47 Bible Verses About Lust

There are Bible verses about lust that teach us that man has many desires in his body and mind that tempt him to do wrong. But the person who applies the teachings of God to himself, then he remains safe from these sins. Man’s eyes tempt him to commit sins. If a person does not protect his eyes, desires arise in his heart and when these desires arise, man goes towards sins and sins lead man to death. In these Bible verses, it has been explained in detail that man should not follow his desires, but should stop these desires and live according to God’s will. If we follow our desires, our lives, marriages, spirituality, and the hereafter are all ruined. There are many figures in the Bible who followed their desires. Including them are Adam and Eve, Cain, David, Solomon, Saul, Ananias And Sapphira, Judas Iscariot, Achan, Esau, Gehazi and Samson. 

Dangerous outcomes of Lust

Verse#1

And after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Genesis 39:7-9

Explanation

It is mentioned in this verse that the wife of Joseph’s master kept an evil eye on him. She wanted Joseph to sleep with her. But Joseph feared God and said, “I cannot commit such a great sin.” This verse tells us that we should condemn our desires according to God’s commandments and fear God.

Verse#2

Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes. For a prostitute can be had for a loaf of bread, but another man’s wife preys on your very life.

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Proverbs 6:25-26

Explanation

In this verse, Solomon advises that a person should not lose his purity behind sensual desires, because the beauty of a wicked woman pleases a person, but he should not desire her. If a person starts to desire her. If so, he is in great danger.

Verse#3

Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths. Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Proverbs 7:25-27

Explanation

In this verse, Solomon advises that one should not be attracted to a wicked woman. That woman has already ruined many men. If anyone takes the path to her house, he will go to hell.

Verse#4

I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Job 31:1

Explanation

In this verse, Job says that he has made a promise to himself that he will never look at a woman lustfully. It means that he is deciding to avoid his sensual desires.

Verse#5

Then the Babylonians came to her, to the bed of love, and in their lust they defiled her. After she had been defiled by them, she turned away from them in disgust.

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Ezekiel 23:17

Explanation

A spiritual picture is drawn in this verse. Which shows the sins of Israel. It is mentioned in this verse that sin is very attractive to a person, but when he commits a sin, then the person becomes disgusted and that sin spoils the spirituality of a person.

Verse#6

But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Book

New-Testament

Reference

Matthew 5:28

Explanation

In this verse Jesus says that just sleeping with a woman is not adultery. If a man looks at a woman lustfully, he has committed a sin. The meaning of this verse is that just by looking at her, a person gets sin as adultery.

Verse#7

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.

Book

New-Testament

Reference

1 Corinthians 6:18

Explanation

In this verse, Paul says that adultery should be avoided because adultery is a sin that destroys the human body. Other sins are not related to the body, but adultery is related to the body.

Verse#8

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Book

New-Testament

Reference

Galatians 5:19-21

Explanation

In this verse, Paul says that God is angry with those who commit immorality, impurity and adultery. These people will miss the kingdom of God.

Verse#9

But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Book

New-Testament

Reference

James 1:14-15

Explanation

In this verse, James says that desire first arises in man and when man asks for that desire, the desire increases and takes the form of sin. When man starts to sin, he goes to death.

Verse#10

For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

Book

New-Testament

Reference

1 John 2:16

Explanation

In this verse, John says that God does not want people to lust after the flesh, the eyes, and boast about life. All these things come from the world in the human heart. God wants man to be pure and protect his body, eyes and life.

Controlling Lust And Desires

Verse#11

I will not look with approval on anything that is vile. I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it.

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Psalm 101:3

Explanation

In this verse, David says that he hates those things that bring sin and error into his path. He does not want evil things to come before His eyes because these things divert man from his true purpose and from the straight path. It destroys our hearts, lives and spirituality.

Verse#12

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Proverbs 4:23

Explanation

In this verse Solomon says that it is very important to have a pure heart. If we don’t protect the heart, it will develop unnecessary desires and sins. God blesses us a lot if we live a pure life.

Verse#

For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave.

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Proverbs 5:3-5

Explanation

In this verse Solomon says that the lips of a wicked woman are like honey and her voice is very melodious. But actually this is a double-edged sword. It leads man to death. Every step we take towards this wicked woman leads us to the grave.

Verse#14

One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness.) Then she went back home.

