Pegging and Masturbation in Biblical Ethics
The Bible does not directly mention "pegging" or "masturbation." However, biblical ethics offer principles concerning sexual conduct that inform theological perspectives on these acts.
Biblical texts emphasize the sanctity of marriage as a divinely instituted covenant between one man and one woman [5, 8]. Genesis 2:24 states, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." This foundational text is understood to establish the conjugal bond exclusively between two persons [8]. Sexual intercourse within this marital union is considered pure and honorable [5, 7].
Conversely, the Bible condemns various forms of sexual immorality, often referred to as porneia in the New Testament, which encompasses a range of illicit sexual acts [4]. Adultery, defined as sexual relations between a married woman and a man who is not her husband, was punishable by stoning under Mosaic law [6]. Incestuous relationships, such as a man taking his sister, are explicitly forbidden and described as "shameful" [3, 9, 10, 11]. The broader principle of avoiding "fleshly lusts" and "denying ungodliness and worldly lusts" is also present [1].
The concept of self-denial and controlling one's appetites is a recurring theme in biblical ethics [1]. This includes abstaining from "fleshly lusts" and "mortifying sinful lusts" [1]. While not directly addressing masturbation, some interpretations apply these principles to self-gratification, viewing it as potentially contrary to the call for self-control and the avoidance of lust [1]. The warning against being "captivated with an adulteress" or "embracing the bosom of another" (Proverbs 5:20) speaks to the broader theme of sexual purity and avoiding illicit desires [2].
The emphasis on sexual expression within the confines of marriage and the condemnation of sexual acts outside this covenant provide a framework for evaluating sexual practices not explicitly named in scripture. The focus is often on the relational and procreative aspects of sexuality within marriage, and the avoidance of lust and impurity [5, 7].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
- Proverbs “For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another? -- Proverbs 5:20”
- Leviticus ““‘If a man takes his sister, his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter, and sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness; it is a shameful thing. They shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people. He has uncovered his sister’s nakedness. He shall bear his iniquity. -- Leviticus 20:17”
- Revelation “But I have this against you, that you tolerate yourwoman, Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. She teaches and seduces my servants to commit sexual immorality, and to eat things sacrificed to idols. -- Revelation 2:20”
- 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”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Adultery — (Exodus 20:14) The parties to this crime, according to Jewish law, were a married woman and a man who was not her husband. The Mosaic penalty was that both the guilty parties should be stoned, and it applied as well to the betrothed as to the married woman, provided she were free. (22:22-24) A bondwoman so offending was to be scourged, and the man was to make a trespass offering. (Leviticus 19:20-22) At a later time, and when owing, to Gentile example, the marriage tie became a looser bond of union, public feeling in regard to adultery changed, and the pena”
- Leviticus (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Leviticus 15:18: Sexual connection. "If a man lie with a woman with the emission of seed, both shall be unclean till the evening, and bathe themselves in water." Consequently it was not the concubitus as such which defiled, as many erroneously suppose, but the emission of seed in the coitus. This explains the law and custom, of abstaining from conjugal intercourse during the preparation for acts of divine worship, or the performance of the same (Exo 19:5; Sa1 21:5-6; Sa2 11:4), in which many other nations resembled the Israelites. (For proofs see Leyrer's article in Herzog'”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 6.40: forcibly: ‘They two shall be into one flesh,’ and thus Christ cites the place in Matthew 19:5 . But though here no mention is made of two , yet there is no ambiguity in the sense; for Moses had not said that God has assigned many wives, but only one to one man; and in the general direction given, he had put the wife in the singular number. It remains, therefore, that the conjugal bond subsists between two persons only, whence it easily appears, that nothing is less accordant with the divine institution than polygamy. Now, when Chr”
- Leviticus (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Leviticus 18:24: Defile not yourselves in any of these things--In the preceding verses seventeen express cases of incest are enumerated; comprehending eleven of affinity [Lev 18:7-16], and six of consanguinity [Lev 18:17-20], together with some criminal enormities of an aggravated and unnatural character. In such prohibitions it was necessary for the instruction of a people low in the scale of moral perception, that the enumeration should be very specific as well as minute; and then, on completing it, the divine lawgiver announces his own views of these crimes, wit”
- Leviticus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Leviticus 20:17: And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter,.... Take her to be his wife, or commit lewdness with her, whether she be his sister by both father and mother's side, or whether by one only, either way she is his sister, and it is not lawful to marry her, or lie with her, see Lev 18:9, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; which is not to be understood of an immodest view, exposing to each other what should not be seen, and pleasing themselves wills such obscene sights, but of the act of lying together, for so it i”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 20:17: HE SHALL BEAR HIS INIQUITY. He alone shall bear his iniquity. The reason scripture mentions these things 55 Marriage, consensual intercourse outside of marriage, and rape. It does not mention all three with regard to the other prohibited relations. regarding the sister is that they grew up in one house and are young people who play. The brother is always alone with his sister. Scripture does not mention the punishment for intercourse with the daughter of one’s son or the daughter of one’s daughter, for it relied on the oral Torah. 56 See Sanhedrin 51a. It i”