen seems to touch sexual intimacy on the one hand and spiritual intimacy with Christ on the other. This may connect to the Genesis sexual health big picture. Chapters 1-4 of Genesis reflect 7 intimacies. Spiritual, beauty, rest, pleasure, compassionate pleasure, reconciliation, and sexual intimacy.
Coitus, Koite, (pronounced koi-TAY)
As Paul wraps up this great book in chapter 13, he outlines sexual health boundaries. The word he uses for intercourse, koite. (Strong, G2845)
The root word for “coitus”, sexual intercourse, is the Greek term koite, pronounced koi-TAY. Used 4 times in the New Testament koite has the range of meaning: a non sexual reference to a bed, conception, and the validity of sexual intercourse in marriage. Koite, a positive value in Hebrews 13:4 contrasts vividly with adultery and the sacred sex trade.
Koite in the Pentateuch has range of meaning: rape, a literal bed, nocturnal emission or literally “ejaculate in bed”, ejaculate during intercourse, intercourse with a woman, and intercourse with an animal. The Prophets and Writings feature koite as intercourse, a literal bed, rape, and an animals den.
And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ (Luke 11:7)
Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. (Romans 9:10)
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery (impurity, a-sel-gay-a), not in dissension and jealousy. (Romans 13:13)
Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral (porneia, sacred sex trade). (Hebrews 13:4)
It may be that koite does not mean a generalized sexual immorality since it is never used in this way at any other place in the Bible. It may be connected to impurity from a-sel-gay-a. Note the three groupings of two words: carousing with drunkenness, koite with impurity, and dissension with jealousy. (Romans 13:13)
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery (aselgeia), not in dissension and jealousy. (Romans 13:13)
I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity , sexual sin and debauchery (aselgeia)in which they have indulged. (2 Corinthians 12:21)
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery (aselgeia). (Galatians 5:19)
Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality (aselgeia)so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. (Ephesians 4:19)
For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery (aselgeia), lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. (1 Peter 4:3)
Many will follow their depraved conduct (aselgeia) and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. (2 Peter 2:2)
and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct (aselgeia) of the lawless. (2 Peter 2:7)
For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice (aselgeia)people who are just escaping from those who live in error. (2 Peter 2:18)
For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality (aselgeia)and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. (Jude 1:4)
Liddel and Scott’s Lexicon attaches the word “brutal” to aselgeia. (Liddel and Scott, p. 107)
If he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly, and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct (aselgeia) of the lawless. (2 Peter 2:6-7)
If aselgeia connects to the sexual violence of Sodom and Gomorrah, then this may have merit for the Romans 13:13 citation. Let’s add Liddel and Scott’s “brutal” nuance. Could Romans 13:13 then mean the brutality of trafficking humans for sex?
Concluding Reflexions
During the 50 years I have followed Christian sexual ethics the evangelical political platform interprets “unnatural sexual relations” to be same sex attraction. The theme of this work supports non judgement and non condemnation of sexuality as Jesus and Paul mandate. In place of judging or condemning sexual practices the vision orbits the personal responsibility of intimacy with God and sexual health with partner, community, and self.
Historical data demonstrates evangelical homes have similar rates of sexual violence as non Bible believing families. Could it be the sin of condemnation of others results in a paradox? Jesus states in Matthew 7:29 that God uses the same standard of judgement for those who appraise the sexuality of others. Paul in Romans 2:1 mirrors Christ’s words stating that the one who condemns the sexuality of others in fact projects his own sexual sins. Has evangelical judgement actually contributed to abuse in faith based homes? Could this be what Jesus suggests, that God permits similar outcomes for the one who judges others? Paul states that the one who condemns projects his own unhealthy sexuality. In Romans 2:22 the apostle illustrates this more clearly when he says,
You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? (Romans 2:22)
In this piece Paul addresses first century Christians whose sexual politics project distaste for adultery but yet commit the same offense. He challenges the Roman who degrades idol worship, yet frequents the same temples and rips them off. Can the same dots connect to sexual politics which abhor same sex relationships, but at the same time permit sexual violence and incest in one’s own family?
Is silence about sexual health and abuse in Bible believing homes the unintended outcome of judging others? What if caregivers focus on sexual health and abuse prevention rather than condemnation of specific populations? Does it seem Christlike for people of faith to focus on prevention of sexual violence in their own homes rather than the private world of others? Is it possible to bring sexual health and abuse prevention to Bible believing families and at the same time honor Scripture by not condemning others? Perhaps these truths may work together resulting in healthy outcomes for all as Jesus and Paul suggest?
Leviticus Sexual Health Vocabulary and Images In Order of Appearance
Leviticus features 11 different sexual health terms. Two of the terms do not appear in the Genesis sexual health big picture. These words are NDH, menstrual cycle and ZUB discharge of possible sexually transmitted infection. I have include a possible phrase for sexual offending against children and bestiality in the word count.
