Biblically speaking, is marriage exclusively between one man and one woman?

Question

I am a Christian, but haven't researched this question. If anyone could support this claim with Biblical references, I'd appreciate it. I am aware of restrictions on church officials being required to be a "man of one wife", but are these restrictions for everyone? Would polygamy be acceptable under the Bible if it weren't unacceptable by the laws of man?

Answer 1

God gave the perfect example in Genesis 2:18; 21-25;

18 ¶ And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

21 ¶ And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

This is where the concept 'one man, one woman, for life'.

The word for cleave [dabaq] used in this passage is Hebrew and it means to cling, hold fast.
Some say to stick like glue.

Were there others in the scriptures that had more than one wife?
The answer is yes.

Abraham had one wife, Sarah, and she was unable to have a child.
So, Abraham took another wife Hagar, who gave him Ishmael.
Then god opened Sarah's womb and she bore him Isaac.

When Isaac became of age, God told Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away.
He said that Ishmael would be at war with every one and everyone would be at war with him.
Ishmael is the father of the Arabs.
Isaac is the father of the Jews.
Today the sons of Ishmael are constantly at war with the sons of Isaac.
So here you see that things did not work out well for Abrahams second marriage.

There was Jacob took two wives, because he was deceived by his father in law.
Jacob wanted the younger daughter, and Laban dressed his oldest daughter in a gown and veil, and presented him to Jacob for marriage.
Because of this Jacob had 12 sons.
Seems like there was jealousy and competition to provide the most sons to Jacob.

David had more than one wife, and the second wife was a married woman named Bathsheba, whom he got pregnant.
His third wife was the wife of a man that attacked David's army and was killed.
God punished David for the event around Bathsheba.

Then Solomon had 300 wifes and 700 concubines.
They were from different countries, and they worshipped other gods.
Solomon built altars to the gods of his wives in Jerusalem and God split the nation in two parts because of this.
The northern became Ephraim, and the southern became Judah.

Although God did not smite those who had more than one wife, the events would up tragic anyway.
Seems like God does not have to punish men as we punish men, but he brings strife in their lives that cause them to repent.

At the end of Solomons life, He wrote a book about how his entire life was vanity.
Everything that he did without God was vanity.

grace2u

Answer 2

Biblically speaking - no. David had many wives. Solomon had over 300 wives and over 600 concubines. Both of which were never punished for having multiple wives (though David was punished for Killing a man to get his wife... and Solomon was later punished for following after his wives Pagan Gods). But it doesn't show them getting into any kind of trouble for having more than 1 wife. Almost all of the men in the Old Test had more than 1 wife and had a few handmaidens/concubines on the side as well. For them to claim the Bible backs up marriage between one man and one woman is really stretching it.

Answer 3

I have been studying this issue for the past four months.
In general, Christians do well to break no laws, so no blashphemy falls upon the name and gospel of Jesus.

The only way that a man could marry more than one woman
is to do it in secret, and every one involved in the marriage
would have to risk being called adulterers, whores, etc.
Insult has been brought on the old testament as a result.

Polygamy is not compulsory under the bible, but there is no
express prohibition against it either. The sayings of Jesus about marriage and Adam and Eve forbid divorce,and call divorce adultery.

Most women, Christian or no, demand monogamy regardless of what the bible says about it.
Most insist that Adam and Eve being one flesh is proof enough
for monogamy only.

Two friends of mine want nothing to do with me for challenging
monogamy, one of them a Christian, the other an atheist.

To avoid causing reproach on Jesus, let those who desire
monogamy believe in monogamy.

Answer 4

I am a christian, and before we look at gay marriage / same sex marriage, first we have to remember what the Bible says about homosexuality. The Bible clearly and consistently tells us that homosexual activity is a sin [Genesis 19:1-13; Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9]. God does not create a person with homosexual desires. A person becomes a homosexual because of sin [Romans 1:24-27], and ultimately because of his or her own choice.

So to give sanction to homosexual marriage would be to give approval to that lifestyle, which the Bible clearly and consistently condemns as sinful. I believe that Christians must stand firmly against the idea of gay marriage / same sex marriage. Marriage is ordained by God to be between a man and a woman [Genesis 2:21-24; Matthew 19:4-6]

Answer 5

I see that some people have brought up the examples of polygamy in the OT. Can I ask that those of you who think that is making it ok read the whole story? Those women were not happy. They fought amongst themselves all the time.

The way a woman's heart is made, she wants the security of having her husband's love. If he has multiple wives, she will feel neglected. She will never have all her husband's love. This would be dishonoring that woman and God makes it quite clear that a wife is to be loved and cherished fully. Any woman who understands her own heart would not find polygamy desirable. Only one who was more interested in people pleasing to think her desires were important.

Polygamy is for males who can't control their sexual urges and use them the way God intended.

Answer 6

I think the restriction on church officials was due to financial reasons. The church could support a man and wife along with their children, but not a man and 7 wives, and all the resulting children.

Polygamy is all through the bible. I don't know of anywhere in the bible that is against it for the general population.

I know I'm not going to share my man with other women.

Answer 7

I recomend you follow the imperative of God's Word and not forsake the gathering togeather with fellow believers in fellowship and study.... You are asking for Bible study on a very anti Christian Site.... you need to be with Bible Believing and teaching Christians..... the answer you seek can only to be found in understanding that will only come from honest and dedicated time "in The Word"...... and understanding of The Word and Will of God will only come to those open to the leading of The Holy Spirit.... as a Christian you should be aware of this......... to answer the question..... Yes..... that is a basic level teaching all Christians should have received.... and this forum is not the place for it.

Answer 8

God Himself set the pattern by bringing one woman to Adam.
Genesis 2:24 adds
"That is why a man will leave his father and his mother and he must stick to his wife . . ."
Please note 'wife' is in the singular.
God did tolerate polygamy for a time.
However, Jesus, when talking about divorce, said:
“Moses, out of regard for YOUR hardheartedness, made the concession to YOU of divorcing YOUR wives, but such has not been the case from the beginning. Matthew 19:8.
The same can be thought about polygamy.

Answer 9

Here are a few of the scriptures references you may be interested in. I pray you find what you are looking for. If you will go to the Strong's Concordance or maybe your own , I believe you will find other ones that will help you. I will pray that God leads you in your search for the truth. God bless and you will remain in my prayers.

Exd 20:14 ¶ Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Pro 6:32 [But] whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he [that] doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
Eze 16:32 [But as] a wife that committeth adultery, [which] taketh strangers instead of her husband!
Mat 5:27 ¶Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
Mat 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Mat 5:32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
Then find the word fornication in a concordance that you can trust and run reference on it. I think this will point you in that direction you are looking for. God bless.

Answer 10

in the bible there are many characters with many wives each. king soloman, had many many wives. he was jewish and it was just fine with them. Abraham, another important biblical figure, the father of all mankind, had a concubine that he consorted with to make a son when his other wife proved unable. that was fine too. if a man died his brother had an obligation to impregnate his widow. the important thing was procreation, not how many wives etc. just make babies. the more wives the better.