43 Bible Verses about Polygamy
Most Relevant Verses
This is the reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife. They will become one flesh.
Go and announce to Jerusalem, 'This is what Jehovah says: I remember the unfailing loyalty of your youth, the love you had for me as a bride. I remember how you followed me into the desert, into a land that was not sown (farmed).
I will engage you to me for a very long time! Yes I will engage you to me in righteousness, and in justice, and in loving kindness, and in mercies. I will even engage you to me in faithfulness. Then you will know Jehovah.
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother, and will stick (adhere) (cleave) (be joined) to his wife. The two will become one flesh.
Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.
When Esau was forty he married Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite.
So Esau went to Ishmael and took Mahalath, the daughter of Abraham's son Ishmael, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife in addition to the wives he had.
Jacob did that. He finished the week with Leah. Then Laban gave his daughter Rachel to him as his wife.
Solomon made an alliance with the king of Egypt by marrying his daughter. He brought her to live in David's City until he finished building his palace, the Temple, and the wall around Jerusalem.
It was as if he copied the evil ways of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. He took as his wife Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, king of Zidon, and became a servant and worshipper of Baal.
Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. She had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar. She said to Abram: Jehovah has kept me from having children. Go sleep with my maidservant. Perhaps I can build a family through her. Abram agreed to what Sarai said. After Abram lived in Canaan ten years, Sarai, his wife, gave her Egyptian maidservant Hagar to her husband to be his wife.
Abijah became strong. He married fourteen wives and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.
She said: Here is my maid Bilhah. Sleep with her, so that she can have a child for me. This way I can become a mother through her. Then Rachel let Jacob marry Bilhah. Jacob slept with Bilhah. They had a son.
There was a long war between the royal families of Saul and David. David's family became stronger and stronger. Saul's family became weaker and weaker. Sons were born to David while he was in Hebron. His first son was Amnon, born to Ahinoam from Jezreel. The second was Chileab, whose mother was Abigail, Nabal's widow from Carmel. The third was Absalom, whose mother was Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur.read more.
The fourth son was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith. The fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital. The sixth was Ithream, whose mother was Eglah. All of these sons were born in Hebron.
According to their family genealogy, they had thirty-six men ready for battle, for they had many wives and children.
He wisely placed his sons in every region of Judah and Benjamin, in every fortified city. He gave them allowances and obtained many wives for them.
Joash did what was right in the sight of Jehovah, as long as the priest Jehoiada lived. Jehoiada procured two wives for Joash and he had sons and daughters.
He must not take many wives or his heart will turn astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.
Solomon loved many women. They were of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites. Jehovah warned the children of Israel about these nations. He said: You are not to take wives from them and they are not to take wives from you. They will certainly turn your hearts to go after their gods. Solomon loved his wives anyway. He had seven hundred wives, daughters of kings, and three hundred other wives. His wives influenced his heart to turn away.read more.
When Solomon was old he allowed his heart to be turned away to other gods by his wives. His heart was no longer true to Jehovah his God as the heart of his father David had been. Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Zidonians, and Milcom, the disgusting god of the Ammonites. Solomon did evil in the eyes of Jehovah. He did not walk in Jehovah's ways with all his heart as David his father did. Then Solomon put up a high place for Chemosh, the disgusting god of Moab, in the mountain near Jerusalem. And for Molech, the disgusting god worshipped by the children of Ammon. He did likewise for all his strange wives, who made offerings with burning of perfumes to their gods.
I took up the cause against them, cursing them and giving blows to some of them and pulling out their hair. I made them take an oath by God, saying: You are not to give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. Was it not in these things that Solomon, king of Israel, did wrong? Among a number of nations there was no king like him. He was dear to his God, and God made him king over all Israel. But even he was made to do evil by strange women.
The people of Judah have done wrong. They deal treacherously and committed an abomination in Israel and in Jerusalem. Judah has profaned the holiness of Jehovah by marrying the daughter of a foreign god.
Jacob slept with Rachel too. He loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years.
Rachel had not borne Jacob any children. As a result, she became jealous of her sister and said to Jacob: Give me children, or I will die.
