Skip to main content

Sexuality and the Hebrew Bible

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
  • 75 Accesses

The Hebrew Bible, called the Law (Torah), the Writings (Kethuvim), and the Prophets (Nevi’im) by Jews and the Old Testament by Christians, has had a profound impact on religion throughout the world. It encompasses 39 separate books written by dozens of authors over 1,000 years. The Hebrew Bible comprises over half of the Christian Bible, is referenced hundreds of times in the Quran, and has even influenced Hinduism through the conquests of Alexander and the travels of Hebrews and Christians. As such, its views on sexuality impact thought and action far beyond its traditional roots.

To study a religion is, in part, to study its source of authority. Common sources of religious authority include scriptures, traditions, words, and deeds of important people past and present, and the lived experience (what people actually think, say, do, and experience) of its adherents over time. The reader must also consider his or her interpretive framework (hermeneutic). Will words be understood...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Bibliography

  • Ågmo, A. (2015). Sexual behavior. In I. P. Stolerman (Eds.), Encyclopedia of psychopharmacology. ISBN: 978-3-540-68698-9 (Print) 978-3-540-68706-1 (Online).

    Google Scholar 

  • Alpert, R. (2003). Chapter 6 ‘Sex in Jewish Life and Culture.’ In Sexuality and the World’s Religions, D. W. Machacek, & M. W. Wilcox (Eds.), Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, pp. 177–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Astreika, V., & Segraves, R. T. (2015). Sexual disorders. In I. P. Stolerman (Eds.), Encyclopedia of psychopharmacology. ISBN: 978-3-540-68698-9 (Print) 978-3-540-68706-1 (Online).

    Google Scholar 

  • Beit-Hallahm, B. (in press). Religion, religiosity, and gender. In C. R. Ember, & M. Ember (Eds.), Encyclopedia of sex and gender. Men and women in the world’s cultures volume I: Topics and cultures A-K volume II: Cultures L-Z. ISBN: 978-0-306-47770-6 (Print) 978-0-387-29907-5 (Online).

    Google Scholar 

  • Belmaker, R. H. (2015). Bipolar disorder. In I. P. Stolerman (Eds.), Encyclopedia of psychopharmacology. ISBN: 978-3-540-68698-9 (Print) 978-3-540-68706-1 (Online).

    Google Scholar 

  • Broude, G. J. (in press). Sexual attitudes and practices. In C. R. Ember, & M. Ember (Eds.), Encyclopedia of sex and gender. Men and women in the world’s cultures volume I: Topics and cultures A-K volume II: Cultures L-Z. ISBN: 978-0-306-47770-6 (Print) 978-0-387-29907-5 (Online).

    Google Scholar 

  • de Rios, M. D., & Grob, C. S. (2015). Ritual uses of psychoactive drugs. In I. P. Stolerman (Eds.), Encyclopedia of psychopharmacology. ISBN: 978-3-540-68698-9 (Print) 978-3-540-68706-1 (Online).

    Google Scholar 

  • Delamater, A. M. (in press). Meditation. In M. Gellman, & J. Rick Turner (Eds.), Encyclopedia of behavioral medicine. ISBN: 978-1-4614-6439-6 (Print) 978-1-4614-6439-6 (Online).

    Google Scholar 

  • Feuerstein, G. (2003). Sacred sexuality: The erotic spirit in the world’s great religions. Rochester: Inner Traditions.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flemons, D., & Green, S. K. (2017). Brief relational couple therapy. In J. Lebow, A. Chambers, & D. C. Breunlin (Eds.), Encyclopedia of couple and family therapy. ISBN: 978-3-319-15877-8 (Print) 978-3-319-15877-8 (Online).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofer, A. (2015). Schizophrenia. In I. P. Stolerman (Eds.), Encyclopedia of psychopharmacology. ISBN: 978-3-540-68698-9 (Print) 978-3-540-68706-1 (Online).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiefer, F., & Mann, K. (2015). Alcohol abuse and dependence. In I. P. Stolerman (Eds.), Encyclopedia of psychopharmacology. ISBN: 978-3-540-68698-9 (Print) 978-3-540-68706-1 (Online).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, W. Y., & Cheng, V. (2017). Eastern philosophy in couple and family therapy. In J. Lebow, A. Chambers, & D. C. Breunlin (Eds.), Encyclopedia of couple and family therapy. ISBN: 978-3-319-15877-8 (Print) 978-3-319-15877-8 (Online).

    Google Scholar 

  • Nisly, N. (in press). Alternative medicine. In M. Gellman, & J. Rick Turner (Eds.), Encyclopedia of behavioral medicine. ISBN: 978-1-4614-6439-6 (Print) 978-1-4614-6439-6 (Online).

    Google Scholar 

  • Parrinder, G. (1996). Sexual morality in the world’s religions. Oxford: Oneworld Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Price, L. H. (2015). Depressive disorders: Major, minor, and mixed. In I. P. Stolerman (Eds.), Encyclopedia of psychopharmacology. ISBN: 978-3-540-68698-9 (Print) 978-3-540-68706-1 (Online).

    Google Scholar 

  • Traeger, L. (in press). Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). In M. Gellman, & J. Rick Turner (Eds.), Encyclopedia of behavioral medicine. ISBN: 978-1-4614-6439-6 (Print) 978-1-4614-6439-6 (Online).

    Google Scholar 

  • Unger, A., & Fischer, G. (2015). Opioid use disorder and its treatment. In I. P. Stolerman (Eds.), Encyclopedia of psychopharmacology. ISBN: 978-3-540-68698-9 (Print) 978-3-540-68706-1 (Online).

    Google Scholar 

  • Vandrey, R. G., & Budney, A. J. (2015). Cannabis use disorders. In I. P. Stolerman(Eds.), Encyclopedia of psychopharmacology. ISBN: 978-3-540-68698-9 (Print) 978-3-540-68706-1 (Online).

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsh, F., & Mahoney, A. (2017). Spirituality in couple and family therapy. In J. Lebow, A. Chambers, & D. C. Breunlin (Eds.), Encyclopedia of couple and family therapy. ISBN: 978-3-319-15877-8 (Print) 978-3-319-15877-8 (Online).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mark Harris .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Harris, M. (2018). Sexuality and the Hebrew Bible. In: Leeming, D. (eds) Encyclopedia of Psychology and Religion. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27771-9_9367-2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27771-9_9367-2

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-27771-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27771-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

Publish with us

Policies and ethics