The Writings and Sexual Health
- Poetic books: Psalms, Proverbs.
- Five Festival Scrolls (also called the Megilloth): Song of Solomon, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Ruth and Esther
- Women Who Changed the World: Ruth and Esther
- Historical books: Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah and Chronicles.
The Psalms
Bridegroom, hah-THAWN
Womb, BEH-ten
Breast, SHAWD
Birth, REH-chem
Virgin Companions, buh-tue-LAH
Genital Sexual Intercourse, yah-CHAWM
Birth, HOOL
Womb, REH-chem
Labor, yah-LAWD
Covenant, buh-REETH
Egypt and Ham
Baal
Sacred Sex Trade, zah-NAH
Sexual Health Terms
Bridegroom, hah-THAWN
Covenant, buh-REETH
Virgin Companions, buh-tue-LAH
Genital Sexual Intercourse, yah-CHAWM
Gynecological Terms
Womb, BEH-ten
Breast, SHAWD
Birth, REH-chem and HOOL
Labor, yah-LAWD
Unhealthy Sexuality Terms
Egypt and Ham
Sacred Sex Trade, zah-NAH
Seven sexual health terms appear in the Psalms. The four sexual health terms are; bridegroom, covenant, virgin companions, and sexual intercourse. Bridegroom is the common word hah-TAWN. Covenant is the Genesis sexual health positive term buh-REETH. (Strong, H1285) Virgin companions is comprised of virgin, buh-tue-LAH and ray-AH meaning friend or female confidante. (Strong, H7464)
It is like a bridegroom (hah-TAWN) coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. (Psalm 19:5)
They did not keep God’s covenant (buh-REETH) and refused to live by his law. (Psalm 78:10)
In embroidered garments she is led to the king; her virgin (buh-tue-LAH) companions (ray-AH) follow her— those brought to be with her. (Psalm 45:14)
In Psalm 51:5 the genital sexual intercourse term is yah-CHAWM. (Strong, H3179) The range of meaning for yah-HAWM includes warm, hot, animals mating or in heat, and sexual intercourse. Yah-CHAWM appears 10 times in 9 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. At no time does this word clearly read as conception. Yah-CHAWM used for sexual intercourse of animals appears four times out of ten occurences. Could yah-CHAWM be a derogatory use of the word in David’s mind? Is he comparing his shame over his sexual misconduct to animals mating? Psalm 51 is David’s repentance prayer to God. After his affair with Bathsheba, the king ordered the assassination of her husband Uriah. In the fray of battle, an entire squad of Israel’s elite special operatives were killed along with Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband. Psalm 51 is David’s amends and reconnection with God. It may be fitting that in a state of remorse David connects the sinfulness of his birth and his mother’s intercourse with Jesse, his father. Is David reflecting his own sexual relationship with Bathsheba? A more fitting translation may be,
Surely I was sinful at birth (HOOL), sinful from the moment my mother had intercourse (yah-CHAWM). (Psalm 51:5)
Five words are gynecological; womb, breast, two terms for birth, and labor. Yah-LAWD appears 500 times in 403 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. (Strong, H3205)
Yet you brought me out of the womb (BEH-ten) ; you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast (SHAWD). (Psalm 22:9)
From birth (REH-chem) I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb (BEH-ten) you have been my God. (Psalm 22:10)
Surely I was sinful at birth (HOOL), sinful from the moment my mother had intercourse (yah-CHAWM). (Psalm 51:5)
Trembling seized them there, pain like that of a woman in labor (yah-LAWD). (Psalm 48:6)
The unhealthy sexuality images and terms are Egypt and Ham, Baal, and the sacred sex trade (zah-NAH). Five times in the Old Testament Egypt is described as the “land of Ham”. (Psalm 78:51; 105:23, 27; 106:22; 1 Chronicles 4:40). The sexual health narratives of Egypt describe its deities and Pharoahs engaging in the practice of incest. Ham is the lead character in the Noah snap shot who committed incest with his mother in Genesis 9. The offspring of that incestuous union was Canaan, who carried a curse throughout his life. Could David be eluding to incest in this passage?
