Last updated on October 7, 2020
Question
Did the Bible ever talk about puberty?
Answer:
In Ezekiel 16, God uses the illustration of a rescued newborn to talk about how Israel behaved. As the infant girl grew, “Then you grew up, became tall and reached the age for fine ornaments; your breasts were formed and your hair had grown. Yet you were naked and bare. Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, you were at the time for love; so I spread My skirt over you and covered your nakedness. I also swore to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became Mine,” declares the Lord GOD” (Ezekiel 16:7-8).
While people who would be in puberty are mentioned, the changes taking place are not mentioned as they were graphically mentioned in Ezekiel. “Young men ground at the millstones; Boys staggered under loads of wood” (Lamentations 5:13).
Differences between children and adults are also mentioned in the Bible. For example, the way children process information is different from an adult. “When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things” (I Corinthians 13:11).