Polygamy, in the Bible, refers to the practice of having multiple spouses simultaneously, which is seen in the lives of figures such as Abraham, Jacob, and David. While the Old Testament acknowledges this practice, it does not prescribe it as God’s ideal for marriage, which is presented as a union between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24).
Scripture
19 Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.
21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe.
22 The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
23 Lamech said to his wives: “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me.
24 If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold,
then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold.”
Biblical Definition of Polygamy
Polygamy in the Bible reflects a complex interplay of cultural practices and divine intent. While figures like Abraham (Genesis 16:1-3), Jacob (Genesis 29-30), and David (2 Samuel 5:13-16) engaged in polygamous relationships, the narrative context reveals numerous complications arising from these arrangements. For instance, Abraham’s decision to take Hagar as a concubine led to familial strife and the birth of Ishmael, which created ongoing conflict between Sarah and Hagar (Genesis 21:9-10). Similarly, Jacob’s marriages to Leah and Rachel resulted in jealousy and rivalry, culminating in significant family turmoil (Genesis 30:1-2). These examples underscore that while polygamy was a reality in biblical times, it often brought about discord and hardship, hinting at the difficulties associated with such unions.
The overarching biblical ideal for marriage is articulated in Genesis 2:24, where it is stated that “a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” This foundational verse emphasizes monogamy as God’s intended design for marital relationships, illustrating the profound and exclusive bond that a husband and wife share. Further, Jesus reinforces this ideal in the New Testament, where he references Genesis to affirm the significance of the one-flesh union (Matthew 19:4-6). Consequently, while the Bible documents the historical practice of polygamy, it simultaneously points towards a monogamous framework that aligns more closely with the theological vision of marital fidelity and unity as seen in the creation narrative. Thus, the biblical narrative serves to highlight not only the realities of human relationships but also God’s enduring call towards a higher standard of love and commitment within marriage.
In addition to the noted instances of prominent figures practicing polygamy, the biblical narrative also illustrates how societal norms shaped relationships and familial structures. King Solomon, renowned for his wisdom, is another key figure advocating for polygamy, having taken hundreds of wives and concubines (1 Kings 11:1-3). His actions reflect the political and social dynamics of the time, where marriages often served to seal alliances and reinforce power. However, the consequences of such unions are evident, as Solomon’s multiple relationships ultimately lead him away from God, illustrating the tendency for polygamous arrangements to foster spiritual compromise and conflict rather than harmony. This further emphasizes that while polygamy was encountered in historical narratives, it was frequently paired with adverse outcomes and warnings.
Moreover, the role of women in polygamous settings, often portrayed in various biblical accounts, brings forward additional complexities concerning agency, identity, and familial roles. Women like Hannah, who longed for her husband Elkanah’s love and sought recognition amidst polygamous competition, reveal a deeply human desire for acceptance and place within family dynamics. Her eventual triumphs remind readers of the individual struggles faced within these larger frameworks. The Book of Ruth also provides a contrast to polygamous arrangements, highlighting the beauty of loyalty and commitment in a monogamous bond through the relationship between Ruth and Boaz. Thus, while polygamy appears in various forms throughout the Bible, the underlying messages frequently call attention to the nuances, challenges, and divine ideals surrounding marital relationships, encouraging readers to reflect on the nature of love, fidelity, and commitment.
Cultural Context of Polygamy in the Bible
Polygamy in the biblical context often reflects the cultural and societal norms of ancient Near Eastern societies. In these societies, polygamy was a common practice, primarily for reasons such as economic stability, the need for heirs, and social alliances. The acceptance of polygamy in the Bible illustrates how familial structures were influenced by cultural expectations and the socio-economic environment of the time. This practice was often seen as a means to ensure lineage and inheritance, highlighting the importance of family and community ties in biblical narratives.
Theological Implications of Polygamy
The presence of polygamy in the Bible raises significant theological questions regarding marriage, fidelity, and God’s design for relationships. While polygamy is documented in various biblical accounts, it is often accompanied by conflict, jealousy, and strife, suggesting that such arrangements may not align with the ideal of marital harmony intended by God. The tension between the practice of polygamy and the biblical ideal of monogamous marriage invites deeper reflection on the nature of love, commitment, and the sanctity of marriage as portrayed in scripture.
Moral and Ethical Considerations
The narratives surrounding polygamous relationships in the Bible often serve as cautionary tales, illustrating the moral and ethical dilemmas that arise from such arrangements. Issues such as favoritism, rivalry among spouses, and the emotional turmoil experienced by individuals involved highlight the complexities of human relationships. These stories prompt readers to consider the implications of polygamy on personal integrity, justice, and the well-being of all parties involved, ultimately encouraging a more profound understanding of the values that underpin biblical teachings on marriage and family life.
How to Nurture Faithfulness in Relationships for Stronger Christian Bonds
Nurturing faithfulness in our relationships is essential for building stronger Christian bonds, and it begins with a heart committed to love and service. As we reflect on the teachings of Christ, we are reminded that faithfulness is not just about loyalty but also about being present and supportive in each other’s lives. Start by prioritizing open and honest communication; share your thoughts and feelings with one another, and listen actively. Make it a habit to pray together, inviting God into your relationship, which can deepen your connection and help you navigate challenges with grace. Remember, faithfulness also means forgiving one another, just as we are forgiven, and showing grace in moments of weakness. By embodying these principles, you not only strengthen your own faith but also create a nurturing environment where love can flourish, reflecting the very essence of Christ’s love for us.
Bible References to the Definition of Polygamy:
Genesis 16:1-6: 1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children.
2 And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold 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.
3 And Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife.
4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress.
5 And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the Lord judge between you and me!”
6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.
Genesis 29:15-30: 29 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?”
16 Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17 Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance.
18 Jacob loved Rachel.
19 Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.”
20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.”
22 So Laban gathered together all the people of the place and made a feast.
23 But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her.
24 Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.
25 And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?”
26 Laban said, “It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
27 Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years.”
28 Jacob did so, and completed her week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.
29 Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.
30 So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.
Deuteronomy 17:14-17: 14 “When you come to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,’”
15 you may indeed set a king over you whom the Lord your God will choose.
16 Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’
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.
1 Samuel 1:1-7: 1 There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite.
2 He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3 Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord.
4 On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters.
5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb.
6 And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb.
7 So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.
2 Samuel 5:13-16: 13 And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David.
14 And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
15 David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.
16 And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet.
1 Kings 11:1-8: 3 He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines. And his wives turned away his heart.
2 from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, “You 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.
3 He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines. And his wives turned away his heart.
4 For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.
5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
6 So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done.
7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem.
8 So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done.
2 Chronicles 11:18-21: 18 Rehoboam took as wife Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse,
19 He took the best of the land and gave it to his servants.
20 After her he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.
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).
Matthew 19:3-9: 3 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?”
4 He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,
5 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’?
6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
7 They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?”
8 He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.
9 And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”
1 Timothy 3:1-7: 1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.
2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.
4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive,
5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?
6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
Titus 1:5-9: 5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—
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.
7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain,
8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.
9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
Rev. François Dupont is a dedicated church minister with a wealth of experience in serving spiritual communities. With a calm and serene demeanor, he has been devoted to sharing the message of love, compassion, and tolerance for over two decades. Through his thoughtful sermons, compassionate counseling, and unwavering support, Rev. Dupont has touched the lives of countless individuals, allowing them to find solace and strength during difficult times. His serene presence and deep understanding of the human condition make him a trusted guide for those seeking spiritual nourishment and guidance.