He struck down all the firstborn of Egypt, the firstfruits of manhood in the tents of Ham. (Psalms 78:51)
The term “first fruits” is ray-SHEETH appearing in the opening prologue of Genesis 1:1,”In the beginning (ray-SHEETH) God created the heavens and the earth.” (Strong, H7225) The word for manhood is the word ah-WONE meaning sexual virility or strength. (Strong, H202) David may be speaking of the unhealthy sexuality incest by the use of euphemism or exchanging an explicit sexual term with softer language. The final two unhealthy sexuality images are Baal Peor and sacred sex trade participation (zah-NAH). Zah-NAH occurs only once in the Psalms.
They yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods. (Psalm 106:28)
They defiled themselves by what they did; by their deeds they prostituted themselves. (Psalm 106:39)
Baal Peor appears 5 times in 4 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. (Numbers 25:3,5; Deuteronomy 4:3; Psalm 106:28) This Canaanite god was named for Mount Peor in Moab. (Numbers 23:28). According to Rabbinic Literature the Baal Peor cultus excelled in the sacred sex trade and the exposure of genitalia. One Jewish commentator states that on one occasion a strange ruler came to worship Baal Peor with sacrifice. When confronted with the ritual of exposure of genitalia, the ruler instead ordered his security team to kill all the Baal Peor worshippers as they unshrouded their genitals. https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/2246-baal-peor
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
The 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)
Pro 25:1 – These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
Pro 31:1 – The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.
Pro 1:7 – The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools[fn] despise wisdom and instruction.
Pro 1:29 – since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD.
Pro 2:5 – then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
Tools
Pro 3:3 – Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Tools
Pro 3:4 – Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
Tools
Pro 3:5 – Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
Pro 4:23 – Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Pro 30:20 – “This is the way of an adulterous (nah-AWF) woman: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’
The Trauma of Loss: Lamentations and Job
Sexual Health Terms
Lovers, ah-HAWV
Virgin, buh-tue-LAH
Covenant, buh-REETH
Genital Sexual Intercourse, kah-RAH AWL
Gynecological Terms
Breasts, SHAWD
Naked, ah-RAH
Conceive, hah-RAH
Born, yah-LAWD
Womb, REH-chem
Womb, BEH-ten
Naked, ah-ROME
Infertility, ah-KAR
Bear, HOOL
Labor Pains, HEY-vel
Unhealthy Sexuality Terms
Filthiness, tow-MAH
Sodom
Sexual Abuse, ah-NAH
Adultery, nah-AWF
Seduce Sexually, paw-THAW
Male Sacred Sex Trade Workers, kah-DEISH
Lamentations and Job use 14 sexual health positive terms and 9 unhealthy sexuality words or images. The root words for lovers, virgin, and covenant all connect to the Genesis sexual health positive big picture with exact language. (Strong, H157, H1330, H1285)
Bitterly she weeps at night, tears are on her cheeks. Among all her lovers (ah-HAWV) there is no one to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies. (Lamentations 1:2)
“The Lord has rejected all the warriors in my midst; he has summoned an army against me to crush my young men. In his winepress the Lord has trampled Virgin (buh-tue- LAH) Daughter Judah. (Lamentations 1:15)
“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully (BEAN) at a young woman. (Job 31:1)
Genital sexual intercourse, kah-RAH AWL, is used once in the Bible at:
Then may my wife grind another man’s grain, and may other men sleep with her. (Job 31:10)
Job seems to paint a euphemistic image about intercourse. The first statement in the sentence uses the words, “grind (tah-CHAWN) another man’s grain”. (Strong, H2912) Grain grinder or mill worker is another term for concubine. A female is taken into a man’s home to work and possible bear him children. In this passage Job seems to say that if he finds himself seduced by another woman or seeks another relationship, then he would dismiss his wife to “grind grain” for another and other men would have intercourse with her. The phrase “other men sleep with her” is literally, “May my wife grind for another, and others bend down (kah-RAH) upon (AWL) her.” (Strong, H3766)
Gynecological and Anatomical Terms
The Genesis sexual health positive anatomical terms are: breasts, SHAWD, and two words for naked; ah-RAH and ah-ROME. (Strong, H7699, H6168, H6174) Two words are used for womb, REH-chem whose root is compassion, and BEH-ten. (Strong, H7358, H990).
