I used to think the Bible was pretty straightforward about sex: no premarital sex, no adultery, and definitely nothing outside of marriage. But as I dug deeper, I found some surprising, bizarre, and downright confusing perspectives on sex and relationships in the Good Book that made me stop and say, "Wait, that’s in there?"

Turns out, the Bible isn’t just commandments, angels, and a whole lot of “thou shalt nots.” It contains some eyebrow-raising takes on sex that don’t often make it into Sunday sermons. Let’s dive into a few of them.

1. Polygamy Was Never Outlawed
Contrary to popular belief, the Bible doesn’t explicitly forbid polygamy. In fact, some of the most revered figures in the Old Testament—Abraham, Jacob, David, and Solomon—had multiple wives. Solomon took it to the extreme with 700 wives and 300 concubines! Exodus 21:10 even provides guidelines for treating multiple wives fairly: "If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing, and marital rights."

While the New Testament encourages monogamy (1 Timothy 3:2), the patriarchs of old were living their best lives with entire squads of wives. So why do modern Christians frown on polygamy? It’s more about cultural shifts than biblical condemnation.

2. Forced Marriage After Rape
One of the most unsettling laws in the Bible comes from Deuteronomy 22:28-29, which states:  
"If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, he shall pay her father fifty shekels of silver. He must marry the young woman, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives."

This law was likely intended to ensure financial security for the woman, as virginity was tied to marital value in ancient times. However, by today’s standards, it’s horrifying to think a rape victim would be forced to marry her attacker. Thankfully, society has evolved far beyond this.

3. Rules About Semen
Leviticus 15:16-18 gets very specific about bodily fluids:  
"When a man has an emission of semen, he must bathe his whole body with water, and he will be unclean till evening. Any clothing or leather that has semen on it must be washed with water, and it will be unclean till evening. When a man has sexual relations with a woman and there is an emission of semen, both of them must bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening."

In ancient Israel, purity laws were strict, and bodily discharges—even natural ones—were considered ritually impure. Imagine having to perform a cleansing ritual every time you and your spouse were intimate!

4. Women Had to Marry Their Brother-in-Law
Deuteronomy 25:5-10 outlines the practice of levirate marriage:  
"If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her. The first son she bears shall carry on the name of the dead brother so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel."

This wasn’t about love—it was about property and lineage. Women couldn’t inherit, so this law ensured the deceased man’s name and estate lived on. If the brother refused, the widow could publicly shame him by spitting in his face and declaring him "The Family of the Unsandaled."

5. Premarital Sex? Not a Big Deal (According to Ruth)
Ruth and Boaz might have been the original “friends with benefits.” In Ruth 3:6-8, Ruth sneaks into Boaz’s bed and uncovers his feet—a euphemism that many scholars interpret as a suggestive act.  
"When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down."

While some argue this was symbolic, others suggest it was a pre-marriage hookup. Either way, God didn’t punish them. In fact, Boaz marries Ruth, and their great-grandson becomes King David. Maybe God’s okay with a little pre-marital action after all?

The Bible’s Sexual Ethics Are Complex
Some of these beliefs make sense in their ancient context, while others are shocking by modern standards. Biblical sexual ethics weren’t always as black-and-white as we assume. So, the next time someone says, "The Bible is clear about sex," you can smile and say, "Oh, really? Let me tell you about the semen laws…" *wink*