What Does the Bible Say About Monogamy?
Here are 14 Bible verses about monogamy, ordered by how relevant readers found them, with the King James Version and the modern Berean Standard Bible side by side.
- #11 Corinthians 7:2
Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
BSBBut because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
- #21 Corinthians 7:1-40
Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment. …
BSBNow for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations. But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife. Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control. I say this as a concession, not as a command. …
- #3Deuteronomy 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.
BSBHe must not take many wives for himself, lest his heart go astray. He must not accumulate for himself large amounts of silver and gold.
- #41 Timothy 3:2
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
BSBAn overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
- #5Genesis 2:24
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
BSBFor this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
- #6Hebrews 13:4
Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
BSBMarriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
- #7Genesis 2:18
And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
BSBThe LORD God also said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a suitable helper.”
- #8Proverbs 18:22
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.
BSBHe who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.
- #9Mark 10:8
And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.
BSBand the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh.
- #10Proverbs 31:10
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
BSBA wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
- #111 Peter 4:8
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
BSBAbove all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
- #12Proverbs 12:4
A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.
BSBA wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but she who causes shame is like decay in his bones.
- #13Mark 10:9
What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
BSBTherefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
- #14Ecclesiastes 4:12
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
BSBAnd though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Verse rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY). Scripture: KJV & BSB (public domain).