Was Polygamy Ever from God? A KJV Bible-Based Look at a Controversial Topic

Some religions—including the early leaders of the LDS (Mormon) Church—taught that polygamy was a command from God. But what does the Bible actually say?

Let’s examine the King James Version (KJV) of Scripture to see if God ever commanded polygamy, or if it was simply something He allowed temporarily in a fallen world.

1. God’s Original Design: One Man, One Woman

At creation, God established a clear pattern for marriage:

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
— Genesis 2:24 (KJV)

Not “wives.” Not multiple partners. Just one man, one woman, becoming one flesh. This is God’s perfect design.

2. Old Testament Examples of Polygamy: Tolerated, Not Blessed

Yes, the Old Testament contains stories of men with multiple wives:

• Abraham had Sarah and Hagar
• Jacob had Leah, Rachel, and their handmaids
• David had many wives
• Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines

But here’s the key: God never commanded them to do this, and every polygamous relationship in the Bible caused pain, rivalry, or spiritual downfall.

“His wives turned away his heart after other gods.”
— 1 Kings 11:4 (KJV)

God allowed it—but He never praised it, and it always led to problems.

3. God Warned Against Polygamy

When God gave instructions for future kings, He clearly warned:

“Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away.”
— Deuteronomy 17:17 (KJV)

God saw the spiritual danger of multiple wives. His desire was not for multiplication, but for faithfulness.

4. Jesus Reaffirmed Monogamy

When asked about marriage, Jesus didn’t say “many wives”—He returned to God’s original design:

“Have ye not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female… and they twain shall be one flesh?”
— Matthew 19:4–5 (KJV)

Twain = two. Not three. Not seven hundred. Jesus reaffirmed one man, one woman, united in covenant.

5. The New Testament Standard: One Wife

The early Church upheld monogamy as the pattern for believers—especially leaders:

“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife…”
— 1 Timothy 3:2 (KJV)

Paul wasn’t inventing a new law—he was affirming the biblical pattern: faithfulness to one spouse.

6. LDS Doctrine of Polygamy: A Man-Made Commandment

The LDS Church practiced polygamy in the 1800s, claiming it was a divine command from God through Joseph Smith (see Doctrine and Covenants 132). Some leaders even taught that celestial exaltation required plural marriage.

Yet:

• Jesus never taught polygamy
• The apostles never practiced or endorsed it
• The New Testament never supports it
• God’s Word warns against it

Though the LDS Church later renounced polygamy publicly in 1890, they still consider D&C 132 scripture, which remains in direct contradiction to the KJV Bible.

Conclusion: God’s Heart Was Never Polygamy

God’s Word is clear from start to finish:

• One man, one woman, united for life.
• Polygamy was tolerated, not commanded, just like all other sins. The DESIRE of men.
• Jesus reaffirmed monogamy as the divine pattern.
• God warns against multiplying wives.
• The New Testament commands faithfulness to one spouse.

“God is not the author of confusion, but of peace…”
— 1 Corinthians 14:33 (KJV)

God’s standard has always been faithful love, not multiplied wives. Polygamy may have been practiced by men—but it was never, nor will be, the will of God.