What Does the Bible Say About What Abou Tmultiple Wives?
Scripture reveals that God's design for marriage is one man and one woman in a covenant of exclusive faithfulness.
Scripture on What Abou Tmultiple Wives
Genesis 2:24
Old Testament
"That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh."
1 Corinthians 7:2
New Testament
"But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband."
1 Timothy 3:2
New Testament
"Now the overseer of a church must be above reproach, faithful to his wife, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach."
Malachi 2:15-16
Old Testament
"Has not the Lord made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why has he made them one? Because he is seeking godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth. The Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'I hate divorce,' says the Lord God of Israel, 'because the man covers himself with violence,' says the Lord Almighty."
Ephesians 5:25-27
New Testament
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."
The Bottom Line
The Bible doesn't permit multiple wives—it assumes and commands singular, sacrificial devotion.
Try Today
If you're married, spend 15 minutes thinking about one way to strengthen your devotion to your one spouse—then do it.
Prayer
Jesus taught us to pray with honesty, admitting where we struggle with His design (Matthew 6:9-13).
Father, Your design for marriage—one man, one woman, lifelong covenant—is clear, and yet the world constantly pulls against it. I confess where I've been tempted to settle for less than Your best, or where I've treated marriage as disposable. Help me see marriage as You do: as a sacred reflection of Christ's love for the church. Give me the courage to reject the culture's lies and the strength to build something true and lasting. In Jesus' name, Amen.
📚 Read Ephesians 5 to see marriage as Scripture's deepest metaphor for Christ and His church.
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