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

2 Samuel 11:2-4

Explanation

It is mentioned in this verse that the sight of a person makes him commit sins. Once David was standing on the roof of the palace when he saw a woman taking a bath. David liked that woman very much and invited her to his palace. David’s sight led him to sin.

Verse#15

If my heart has been enticed by a woman, or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door, then may my wife grind another man’s grain, and may other men sleep with her.

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Job 31:9-10

Explanation

In this verse, Job says that if we commit a sin, it affects the people associated with us. Ayub says that if he is at someone’s house and is committing a sin there, on the other side his wife will also be with someone.

Verse#16

If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Book

New-Testament

Reference

Matthew 5:29-30

Explanation

In this verse, Jesus says that a person should not sin and control himself, but if his right eye inclines to sin. So he should put out his eye. Losing a part of the body is not a greater loss than the whole body entering hell.

Verse#17

Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

Book

New-Testament

Reference

Romans 13:14

Explanation

This verse advises us that we should live according to the teachings of Jesus and follow these teachings. These verses forbid us to follow our own desires.

Verse#18

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Book

New-Testament

Reference

1 Corinthians 10:13

Explanation

In this verse, Paul says that God does not burden us beyond what we can bear. If God has placed us in a trial, He has also given us the strength and the way to get out of that trial.

Verse#19

Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Book

New-Testament

Reference

2 Timothy 2:22

Explanation

In this verse Paul advises that we are tempted by the devil in our youth and our desires are at the peak. We must flee from our desires and follow the straight path. Love people and establish peace and call upon God with a pure heart.

Verse#20

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Book

New-Testament

Reference

James 4:7-8

Explanation

In this verse, James exhorts us to be obedient servants of God and not obey Satan. If we stand against Satan, he will flee, we have to get close to God. One should keep one’s hands and one’s heart clean and one should stay away from evil.

Adultery And Lust

Verse#21

You shall not commit adultery.

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Exodus 20:14

Explanation

In this verse, through Moses, God commands to stay away from iniquity and not to commit adultery at all. This verse sets a limit that we should not do adultery at all.

Verse#22

If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death.

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Leviticus 20:10

Explanation

In this verse, Moses describes God’s law that if a man or woman commits adultery, their punishment is to kill them.

Verse#23

You shall not commit adultery.

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Deuteronomy 5:18

Explanation

This is one of the ten commandments of God that He revealed to Moses. In it, God says not to approach adultery at all and to keep avoiding it.

Verse#24

But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself.

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Proverbs 6:32

Explanation

Explanation:

In this verse, Solomon says that the person who commits adultery is foolish because the person who commits adultery will destroy himself, his spirituality will also be destroyed.

Verse#25

Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth. “The man who hates and divorces his wife,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “does violence to the one he should protect,” says the Lord Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful.

Book

Old-Testament

Reference

Malachi 2:15-16

Explanation

In this verse, it is mentioned that God has created a pure relationship between husband and wife and both of them should be faithful to each other and not be unfaithful. God hates adultery and loves a loving relationship.

Lust And 22 Biblical Personalities

Adam And Eve

Adam and Eve got astray because they got greedy to eat fruit of a special tree. By this act, God sent them on earth from heaven.

“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” (Genesis 3:6)

Cain And Abel

Cain suffered his whole life due to choosing the wrong path.

“But on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.” (Genesis 19:26)

Wife of Lot

Lot’s wife chose the worldly life instead of spirituality. Due to her greed she got punished.

“Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.” (Genesis 4:5-8)

Esau

Esau was so hungry and due to the greed of food he sold his blessing to his brother Jacob.

“when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.) Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.” (Genesis 25:29-34)

Joseph’s Brothers

Due to the jealousy of Joseph’s brothers, they sold Joseph. They were jealous because Jacob liked his son Joseph more than others. 

“His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.”  (Genesis 37:11)

Samson And Delilah

Delilah was greedy so she betrayed Samson. God warned Samson not to get trapped but he chose the path of love for Delilah and got betrayed.

“Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah. The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, “See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver.” So Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.” Samson answered her, “If anyone ties me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I’ll become as weak as any other man.” Then the rulers of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him with them. With men hidden in the room, she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” But he snapped the bowstrings as easily as a piece of string snaps when it comes close to a flame. So the secret of his strength was not discovered. Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have made a fool of me; you lied to me. Come now, tell me how you can be tied.” He said, “If anyone ties me securely with new ropes that have never been used, I’ll become as weak as any other man.” So Delilah took new ropes and tied him with them. Then, with men hidden in the room, she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” But he snapped the ropes off his arms as if they were threads. Delilah then said to Samson, “All this time you have been making a fool of me and lying to me. Tell me how you can be tied.” He replied, “If you weave the seven braids of my head into the fabric on the loom and tighten it with the pin, I’ll become as weak as any other man.” So while he was sleeping, Delilah took the seven braids of his head, wove them into the fabric and tightened it with the pin. Again she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and pulled up the pin and the loom, with the fabric. Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength.” With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it. So he told her everything. “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.” When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him. Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.” (Judges 16:4-20)

David And Bathsheba

David was walking on the roof and he saw a woman bathing. Hw liked her very much and did a sin with her. 

“One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness.) Then she went back home.” (2 Samuel 11:2-4)

Amnon And Tamar

Amnon got in love with his sister and took an unethical step. Due to his desire he chose the wrong path.

“In the course of time, Amnon son of David fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of Absalom son of David. Amnon became so obsessed with his sister Tamar that he made himself ill. She was a virgin, and it seemed impossible for him to do anything to her. Now Amnon had an adviser named Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Jonadab was a very shrewd man. He asked Amnon, “Why do you, the king’s son, look so haggard morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I’m in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.” “Go to bed and pretend to be ill,” Jonadab said. “When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘I would like my sister Tamar to come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare the food in my sight so I may watch her and then eat it from her hand.’” So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to him, “I would like my sister Tamar to come and make some special bread in my sight, so I may eat from her hand. David sent word to Tamar at the palace: “Go to the house of your brother Amnon and prepare some food for him.” So Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon, who was lying down. She took some dough, kneaded it, made the bread in his sight and baked it. Then she took the pan and served him the bread, but he refused to eat.“Send everyone out of here,” Amnon said. So everyone left him. Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food here into my bedroom so I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the bread she had prepared and brought it to her brother Amnon in his bedroom. But when she took it to him to eat, he grabbed her and said, “Come to bed with me, my sister.” “No, my brother!” she said to him. “Don’t force me! Such a thing should not be done in Israel! Don’t do this wicked thing. What about me? Where could I get rid of my disgrace? And what about you? You would be like one of the wicked fools in Israel. Please speak to the king; he will not keep me from being married to you.” But he refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her. Then Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her. Amnon said to her, “Get up and get out!” (2 Samuel 13:1-15)

Achan

He became greedy and due to his greed he harm the whole nation.

Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia,  two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.” (Joshua 7:20-21)

Solomon

Solomon loved a foreign woman against God’s commands. This led him astray.

“King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his.”  (1 Kings 11:1-4)

Herod Antipas

Herod killed John the Baptist on demand of Herodias’s daughter. She was a very beautiful dancing lady. Due to his core desires he killed him.

“When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered. At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” (Mark 6:22-25)

Judas Iscariot

Judas Iscariot handed over Jesus‘ identity to jews because he wanted to get some coins. Due to some coins he betrayed Jesus.

“Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.” (Matthew 26:14-16)

Rich Young Ruler

Rich Young Ruler loved his money so he didn’t follow Jesus but chose money.

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.” (Matthew 19:21-22)

Ananias And Sapphira

Ananias and Sapphira were greedy and they told a lie. They sold their property at a high price but told a lie that they sold it for an average amount. 

“Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.” (Acts 5:1-10)

Simon The Sorcerer

He wanted to buy the holy spirit with money. Peter said that money can’t buy a gift of God.

“Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” (Acts 8:18-23)

Pharisees

Pharisees were obsessed by worldly money due to which they never heard the message of God and always disobey him. 

“The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.” (Luke 16:14)

King Saul

He disobeyed God’s command and did what his heart tell him to do.

“Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them.” (1 Samuel 15:24)

Israelites

Israelites desire to get worldly food thus God struck on them.

“The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!” (Numbers 11:4-6)

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

These Bible verses advise us that we should not live according to our desires. Our desires lead us astray. We should live according to God’s commandments and follow His teachings. If we follow desires, we will lead to death. These Bible verses tell us that we should not commit fornication and guard our eyes because a man’s eye leads a man to commit adultery. Therefore, one should keep one’s eyes, movements, actions and lives pure and follow God’s orders.