Even jackals offer their breasts (SHAWD) to nurse their young, but my people have become heartless like ostriches in the desert. (Lamentations 4:3)
Lacking clothes, they spend the night naked; they have nothing to cover themselves in the cold. (Job 24:7)
Lacking clothes, they go about naked; they carry the sheaves, but still go hungry. (Job 24:10)
“Why did I not perish at birth (REH-chem), and die as I came from the womb (BEH-ten)?
Five words span conception to labor. They are: infertility, ah-KAR, conceive, ha-RAH, born, yah-LAWD, bear, HOOL, and labor pains, HEY-vel. (Strong, H6135, H2029, H3205, H2342, H2256)
They prey on the barren (ah-KAR) and childless woman, and to the widow they show no kindness. (Job 24:21)
Even jackals offer their breasts (SHAWD) to nurse their young, but my people have become heartless like ostriches in the desert. (Lamentations 4:3)
Lacking clothes, they spend the night naked; they have nothing to cover themselves in the cold. (Job 24:7)
Lacking clothes, they go about naked; they carry the sheaves, but still go hungry. (Job 24:10)
“Why did I not perish at birth (REH-chem), and die as I came from the womb (BEH-ten)?
They crouch down and bring forth their young; their labor pains (HEY-vel) are ended. (Job 39:3)
Unhealthy Sexuality Terms
Filthiness, tow-MAH
Sodom
Sexual Abuse, ah-NAH
Adultery, nah-AWF
Seduce Sexually, paw-THAW
Male Sacred Sex Trade Workers, kah-DEISH
Filthiness is the Hebrew term tow-MAH meaning a moral or ritual uncleanness or pollution compared to that which is holy and clean. (Strong, 2932). Sodom appears 39 times in 38 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. Sodom is the symbol of violent coercive sexuality in the Old Testament. The grief of the author of Lamentations is the erotic violence expressed through the sacred sex trade. Sodom still stands as an iconic image of rage filled sexuality.
Her filthiness clung to her skirts; she did not consider her future. Her fall was astounding; there was none to comfort her. “Look, LORD, on my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed.” (Lamentations 1:9)
The punishment of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment without a hand turned to help her. (Lamentations 4:6)
Sexual abuse or affliction, ah-NAH appearing twice in Lamentations seems to connect to sexual violence. Women who have been violated is in parallel with virgins in the towns. This may mean sexual abuse. (Strong, H6031) Adultery is the term nah-AWF. (Strong, H5003) Seduce is the Hebrew term pah-THAW with a range of meaning: deceive, entice, flatter, or persuade. (Strong, H660) Male sacred sex trade workers uses the Hebrew word for “holy”, ka-DEISH. This lends the sacred aspect of the sex trade. The holy workers were set apart for intercourse with worshipers in the temple. This business was not secular, it always possessed a sense of religious cultism. (Strong, H6945) King Manasseh introduced male sex trade workers into the temple complex of Jerusalem. (2 Kings 21:1ff) So integrated was ritual intercourse with male sex workers, quarters were built for their room and board. King Josiah began his rule in 640 BCE. When the king’s staff found the book of the Law during a temple remodel, “He (Joshiah) also tore down the quarters of the male shrine prostitutes (ka-DEISH) that were in the temple of the LORD, the quarters where women did weaving for Asherah.” (2 Kings 23:7)
Women have been violated (ah-NAH) in Zion, and virgins in the towns of Judah. (Lamentations 5:11)
The eye of the adulterer (nah-AWF) watches for dusk; he thinks, ‘No eye will see me,’ and he keeps his face concealed. (Job 24:15)
“If my heart has been enticed (paw-THAW) by a woman, or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door….” (Job 31:9)
They die in their youth, among male prostitutes (kah-DEISH) of the shrines. (Job 36:14)
The Book of Ruth
Uncover the Feet
When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.” (Ruth 3:4)
When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. (Ruth 3:7)
Spread Corner of Garment, Lie at Feet
“Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.” (Ruth 3:9)
So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, “No one must know that a woman came to the threshing floor.” (Ruth 3:14)
Genital Sexual Intercourse
Conceive
Give Birth
So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. (Ruth 4:13)
The Book of Ruth may be another sexual health teaching piece for childen. In this short story children might learn about physical intimacy, family responsibility, betrothal, and the covenant of marriage without direct conversation about sexual intercourse or body parts. The gentle sexual health terms for intimacy are: uncover the feet, spread the corner of the garment, and lie at the feet. The Hebrew term feet, RGL, pronounced REH-gel, has a range of meaning: literal feet, genitalia male or female, elimination of urine or feces, and possibly genital sexual intercourse. (Strong, 7272)
Feet, RGL, first appears in Genesis. Abraham offers God’s messengers a foot washing and place to rest.
Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. (Genesis 18:4)
Feet can also mean male or female genitalia. Deuteronomy 28:57 predicts future judgements against Israel. When speaking of victims of siege and starvation, the prophecy states that mothers will consume their own children’s afterbirth to survive. The word feet is used for vulva and birth canal.
…the afterbirth from her womb and the children she bears (In the afterbirth which comes out from her feet). For in her dire need she intends to eat them secretly because of the suffering your enemy will inflict on you during the siege of your cities. (Deuteronomy 28:57)
Isaiah uses feet in a modest way to describe the shaving of male pubic hair.
In that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates River—the king of Assyria—to shave your heads and private parts (feet), and to cut off your beards also. (Isaiah 7:20)
Feet also appears as a euphemism for elimination of urine or feces. Ehud the judge executes Eglon King of Moab. Eglon’s servants surmise the locked royal quarters are because the king relieves himself. Literally in the Hebrew the phrase is, “covering his feet ”. This same expression appears in the King Saul snapshot. Saul takes a restroom break in a cave while pursuing David. Saul “covers his feet” or eliminates.
After he had gone, the servants came and found the doors of the upper room locked. They said, “He must be relieving himself (cover his feet) in the inner room of the palace.” (Judges 3:24)
He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself (cover his feet). David and his men were far back in the cave. (1 Samuel 24:3)
When Ezekiel describes workers of the sacred sex trade having intercourse with strangers, the prophet uses the term feet instead of legs. This seems to connect the imagery of genitalia and intercourse to feet.
At every street corner you built your lofty shrines and degraded your beauty, spreading your legs (feet) with increasing promiscuity (ZNH) to anyone who passed by. (Ezekiel 16:25)
After King David impregnated Bathsheba, he attempted to cover up the conception of his affair. He recalled Uriah from the front line of war to have intercourse with Bathsheba, Uriah’s legal wife. In David’s mind the pregnancy could then be attributed to Uriah instead of the king’s illicit trist with the married Bathsheba. The plan does not go well for the king. Although the phrase, “wash the feet” is used for Uriah’s visit to his wife, Uriah clarifies,“wash the feet”, means genital sexual intercourse in 2 Samuel 11:11.
Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king was sent after him. (2 Samuel 11:8)
Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my commander Joab and my lord’s men are camped in the open country. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and make love (SCB) to my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!” (2 Samuel 11:11)
The Book of Ruth is not explicit about Boaz and Ruth’s sexual intimacy. One of the translation principles used in this work is, “If the author intends clarity, then the text is explicit and precise. If a text seems vague, then obscurity may be intention .” Ruth could be the case of intentional lack of detail for the sake of teaching small children about sexual health in marriage. Naomi coaches Ruth guiding her to the intimacy of beauty. Beauty is one of seven intimacies presented in Genesis 1-4. Naomi states,
Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. (Ruth 3:3)
Naomi then advises Ruth to “uncover the feet” of Boaz. The phrase “uncover the feet” can connect to genitalia with or without sexual intimacy or it may be simply saying she lay at his literal feet. The text appears ambiguous. Could this be for storytelling to children? Naomi’s plan puts Ruth in proximity with Boaz so he might enact the YBM (guardian redeemer) marriage law. The YBM, pronounced yah-BEEM, sexual health code in the ancient Near East permitted family members to marry a widow related by marriage. The YBM not only ensured offspring, but created inheritance rights and tribal protection for women. This might be thought of as ancient life insurance. Then Ruth makes the pitch for a marriage proposal when she asks Boaz to “spread the corner of your garment over me.”
“Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer (YBM) of our family.”
“The LORD bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor.
And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character. (Ruth 3:3-11)
“Spread the corner of your garment over” is used one other time in the Old Testament for the making of a covenant of marriage.
Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your naked body (covered your nakedness). I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign LORD, and you became mine. (Ezekiel 16:8)
Covering nakedness is the opposite of uncovering nakedness. Leviticus lists numerous incest prohibitions using the term” uncover the nakedness of”.
