What Does the Bible Say About Virginity?
The Bible presents virginity as an honorable and valuable state, particularly before marriage, but it does so within a broader framework that affirms both celibacy and marriage as honorable paths for believers. In the Old Testament, virginity was often linked to family honor, covenant faithfulness, and moral purity. In the New Testament, the concept of virginity takes on a deeper spiritual dimension, connected not only to moral conduct but also to wholehearted devotion to the Lord.
The Bible affirms virginity while also holding marriage in high regard. It does not present virginity as an absolute requirement for holiness, but it does portray it as a commendable choice when motivated by love for God. At the same time, the Scriptures address sexual sin honestly, offering both warnings against immorality and hope through God’s grace and forgiveness.
This article will explore:
Virginity in the Old Testament cultural and legal context.
Virginity as a symbol of purity and covenant faithfulness.
The New Testament’s spiritual perspective on virginity.
The balance between virginity and marriage in biblical teaching.
The gospel’s redemptive hope for sexual purity.
1. Virginity in the Old Testament Cultural and Legal Context
In the Old Testament, virginity was highly valued, particularly for unmarried women. The description of Rebekah in Genesis 24:16—“The young woman was very attractive in appearance, a virgin whom no man had known”—reflects the cultural importance placed on sexual purity before marriage.
The law of Moses addressed cases involving virginity with seriousness. Deuteronomy 22:13–21 includes provisions that dealt with accusations against a woman’s virginity, and Deuteronomy 22:28–29 required that if a man violated a virgin who was not betrothed, he had to marry her and could never divorce her. While these laws can seem harsh to modern readers, they were designed within their ancient context to protect women from being cast aside or dishonored without provision.
Virginity was closely tied to family reputation and covenant identity. For Israel, sexual purity was not merely a private matter—it symbolized the nation’s faithfulness to God’s covenant and separated them from surrounding nations that often linked sexual immorality to pagan worship.
2. Virginity as a Symbol of Purity and Covenant Faithfulness
The Bible sometimes uses virginity symbolically to represent purity, devotion, and covenant loyalty. For example, in 2 Corinthians 11:2, Paul speaks of presenting the church as “a pure virgin to Christ,” using the image to describe undivided spiritual faithfulness. Similarly, the Old Testament prophets occasionally describe Israel’s unfaithfulness to God in terms of sexual immorality, contrasting it with the ideal of purity.
This symbolic use shows that the biblical concern is not only about physical virginity but about an entire way of life marked by integrity, holiness, and exclusive devotion to the Lord. The image of virginity as covenant faithfulness finds its ultimate fulfillment in the church, the bride of Christ, who is called to keep herself pure for the day of His return.
3. The New Testament’s Spiritual Perspective on Virginity
In the New Testament, virginity is not only a matter of sexual integrity but also a potential calling for deeper service to God. 1 Corinthians 7 addresses both marriage and singleness, with Paul noting that unmarried believers can devote themselves more fully to the Lord’s work without the divided concerns that can come with marriage.
Early Christian teaching sometimes regarded virginity and celibacy as higher callings—not because marriage was inferior, but because undivided devotion to Christ was considered a unique gift. Paul is careful to say that this is not a command for all believers, but a matter of calling and circumstance.
The New Testament also presents Jesus Himself as the ultimate example of a life lived in perfect purity, wholly devoted to the Father’s will. His celibate life was not a rejection of marriage but a fulfillment of His unique mission.
4. The Balance Between Virginity and Marriage in Biblical Teaching
While the Bible commends virginity, it also affirms marriage as honorable. Hebrews 13:4 declares, “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled.” The Bible never teaches that virginity is inherently more holy than marriage. Instead, it presents both as valid callings, each with its own responsibilities and blessings.
Marriage is portrayed as a good gift from God, part of His design from creation (Genesis 2:24). Sexual intimacy within marriage is celebrated in passages like the Song of Solomon, which portrays marital love as beautiful and God-given. Virginity before marriage is a way of honoring that design, while marriage itself is a sacred covenant in which sexual intimacy has its proper place.
The Bible’s teaching encourages believers to make decisions about marriage or celibacy in light of their devotion to the Lord and their calling in His service.
5. The Gospel’s Redemptive Hope for Sexual Purity
The Bible’s high view of virginity also comes with a realistic understanding of human weakness. Sexual sin is treated seriously, but the gospel offers hope and restoration to those who have stumbled. In John 8:1–11, Jesus shows mercy to a woman caught in adultery, neither excusing her sin nor condemning her, but calling her to “go, and from now on sin no more.”
The New Testament emphasizes that believers are made new in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Whether one’s past includes the preservation of virginity or the reality of sexual sin, the call is to live in purity from this day forward. Forgiveness, cleansing, and renewal are available to all who turn to Christ in repentance and faith.
This gospel perspective reframes virginity as part of a larger call to holiness. Physical purity matters, but the deeper issue is the purity of heart and life that flows from a restored relationship with God through Christ.
Conclusion: Virginity in the Context of Biblical Faithfulness
The Bible values virginity as an expression of purity and devotion, particularly before marriage, but it places it within the larger vision of faithfulness to God. The Scriptures affirm both celibacy and marriage as honorable paths for believers, with the choice depending on calling, gifting, and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Virginity is not the ultimate measure of one’s worth before God—Christ is. In Him, the call is to live in holiness, whether single or married, in a way that honors God’s design for sexuality and reflects the purity of the church as the bride of Christ.
Bible Verses About Virginity
Genesis 24:16 – “…a virgin, whom no man had known.”
Deuteronomy 22:13–21 – Laws concerning accusations against a woman’s virginity.
Deuteronomy 22:28–29 – Law concerning the violation of a virgin not betrothed.
Leviticus 21:13 – “…he shall take a wife in her virginity.”
2 Corinthians 11:2 – “…to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.”
Matthew 1:23 – “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son…”
1 Corinthians 7:34 – “…the unmarried woman or virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord…”
Hebrews 13:4 – “Let marriage be held in honor among all…”
Song of Solomon 4:12 – “A garden locked is my sister, my bride…”
Revelation 14:4 – “…it is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins…”
