Did God allow polygamy in the Bible?

Yes. Did He condone it? No. In fact, a look at Genesis can tell us exactly what God intended marriage to be, which is between one man and one woman. Throughout the Old Testament, polygamy is very prominent. David and Solomon for example had multiple wives, with Solomon having the most recorded in Scripture. However, hardly anything good came out of polygamy, with the Bible even telling us how Solomon’s wives all led him away from God in his later life. David went as far as to steal a wife from someone else. These are just two out of several examples that show us how devastating polygamy can be. There has been some speculation that polygamy may have been allowed early on to benefit the growth of the population, but there is still a level of uncertainty regarding this theory.

Whatever the case, there is no indication in Scripture that God has ever favored polygamy. And, he strongly encourages marriage to one wife.

Genesis 2:24 — For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

1 Timothy 3:2 — An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

Titus 1:6 — {namely,} if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion.