Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Multiple Wives?
13 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Multiple Wives in the Bible
What does the Bible say about multiple wives? Browse 19 carefully selected verses that illuminate this biblical theme.
Top 10 Verses About Multiple Wives
- 1Genesis 2:24
“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
KJV - 2Genesis 4:19
“And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.”
KJV - 3Exodus 21:10
“If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.”
KJV - 4Deuteronomy 17:17
“Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.”
KJV - 5Deuteronomy 21:15
“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:”
KJV - 6
- 7Isaiah 4:1
“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. let: Heb. let thy name be called upon us to take: or, take thou away”
KJV - 8Matthew 5:32
“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.”
KJV - 9Matthew 19:3
“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?”
KJV - 10Luke 16:18
“Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Multiple Wives? (7 Verses)
“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
“And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.”
“If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.”
“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:”
“Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.”
“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. let: Heb. let thy name be called upon us to take: or, take thou away”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Multiple Wives? (6 Verses)
“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.”
“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?”
“Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.”
“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.”
“Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”
“If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Multiple Wives
- 1
Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.
- 2
Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about multiple wives. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
- 3
Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.
- 4
Memorise at least one key verse about multiple wives and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.
Practical Application
Studying what the Bible says about multiple wives is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:
Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on multiple wives needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about multiple wives with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.
Pray through the key verses about multiple wives, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.
How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Multiple Wives?
You have studied 13 verses about multiple wives. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.