Biblical Limits on Polygamy and Financial Ability
The biblical understanding of marriage, originating in Genesis, establishes monogamy as the original divine intention [1, 2, 9]. Genesis 2:24 describes a man cleaving to "his wife," and "they shall be one flesh," which Jesus later expounds as "no more twain, but one flesh" (Mark 10:8) [9]. This foundational text implies the unity of one man and one woman [2].
Despite this original design, polygamy, the practice of having multiple wives, began early in human history, first mentioned with Lamech in Genesis 4:19 [1]. Throughout the Old Testament, polygamy was practiced, though it was not explicitly prohibited by Mosaic law [1]. Instead, the Law of Moses regulated it, specifying the legal rights of a wife (Exodus 21:10) [1].
One significant biblical limit on polygamy appears in Deuteronomy 17:17, which states that a king "shall not multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away." This injunction was not merely a suggestion but a divine warning against the dangers of polygamy, particularly for those in leadership [4]. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary notes that this prohibition was crucial given the practices of neighboring countries and the need for the Israelite monarch to be restrained by divine law [4]. The negative consequences of violating this command are evident in the lives of kings like Solomon, who, despite his wisdom, fell into apostasy due to his numerous foreign wives (1 Kings 11:1-8) [4, 7]. These wives turned his heart away from God, leading to the worship of other deities [7].
The Tyndale House Commentary on Deuteronomy 17:17 clarifies that this guideline aimed to moderate and regulate the practice of polygamy rather than explicitly prohibiting it [8]. In the ancient world, kings often married multiple wives to forge political alliances, a practice that indicated reliance on human power rather than divine provision [8]. Both David (2 Samuel 5:13; 12:11) and Solomon (1 Kings 11:3-4) disregarded this warning, causing harm to themselves and the nation [8].
Beyond the number of wives, Deuteronomy 17:17 also includes a financial limitation for the king: "Neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold." This command is linked to the prohibition against multiplying wives, as both practices represented a dependence on human resources and wealth rather than on God [8]. The amassing of excessive wealth was seen as another sign of misplaced trust [8].
By the time of the New Testament, monogamy appears to have become the prevailing practice among Jews, as suggested by passages like Luke 1:5 and Acts 5:1 [11]. The New Testament reinforces monogamy as the standard for Christians. Charles Hodge, in his Systematic Theology, argues that Christ's teaching in Matthew 19:4-6 and Mark 10:8, referencing Genesis 2:24, unequivocally establishes monogamy as the law of marriage [9]. Hodge also notes that there is no recorded instance of a polygamist being admitted to the Christian Church in the New Testament [5].
The Apostle Paul's instruction that a bishop must be "the husband of one wife" (1 Timothy 3:2) is often cited in discussions of polygamy [5]. While some have inferred from this that private church members might have been permitted more than one wife, Hodge considers this inference "precarious" and inconsistent with Christ's explicit prohibition of polygamy [5]. He concludes that monogamy is the "undoubted law of Christ" and that polygamists should not be admitted to Christian fellowship, especially in new churches in heathen lands, to ensure a clear witness to Christian doctrine [10].