If a man have two wives and loves one more than the other. The first son of either wife is the man's first-born son, even if the boy's mother is the wife he does not love. A man near death and dividing up his property must give a double share to his first-born son. This is because he was the first to be born. The day he wills his possessions to his sons, he should not put the firstborn son of the loved wife before the firstborn son of the unloved wife. He should acknowledge the firstborn son of the unloved wife. And give him a double portion of all that he has. He is the beginning of his strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him.
Abram had intercourse with Hagar, and she conceived. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. Then Sarai said to Abram: You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms; she knows she is pregnant and she despises me. May Jehovah judge between you and me. Your servant is in your hands, Abram said. Do with her whatever you think best. Then Sarai mistreated Hagar. So she ran away from her.
The day came for Elkanah to make his offering. So he gave a part of the feast to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and daughters. He gave a double portion to Hannah. Hannah was very dear to him even though Jehovah had not given her children. The other wife did everything possible to make her unhappy. This is because Jehovah had not given her children.read more.
Year after year when Peninnah went to the Temple of Jehovah, she kept on provoking Hannah. It bothered Hannah so much she wept and did not eat.
Rehoboam loved Maacah, Absalom's granddaughter, more than all his other wives and concubines. He had eighteen wives and sixty concubines. He fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters. Rehoboam appointed Abijah, son of Maacah, as family head and prince among his brothers. By doing this, Rehoboam could make him king.
Then Nathan asked Solomon's mother Bathsheba: Have you heard that Adonijah, Haggith's son, has become king, and our master David does not even know about it? Bathsheba, let me give you some advice about how to save your life and your son's life. Go now to King David and ask him: 'Your Majesty, did you solemnly promise me that my son Solomon would succeed you as king? How is it that Adonijah has become king?'
David left Hebron and moved to Jerusalem. He married many women from Jerusalem, and he had a lot of children.
In Jerusalem David took more wives and became the father of more sons and daughters.
David's servants approached Abigail at Carmel. They told her: David sent us to you to take you to him to be his wife. She bowed down with her face touching the ground. I am ready to serve, she said. I am willing to wash the feet of my master's servants. Abigail quickly got up and rode on a donkey with five of her female servants following her. So she went with David's messengers and became his wife.read more.
Earlier David married Ahinoam from the town of Jezreel. Now both she and Abigail were David's wives.
I gave you his kingdom and his wives. Then I made you king over Israel and Judah. If this had not been enough, I would have given you twice as much. Why have you disobeyed my commands? Why did you do this evil thing? You had Uriah killed in battle! You let the Ammonites kill him. Then you took his wife!
Later the messengers came back to Ahab with another demand from Benhadad: I sent you word that you were to hand over to me your silver and gold, your women and your children.
He took Jehoiakin to Babylon as a captive. He also took the king's mother, wives, eunuchs, and the leading citizens of the land from Jerusalem as captives to Babylon.
While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar commanded to bring the gold and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the Temple in Jerusalem. This way the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, might drink from them.
If you mistreat my daughters or marry other women behind my back, remember that God stands as a witness between you and me.
If a man takes a second wife, he must continue to give his first wife the same amount of food and clothing and the same rights that she had before.
While your wife is living, never marry her sister as a rival wife and have sexual intercourse with her.
Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate in habits, sound in mind, orderly, hospitable, qualified to teach;
Solomon loved many women. They were of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites. Jehovah warned the children of Israel about these nations. He said: You are not to take wives from them and they are not to take wives from you. They will certainly turn your hearts to go after their gods. Solomon loved his wives anyway. He had seven hundred wives, daughters of kings, and three hundred other wives. His wives influenced his heart to turn away.read more.
When Solomon was old he allowed his heart to be turned away to other gods by his wives. His heart was no longer true to Jehovah his God as the heart of his father David had been.
From Thematic Bible
Foes of the home » Polygamy » Divorce
A man who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery. The man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. [Jesus continued to tell illustrations.]
Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek a release. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife.
Let us make an agreement with our God to put away all the wives and all their children, if it seems right to my lord and to those who go in fear of the words of our God. Let it be done in keeping with the law.