Do not dishonor your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; do not have relations with her. (Leviticus 18:7)
The literal Hebrew is, “The nakedness of your father, that is the nakedness of your mother do not uncover she is your mother.” After Ham uncovers the nakedness of (commits incest with) his mother in Genesis 9, the brothers, Shem and Japheth, “cover the nakedness” of their mother.
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 (cover the nakedness of). Their faces were turned the other way so that they would not see their father naked. (Genesis 9:23)
Uncovering the nakedness can mean the sexual violence of incest. Covering the nakedness without the preposition “un” appears to be an act of recovery not violation. The Ezekiel 16:8 passage seems to redeem the people of Israel for relationship with God using the familiar sexual health term, covenant. Ezekiel 16:8 does not appear to be a sexual intercourse snap shot.
Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your naked body (covered your nakedness). 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 Books of Chronicles
Genital Sexual Intercourse
Pregnant
Give Birth to
Then he made love to his wife again, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. He named him Beriah, because there had been misfortune in his family. (1 Chronicles 7:23)
High Places for the Sacred Sex Trade
Sacred Sex Trade
He had also built high places on the hills of Judah and had caused the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves and had led Judah astray. (2 Chronicles 21:11)
Covenant
Jehoiada then made a covenant that he, the people and the king would be the LORD’s people. (2 Chronicles 23:16)
Baal
High Places for the Sacred Sex Trade
Asherah Poles
Idols
All the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. (2 Chronicles 23:17)
In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David. In his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols. (2 Chronicles 34:3)
Baals
Asherah Poles
Idols
Under his direction the altars of the Baals were torn down; he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them, and smashed the Asherah poles and the idols. These he broke to pieces and scattered over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. (2 Chronicles 34:4)
2Ch 34:15 – Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the LORD.” He gave it to Shaphan.
2Ch 34:16 – Then Shaphan took the book to the king and reported to him: “Your officials are doing everything that has been committed to them.
2Ch 34:17 – They have paid out the money that was in the temple of the LORD and have entrusted it to the supervisors and workers.”
2Ch 34:24 – ‘This is what the LORD says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people—all the curses written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah.
Tools
Other Gods
Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all that their hands have made, my anger will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched.
Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard:
Tools
Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD. (2 Chronicles 34:25-27)
The Book of Ezra
Unhealthy Sexual Behaviors
After these things had been done, the leaders came to me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and the Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices, like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and Amorites. (Ezra 9:1)
Covenant
Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law. (Ezra 10:3)
Nehemiah
So my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families. I found the genealogical record of those who had been the first to return. This is what I found written there. (Nehemiah 7:5)
Eunuch Intersexuality
Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them. (Esther 2:3)
In the evening she would go there and in the morning return to another part of the harem to the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and summoned her by name. (Esther 2:14)
The Book of Daniel
Sexual Health Positive Term
Eunuch/Intersexual
Covenant
Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility. (Daniel 1:3)
The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.
Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel,
but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your[fn] food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”
Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. (Daniel 1:7-11)
At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. (Daniel 1:18)
He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” (Daniel 9:27)
The term eunuch or sah-REECE in Hebrew describes a senior level court officer who guards the integrity of a royal harem. The word sah-REECE meaning “to remove the genitalia” appears 42 times in 42 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. The eunuch/sah-REECE was known for remarkable allegiance to their king. (Strong, H5631) Emperors desiring a legacy of succession often used multiple wives or concubines to create a pool for potential successors. The best and brightest royal offspring make the cut moving into positions of leadership. The eunuch/sah-REECE, unable to reproduce, provided a perfect overseer for the harem ensuring integrity of royal DNA. The word eunuch/sah-REECE appears seven times in Daniel. Hebrew numerology often uses seven to indicate completeness. Eunuch/sah-REECE first appears in Genesis to describe Joseph’s master, Potiphar. (Genesis 37:36) Isaiah writes a section on blessings for eunuchs/sah-REECE. (Isaiah 56:3-4) Esther too mentions eunuchs/sah-REECE specifically.
On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas. (Esther 1:10)
Jesus identifies with eunuchs in Matthew 19:12 as one choosing sexual abstinence for the sake of the kingdom. Christ infers some eunuchs are born without the ability to perform sexually and others are made (surgically) to become eunuchs.
Jesus’s words about eunuchs who are born without the ability to have genital sexual intercourse find common ground with the science of intersexuality.
