Biblical Polygamy: Examining Multiple Marriages in Scripture

The Story of King David and God's Gift

King David stands as one of the Bible's most complex figures—a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14) who also committed grave sins. His story unfolds primarily in 1 & 2 Samuel, revealing both his triumphs and failures.

2 Samuel 12:7-8 - A Key Passage

"Then Nathan said to David, 'You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: "I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more!"'"

This passage clearly indicates God gave Saul's wives to David. This suggests divine accommodation of polygamous practices within that historical context.

Is God a Polygamist?

Biblical Evidence Supporting Polygamy

• God gave David multiple wives, showing it was acceptable by God. (2 Samuel 12:7-8)

• Abraham had Sarah and Hagar (Genesis 16:3)

• Jacob had Leah, Rachel, Bilhah and Zilpah (Genesis 29-30)

• Moses apparently had multiple wives (Exodus 2:21, Numbers 12:1)

• God established laws regulating polygamy rather than prohibiting it (Exodus 21:10, Deuteronomy 21:15-17)

• The answer is yes, God does allow a man to have many wives, as God gave David all of Saul's wives.

Faith and Personal Conviction

Romans 14 discusses matters of personal conviction:

"One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him." (Romans 14:2-3)

This principle may extend beyond food to other areas where believers hold different convictions about what pleases God. What you know is acceptable in God's eyes, others might think it's not acceptable. The one that knows it is acceptable in God's eyes is not too tempt the one that thinks it is wrong, even though it is acceptable in God's eyes. Because if you tempt them with what they think is wrong, it is a sin to them and will break their spirit.

And we know by reading Proverbs 17:22 that a broken spirit dries the flesh. So if you thought you did something wrong, even though it is okay by God, it would still crush your spirit if you think it is wrong and do it even though it's okay in God's eyes. "Broken spirit drieth the flesh" means when you have a broken spirit, it hurts the flesh; it makes the body weak and sickly. Please take the time to read Romans chapter 14 to have a better understanding.

Different Faiths Within Scripture

The Bible shows an evolution of understanding through different periods:

• Patriarchal era: Polygamy was common (Abraham, Jacob)

• Monarchical era: Kings commonly had multiple wives (David, Solomon)

• New Testament era: Church leaders were to be "husbands of one wife" (1 Timothy 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6)

Roman Paul was of a weaker faith; Paul only believed in having one man and one woman.

If Paul had read the Biblical text where God gave David Saul's wives, then he would have understood that one man with many wives was acceptable in God's eyes 2nd Samuel 12:7-8. Paul did not know this; this is why Paul had a weaker faith or weaker understanding of the Word. Abraham, King David, and Solomon had a stronger faith. Romans chapter 14 clarifies this.

A Deeper Biblical Understanding

The pattern we see is that God worked within cultural frameworks while progressively revealing His ideal:

Lamech (Genesis 4:19): The first mention of polygamy in the Bible is Lamech, a descendant of Cain, taking two wives, Adah and Zillah. 

• Abraham and Jacob: Both Abraham and Jacob had multiple wives and concubines. 

• David (2 Samuel 3:2-5; 5:13-16): The Old Testament king David is described as having multiple wives. 

• Solomon (1 Kings 11:1-3): King Solomon also had numerous wives, which contributed to his turning away from God because of marrying women that worshipped other gods. 

Scripture reveals God accommodated polygamy in earlier biblical times, particularly with David. While the New Testament moves toward monogamy as the standard for church leadership, the historical practice of polygamy among faithful biblical figures cannot be denied and is acceptable in God's Eyes.

As with many theological questions, believers must study scripture thoroughly and prayerfully rather than simply accepting traditional interpretations without examination.

Conclusion: Join Us in Bringing Hope to the Homeless

At Jehovah Saints, we are committed to being the hands and feet of Christ by providing safe shelters, warm meals, and hope to those in need. Our mission to build homeless shelters around the world is inspired by Jesus’ words: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).

This is more than just a project—it’s a movement of love, compassion, and transformation. With your support, we can expand this mission and provide a place of refuge for countless individuals and families who are struggling. Together, we can make a difference and shine the light of Christ in the darkest corners of the world.

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God Bless!