Polygamy, the practice of having more than one wife or husband, is a topic that raises deep moral, social, and spiritual questions. While it was practiced by some biblical figures, it was never God’s perfect plan for marriage. The Bible provides many passages that guide believers to understand the nature of true marriage as ordained by God; one man and one woman united in covenant. In this post, we will study 40 powerful Bible verses about polygamy, and what Scripture says regarding its consequences, examples, and God’s ultimate design for marriage.
What Does the Bible Say About Polygamy?
The Bible does not directly command or endorse polygamy, but it records the stories of men who practiced it, often with devastating results. From Abraham and Jacob to David and Solomon, multiple marriages led to jealousy, conflict, and division within families.
God’s original plan for marriage was one man and one woman in a lifelong covenant. Let’s explore these Bible verses about polygamy that reveal God’s view of marriage and the lessons learned from those who strayed from His design.
Is Polygamy a Sin Bible Verse
The Bible does not use the word sin directly with polygamy, but it makes God’s standard clear. His ideal for marriage is monogamy; one man and one woman becoming one flesh.
Jesus confirmed this in Matthew 19:4–6, saying, “From the beginning, it was not so.” God tolerated polygamy in the Old Testament due to human hardness of heart, but His will has always been a faithful, exclusive union.
In the New Testament, church leaders were required to be “the husband of one wife” (1 Timothy 3:2), showing that polygamy was no longer acceptable among believers.
Examples of Polygamy in the Bible
Although polygamy was not God’s perfect will, several prominent men in the Bible practiced it. Their stories show the complications and family strife that resulted from such relationships. Below are examples of polygamy in the Bible and what we can learn from them:
- Lamech (Genesis 4:19) – “Lamech took two wives: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.” Lamech was the first recorded polygamist, and his lineage was marked by violence.
- Abraham (Genesis 16:3–4) – He took Hagar as a second wife at Sarah’s request, leading to conflict between Sarah and Hagar.
- Jacob (Genesis 29:30) – Jacob married both Leah and Rachel, which caused jealousy and competition between the sisters.
- Esau (Genesis 26:34–35) – Esau’s multiple marriages caused grief to his parents, Isaac and Rebekah.
- Gideon (Judges 8:30) – “Gideon had seventy sons of his own, for he had many wives.” Despite his victories, his household ended in disorder.
- Elkanah (1 Samuel 1:2) – “He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah.” Peninnah mocked Hannah, leading to years of sorrow until God blessed Hannah with Samuel.
- David (2 Samuel 5:13) – “After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem.” Although David was a man after God’s heart, his multiple marriages led to family turmoil.
- Solomon (1 Kings 11:3) – “He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray.” Solomon’s polygamy ultimately caused him to fall into idolatry.
- Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 11:21) – “Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom more than any of his other wives and concubines.” Favoritism among his wives caused division in his family.
These examples remind us that every instance of polygamy in the Bible led to conflict and sorrow.
Consequences of Polygamy in the Bible
The consequences of polygamy in the Bible are clearly seen in the emotional, spiritual, and relational turmoil that followed. Here are key points and verses that highlight the dangers:
- Jealousy and Rivalry – Genesis 30:1 says, “When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister.” Polygamy often bred envy between wives.
- Family Division – 2 Samuel 13:28–29 shows that David’s household became divided, with his sons fighting and killing one another.
- Spiritual Decline – 1 Kings 11:4 reveals, “As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods.” Multiple marriages led Solomon away from God.
- Favoritism and Conflict – Deuteronomy 21:15–17 warns against showing partiality among wives and children, acknowledging that polygamy naturally leads to unfairness.
- Emotional Pain – Hannah’s deep distress in 1 Samuel 1:6–7 came from Peninnah’s provocation in a polygamous home.
These examples make it clear that polygamy disrupts God’s design for peace and unity in marriage.
40 Powerful Bible Verses About Polygamy
Below is a comprehensive list of 40 Bible verses about polygamy that shed light on God’s will for marriage, examples from Scripture, and lessons for believers:
- Genesis 2:24 – “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”
- Genesis 4:19 – “Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.”
- Genesis 16:3 – “So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife.”
- Genesis 25:6 – “But while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east.”
- Genesis 29:28 – “And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.”
- Genesis 30:9 – “When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she took her servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife.”
- Deuteronomy 17:17 – “He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.”
- Deuteronomy 21:15 – “If a man has two wives, and he loves one but not the other, and both bear him sons…”
- Exodus 21:10 – “If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights.”
- Judges 8:30 – “He had seventy sons of his own, for he had many wives.”
- Judges 10:4 – “He had thirty sons who rode thirty donkeys. They controlled thirty towns in Gilead.”
- Judges 12:9 – “He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He gave his daughters away in marriage and brought in thirty young women to marry his sons.”
- 1 Samuel 1:2 – “He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah.”
- 2 Samuel 3:2–5 – “Sons were born to David in Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon… the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah.”
- 2 Samuel 5:13 – “After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem.”
- 2 Samuel 12:8 – “I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms.”
- 1 Kings 11:1–3 – “King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women… He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines.”
- 1 Kings 15:5 – “For David had done what was right in the eyes of the Lord and had not failed to keep any of the Lord’s commands all the days of his life, except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.”
- 2 Chronicles 11:21 – “Rehoboam loved Maakah daughter of Absalom more than any of his other wives and concubines.”
- 2 Chronicles 13:21 – “But Abijah grew powerful. He married fourteen wives and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.”
- Malachi 2:15 – “Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring.”
- Matthew 19:4–5 – “‘Haven’t you read,’ he replied, ‘that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female…’”
- Matthew 19:6 – “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
- Mark 10:6–8 – “But at the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife.”
- Luke 16:18 – “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery.”
- 1 Corinthians 7:2 – “But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.”
- 1 Corinthians 7:4 – “The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband.”
- 1 Corinthians 7:10 – “To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.”
- Ephesians 5:31 – “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”
- Ephesians 5:33 – “Each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”
- 1 Timothy 3:2 – “Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife.”
- 1 Timothy 3:12 – “A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well.”
- Titus 1:6 – “An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.”
- Proverbs 5:18–19 – “May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.”
- Proverbs 6:29 – “So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.”
- Proverbs 18:22 – “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.”
- Song of Solomon 6:9 – “But my dove, my perfect one, is unique, the only daughter of her mother.”
- Leviticus 18:18 – “Do not take your wife’s sister as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is living.”
- Matthew 5:28 – “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
- 1 Peter 3:7 – “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect.”
Conclusion
These Bible verses about polygamy show that while the practice appeared in Scripture, it was never God’s original or perfect plan. Marriage was designed to be a faithful bond between one man and one woman. Whenever people went against this design, pain and division followed.
Believers today can learn from these lessons and embrace God’s blueprint for marriage; faithfulness, love, and unity.
The message is clear: God desires purity and loyalty in every marriage, and those who walk in obedience to His design experience peace, blessing, and lasting joy.
