What does the Bible say about virginity before marriage?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible calls unmarried believers to sexual purity, reserving sexual union for the covenant of marriage while offering grace and renewal to all who repent and trust Christ. Genesis 2:24 presents marriage as the God-given union in which a man and woman become one flesh, and Hebrews 13:4 commands that marriage be honored and the marriage bed kept pure. Paul teaches believers to abstain from sexual immorality, since their bodies belong to the Lord and are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20). Scripture commends singleness with self-control, but directs those unable to exercise it toward marriage rather than sexual sin (1 Corinthians 7:1-2, 8-9). God’s call to holiness is never divorced from his forgiving mercy in Christ.