Biblical Verses on Marital Sexual Duty

The Apostle Paul addresses marital sexual duty in 1 Corinthians 7:3, stating, "The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband" ^[2]. This verse establishes a mutual obligation within marriage, where neither spouse should "defraud" the other of conjugal duty ^[7]. The purpose of marriage, in part, is to prevent fornication ^[3].

Biblical texts outline various duties for husbands and wives. Husbands are called to love their wives (Ephesians 5:25-33; Colossians 3:19), respect them (1 Peter 3:7), and be faithful (Proverbs 5:19; Malachi 2:14-15) ^[1]. Wives are likewise to love their husbands (Titus 2:4), reverence them (Ephesians 5:33), and be faithful (1 Corinthians 7:3-5, 10) ^[4]. The concept of marital duty extends to remaining together for life ^{[1, 4]}.

Jewish tradition, as seen in the Babylonian Talmud, emphasizes the "mitzva of the enjoyment of conjugal rights," considering it a husband's marital obligation to engage in sexual intercourse with his wife at regular intervals ^{[5, 10]}. Maimonides, in the Mishneh Torah, explains that the term onah (conjugal rights) implies that marital intimacy is for the wife's sake, with the husband responding to her desires for closeness ^[6]. The frequency of this duty depends on the husband's strength and work, but he should not neglect it ^{[6, 8]}. Vows that forbid marital relations are given a limited respite, after which divorce or vow absolution is required if the vow causes the wife distress ^[9].

Early Christian thought also recognized the duty of marital intimacy. Clement of Rome exhorted wives to "be satisfied with their husbands both in the flesh and spirit," and husbands to "love their wives, even as the Lord the Church" ^[11]. Augustine viewed sexual intercourse within marriage as a "matter of duty not of lust" for holy men, comparing it to taking food for the conservation of life—both involve carnal delight but are modified by temperance for their natural use ^[12]. While temporary abstinence for prayer and fasting was permitted, it was to be by mutual consent and for a limited time, after which the couple should "be together" again ^[7].

