In the Semitic patriarchal family it was only the patriarch himself, and a few of his sons at most, who lived in polygyny; the rest had to content themselves with one wife.

• 在闪米特人的家长制家庭中，只有家长本人，至多还有他的几个儿子，过着多妻制的生活，其余的人都以一人一妻为满足。