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Polygamy, or having many spouses, has been a frequent phenomenon throughout human history and continues to be prominent in some parts of the world today.

However, several religious and moral beliefs, including those found in the Bible, challenge the concept of polygamy. Even though some biblical figures had multiple wives, the Bible’s message is anti-polygamy, emphasizing the importance of monogamous relationships.

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In this post, we will look at numerous Bible texts that condemn polygamy and investigate the reasons behind this viewpoint.

Bible Verses Against Polygamy

1. Genesis 2:24

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

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2. Proverbs 18:22

“He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.”

3. Matthew 19:4-6

“He answered, ‘Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh”? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.'”

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4. Malachi 2:14-15

“But you say, ‘Why does he not?’ Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.”

5. Hebrews 13:4

“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”

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6. Proverbs 5:18-19

“Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.”

7. Ephesians 5:31-33

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”

8. Proverbs 12:4

“An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.”

9. Song of Solomon 4:9-10

“You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride; you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace. How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much better is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your oils than any spice!”

10. 1 Corinthians 7:2

“But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.”

God’s design for marriage: One man and one woman

11. Genesis 2:18

“Then the Lord God said, β€œIt is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.””

12. Genesis 2:21-24

“So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and broughther to the man. Then the man said, β€œThis at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

13. Matthew 19:5-6

“and said, β€˜Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

14. Mark 10:6-9

“But from the beginning of creation, β€˜God made them male and female.’ β€˜Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

15. Ephesians 5:31

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

16. 1 Corinthians 7:2

“But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.”

17. Proverbs 5:15-20

“Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well. Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you. Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.”

18. 1 Timothy 3:2

“Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,”

19. Titus 1:6

“If anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.”

20. Exodus 20:14

“You shall not commit adultery.”

The consequences of polygamy in the Bible

21. Genesis 4:19

“And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.”

22. Genesis 16:1-4

“Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said to Abram, β€œBehold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife.”

23. Genesis 29:30-33

“So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years. When the Lord saw that LeahΒ  was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived and bore ason, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, β€œBecause the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” She conceived again and bore a son, and said, β€œBecause the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon.”

24. Deuteronomy 17:17

“And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.”

25. 2 Samuel 12:11-12

“Thus says the Lord, β€˜Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’”

26. 1 Kings 11:1-4

“Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, β€œYou shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. He had 700 wives, princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart.”

27. 2 Chronicles 11:21

“Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and concubines (he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters).”

28. 2 Chronicles 13:21

“But Abijah grew mighty. And he took fourteen wives and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.”

29. Malachi 2:14-16

“But you say, β€œWhy does he not?” Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. β€œFor the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”

30. 1 Corinthians 7:10-11

“To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.”

God’s design for marriage and family

31. Genesis 2:24

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

32. Matthew 19:4-6

“He answered, β€œHave you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, β€˜Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

33. Ephesians 5:22-33

“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. β€œTherefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”

34. Colossians 3:18-19

“Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.”

35. 1 Timothy 3:2

“Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,”

36. Titus 1:6

“if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.”

Conclusion

There are instances of polygamy recorded in the Old Testament. They are often accompanied by negative consequences such as jealousy, conflict, and family division.

The New Testament emphasizes the importance of monogamous marriage, with Jesus quoting the creation story to affirm the union of one man and one woman.

Additionally, the requirements for church leadership outlined in the New Testament include the expectation of monogamous marriage. While cultural and historical factors may have contributed to the prevalence of polygamy, the Bible clarifies that God’s ideal for marriage is the union of one man and one woman.

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