Polygamy

How Nave’s arranged it

• ForbiddenDeuteronomy 17:17Leviticus 18:18Malachi 2:14Malachi 2:15Matthew 19:4Matthew 19:5Mark 10:2–81 Timothy 3:21 Timothy 3:12Titus 1:6
• Authorized2 Samuel 12:8
• ToleratedExodus 21:101 Samuel 1:22 Chronicles 24:3
• Practiced byJob 27:15
• LamechGenesis 4:19
• AbrahamGenesis 16
• EsauGenesis 26:34Genesis 28:9
• JacobGenesis 29:30
• Ashur1 Chronicles 4:5
• GideonJudges 8:30
• Elkanah1 Samuel 1:2
• David1 Samuel 25:39–442 Samuel 3:2–52 Samuel 5:131 Chronicles 14:3

The passages, in Bible order (45)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 16 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Genesis 4:19

   And Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 4:191 voice

   “And Lamech took unto him two wives,.... He was the first we read of that introduced polygamy, contrary to the first institution of marriage, whereby only one man and one woman were to be joined together, and become one flesh, Gen 2:24. This evil practice, though it began in the race of wicked Cain, was in later ages followed by some among the people of God, which was connived at because of the hardness of their hearts; otherwise it was not so from the beginning.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 4:19→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Genesis 16:1

   Now Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 16:11 voice

   “- The Birth of Ishmael 1. הנר hāgār, Hagar, “flight.” Hejrah, the flight of Muhammed. 7. מלאך mal'ak “messenger, angel.” A deputy commissioned to discharge a certain duty for the principal whom he represents. As the most usual task is that of bearing messages, commands, or tidings, he is commonly called a “messenger” ἄγγελος angelos). The word is therefore a term of office, and does not further distinguish the office-bearer than as an intelligent being.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 16:1→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Genesis 21:9–16

   But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking her son,

   ›Commentary on Genesis 21:9–162 voices

   “(Chapter 21, Verse 9) And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she bore to Abraham, playing. What follows, with his son Isaac, is not present in the Hebrew. Therefore, this is interpreted in two ways by the Hebrews: either that she made idols out of play, according to what is written elsewhere: The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play (Exodus 32:6); or that she claimed the rights of the firstborn against Isaac, as if he were older, through play and jest.

   “Mocking - What was implied in this mocking is not known. St. Paul, Gal 4:29, calls it persecuting; but it is likely he meant no more than some species of ridicule used by Ishmael on the occasion, and probably with respect to the age of Sarah at Isaac’s birth, and her previous barrenness. Jonathan ben Uzziel and the Jerusalem Targum represent Ishmael as performing some idolatrous rite on the occasion, and that this had given the offense to Sarah. Conjectures are as useless as they are endless.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 21:9–16→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Genesis 26:34

   When Esau was forty years old, he took as his wives Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite and Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 26:341 voice

   “He took to wife - the daughter, etc. - It is very likely that the wives taken by Esau were daughters of chiefs among the Hittites, and by this union he sought to increase and strengthen his secular power and influence.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 26:34→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Genesis 28:9

   Esau went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Abraham’s son Ishmael, in addition to the wives he already had.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 28:92 voices

   “But he only made bad worse, and though he did not marry a "wife of the daughters of Canaan," he married into a family which God had rejected. It showed a partial reformation, but no repentance, for he gave no proofs of abating his vindictive purposes against his brother, nor cherishing that pious spirit that would have gratified his father--he was like Micah (see Jud 17:13).

   “Then went Esau unto Ishmael - Those who are apt to take every thing by the wrong handle, and who think it was utterly impossible for Esau to do any right action, have classed his taking a daughter of Ishmael among his crimes; whereas there is nothing more plain than that he did this with a sincere desire to obey and please his parents.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 28:9→

   Verse page →Original language →

6. Genesis 29:30

   Jacob slept with Rachel as well, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years.

   Verse page →Original language →

7. Genesis 30:1–23

   When Rachel saw that she was not bearing any children for Jacob, she envied her sister. “Give me children, or I will die!” she said to Jacob.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 30:1–231 voice

   “Envy is grieving at the good of another, than which no sin is more offensive to God, nor more injurious to our neighbour and ourselves. She considered not that it was God that made the difference, and that though, in this single instance her sister was preferred before her, yet in other things she had the advantage.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 30:1–23→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. Genesis 30:15

   But Leah replied, “Is it not enough that you have taken away my husband? Now you want to take my son’s mandrakes as well?” “Very well,” said Rachel, “he may sleep with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.”

