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What does the Bible say about masturbation?

Does the word appear in the Bible?

The word "masturbation" does not appear in the Bible.

Editorial note: this entry is in review and will be published in full shortly. The full version will document the Onan narrative in its levirate-marriage context, the difference between what Onan did and the modern category of masturbation, and the inferential relationship between the passage and modern interpretations.

Every relevant passage

Genesis 38:8-10

Genesis 38:8-10 — BSB

Then Judah said to Onan, 'Sleep with your brother's wife. Perform your duty as her brother-in-law and raise up offspring for your brother.' But Onan knew that the offspring would not belong to him; so whenever he would sleep with his brother's wife, he would spill his seed on the ground so that he would not produce offspring for his brother. What he did was evil in the sight of the LORD, so He put Onan to death as well.

Genesis 38:8-10 — KJV

And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her, and raise up seed to thy brother. And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother. And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.

Editorial note: this entry is in review and will be published in full shortly.

Read in other translations (Genesis 38:8-10)

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Content in review — publishing shortly.

External references

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