The Bible contains several accounts where men took multiple wives, concubines, or were involved in polygamous relationships. These instances reflect the cultural practices of ancient societies but are not direct instructions or endorsements of such actions. God’s original design for marriage, as presented in Scripture, is a union between one man and one woman in a lifelong covenant. While the Bible describes the lives of men who took additional wives, it often shows the negative consequences of these arrangements, reinforcing the idea that this was not God’s ideal.
This article will explore the biblical references to men taking multiple wives, God’s design for marriage, and the cultural context of these practices, while addressing how believers today can understand these stories within a biblical framework.
Biblical Examples of Men Taking Another Woman
Throughout the Bible, men often took multiple wives or concubines. These relationships were sometimes culturally acceptable and were even used to achieve practical goals like alliances, producing heirs, or building families. However, these arrangements often led to strife, jealousy, and spiritual consequences.
Abraham and Hagar (Genesis 16:1-4)
- “Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; so she said to Abram, ‘The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.’”
- Abraham’s wife, Sarah (then Sarai), encouraged him to take Hagar, her servant, as a secondary wife to have children. This action stemmed from impatience with God’s promise of an heir. The result was tension and conflict between Sarah and Hagar.
- This story highlights human efforts to control outcomes rather than waiting on God’s timing and plan.
Jacob and His Wives (Genesis 29:15-30)
- Jacob worked for seven years to marry Rachel but was tricked into marrying her sister, Leah, first. Later, he married Rachel as well and had children with both women, as well as their maidservants, Zilpah and Bilhah.
- The rivalry between Leah and Rachel caused family discord, as seen in Genesis 30:1-2: “When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, ‘Give me children, or I’ll die!’”
- Though Jacob became the father of the twelve tribes of Israel, the conflicts among his wives created significant family strife.
David’s Wives (1 Samuel 25:42-43)
- David, described as a man after God’s own heart, married multiple women, including Michal, Abigail, and Ahinoam. He also had concubines.
- “David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel, and they both were his wives.”
- Although David’s marriages often had political or practical purposes, his family life was marked by dysfunction, such as the rebellion of his son Absalom (2 Samuel 15).
Solomon and His Many Wives (1 Kings 11:3)
- “He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray.”
- Solomon, known for his wisdom, took many wives to solidify political alliances. However, this led to his spiritual downfall, as many of his wives worshiped foreign gods.
- This example illustrates how polygamy and intermarriage with unbelievers can draw someone away from God.
God’s Original Design for Marriage
While the Bible records the actions of men who took multiple wives, it does not present these arrangements as God’s ideal. From the beginning, God’s design for marriage was clear:
Genesis 2:24
- “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”
- This verse establishes marriage as a monogamous, covenantal relationship between one man and one woman. The “one flesh” union reflects intimacy, exclusivity, and partnership.
Jesus’ Teachings on Marriage (Matthew 19:4-6)
- Jesus reaffirmed God’s design for marriage:
“‘Haven’t you read,’ he replied, ‘that at the beginning the Creator “made them male and female,” and said, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh”? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”- Jesus emphasized the sanctity and permanence of marriage, echoing the Genesis account.
Why Did Polygamy Exist in the Bible?
Polygamy was a cultural practice in ancient times and was often linked to practical reasons, such as:
- Producing Heirs: In societies where having children was crucial for survival and inheritance, polygamy ensured a larger family.
- Political Alliances: Marriages often solidified treaties and alliances between tribes or nations.
- Cultural Norms: Polygamy was accepted in many ancient cultures and not seen as unusual.
Although God allowed polygamy in certain contexts, it often led to negative consequences, including:
- Jealousy and Rivalry: Examples include Sarah and Hagar (Genesis 16) and Rachel and Leah (Genesis 30).
- Family Dysfunction: David’s multiple marriages contributed to conflicts among his children (2 Samuel 13-15).
- Spiritual Decline: Solomon’s wives led him into idolatry (1 Kings 11).
New Testament Standards for Marriage
In the New Testament, the teachings of Jesus and the apostles consistently point to monogamy as the standard for Christian marriage:
- 1 Timothy 3:2:
“Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach.”- Church leaders were specifically instructed to have only one wife, reflecting God’s ideal for marriage.
- Ephesians 5:31-33:
- Paul quotes Genesis 2:24 and describes marriage as a reflection of Christ’s relationship with the church.
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”
- Paul quotes Genesis 2:24 and describes marriage as a reflection of Christ’s relationship with the church.
Lessons from the Bible’s Polygamy Accounts
- Descriptive, Not Prescriptive
- The Bible’s accounts of polygamy describe cultural practices but do not endorse them as God’s plan.
- Negative Consequences
- The challenges and conflicts arising from polygamy show that it often disrupts God’s intention for unity and harmony in marriage.
- God’s Grace
- Despite their failures, men like Abraham, David, and Solomon were used by God for His purposes, demonstrating His grace and ability to work through imperfect people.
Conclusion: What Does the Bible Say About Taking Another Woman?
The Bible provides accounts of men who took additional wives, but these narratives are descriptive of historical and cultural practices, not prescriptive for Christians today. God’s original design for marriage, established in Genesis 2:24 and affirmed by Jesus in Matthew 19:4-6, is a union between one man and one woman.
While polygamy was permitted in certain contexts in the Old Testament, it often led to negative consequences, reinforcing that monogamy is God’s ideal for marriage. For believers, marriage is a reflection of Christ’s relationship with the church—a relationship characterized by love, faithfulness, and unity (Ephesians 5:31-33).
Thus, while the Bible acknowledges the reality of polygamy in history, it consistently upholds the beauty and sanctity of monogamous, covenantal marriage.