In the Old Testament, God gave laws and regulations to the Israelites to set them apart as His chosen people. One area that was closely regulated was sexual purity and impurity. According to the Mosaic Law, a husband and wife were considered ceremonially “unclean” after engaging in sexual intercourse and required a period of abstinence and ritual cleansing before they could reenter regular religious activities (Leviticus 15:18).
There were several reasons for this regulation:
1. As a reminder of the sacredness of marriage and sexuality
God designed sex to be enjoyed exclusively within the covenant of marriage between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24). Sex was not meant to be a casual recreational activity but rather a unique way for a husband and wife to express intimacy, become “one flesh”, and potentially conceive children together. Declaring the couple ceremonially unclean impressed the weightiness and sanctity of the sexual act. It set it apart from ordinary daily activities.
2. For maintaining spiritual purity and cleanliness
According to the Law, anyone who had a bodily discharge of any kind, including semen, was ritually unclean until evening (Leviticus 15:16-18). This law applied not just to sexual activity but also involuntary discharges related to illness or normal cycles. Such bodily discharges represented the passing on of life fluid and were a reminder of human mortality and imperfection in a fallen world. To approach God’s presence in worship, ritual purification was required. This included waiting and bathing until the evening after discharge stopped (Leviticus 15:5-11, 16-18).
3. As a hedge against excess
Requiring a period of abstinence after lovemaking built in a constraint against unrestrained indulgence of sexual appetite. The unclean laws prevented couples from engaging in sex multiple times in a day and provided a check against using their spouses merely for selfish pleasure rather than nurturing intimacy. It encouraged moderation and self-control, which are virtues promoted throughout Scripture (Proverbs 25:28, 1 Corinthians 6:12, Galatians 5:23).
4. For avoiding ritual contamination
Seminal discharges, along with other bodily discharges and skin diseases, could render someone ceremonially unclean. Anyone who had an emission or touched something unclean became unclean until evening, and anything they touched also became unclean (Leviticus 15:4-12). If they entered the tabernacle in this state, they would defile God’s dwelling place. So abstaining from marital relations ensured a person did not inadvertently bring ritual contamination into holy places or activities.
The laws concerning post-sex ritual uncleanness have led some critics to mistakenly conclude the Mosaic Law considered sex sinful or dirty. This is simply not true. The Bible affirms sex within marriage as holy and honorable (Hebrews 13:4). However, the regulations did recognize the necessity for set-apart times devoted solely to spiritual pursuits and worship without distraction or external ritual defilement.
For Christians under the new covenant, the ceremonial laws concerning bodily discharges and uncleanness are not binding. Through Christ’s redemption, believers have continual access to God’s presence and are called to be holy in all areas of life (Hebrews 4:16, 1 Peter 1:15-16). However, the principles behind the Mosaic regulations can still provide wisdom for maintaining a high view of marriage and guarding against sexual excess. Ultimately, Christians’ bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and are meant to glorify God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). As those washed by Christ and guided by the Spirit, we can thoughtfully esteem marriage, exercise self-control, and devote ourselves fully to the Lord.
5. Key Biblical Passages on Post-Sex Unclean Laws
Leviticus 15:16-18 – After a seminal emission, the man was unclean until evening. Anything he lay on during this time was unclean.
Leviticus 15:24 – If a man lay with a woman and had an emission of semen, both were unclean until evening and anything they lay on was unclean.
Leviticus 22:3-7 – Those unclean from discharge could not eat sacrificial offerings until ritually cleansed. This applied to those with emissions and men who lay with an unclean or menstruating woman.
2 Samuel 11:2-4 – After David committed adultery with Bathsheba, she had to undergo ritual cleansing before he could lay with her again.
1 Corinthians 7:5 – Christian couples are urged not to deprive one another sexually except for brief times of prayer and fasting, so that Satan cannot tempt them due to lack of self-control.
Overall, the regulations concerning uncleanness were not meant to vilify sex within marriage but rather to instill an appreciation for its sacredness and tendency to distract from spiritual disciplines. As Christians, we recognize marriage and sexuality as holy gifts from God that must be stewarded well for His glory.
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