The question of how many wives a man can have is an interesting one when looking at the Bible. Polygamy, the practice of having multiple spouses, was common in biblical times and there are several important figures in the Bible who had multiple wives. However, views on polygamy began to shift over time and by the New Testament period monogamy was the expected practice. There is much debate over what the Bible truly says about polygamy and how many wives a man can have. Looking at relevant biblical passages can help shed light on this issue.
Old Testament Examples of Polygamy
In the Old Testament, it was common and acceptable for men to have multiple wives. Some of the most famous biblical figures had multiple spouses. For example:
- Abraham: Sarah was Abraham’s wife, but he also took Hagar as a second wife (Genesis 16).
- Jacob: Jacob married two sisters, Leah and Rachel (Genesis 29-30).
- David: David had 8 wives that are named in the Bible – Michal, Ahinoam, Abigail, Maacah, Haggith, Abital, Eglah, and Bathsheba (1 Samuel 18, 2 Samuel 3, 2 Samuel 5, 2 Samuel 11).
- Solomon: Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines according to 1 Kings 11:3.
So in the cultural context of the Old Testament, polygamy was commonly practiced and men often had multiple wives at the same time. There was no set limit on the number of wives per se, but economic means probably restricted the number of wives most men could reasonably support. Kings and patriarchs like David and Solomon, with abundant resources and power, were able to acquire many more marital partners.
Regulations Regarding Multiple Wives
Although polygamy was permitted during Old Testament times, there were some regulations placed on the practice.
Wives Versus Concubines
Concubines in the Bible referred to secondary wives of lower social status. Wives were afforded fuller rights and standing than concubines. For example, Abraham’s wife Sarah looked down on Hagar who was merely a concubine and eventually had her dismissed (Genesis 16, 21).
Equal Treatment
Laws stated that if a man had multiple wives he must not favor one over the other. Exodus 21:10 states that men must continue to provide food, clothing, and marital rights to their other wives even if they took a new favorite wife. Deuteronomy 21:15-17 similarly instructs that firstborn inheritance rights could not be taken away from a first wife’s son simply because the man preferred a newer wife and wished to favor her son instead.
Limits on Foreign Women
Deuteronomy 17:17 warns kings not to “accumulate wives for themselves.” Specifically it states they should not take “many” foreign wives who might turn the king’s heart away from God towards other gods. So this passage imposed some restriction on the number of wives for kings and discouraged marrying foreign polytheists.
Shift Towards Monogamy
While polygamy was permitted in the Old Testament, views began shifting more in favor of monogamy, especially by the time of the New Testament. Here are some reasons for the gradual shift:
OT Teachings on Monogamy
Some Old Testament teachings already laid the groundwork for an ideal of monogamy. For example, Genesis 2:24 states “a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” The singular mention of “wife” here points to a growing assumption that monogamy was the proper standard.
Challenges from Polygamy
The Old Testament records some of the strife and drama that occurred in polygamous marital situations, like that between Sarah and Hagar or Rachel and Leah. This illustrated some inherent challenges with polygamy.
NT Teachings on Marriage
By New Testament times, monogamy was the dominant practice and expectation for marriage among the Jews. Jesus himself never married more than one wife. Ephesians 5:22-33 explains the marital relationship using singular language – wives submitting to their husbands and husbands loving their wives. 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 lay out qualifications for church leaders including being “the husband of one wife.” So the New Testament assumes and promotes monogamy.
Church History
In the early centuries of Christianity, polygamy was officially condemned by the Church and banned for members. The Roman empire laws also only recognized monogamous unions. So societal norms and practices reinforced monogamy as the standard.
Specific Biblical Teachings
When directly addressing the question of how many wives a man can have, there are a few key biblical passages to consider:
1 Timothy 3:2,12 and Titus 1:6 on Elders and Deacons
These nearly identical passages lay out qualifications for church leaders, stating respectively “An overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife…” and “Let deacons each be the husband of one wife…” This explicitly limits elders and deacons to having only one wife.
1 Corinthians 7:2
“But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.” This Pauline teaching clearly promotes monogamy as the solution to avoid sexual sin.
Mark 10:2-9 (parallel Matthew 19:3-9)
When asked about divorce, Jesus refers back to Genesis 2 – “But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.'” Jesus’ teaching is predicated on the assumption of monogamous marriage as the norm.
Exceptions for Polygamy?
The shift towards monogamy raises questions about whether polygamy is always considered a sin in the Bible. There are a few possibly mitigating factors:
– Polygamy was an accepted practice during the Old Testament period when some important figures like David engaged in it.
– There are no direct prohibitions against polygamy in the Law.
– God never condemns many biblical patriarchs for their multiple wives.
So there may have been some accommodation for polygamy in special circumstances, but it was not the ideal and eventually became less common and accepted.
Summary
In summary:
- Polygamy was practiced and accepted during Old Testament times with no set limits on number of wives.
- By New Testament times, monogamy was the expected standard.
- Biblical teachings promote monogamy and place limits on polygamy for church leaders.
- The Bible never specifically prohibits polygamy or declares it as sinful in all cases.
While polygamy was permitted in biblical times, monogamy became the ideal standard, especially by the New Testament period. Temple leaders were restricted to only one wife. And broader Christian principles point towards monogamy as the proper approach for marriage today. So in most cases, the biblical precedent suggests one wife is appropriate for Christian men. But there may have been some exceptions accommodated during certain eras and circumstances.
Conclusion
The Bible does not explicitly answer the question of how many wives a man can have with a definitive number. Old Testament figures often had multiple wives based on ancient cultural norms. But views evolved over time, and the New Testament promotes monogamy as the proper paradigm for marriage. Early church teachings and practices strictly advocated for only one wife. So while the Bible may have allowed some polygamy, the trajectory of Scripture points toward monogamy as the ideal model. Most Bible scholars conclude that the biblical standard for Christian marriage today is one husband and one wife.