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What does the Bible say about soul ties?

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The Bible does not teach a doctrine of “soul ties” as an invisible spiritual bond created by relationships, but it does teach that human unions and attachments are spiritually and morally significant. Genesis 2:24 and 1 Corinthians 6:16 show that sexual intimacy joins persons in a profound one-flesh union, calling believers to holiness rather than casual sin. First Samuel 18:1 describes David and Jonathan’s deep covenant friendship without suggesting a mystical bondage. Scripture warns against ungodly alliances and sexual immorality, which wound the whole person, body and soul, as 1 Corinthians 6:18 and 2 Corinthians 6:14 teach. Christ’s Word discerns the heart, and through repentance and faith believers are freed to live wholly for God (Hebrews 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • 1 Samuel 18:1

    It happened, when he had made an end of speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:16

    Or don't you know that he who is joined to a prostitute is one body? For, "The two," says he, "will become one flesh."

  • 1 Corinthians 6:18

    Flee sexual immorality! "Every sin that a man does is outside the body," but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

  • Hebrews 4:12

    For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

  • Genesis 2:24

    Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh.

  • Genesis 34:1-3

    [1] Dinah, the daughter of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. [2] Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her. He took her, lay with her, and humbled her. [3] His soul joined to Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the young lady, and spoke kindly to the young lady.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:23

    May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  • Ezekiel 13:18-22

    [18] and say, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Woe to the women who sew pillows on all elbows, and make kerchiefs for the head of [persons of] every stature to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of my people, and save souls alive for yourselves? [19] You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to kill the souls who should not die, and to save the souls alive who should not live, by your lying to my people who listen to lies. [20] Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I am against your pillows, with which you there hunt the souls to make [them] fly, and I will tear them from your arms; and I will let the souls go, even the souls who you hunt to make [them] fly. [21] Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted; and you shall know that I am Yahweh. [22] Because with lies you have grieved the heart of the righteous, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, and be saved alive:

  • 2 Corinthians 6:14

    Don't be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what communion has light with darkness?

  • Matthew 5:28

    but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.

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