Bible Verses about “multiple wives”
The Bible contains 38 verses about multiple wives across both Old and New Testaments. These scriptures offer guidance and inspiration for your spiritual journey.
“Nevertheless, [to avoid] fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.”
“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
“Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife [see] that she reverence [her] husband.”
“For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.”
“‹But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.›”
“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;”
“‹And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except› [it be] ‹for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.›”
“¶ Likewise, ye wives, [be] in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;”
“‹Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.›”
“‹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?›”
“But Jesus said, ‹Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.›”
“¶ [Whoso] findeth a wife findeth a good [thing], and obtaineth favour of the LORD.”
“And he answered and said unto them, ‹Have ye not read, that he which made› [them] ‹at the beginning made them male and female,›”
“‹Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from› [her] ‹husband committeth adultery.›”
“Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.”
“‹For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from› [their] ‹mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive› [it], ‹let him receive› [it].”
“He saith unto them, ‹Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.›”
“¶ The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?”
“¶ If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.”
“They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?”
“And he said unto him, ‹Why callest thou me good?› [there is] ‹none good but one,› [that is], ‹God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.›”
“He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, ‹Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,›”
“But he said unto them, ‹All› [men] ‹cannot receive this saying, save› [they] ‹to whom it is given.›”
“‹Honour thy father and› [thy] ‹mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.›”
“His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with [his] wife, it is not good to marry.”
“The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?”
“¶ And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”
“¶ Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put [his] hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.”
“And he laid [his] hands on them, and departed thence.”
“And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.”
“If he take him another [wife]; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.”
“¶ And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one [was] Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.”
“And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if [that had been] too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.”
“Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.”
“¶ If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, [both] the beloved and the hated; and [if] the firstborn son be hers that was hated:”
“But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated [for] the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he [is] the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn [is] his.”
“Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit [that] which he hath, [that] he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, [which is indeed] the firstborn:”
“¶ And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.”