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Answer
Monogamy is the practice or state of being married to only one person at a time. When God instituted the covenant of marriage, He designed the relationship to be monogamous. In Genesis 2:21–22, God created Adam and then formed a woman, Eve, from one of his ribs and brought her to the man. God did not create several women for Adam, which would have been helpful in fulfilling the command to populate the earth (Genesis 1:27-28). Adam responded with the joyful proclamation that Eve was “bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh” (verse 23), followed by this declaration: “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh” (verse 24). Jesus echoed this truth when He was asked about divorce «and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? », (Matthew 19:5). He then added, “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate” «Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. », (Matthew 19:6). From the very beginning of the Bible, monogamy is the model.
The Old Testament is rife with examples of people abandoning monogamy. Many patriarchs and kings had multiple wives. Even David and Solomon, God’s chosen leaders, multiplied wives over the course of their reigns, and the Bible is strangely silent about this apparent breach of godliness. Deuteronomy 17:17 specifically prohibits the accumulation of wives by the kings of Israel. And because the Bible is so honest about the humanity and failures of individuals, it portrays these leaders with all their flaws.
Among those whom God used mightily, the Bible dutifully records the issues that arose from having multiple wives.
In every biblical account of men having multiple wives, conflicts are evident. Families not founded on monogamous relationships faced consequences. Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar were involved in the first problematic “love triangle” – jealousy emerged when Hagar, the younger one, conceived while Sarah, the older one, could not (Genesis 16:1-5). Rachel and Leah competed for Jacob’s love, leading to the introduction of servant girls as concubines for their husband (Genesis 30). The birth of the prophet Samuel occurred in a household where his mother, Hannah, was constantly provoked by her husband’s other wife, Peninnah (1 Samuel 1:4-6).
In King David’s household, the increase in wives and children resulted in such dysfunction that it could have been a reality show. Tamar, David’s daughter from one wife, was assaulted by Amnon, his son from another wife (2 Samuel 13). Upon learning of Tamar’s disgrace, her brother Absalom sought revenge and eventually killed his half-brother Amnon. David’s mismanagement of his dysfunctional household potentially fueled Absalom’s animosity towards him and his subsequent attempt to seize the throne. Embracing monogamy could have prevented all this heartache, and David might not have had to flee for his life from his own son “And David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, ‘Arise, and let us flee, for otherwise we shall not escape from Absalom. Go quickly, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down ruin on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.'” , (2 Samuel 15:14).
Solomon’s story, in particular, illustrates the foolishness of having multiple wives. King Solomon had received everything his heart desired. God had granted him wisdom surpassing that of any other.In 1 Kings 4:29-30, it is mentioned that God had blessed Solomon abundantly both materially and with wisdom. This is further emphasized in 1 Kings 10:23, where it is stated that King Solomon surpassed all other kings in riches and wisdom. Additionally, in 1 Kings 5:4, it is noted that God granted Solomon peace from adversaries and misfortune on all sides.
Solomon was honored with the task of constructing the temple of the Lord, as stated in 1 Kings 5:5. However, despite these blessings, Solomon’s downfall came when he married multiple wives from different nations. In his old age, influenced by his wives’ idolatry, his heart turned away from the Lord, as mentioned in 1 Kings 11:3-4. If Solomon had been content with his first wife and remained faithful to her, he might have avoided such temptations and stayed loyal to the Lord throughout his life.
During New Testament times, monogamy became the standard in Jewish society. Jesus himself endorsed monogamy when addressing the topic of divorce. His response in Mark 10:6-9 clearly indicates that marriage is intended for one man and one woman, with no room for polygamy. Jesus emphasized the unity of a husband and wife, stating that they become one flesh, and what God unites should not be separated.In Jesus’ teaching about becoming one flesh, the clear implication is that this unity is exclusive to two individuals. It is not a merging of three or more into one; rather, it is specifically two becoming one. Nowhere in Jesus’ words or in the writings of the New Testament is there any suggestion that this unity should involve a married person and someone else.
When Paul addresses marriage directly, he refers to the concept of becoming “one flesh” and draws a parallel to the relationship between Christ and His bride, the church “This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.”, (Ephesians 5:32). He concludes by instructing husbands to love their wives as they love themselves (verse 33). There is no instruction to “love all your wives.” The term used is singular, referring to one wife. It is a misinterpretation to extend the command about becoming “one flesh” to a man and multiple women. The Bible consistently conveys that marriage is a union between one man and one woman, and it never suggests any other form of marital union. The idea of same-sex marriage is contradictory to biblical teachings.
While the Old Testament does not explicitly condemn polygamy, God’s original design for marriage is clearly monogamous. The Bible illustrates the negative consequences of having multiple wives and never portrays polygamy in a favorable light. Marriage is intended to reflect the covenant relationship between Christ and His church “For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.”, (2 Corinthians 11:2), aligning with God’s plan that marriage is meant for one man and one woman for life.
