The Bible doesn't explain how periods started but links them to the consequences of humanity's fall in Genesis 3, suggesting increased pain and physical consequences, with early mentions in Genesis (Rachel's excuse in Gen 31) and detailed ritual laws in Leviticus (Lev 15). These Levitical laws categorize menstrual flow as a temporary "uncleanliness" requiring separation and ritual washing, emphasizing purity for Temple worship, though Christian interpretations see them as symbolic of humanity's fallen state and the need for spiritual cleansing through Jesus.
Period blood isn't sinful but does need washing and in this way the cycle serves us with the reminder that while we suffered the fall, we must, and can, be washed clean. The new covenant we have through the shedding of Jesus' blood rid us of the need for the ceremonial cleansing demanded in the Old Testament.
Particularly, in the third Book of the Pentateuch or Torah, known as Leviticus, it states that a woman undergoing menstruation is perceived as unclean for seven days and whoever touches her shall be unclean until evening (Leviticus 15:19).
The first reference to menstruation in the Bible, and likely the earliest historically, occurs in Genesis 31, which is part of the “J” (Jahwist) source of the Pentateuch.
Key Scripture
Luke 8:43-48: “Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years; and though she had spent all she had on physicians, no one could cure her. She came up behind Jesus and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped.
And yet by grace, the opposite happened. In Mark 5: 20 her encounter with Jesus meant that “Immediately her bleeding stopped.” Without any words, a touch or look from Jesus, she was well again, simply by believing he could heal her and daring to act on that belief. And when her faith was rewarded, Jesus noticed her.
Joshua 24:14–15 Reminds Us to Serve God
And then for us to pray that God would save us from idols in our country. We must decide if we will serve God or ourselves. Let's do that. God, we start this prayer by saying you alone are God.
In ancient times, many bodily functions, including menstruation, were considered part of the purity laws—not because they were 'sinful' in the moral sense, but because they represented a state of ritual impurity.
Anyone who touches her will be unclean until evening. Anything she lies on during this time will be unclean. Everything she sits on during that time will be unclean.
In some historic cultures, a menstruating woman was considered sacred and powerful, with increased psychic abilities, and strong enough to heal the sick. According to the Cherokee, menstrual blood was a source of feminine strength and had the power to destroy enemies.
First, menstruation is not sinful. There is no moral violation in it. The uncleanness laws were referring to ritual uncleanness. It is no sin to menstruate in the same way that it is not sinful to touch a dead body, or experience birth, sexual intercourse, menstruation and semen discharge.
The 17 Time Periods:
The bishop of Rome wrote back as follows: “A woman should not be forbidden to go to church. After all, she suffers this involuntarily. She cannot be blamed for that superfluous matter that nature excretes…She is also not to be forbidden to receive Holy Communion at this time.
According to the Bible, a woman who is menstruating or who has pathological vaginal bleeding is unclean. Anybody who touches such a woman's bed or her personal things is also regarded as unclean and should therefore, wash carefully.
In contrast, most world religions view menstruation, with varying degrees of severity, as a major problem, a sign of impurity and uncleanliness, and therefore, menstruating women are isolated, prohibited from polluting the holy places, and shunned.
Yes, a man can get an infection from period blood. Some viruses — like HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and hepatitis — live in the blood. So, men can get these types of infections from period blood. And other STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhea may travel in period blood, too.
One of the most common practices in Hinduism (and some other traditions) is barring menstruating women from entering temples or participating in religious rituals. This restriction is based on the idea that menstruation is considered impure or polluting.
Periods are one among many reminders that sin has spoiled God's good creation. And as we consider that, we have to admit that we ourselves are part of the problem. This is not to say that there is a direct link between your personal sin and the severity of your periods (see Luke 13:1-5; John 9:3).
Throughout history, people have also considered menstrual blood to be a curse. In Roman times, there was a belief that it had the power to destroy crops and sour wine. These myths are linked with Pliny the Elder, a Roman naturalist. He also claimed periods could control the weather.
No, the famous Ezekiel 25:17 from Pulp Fiction is not a real Bible verse, but a fictionalized, altered quote cobbled together by Quentin Tarantino, mixing elements from the Book of {!nav}Ezekiel and a 1970s Japanese martial arts film. The actual biblical verse in Ezekiel 25:17 is about God's vengeance on the Philistines, a stark contrast to the philosophical monologue about righteous paths in the movie.
Application in Modern Context
In our fast-paced and often chaotic world, Joshua 24:14-15 invites us to pause and reflect on our own spiritual journey. It prompts us to evaluate our priorities and recommit ourselves to serving God with sincerity and passion.
The holy things and the pearls represent the things of God, perhaps the gospel itself. The dogs and pigs represent hostile, unworthy people. And so the statement translates into something like this: Do not preach the things of God to hostile, unworthy people.
yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs; which they leave, or let fall: signifying that she did not envy the blessings of the Jews, or desire any thing might be done injurious to them; only that this favour might be granted her, which she owned she was unworthy of, that her daughter might be healed.
But the most likely cause is anovulation: her hormonal rhythms were badly off balance, and as a result, she was not maturing an egg in her ovary and releasing it on a regular basis. As a woman's hormonal signals become more unsynchronized, her bleeding gets worse.