Yes, the Bible talks about even this. And it does have important, and relevant principles even today.
“If two men are fighting with each other, and the wife of one steps in to rescue her husband from the one striking him, and she puts out her hand and grabs his genitals, you are to cut off her hand. You must not show pity” (Deut 25:11-12).
Here’s the picture. Some buy is beating the snot out of her husband. To rescue him, she knows she cannot physically subdue him as he is stronger. Instead, she grabs him between the legs and he stops.
It might seem justified. She is protecting her husband who is taking a beating. But even in this, a person’s private parts are holy, and not to be touched.
Now does this mean that if a woman is being attacked in a dark alley that she shouldn’t take her foot and smash him in the groin? I think that is a different scenario as she is being attacked and perhaps no one is around to protect her.
But this is a different case.
In this case, her hand is grabbing him which is very much holy. And her husband is trying to protect himself so a man is present.
But a woman should not touch another man between the legs that isn’t her husband. It is a profound violation. And in Israel, it meant that her hand had to be cut off.
But I think this has application beyond just fighting. It’s often discussed among young people, well, not just young people anymore. But how far is too far in a dating relationship? Among God’s people?
It is clear, although unfortunately not practiced as much as it should, that any sex outside of marriage is sin. But is touching allowed?
According to texts like these, absolutely not.
If a woman is not to touch a man when defending her husband against attack, how much more should a man or woman of God not touch another person they aren’t married to in a dating relationship?