Becomes Pregnant ZRH
Gives Birth, YLD
Monthly Menstrual Cycle, NDH
“Say to the Israelites: ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. (Leviticus 12:2)
Circumcision, MOOL
On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. (Leviticus 12:3)
Infectious Discharge, zoob, τοῦ γονορρυοῦς
Ejaculate, emission of semen
These are the regulations for a man with a discharge (Zoob, Gonoroos), for anyone made unclean by an emission of semen. (Leviticus 15:32)
Sexual Intercourse, SCB
…for a woman in her monthly period, for a man or a woman with a discharge, and for a man who has sexual relations with a woman who is ceremonially unclean. (Leviticus 15:33)
Sacred Sex Trade, ZNH
They must no longer offer any of their sacrifices to the goat idols to whom they prostitute themselves. This is to be a lasting ordinance for them and for the generations to come. (Leviticus 17:7)
Incest, Uncovering the nakedness of
No one is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations (uncover the nakedness of). I am the LORD. (Leviticus 18:6)
Possible Sexual Offending Against Male Children
Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable. (Leviticus 18:22)
Intercourse with Animals
Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it. A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion. (Leviticus 18:23)
Sexual Health Vocabulary of Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13
This analysis of Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 examines the Biblical Hebrew vocabulary as compared to the entire Hebrew Old Testament. Specifically this work looks at these passages and then compares the word use in the first 5 books of the Bible called the Pentateuch. Then the terms are analyzed in the Prophets and the Writings.
The Texts in Question
“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.’” (Leviticus 18:22)
With Biblical Hebrew terms:
“ ‘Do not have SCB (sexual relations)with a ZCR (male) as one does with a ISSHAH (woman); that is detestable.’” (Leviticus 18:22)
“ ‘If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.’” (Leviticus 20:13)
“ ‘If an ISH (man) has SCB (unhealthy sexual relations) with a ZCR (male) as one does with an ISSHAH (woman), both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.’” (Leviticus 20:13)
Leviticus Sexual Health Vocabulary
SCB meaning sexual relations or lie down with appears 213 times in 194 verses of the OT. SCB, שָׁכַב, pronounced shaw-KAB, means to lie down as in sexual relations, death or any other reason: to cause to lie (down, down to sleep, still with), lodge, take rest, sleep, stay.
In the Pentateuch 18 times SCB means unhealthy sexuality. SCB appears as incestuous rape 5x’s, coercing sex with money 1x, rape of a non family member 6x’s, attempted rape by an authority figure 5x’s, seduction 1x, sex with animals 2x’s, intercourse with hygiene protocols 5x’s, incest with family members 6x’s, abortion protocols 2x’s, and adultery 2x’s in the Pentateuch. In sexual health contexts SCB is never used for relational intimacy as the word for genital sexual intercourse, YDA. SCB only means coercive or unhealthy sexual hygiene.
SCB as Rape 16 x’s
SCB as Coercion 2x’s
ISH means male, XY chromosome
ISSHAH translates as female, XX chromosome
ZCR can mean prepubescent XY male child as well as an adult male. ZCR appears 82 times in 80 verses of OT. Within the Pentateuch 18 times ZCR means prepubescent child. 16 times in the Pentateuch ZCR may mean sexually mature male.
The Pentateuch Uses of SCB
The Pentateuch comprises the first five books of the Old Testament, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Conservative scholars believe the Pentateuch was written most likely by Moses. The uses of SCB can be outlined as follows:
5x’s Incestuous Rape
Let’s get our father to drink wine and then sleep (SCB) with him and preserve our family line through our father.” (Genesis 19:32)
That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and slept (SCB) with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. (Genesis 19:33)
The next day the older daughter said to the younger, “Last night I slept (SCB) with my father. Let’s get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and sleep (SCB) with him so we can preserve our family line through our father.” (Genesis 19:34)
So they got their father to drink wine that night also, and the younger daughter went in and slept (SCB) with him. Again he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. (Genesis 19:35)
3 x’s Coercive Sex for Money
But she said to her, “Wasn’t it enough that you took away my husband? Will you take my son’s mandrakes too?” “Very well,” Rachel said, “he can sleep (SCB) with you tonight in return for your son’s mandrakes.” (Genesis 30:15)
So when Jacob came in from the fields that evening, Leah went out to meet him. “You must sleep (SCB) with me,” she said. “I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he slept (SCB) with her that night. (Genesis 30:16)
6x Rape
When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the ruler of that area, saw her, he took her and raped (SCB) her. (Genesis 34:2)
Meanwhile, Jacob’s sons had come in from the fields as soon as they heard what had happened. They were shocked and furious, because Shechem had done an outrageous thing in Israel by sleeping (SCB as rape) with Jacob’s daughter—a thing that should not be done. (Genesis 34:7)
But if out in the country a man happens to meet a young woman pledged to be married and rapes (SCB) her, only the man who has done this shall die. (Genesis 22:25)
If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes (SCB) her and they are discovered…. (Deuteronomy 22:28)