Sources

Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Husbands — Should have but one wife -- Ge 2:24; Mr 10:6-8; 1Co 7:2-4. Have authority over their wives -- Ge 3:16; 1Co 11:3; Eph 5:23. Duty of, to wives To respect them. -- 1Pe 3:7. To love them. -- Eph 5:25-33; Col 3:19. To regard them as themselves. -- Ge 2:23; Mt 19:5. To be faithful to them. -- Pr 5:19; Mal 2:14,15. To dwell with them for life. -- Ge 2:24; Mt 19:3-9. To comfort them. -- 1Sa 1:8. To consult with them. -- Ge 31:4-7. Not to leave them, though unbelieving. -- 1Co 7:11,12,14,16. Duties of, not to interfere with their duties to Christ -- Lu 14:26; Mt 19”
I Corinthians “I Corinthians 7:3 (BSB) — The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Marriage — Divinely instituted -- Ge 2:24. A covenant relationship -- Mal 2:4. Designed for The happiness of man. -- Ge 2:18. Increasing the human population. -- Ge 1:28; 9:1. Raising up godly seed. -- Mal 2:15. Preventing fornication. -- 1Co 7:2. The expectation of the promised seed of the woman an incentive to, in the early age -- Ge 3:15; 4:1. Lawful in all -- 1Co 7:2,28; 1Ti 5:14. Honourable for all -- Heb 13:4. Should be only in the Lord -- 1Co 7:39. Expressed by Joining together. -- Mt 19:6. Making affinity. -- 1Ki 3:1. Taking to wife. -- Ex 2:1. Giving daughte”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Wives — Not to be selected from among the ungodly -- Ge 24:3; 26:34,35; 28:1. Duties of, to their husbands To love them. -- Tit 2:4. To reverence them. -- Eph 5:33. To be faithful to them. -- 1Co 7:3-5,10. To be subject to them. -- Ge 3:16; Eph 5:22,24; 1Pe 3:1. To obey them. -- 1Co 14:34; Tit 2:5. To remain with them for life. -- Ro 7:2,3. Should be adorned Not with ornaments. -- 1Ti 2:9; 1Pe 3:3. With modesty and sobriety. -- 1Ti 2:9. With a meek and quiet spirit. -- 1Pe 3:4,5. With good works. -- 1Ti 2:10; 5:10. Good Are from the Lord. -- Pr 19:14. Are a token of ”
Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Pesachim 72b.16: The Gemara raises another question: Nevertheless, there is the mitzva of the enjoyment of conjugal rights. One of a husband’s marital obligations is to engage in sexual intercourse with his wife at regular intervals (see Exodus 21:10), and this is considered a mitzva. The Gemara answers that we are talking about a case where it is not the time of her conjugal rights.”
Mishneh Torah (Maimonides) (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Mishneh Torah (Maimonides), Mishneh Torah%2C Marriage 14:1: The [obligation of] conjugal rights 1 The very word onah - and its translation as "conjugal rights" - conveys a fundamental conception with regard to the Torah's conception of marital intimacy. Marital intimacy is not for the husband's sake, but rather for his wife's. Onah also means "respond." A man should be responding to his wife's desires and satisfying her wishes for closeness. as prescribed by the Torah [is individual in nature], depending on the strength of each particular man and the [type of] work that he performs. What is im”
1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 7:5: Defraud . . . not--namely, of the conjugal duty "due" (Co1 7:3; compare the Septuagint, Exo 21:10). except it be--"unless perchance" [ALFORD]. give yourselves to--literally, "be at leisure for"; be free from interruptions for; namely, on some special "season," as the Greek for "time" means (compare Exo 19:15; Joe 2:16; Zac 7:3). fasting and prayer--The oldest manuscripts omit "fasting and"; an interpolation, evidently, of ascetics. come together--The oldest manuscripts read, "be together," namely, in the regular state of the married. Sa”
Mishneh Torah (Maimonides) (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Mishneh Torah (Maimonides), Mishneh Torah%2C Forbidden Intercourse 21:11: Our Sages do not derive satisfaction from a person who engages in sexual relations excessively and frequents his wife like a rooster. This reflects a very blemished [character]; it is the way underdeveloped people conduct themselves. Instead, everyone who minimizes his sexual conduct is praiseworthy, provided he does not neglect his conjugal duties 36 See Hilchot Ishut , ch. 14, which explains the frequency of the conjugal duties a husband has to his wife. This factor is dependent on the nature of the husband's work and ”
Mishneh Torah (Maimonides) (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Mishneh Torah (Maimonides), Mishneh Torah%2C Marriage 14:6: When a man makes a vow causing marital relations with his wife to be forbidden, he is given a respite of one week. 9 In this time, it is hoped that he will change his mind and retract his vow. After that time, he must divorce [his wife] and pay her [the money due her by virtue of her] ketubah , or absolve his vow. [This ruling applies even if the man] is a seaman whose obligation towards conjugal duties is once every six months. [The rationale is that] since he took a vow, he has caused his wife distress, and she despairs [of ever res”
Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Ketubot 61b.10: Apropos the husband’s obligation to his wife regarding marital relations, the Gemara mentions other aspects of this issue: Students may leave their homes and travel in order to learn Torah without their wives’ permission for up to thirty days, and laborers may leave their homes without their wives’ permission for up to one week. The set interval defining the frequency of a husband’s conjugal obligation to his wife stated in the Torah (see Exodus 21:10), unless the couple stipulated otherwise, varies according to the man’s occupation and proximity to his home:”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 1: Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius, Barnabas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus — CHAP. V.--THE DUTIES OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES.: Flee evil arts; but all the more discourse in public regarding them.(2) Speak to my sisters, that they love the Lord, and be satisfied with their husbands both in the flesh and spirit. In like manner also, exhort my brethren, in the name of Jesus Christ, that they love their wives, even as the Lord the Church.(3) If any one can continue in a state of purity,(4) to the honour of Him who is Lord of the flesh,(5) let him so remain without boasting. If he begins to boast”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 3: Augustine — On the Holy Trinity — ON THE GOOD OF MARRIAGE. (part 19): living here, but from duty of being useful(2), takes food that he may remain in the flesh, which is necessary for the sake of others; so to have intercourse with females in right of marriage, was to holy men at that time a matter of duty not of lust. 18. For what food is unto the conservation of the man, this sexual intercourse is unto the conservation of the race: and both are not without carnal delight: which yet being modified, and by restraint of temperance reduced unto the use after nature, cannot be lust.(”

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