The Mosaic law's toleration of polygamy is understood by some theologians, such as Charles Hodge, as belonging to a category of laws not founded on the essential, immutable nature of God, similar to the sixth and eighth commandments [11]. These laws, while divine, were adapted to the specific historical and cultural context of the Hebrews under the theocracy and were largely abolished with the introduction of the new dispensation [3, 11]. Marriage, while having civil aspects, is ultimately a divine institution regulated by divine laws that civil legislatures cannot annul [6].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Wife — The ordinance of marriage was sanctioned in Paradise (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:4-6). Monogamy was the original law under which man lived, but polygamy early commenced (Gen. 4:19), and continued to prevail all down through Jewish history. The law of Moses regulated but did not prohibit polygamy. A man might have a plurality of wives, but a wife could have only one husband. A wife's legal rights (Ex. 21:10) and her duties (Prov. 31:10-31; 1 Tim. 5:14) are specified. She could be divorced in special cases (Deut. 22:13-21), but could not divorce her husband. Divorce wa”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Marriage — + Its origin and history .--The institution of marriage dates from the time of man's original creation. (Genesis 2:18-25) From (Genesis 2:24) we may evolve the following principles: (1) The unity of man and wife, as implied in her being formed out of man. (2) The indissolubleness of the marriage bond, except on; the strongest grounds, Comp. (Matthew 19:9) (3) Monogamy, as the original law of marriage (4) The social equality of man and wife. (5) The subordination of the wife to the husband. (1 Corinthians 11:8,9; 1 Timothy 2:13) (6) The respective duties of ”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 39: the obligation of any divine law, which He has imposed upon them. (2.) That with regard to the positive laws of the Old Testament, and such judicial enactments as were designed exclusively for the Hebrews living under the theocracy, they were all abolished by the introduction of the new dispensation. We are no longer under obligation to circumcise our children, to keep the Passover, or feast of tabernacles or to go up 270 three times in the year to Jerusalem, or to exact an eye for an eye, or a tooth for a tooth. (3.) With regard to those”
- Deuteronomy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Deuteronomy 17:17: Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away--There were the strongest reasons for recording an express prohibition on this point, founded on the practice of neighboring countries in which polygamy prevailed, and whose kings had numerous harems; besides, the monarch of Israel was to be absolutely independent of the people and had nothing but the divine law to restrain his passions. The mischievous effects resulting from the breach of this condition were exemplified in the history of Solomon and other princes, who, by t”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 49: marriage. There is no instance recorded in the New Testament, of the admission of a polygamist to the Christian Church. It has, indeed, been inferred from 1 Timothy iii. 2 , where the Apostle says, a bishop must be “the husband of one wife,” that a private member of the Church might have more wives than one. But this is in itself a very precarious inference; and being inconsistent with Christ’s express prohibition, it is altogether inadmissible. The meaning of the passage has been much disputed. What the Apostle requires is that a bishop ”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 49: 199. See also Commentaries on the Law of Marriage and Divorce, by Joel Prentiss Bishop. 4th edit., Boston, 1864, vol. i. chap. x. § 154-163. Because marriage is in some of its aspects a civil institution, to be regulated within certain limits, by the civil law, men have treated it as though it were a mere business engagement. They ignore its character as a divine institution, regulated and controlled by divine laws. Civil legislatures should remember that they can no more annul the laws of God than the laws of nature. If they pronounce th”
- 1 Kings (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Kings 11 (introduction): SOLOMON'S WIVES AND CONCUBINES IN HIS OLD AGE. (Kg1 11:1-8) But King Solomon loved many strange women--Solomon's extraordinary gift of wisdom was not sufficient to preserve him from falling into grievous and fatal errors. A fairer promise of true greatness, a more beautiful picture of juvenile piety, never was seen than that which he exhibited at the commencement of his reign. No sadder, more humiliating, or awful spectacle can be imagined than the besotted apostasy of his old age; and to him may be applied the words of Paul (Gal 3:3), o”
- Deuteronomy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Deuteronomy 17:17: 17:17 many wives: Polygamy is neither prohibited nor sanctioned here. This guideline was meant to moderate and regulate the practice. In the ancient world, kings married many wives to cement political alliances with other kingdoms, showing trust in human power rather than God’s provision. David (2 Sam 5:13; 12:11) and Solomon (1 Kgs 11:3-4) both ignored this warning to their own great harm and that of the nation. • must not accumulate: The amassing of wealth was another sign of dependence on human resources.”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 49: his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife and they shall be one flesh.” ( Gen. ii. 23, 24 .) Or, as our Lord quotes and expounds the passage, “They twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.” ( Mark x. 8 .) “The two,” and no more than two, become one. This was not only the language of unfallen Adam in Paradise, but the language of God uttered through the lips of Adam, as appears not only from the circumstances of the case, but also from our Lord’s attributing to them divine authority, as He ev”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 49: be admitted to the ministry, in neither case does the passage give authority to receive a polygamist into the fellowship of the Church. Considering, then, that monogamy is the undoubted law of Christ; considering that we have no evidence that He made an exception in favour of heathen converts; and considering the great importance that churches, founded in heathen lands, should bear true witness of the doctrines and precepts of Christianity, it would seem clear that no man having more than one wife should be admitted to Christian fellowshi”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 49: ; xxxi. 10 ff. ) The apocryphal books contain clear evidence that after the exile monogamy was almost universal among the Jews; and it may be inferred from such passages as Luke i. 5 ; Acts v. 1 , and many others, that the same was true at the time of the advent of Christ. With regard to the toleration of polygamy under the Mosaic law, it is to be remembered that the seventh commandment belongs to the same category as the sixth and eighth. These laws are not founded on the essential nature of God, and therefore are not immutable. They are”