Intersex People in the Bible: A Historical and Theological Perspective

The Bible does not explicitly discuss intersex individuals or individuals identifying as transgender in the modern sense. However, historical and theological interpretations can offer insights into how these identities might have been understood in ancient contexts.

The Bible and Intersex Individuals

The Bible mentions certain individuals with physical abnormalities, but there is no specific reference to intersex traits. One of the closest passages is Leviticus 21:20, which talks about a person ‘hath his stones broken,’ which is often interpreted as a form of deformity involving the testicles. According to these interpretations, such a person was not qualified to serve as a priest.

The Creation of Man and Woman

The Bible states, 'So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them' (Genesis 1:27). This verse emphasizes the duality of gender and the idea that humans embody both male and female attributes. Some believe that recognizing one’s feminine and masculine aspects promotes harmony and spiritual balance.

Intersex in Jewish Tradition

In Jewish tradition, the concept of gender is more complex than simply male and female. The Tanakh does not address transgenderism in the modern sense, but traditional Jewish sources recognize six genders: zachar, nekevah, androgynos, tumtum, ay’lonit, and saris.

Understanding Different Gender Categories in Judaism

Zachar is derived from the word for memory and is traditionally translated as male. Nekevah is derived from the word for a crevice and is generally translated as female. Androgynos is a person who has both male and female physical characteristics.

Tumtum refers to a person whose sexual characteristics are indeterminate or obscured, and there are 181 references to tumtum in the Mishna and Talmud. Ay’lonit refers to a female who does not develop at puberty and is infertile, with 80 references in the Mishna and Talmud. Saris refers to a male who does not develop at puberty and/or subsequently has their sexual organs removed. There are 156 references to saris saris hamah and 379 references to saris adam in the Mishna and Talmud.

Jewish Texts and Transgender Identity

One of the key texts in Jewish tradition is the Sefaria Source Sheet: More Than Just Male and Female. This sheet provides examples of how Jewish texts discuss gender categories and the rules applicable to individuals with uncertain or non-traditional gender identities.

Jewish Rules and Gender

The Mishnah and Talmud provide instructions for how different gender categories should be treated in various religious and social contexts. For example, the Mishnah discusses the conditions under which an individual can be recognized as a different gender, including changes in appearance that align with their new identity.

Interestingly, one of the Mishnah passages outlines conditions for someone to be recognized as something other than their birth gender. This includes changes in appearance that are part of a complete commitment to identifying as a different gender. According to these texts, a person born male or with indeterminate characteristics is allowed to dress as a woman if it is part of a commitment to identifying as a woman. At that point, the person is considered to be a woman, and the act would no longer be considered cross-dressing.

Conclusion

The Bible does not provide explicit guidance for intersex individuals or those who identify as transgender. However, historical and theological interpretations can offer insights into how these identities might have been understood in ancient contexts. The traditional Jewish sources recognize multiple gender categories and provide guidelines for how different gender identities should be treated. These discussions highlight the importance of spiritual balance and acceptance of diverse identities within different religious traditions.

Keywords

Bible, Intersex, Transgender