Again, it was said, 'Whoever gets rid of his wife has to give her a certificate of divorce.'
When a man marries a woman and later decides he does not love her because he found something he does not like about her he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out from his house.
Foes of the home » Polygamy » Forbidden
The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate in habits, sound in mind, orderly, hospitable, qualified to teach;
A blameless man will be the husband of one wife. He will have children that believe and who are not accused of violence and disobedience.
He must not take many wives or his heart will turn astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.
Did God make you one? Your flesh and spirit belong to him. What does God look for but godly descendants? Do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.
He answered: Have you not read, that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female?
Home » Polygamy » Divorce
A man who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery. The man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. [Jesus continued to tell illustrations.]
Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek a release. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife.
Let us make an agreement with our God to put away all the wives and all their children, if it seems right to my lord and to those who go in fear of the words of our God. Let it be done in keeping with the law.
Again, it was said, 'Whoever gets rid of his wife has to give her a certificate of divorce.'
When a man marries a woman and later decides he does not love her because he found something he does not like about her he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out from his house.
Home » Polygamy » Forbidden
The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate in habits, sound in mind, orderly, hospitable, qualified to teach;
A blameless man will be the husband of one wife. He will have children that believe and who are not accused of violence and disobedience.
He must not take many wives or his heart will turn astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.
Did God make you one? Your flesh and spirit belong to him. What does God look for but godly descendants? Do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.
He answered: Have you not read, that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female?
Polygamy » Forbidden
While your wife is living, never marry her sister as a rival wife and have sexual intercourse with her.
The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate in habits, sound in mind, orderly, hospitable, qualified to teach;
Let servants be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
A blameless man will be the husband of one wife. He will have children that believe and who are not accused of violence and disobedience.
He must not take many wives or his heart will turn astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.
Polygamy » David
David left Hebron and moved to Jerusalem. He married many women from Jerusalem, and he had a lot of children.
Sons were born to David while he was in Hebron. His first son was Amnon, born to Ahinoam from Jezreel. The second was Chileab, whose mother was Abigail, Nabal's widow from Carmel. The third was Absalom, whose mother was Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur. The fourth son was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith. The fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital. read more.
The sixth was Ithream, whose mother was Eglah. All of these sons were born in Hebron.
David heard Nabal was dead. He said: Blessed is Jehovah who defended me against the insults of Nabal. He kept me from doing wrong. Jehovah has turned Nabal's own wickedness back on him. David sent men on his behalf to propose marriage to Abigail. David's servants approached Abigail at Carmel. They told her: David sent us to you to take you to him to be his wife. She bowed down with her face touching the ground. I am ready to serve, she said. I am willing to wash the feet of my master's servants. read more.
Abigail quickly got up and rode on a donkey with five of her female servants following her. So she went with David's messengers and became his wife. Earlier David married Ahinoam from the town of Jezreel. Now both she and Abigail were David's wives. Meanwhile, Saul arranged for Michal to marry Palti the son of Laish, who came from the town of Gallim.
In Jerusalem David took more wives and became the father of more sons and daughters.
Polygamy » Tolerated
He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah was the mother of children. Hannah had no children.
If a man takes a second wife, he must continue to give his first wife the same amount of food and clothing and the same rights that she had before.
Polygamy » Domestic unhappiness » In jacob's family
Jacob slept with Rachel too. He loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years. Jehovah saw that Leah was loved less, so he made it possible for her to have children. But Rachel had none. Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, because she said: Certainly, Jehovah has seen my misery. Now my husband will love me! read more.
She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said: Certainly, Jehovah has heard that I am unloved. He has also given me this son. She named him Simeon. She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said: Now at last my husband will become attached to me because I have given him three sons. She named him Levi.
Rachel had not borne Jacob any children. As a result, she became jealous of her sister and said to Jacob: Give me children, or I will die. Jacob became angry with Rachel. He said: I cannot take the place of God. He is the one who keeps you from having children. She said: Here is my maid Bilhah. Sleep with her, so that she can have a child for me. This way I can become a mother through her. read more.