   ›Commentary on Genesis 30:151 voice

   “Thou hast taken my husband - It appears probable that Rachel had found means to engross the whole of Jacob’s affection and company, and that she now agreed to let him visit the tent of Leah, on account of receiving some of the fruits or plants which Reuben had found.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 30:15→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. Exodus 21:10

   If he takes another wife, he must not reduce the food, clothing, or marital rights of his first wife.

   Verse page →Original language →

10. Leviticus 18:18

    You must not take your wife’s sister as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is still alive.

    ›Commentary on Leviticus 18:181 voice

    “A wife to her sister - Thou shalt not marry two sisters at the same time, as Jacob did Rachel and Leah; but there is nothing in this law that rendered it illegal to marry a sister-in-law when her sister was dead; therefore the text says, Thou shalt not take her in her life time, to vex her, alluding probably to the case of the jealousies and vexations which subsisted between Leah and Rachel, and by which the family peace was so often disturbed. Some think that the text may be so understood as also to forbid polygamy.

    Everything gathered on Leviticus 18:18→

    Verse page →Original language →

11. Deuteronomy 17:17

    He must not take many wives for himself, lest his heart go astray. He must not accumulate for himself large amounts of silver and gold.

    ›Commentary on Deuteronomy 17:172 voices

    “The mischievous effects resulting from the breach of this condition were exemplified in the history of Solomon and other princes, who, by trampling on the restrictive law, corrupted themselves as well as the nation. neither shall he greatly multiply . . . silver and gold--that is, the kings were forbidden to accumulate money for private purposes.

    “Multiplication of wives would lead to sensuality, and so to an apostasy no less fatal in effect than downright idolatry (compare Exo 34:16). This rule, like the others, abridges to the ruler of Israel liberties usually enjoyed without stint by the kings of the East. The restriction was in the days of Moses unprecedented; and demanded a higher standard in the king of Israel than was looked for among his equals in other nations. Neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold - In this third prohibition, as in the other two, excess is forbidden.

    Everything gathered on Deuteronomy 17:17→

    Verse page →Original language →

12. Deuteronomy 21:15–17

    If a man has two wives, one beloved and the other unloved, and both bear him sons, but the unloved wife has the firstborn son,

    ›Commentary on Deuteronomy 21:15–172 voices

    “If a man have two wives,.... Which is supposed, but not approved of, though permitted because of the hardness of men's hearts; for it was not so from the beginning, when only one man and one woman were created, and joined together in marriage; but as it was connived at, and become customary, a law is made to prevent confusion, and preserve order in families: one beloved and another hated; or less loved, yet continued his wife, and not divorced.

    “Moses did not originate the rights of primogeniture (compare Gen 25:31), but recognized them, since he found them pre-existing in the general social system of the East. Paternal authority could set aside these rights on just grounds Gen 27:33, but it is forbidden here to do so from mere partiality.

    Everything gathered on Deuteronomy 21:15–17→

    Verse page →Original language →

13. Judges 8:30

    Gideon had seventy sons of his own, since he had many wives.

    Verse page →Original language →

14. 1 Samuel 1:2

    He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

    ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 1:21 voice

    “He had two wives - The custom of those times permitted polygamy; but wherever there was more than one wife, we find the peace of the family greatly disturbed by it. The name of the one was Hannah - חנה Channah, which signifies fixed or settled, and the other פננה Peninnah, which signifies a jewel or pearl.

    Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 1:2→

    Verse page →Original language →

15. 1 Samuel 1:4–7

    And whenever the day came for Elkanah to present his sacrifice, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.

    ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 1:4–71 voice

    “He gave - portions - The sacrifices which were made were probably peace-offerings, of which the blood was poured out at the foot of the altar; the fat was burnt on the fire; the breast and right shoulder were the portion of the priest, and the rest belonged to him who made the offering; on it he and his family feasted, each receiving his portion; and to these feasts God commands them to invite the Levite, the poor, the widow, and the orphan, Deu 16:11.

    Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 1:4–7→

    Verse page →Original language →

16. 1 Samuel 1:5

    But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved her even though the LORD had closed her womb.

    ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 1:51 voice

    “A worthy portion - Probably as in the margin. Naturally she would have had a single portion of the sacrifice (compare 1Sa 9:23), but because of his love to her he gave her a double portion, enough for two people (compare Gen 43:34).

    Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 1:5→

    Verse page →Original language →