Monogamy and Polygamy in the Old Testament
Monogamy and Polygamy in the Old Testament
Author(s): Teodor CENUŞĂSubject(s): Biblical studies, Sociology of Religion, History of Religion
Published by: Editura Universităţii »Alexandru Ioan Cuza« din Iaşi
Keywords: Genesis; monogamous marriage; deviations; polygamy; Old Testament; patriarchs; Holy Scripture; marriage;
Summary/Abstract: Even if the book of Genesis (chap. 2), proposes monogamous marriage as the only one that corresponds to God's will, the relationship between the spouses of the Old Testament family has a number of deviations from the idea of the primordial family. One deviation of this type is polygamy. According to the book of Genesis the first polygamist that the Holy Scripture mentions was Lamech, a descendant of Cain, who took two wives (Gen 4: 19). The patriarchs of the Jews themselves, not only kept several legitimate wives at the same time, but also had concubines (Gen 22: 17;12: 3). Although the Holy Gospels do not give us any direct words of the Saviour against polygamy, it is absolutely clear that it could not have a place in His high conception of marriage (Matt 19: 4-6).
Journal: Analele Ştiinţifice ale Universităţii »Alexandru Ioan Cuza« din Iaşi. Teologie Ortodoxă
- Issue Year: 27/2022
- Issue No: 2
- Page Range: 129-137
- Page Count: 9
- Language: English