According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a hermaphrodite is defined as ‘an animal or plant having both male and female reproductive tissue or organs.’ According to statistics, the frequency of hermaphrodites is 1 in 2000, or .05%.

The scriptures do not address this genetic defect, so it is difficult to be emphatic as to why someone could be born with the presence of the genitalia of both sexes. Let us consider a few thoughts regarding why someone could be born that way.

When sin came into the world, imperfections also came. A person can be born with a physical, mental, or emotional defects. Sin brings terrible consequences and giving birth to a child with a defect is one of them.

While not many people have these defects, some are directly related to the sins of the parents. While we do not know why one is born as a hermaphrodite, if the mother is doing drugs during pregnancy or the father is doing drugs at the time of conception, this could produce severe birth defects in the child.

Not all birth defects are the direct result of a sin of the parents. In John 9:1-3 we have this event. “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” While beholding this man who was blind from birth, the Lord’s disciples assumed that his birth defect was the result of his sin or the sins of his parents. Of course, the man committed no sins before he was born, so the reasoning of the disciples was flawed. In this particular case, the Lord pointed out that this man was born blind “that the words of God should be made manifest in him.” We read in verses 6-7, “When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.” The Lord caused this man to be born blind so that He could show His power in healing him of this blindness. That may seem unfair, but I’m sure this man was glad and thankful to be used in this way.

Since we do not know why a person might be born as a hermaphrodite (or have any other birth defect), we do know that the person is born with a need of salvation, so we should seek to win him to Christ by sharing the Gospel with him. Instead of speculating about WHY that happened, let’s look at the bigger picture and realize the Lord loves that person and will save him if he turns to the Lord for salvation. We can make sure this person knows how to be saved, by sharing the Gospel with him. (298.6)