Leviticus 15:16-18

Leviticus 15:16-18

[16] And if any man's  seed  of copulation  go out  from him, then he shall wash  all his flesh  in water,  and be unclean  until the even.  [17] And every garment,  and every skin,  whereon is the seed  of copulation,  shall be washed  with water,  and be unclean  until the even.  [18] The woman  also with whom man  shall lie  with seed  of copulation,  they shall both bathe  themselves in water,  and be unclean  until the even. 

What does Leviticus 15:16-18 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The second case deals with a voluntary emission of semen. Note that it was not sexual intercourse generally that produced the uncleanness but specifically the emission of semen in coitus or at other times (cf. Exodus 19:15; 1 Samuel 21:5-6; 2 Samuel 11:4).
"The intent was to keep a legitimate but "unclean" biological function from defiling that which was [1] holy." [2]
One writer pointed out that this passage does not condemn masturbation, though he did not argue for the practice. [3]
The purification process involved no sacrifice, only washing and waiting until evening ( Leviticus 15:16; Leviticus 15:18).
"The practical effect of this legislation was that when a man had religious duties to perform, whether this involved worship or participation in God"s holy wars, sexual intercourse was not permitted." [4]
"The banning of the sexual and the sensual from the presence of God ( Exodus 19:15; Exodus 20:26; Leviticus 15:16-18) may have been one of the most noteworthy characteristics of Israel"s religion, uniquely distinguishing it from the other religions of the ancient Near East." [2]5
"One valuable feature of this legislation that had an important bearing upon Israel"s cultic and social life was the rule which made partners in coition unclean for the whole day. This contingency separated sexual activity from cultic worship in a unique manner, and this precluded the orgiastic fertility rites that were so much a part of religion among peoples such as the Canaanites. Furthermore, the continuous state of ceremonial uncleanness experienced by the prostitute in Israel would remove any possibility of her participation in Hebrew worship, and take away anything approaching respectability from her way of life, if, indeed, she was at all sensitive to the requirements of the sanctuary." [6]
"God was saying very clearly that sex, any aspect of sex, any bodily functions connected with sex, had to be kept completely apart from the holy place. He was not saying that sex and bodily functions were dirty or sinful, as some see in this passage." [7]