It is clear in the Bible that the sexual relationship is reserved for those who are united in marriage. It is a means of enriching the marriage relationship both for the mutual sharing of love that it makes possible and for the creation of a family as an expression of love.
Now it is true that in the Old Testament, polygamy (that is, one man having many wives) is taken for granted. But even in this situation, fidelity in marriage is demanded. It is wrong for a man to have sexual relations with a woman not his wife, and the penalties against this sin (which is called "adultery") are very heavy. Not only is the act expressly forbidden -- "You shall not commit adultery" ( Ex. 20.14; compare Deut. 5: 18) -- but there are instructions about punishing this crime: "If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death" ( Lev. 20:10).
There is a high stress upon the importance of the family in the Old Testament. The dangers and difficulties of the polygamous relationship are sometimes recognized (as in the stories of David), and there is a warm tribute to the part that can be played by a good wife (not wives) in Prov. 31: 10-31.
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