Then Rachel let Jacob marry Bilhah. Jacob slept with Bilhah. They had a son. Rachel named him Dan, because she said: God has answered my prayers. He has vindicated me and given me a son. Bilhah and Jacob had a second son. Rachel said: I have struggled hard with my sister, and I have won! So she named the boy Naphtali. When Leah realized she could not have any more children, she let Jacob marry her servant Zilpah. They had a son. Leah said: How fortunate. She called him Gad. Leah's slave Zilpah gave birth to her second son for Jacob. Leah said: I am happy, for women will call me blessed. So she named him Asher. During the wheat harvest Reuben went out into the fields. He found some mandrake plants. He brought them to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah: Please, give me some of your son's mandrake plants. Leah replied: Is it not enough that you took my husband? Are you also going to take my son's mandrake plants? Rachel responded: Very well, Jacob can go to bed with you tonight in return for your son's mandrake plants. Jacob came in from the fields that evening. Leah went out to meet him. You are to sleep with me, she said. You are my reward for my son's mandrake plants. So he went to bed with her that night. God answered Leah's prayer. She became pregnant and gave birth to her fifth son for Jacob. Leah said: God has given me my reward, because I gave my slave to my husband. So she named him Issachar. She became pregnant again and gave birth to her sixth son for Jacob. Leah said: God has presented me with a wonderful gift. This time my husband will honor me, because I have given him six sons. So she named him Zebulun. Later she bore a daughter and named her Dinah. Then God remembered Rachel. God listened to her and opened her womb. So she conceived and gave birth to a son. She said: God has taken away my reproach.
Polygamy » The evil effects of » Jacob's
Leah replied: Is it not enough that you took my husband? Are you also going to take my son's mandrake plants? Rachel responded: Very well, Jacob can go to bed with you tonight in return for your son's mandrake plants.
Jacob slept with Rachel too. He loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years.
Polygamy » Domestic unhappiness » In abraham's family
Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was laughing in mockery. She said to Abraham: Get rid of that slave woman and her son. This upset Abraham because of his son Ishmael. read more.
God said to Abraham: Do not be upset about the boy and your slave. Listen to what Sarah says, because through Isaac your descendants will carry on your name. I will make the slave's son into a nation also, because he is your child. Early the next morning Abraham took bread and a container of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder. He also gave her the boy and sent her on her way. So she left and wandered around in the desert near Beer-sheba. When the water in the skin was used up, she left the boy under one of the bushes. She sat across from him at a distance. She thought: I cannot watch the boy die. She sat opposite him, and lifted up her voice and wept.
Polygamy » Esau
When Esau was forty he married Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite.
So Esau went to Ishmael and took Mahalath, the daughter of Abraham's son Ishmael, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife in addition to the wives he had.
Polygamy » Rehoboam
Rehoboam married Mahalath, daughter of Jerimoth. Jerimoth was the son of David and Abihail. Abihail was the daughter of Eliab, son of Jesse. Mahalath gave birth to the following sons: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham. After marrying Mahalath, he married Maacah, Absalom's granddaughter. She gave birth to Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. read more.
Rehoboam loved Maacah, Absalom's granddaughter, more than all his other wives and concubines. He had eighteen wives and sixty concubines. He fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters. Rehoboam appointed Abijah, son of Maacah, as family head and prince among his brothers. By doing this, Rehoboam could make him king. He wisely placed his sons in every region of Judah and Benjamin, in every fortified city. He gave them allowances and obtained many wives for them.
Polygamy » The evil effects of » Husband's favoritism in
If a man have two wives and loves one more than the other. The first son of either wife is the man's first-born son, even if the boy's mother is the wife he does not love. A man near death and dividing up his property must give a double share to his first-born son. This is because he was the first to be born. The day he wills his possessions to his sons, he should not put the firstborn son of the loved wife before the firstborn son of the unloved wife. He should acknowledge the firstborn son of the unloved wife. And give him a double portion of all that he has. He is the beginning of his strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him.