He shall pay her father fifty shekels of silver. He must marry the young woman, for he has violated (SCB) her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives. (Deuteronomy 22:29)
You will be pledged to be married to a woman, but another will take her and rape (SCB) her. You will build a house, but you will not live in it. You will plant a vineyard, but you will not even begin to enjoy its fruit. (Deuteronomy 28:30)
1x Possible Rape of Father’s Concubine
While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept (SCB as rape) with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it. Jacob had twelve sons: (Genesis 35:22)
5x Authority Rape
…and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed (SCB) with me!” (Genesis 39:7)
And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed (SCB) with her or even be with her. (Genesis 39:10)
She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed (SCB) with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. (Genesis 39:12)
She called her household servants. “Look,” she said to them, “this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep (SCB) with me, but I screamed. (Genesis 39:14)
“ ‘If a man sleeps (SCB) with a female slave who is promised to another man but who has not been ransomed or given her freedom, there must be due punishment. Yet they are not to be put to death, because she had not been freed. (Leviticus 19:20)
1 x Seduction Narrative
“If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps (SCB) with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife. (Exodus 22:16)
2 x’s Intercourse with Animals
“Anyone who has sexual relations (SCB) with an animal is to be put to death. (Exodus 22:19)
“Cursed is anyone who has sexual relations (SCB) with any animal.” (Deuteronomy 27:21)
5 x’s Hygiene Protocols
When a man has sexual relations (SCB) with a woman and there is an emission of semen, both of them must bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening. (Leviticus 15:18)
“ ‘Anything she lies (SCB) on during her period will be unclean, and anything she sits on will be unclean.’” (Leviticus 15:20)
“ ‘If a man has sexual relations (SCB) with her and her monthly flow touches him, he will be unclean for seven days; any bed he lies on will be unclean. (Leviticus 15:24)
Any bed she lies on (SCB) while her discharge continues will be unclean, as is her bed during her monthly period, and anything she sits on will be unclean, as during her period. (Leviticus 15:26)
for a woman in her monthly period, for a man or a woman with a discharge, and for a man who has sexual relations (SCB) with a woman who is ceremonially unclean. (Leviticus 15:33)
6x Incest
“ ‘If a man has sexual relations (SCB) with his father’s wife, he has dishonored his father. Both the man and the woman are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. (Leviticus 20:11)
“ ‘If a man has sexual relations (SCB) with his daughter-in-law, both of them are to be put to death. What they have done is a perversion; their blood will be on their own heads. (Leviticus 20:12)
“ ‘If a man has sexual relations (SCB) with his aunt, he has dishonored his uncle. They will be held responsible; they will die childless. (Deuteronomy 20:20)
“Cursed is anyone who sleeps (SCB) with his father’s wife, for he dishonors his father’s bed.” (Deuteronomy 27:20)
“Cursed is anyone who sleeps (SCB) with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.” (Deuteronomy 27:22)
“Cursed is anyone who sleeps (SCB) with his mother-in-law.” (Deuteronomy 27:23)
2 x’s Abortion Protocols
…so that another man has sexual relations (SCB) with her, and this is hidden from her husband and her impurity is undetected (since there is no witness against her and she has not been caught in the act). (Numbers 5:13)
Then the priest shall put the woman under oath and say to her, “If no other man has had sexual relations (SCB) with you and you have not gone astray and become impure while married to your husband, may this bitter water that brings a curse not harm you. (Numbers 5:19)
2 x’s Adultery
If a man is found sleeping (SCB) with another man’s wife, both the man who slept (SCB) with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel. (Deuteronomy 22:22)
If a man happens to meet in a town a virgin pledged to be married and he sleeps (SCB) with her….(Deuteronomy 22:23)
38 times Genesis through Deuteronomy the term SCB is used in unhealthy sexuality contexts. SCB is never positioned as a sexual health term between consenting adults in the Pentateuch.
The Prophets and Writings Use of SCB
The books of 1 and 2 Samuel feature SCB 27 times. SCB in sexual health contexts appears 7 times. Eli’s sons used their position of authority to seduce women for sex who serve at religious worship services (1 Samuel 2:22). The term SCB, meaning rape, appears three more times in King David’s seduction of Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:4), and twice for Amnon’s rape of his sister Tamar (2 Samuel 13:11-14). SCB has one reference to the future sexual assault of King David’s concubines by his son Absalom (2 Samuel 12:11). SCB as genital sexual intercourse occurs twice in reference to Uriah’s resistance to having intercourse with Bathsheba for the purpose of covering up King David’s impregnation of his wife, and David and Bathsheba’s conception of Solomon (2 Samuel 11:11; 2 Samuel 12:24)
SCBappears 4 times in Isaiah. Isaiah and Zechariah use SCB for rape (Isaiah 13:16; Zechariah 14:2). Ezekiel speaks of the sacred sex trade using SCB, and Micah uses the word in a sense of lack of trust within a romantic relationship (Ezekiel 23:8; Micah 7:5).