Intersexuality and Eunuchism
Intersexuality is the word for sex variations occurring in sexually reproducing animals. Intersexual births feature non typical sex characteristics of males and females. Intersexual genitals may be different in numerous ways. The Fausto-Sterling (2000) report researched the wide range of variation occurring in live births from 1955 to 1999. The report found nearly 2% of live births feature some variation from typical XX and XY.
Intersexuality-eunuchism in the ancient Near East was known for inability to procreate or engage in heterosexual genital sexual intercourse. A valued court official, the intersexual-eunuch attended to royal harems. The intersexual-eunuch served as non threatening overseer to ensure purity of royal blood lines and succession to the throne. Jesus speaks about intersexuality-eunuchism in Matthew 19:
For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others – and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it. (Matthew 19:12)
Christ mentions intersexuals-eunuchs who are born, eunuchs made surgically, and eunuchs who choose celibacy for the sake of ministry. The references to intersexual-eunuchs in the Bible are only positive. No negative statements exist about intersexual variations or eunuchs at any place in Scripture.
The Fausto-Sterling Report
Fausto-Sterling (2000) examined medical intersexual data and states:
We surveyed the medical literature from 1955 to the present for studies of the frequency of deviation from the ideal male or female. We conclude that this frequency may be as high as 2% of live births. The frequency of individuals receiving ‘corrective’ genital surgery, however, probably runs between 1 and 2 per 1,000 live births (0.1 – 0.2%). (p. 151)
Response to the Fausto-Sterling (2000) study was immediate:
Many reviewers are not aware that this figure includes conditions which most clinicians do not recognize as intersex, such as Klinefelter syndrome, Turner syndrome, and late- onset adrenal hyperplasia. If the term intersex is to retain any meaning, the term should be restricted to those conditions in which chromosomal sex is inconsistent with phenotyp ic sex, or in which the phenotype is not classifiable as either male or female. Applying this more precise definition, the true prevalence of intersex is seen to be about 0.018%, almost 100 times lower than Fausto-Sterling’s estimate of 1.7%. (Sax, 2002)
The criticism of Fausto-Sterling’s (2000) 1.7% intersex live birth statistic connects to Sax’s (2002) definition of intersexuality and his comment, “most clinicians”. Sax (2002) states that Fausto-Sterling’s (2000) results are inflated because she included Klinefelter, Turner, and late onset hyperplasia. Sax (2002) makes a case that most clinicians do not recognize Klinefelter and Turner syndromes, and late onset hyperplasia. Perhaps citing a percentage of clinicians with Sax’s (2002) view would be helpful? Klinefelter karyotype is XXY. The Turner karyotype is one X. Typical females are XX and males XY. Klinefelter presents with smaller genitalia and female breasts. Turner traits include smaller stature, possible sterility, and need for hormone therapy to induce puberty. Possibly the first record of adrenal hyperplasia took place in 1865. Luigi de Crecchio, an anatomist, autopsied a 40 year old cadaver. He noted the fusion of the labia and scrotum to a curved penis. The 3.9 inch long penis had the urethral opening on the shaft rather than at the tip of the glans. The subject had both testicles and ovaries located inside the body cavity. The case study also had vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, and enlarged adrenal glands along with male genitalia. The patient in life reported as a male. Symptoms at death were vomiting and diarrhea. These symptoms may have been caused by adrenal insufficiency. In 1957 Decourt, Jayle, and Baulieu described similar features and formed the diagnosis of non classic or mild form of 21 hydroxylase deficiency. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5624825/ Perhaps we would be accurate to say that adrenal hyperplasia although it may not classify as intersexuality, with certainty the features and symptoms present as intersexual traits? This seems to be a fair common ground for conversation and treatment. If Klinefelter, Turner, and late onset hyperplasia impact the sexuality of a client, it seems therapeutically reasonable as a clinical sexologist to include them in the sample. If not, then clearly, one can say experts agree data shows at minimum .018% to a maximum of 1.7% of live births have variation from typical males and females.
This data can be a game changer for people of faith. Neither Jesus nor any other author of the Bible condemns eunuchs, intersexuals, or “those who are born” without the ability for heterosexual intercourse. This new technology may be common ground for people of faith and those with intersexual traits. Perhaps this generation can bring an end to violence and hatred for people who are “born” that way?
Hope Experience 