Polygamy » Mosaic law respecting the firstborn in
If a man have two wives and loves one more than the other. The first son of either wife is the man's first-born son, even if the boy's mother is the wife he does not love. A man near death and dividing up his property must give a double share to his first-born son. This is because he was the first to be born. The day he wills his possessions to his sons, he should not put the firstborn son of the loved wife before the firstborn son of the unloved wife. He should acknowledge the firstborn son of the unloved wife. And give him a double portion of all that he has. He is the beginning of his strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him.
Polygamy » With solomon
When Solomon was old he allowed his heart to be turned away to other gods by his wives. His heart was no longer true to Jehovah his God as the heart of his father David had been. Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Zidonians, and Milcom, the disgusting god of the Ammonites. Solomon did evil in the eyes of Jehovah. He did not walk in Jehovah's ways with all his heart as David his father did. read more.
Then Solomon put up a high place for Chemosh, the disgusting god of Moab, in the mountain near Jerusalem. And for Molech, the disgusting god worshipped by the children of Ammon. He did likewise for all his strange wives, who made offerings with burning of perfumes to their gods.
Polygamy » Solomon
Solomon loved many women. They were of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites. Jehovah warned the children of Israel about these nations. He said: You are not to take wives from them and they are not to take wives from you. They will certainly turn your hearts to go after their gods. Solomon loved his wives anyway. He had seven hundred wives, daughters of kings, and three hundred other wives. His wives influenced his heart to turn away. read more.
When Solomon was old he allowed his heart to be turned away to other gods by his wives. His heart was no longer true to Jehovah his God as the heart of his father David had been. Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Zidonians, and Milcom, the disgusting god of the Ammonites. Solomon did evil in the eyes of Jehovah. He did not walk in Jehovah's ways with all his heart as David his father did. Then Solomon put up a high place for Chemosh, the disgusting god of Moab, in the mountain near Jerusalem. And for Molech, the disgusting god worshipped by the children of Ammon. He did likewise for all his strange wives, who made offerings with burning of perfumes to their gods.
Polygamy » Domestic unhappiness » In elkanah's family
The day came for Elkanah to make his offering. So he gave a part of the feast to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and daughters. He gave a double portion to Hannah. Hannah was very dear to him even though Jehovah had not given her children. The other wife did everything possible to make her unhappy. This is because Jehovah had not given her children. read more.
Year after year when Peninnah went to the Temple of Jehovah, she kept on provoking Hannah. It bothered Hannah so much she wept and did not eat.
Polygamy » The evil effects of » Rehoboam's
Rehoboam loved Maacah, Absalom's granddaughter, more than all his other wives and concubines. He had eighteen wives and sixty concubines. He fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.
Polygamy » Practiced by
The plague will bury those who survive him. Their widows will not weep for them.
Polygamy » Jehoiachin
He took Jehoiakin to Babylon as a captive. He also took the king's mother, wives, eunuchs, and the leading citizens of the land from Jerusalem as captives to Babylon.
Polygamy » Jehoram
Jehovah will strike a great blow to your people, your sons, your wives, and all your property because you did this.
Polygamy » Abijah
Abijah became strong. He married fourteen wives and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.
Polygamy » Authorized
I gave you his kingdom and his wives. Then I made you king over Israel and Judah. If this had not been enough, I would have given you twice as much.
Polygamy » Hosea
Jehovah said to me: Go again and love a woman beloved by her friend. Love an adulteress, even as Jehovah loves the children of Israel. Though they turn to other gods, and love cakes of raisins for feasts. So I bought her for fifteen pieces of silver, and a homer of barley, and a half-homer of barley.
Polygamy » jacob
Jacob slept with Rachel too. He loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years.
Polygamy » Joash
Polygamy » The evil effects of » Elkanah's
He gave a double portion to Hannah. Hannah was very dear to him even though Jehovah had not given her children.
Polygamy » Sought by women
Seven women will grab one man and say: We will eat our own food and provide our own clothes. Just let us marry you and be called by your name. Take away our disgrace.
Polygamy » Elkanah
He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah was the mother of children. Hannah had no children.
Polygamy » gideon
Polygamy » Lamech
Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.
Polygamy » Ashur
Polygamy » See
Polygamy » Belshazzar
While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar commanded to bring the gold and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the Temple in Jerusalem. This way the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, might drink from them.