The Book of Ruth uses SCB5 times. Ruth appears in the family narrative of Jesus’ genealogy (Matthew1:5). The author uses SCB skillfully, weaving SCB through the account of Boaz and Ruth becoming sexually intimate and ultimately married. The euphemism “uncovering the feet” may be used for genital sexual intercourse in the narrative of Ruth (Ruth 3:7). All 5 citations refer to sexual contact rather than simple sleeping or lying down.
SCB is used 16 times in sexual health contexts within the Prophets and the Writings. The Prophets never use SCB for healthy sexuality. The context is always seduction, rape, or coercive sexuality. Book of Ruth uses SCB in a romantic narrative adding the term to uncover the feet. This can be a euphemism for sexual intercourse. Scholars are divided in terms of “is Ruth an example of healthy sexuality or unhealthy?”
Context of Leviticus 18 and 20
Leviticus 18
Chapter 18 begins with a contextual statement, “You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices.” (Leviticus 18:3) The concern appears to orbit incest as was the context of Egyptian sexual health narratives. Then, Leviticus18:6-17 outlines incest boundaries with immediate family members.
“ ‘No one is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the LORD.
“ ‘Do not dishonor your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; do not have relations with her.
“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with your father’s wife; that would dishonor your father.
“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with your sister, either your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she was born in the same home or elsewhere.
“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter; that would dishonor you.
“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with the daughter of your father’s wife, born to your father; she is your sister.
“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with your father’s sister; she is your father’s close relative.
“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with your mother’s sister, because she is your mother’s close relative.
“ ‘Do not dishonor your father’s brother by approaching his wife to have sexual relations; she is your aunt.
“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law. She is your son’s wife; do not have relations with her.
“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would dishonor your brother.
“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with both a woman and her daughter. Do not have sexual relations with either her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter; they are her close relatives. That is wickedness. (Leviticus 18:6-17)
The term incest is a Hebrew phrase literally, “uncovering the nakedness of.” This phrase connects to the Noah and Ham incest snapshot of Genesis 9 with exact wording.
Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked and told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered their father’s naked body. Their faces were turned the other way so that they would not see their father naked. (Genesis 9:20-23)
Leviticus 18:18-23 speaks to a variety of sexual health topics.
“ ‘Do not take your wife’s sister as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is living.
“ ‘Do not approach a woman to have sexual relations during the uncleanness of her monthly period.
“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with your neighbor’s wife and defile yourself with her.
“ ‘Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molek, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.
“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.
“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it. A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion. (Leviticus 18:18-23)
There are 13 directives regarding incest in Leviticus 18. 5 times chapter 18 speaks to non incestuous unhealthy sexuality. The context of chapter 18 favors Leviticus 18:22 to be a prohibition about unhealthy sexual intercourse with close relationships. In this case, perhaps mandating against child abuse.
Leviticus 20
Chapter 20 begins with mandate against sacrificing children to Molek. With this prohibition against infanticide is a statement about spiritists, those who call upon the dead. The same concern appears at the end of the chapter forming an inclusio tying this section together thematically. Chapter 20 repeats the Leviticus 18 mandates adding detail about abusing family members through infanticide and incest. The writer also addresses cursing parents, adultery with close community relationships, sexual activity during menstruation, and sex with animals. 9 of the commandments address non incestuous sexual health issues. 8 mandates connect to incest. The Leviticus 20:13 statement,
“ ‘If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. (Leviticus 20:13) appears between incest prohibitions. The Leviticus 18 passage appears in the context of incest and unhealthy sexuality within close relationships specifically children.
Leviticus 15:33 may shed some light on the use of ISH as man, and ZQR translated prepubescent male.
…for a woman in her monthly period, for a ZQR (boy) or a girl with a discharge, and for a man who has sexual relations (SCB) with a woman who is ceremonially unclean. (Leviticus 15:33)
The use of the term ZQR as prepubescent male fits both the chapter 18 and 20 passages showing a distinction between a man who can have intercourse, ISH, and a male prepubescent child, ZQR.
Another Leviticus passage affirms that ZQR can mean prepubescent male.
He shall offer them before the LORD to make atonement for her, and then she will be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood. These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a male child (ZQR) or a girl. (Leviticus 12:7)
Summary
The two passages in question have been translated with the unintended result of violence against same sex communities. The vocabulary appears however to protect male prepubescent children from sexual assault by adult males.
Hope Experience 