6370. pilegesh

Lexical Summary

pilegesh: Concubine

Original Word: פִילֶגֶשׁ
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: piylegesh
Pronunciation: pee'-leh-gesh
Phonetic Spelling: (pee-leh'-ghesh)
KJV: concubine, paramour
NASB: concubine, concubines, paramours
Word Origin: [of uncertain derivation]

1. a concubine
2. (masculine) a paramour, gigolo

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

concubine, paramour

Or pilegesh {pee-leh'-ghesh}; of uncertain derivation; a concubine; also (masculine) a paramour -- concubine, paramour.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
perhaps of foreign origin
Definition
concubine
NASB Translation
concubine (22), concubines (14), paramours (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

מִּלֶ֫גֶשׁ, מִּילֶ֫גֶשׁ₃₇

noun feminine concubine (Late Hebrew id.; ᵑ7^J (מַּלְקְתָא) מִּילַּקְתָּא, perhaps influenced by Greek παλλακή, παλλακίς (properly young girl), Latin pellex; originally Greek word according to Sta^{G. i. 380}, compare also Lewy^{Fremdw. 66f}; on possibly Hittite origin see Jen^{ZMG xiviii (1894), 468 ff.}); — ׳מִּ absolute 2 Samuel 3:7, construct 2 Samuel 21:11, ׳מִּי absolute Genesis 36:12; Judges 19:1, construct Genesis 35:22 4t.; suffix מִּילַגְשׁוֺ Genesis 22:24 +, שֵׁהוּ- Judges 19:24; שִׁי- Judges 20:4 2t.; plural מִּלַגְשִׁים 2 Samuel 5:13 2t., ׳מִּי Genesis 25:6 5t.; construct מִּלַגְשֵׁי 2 Samuel 16:21,22; suffix מִּילַגְשָׁיו2Chronicles 11:21, מִּלַגְשֶׁיךָ 2 Samuel 19:6, מִּלַגְשֵׁיהֶם Ezekiel 23:20; —

1 concubine Genesis 22:24; Genesis 25:6; Genesis 35:22; Genesis 36:12; Judges 8:31; Judges 19:1 10t. Judges 19:20; 2 Samuel 3:7 (twice in verse) + 7 t. 2Samuel; 1 Kings 11:3; 1 Chronicles 1:32 6t. Chronicles; Esther 2:14; Songs 6:8,9.

2 either = paramour (perhaps contempt.; ὁ πάλλαξ = youth), or < concubinage Ezekiel 23:20 (figurative of Jerusalem doting on Babylon).

Topical Lexicon

Definition and Concept

A פילגש was a legally recognized secondary wife, usually translated “concubine.” While a wife (אִשָּׁה) entered marriage with full covenantal and inheritance rights, a concubine was taken without the bride-price, dowry, or public covenantal ceremony that marked primary marriage. Her relationship to the man remained exclusive and her children were legitimate, yet she and her offspring held diminished status in family hierarchy and inheritance (Genesis 25:6). Scripture records about thirty-seven occurrences of the term.

Historical and Cultural Background

In the patriarchal period and monarchy, polygamy and concubinage arose from social, economic, or dynastic motives:
• Securing heirs when the primary wife was barren (Genesis 16:1-2; cp. Sarah’s proposal regarding Hagar).
• Cementing political alliances (2 Chronicles 11:21).
• Demonstrating royal prestige (1 Kings 11:3).
• Providing household labor and protection for otherwise vulnerable women.

Ancient Near Eastern law codes (e.g., Lipit-Ishtar, Hammurabi) regulated concubinage; Israelite practice reflects similar customs yet remains distinct in grounding family life in covenant relationship with the LORD.

Biblical Usage Overview

1. Patriarchal era: Nahor’s concubine Reumah (Genesis 22:24); Keturah, called Abraham’s concubine in 1 Chronicles 1:32.
2. Tribal period: Gideon “had seventy sons of his own, for he had many wives” and a concubine at Shechem who bore Abimelech (Judges 8:30-31).
3. Judges narrative: The Levite and his concubine form the tragic center of Judges 19–20, illustrating covenant breakdown.
4. United Monarchy: Saul’s concubine Rizpah (2 Samuel 3:7); David’s ten concubines (2 Samuel 15:16); Solomon’s three hundred concubines (1 Kings 11:3).
5. Divided Monarchy: Rehoboam maintained eighteen wives and sixty concubines (2 Chronicles 11:21).
6. Poetic and prophetic allusion: Song of Solomon 6:8 speaks of “sixty queens and eighty concubines, and maidens without number,” using royal harem imagery to exalt exclusive marital love.

Notable Examples

• Abraham: “While he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac” (Genesis 25:6). The patriarch safeguarded the promised line while providing for other offspring.
• Gideon’s concubine: Her son Abimelech exploited maternal ties to murder his brothers (Judges 9), warning against family structures that depart from God’s design.
• The Levite’s concubine: “Everyone who saw it said, ‘Nothing like this has ever been done or seen since the day the Israelites came up out of Egypt’” (Judges 19:30). Her abuse and death expose Israel’s moral disintegration “when there was no king in Israel.”
• Rizpah daughter of Aiah: Her vigil over the bodies of Saul’s descendants (2 Samuel 21:10-11) exemplifies maternal devotion and prompts David to act justly.
• David’s concubines: Absalom’s public violation (2 Samuel 16:22) fulfilled Nathan’s word of judgment (2 Samuel 12:11-12), underscoring divine retribution.
• Solomon: “He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines—and his wives turned his heart away” (1 Kings 11:3). Royal excess led to idolatry and division of the kingdom.

Legal Status and Rights

• Protection: Exodus 21:7-11 safeguards a female servant betrothed as a concubine, ensuring food, clothing, and marital rights.
• Inheritance: Concubine‐born sons could receive gifts (Genesis 25:6) but not supplant the firstborn of the wife (Deuteronomy 21:15-17).
• Exclusivity: Adultery laws applied; Abner’s seizure of Saul’s concubine was tantamount to claiming the throne (2 Samuel 3:7-10).

Spiritual and Theological Considerations

1. Creation ideal: Genesis 2:24 presents monogamous marriage; concubinage manifests human departure from that ideal.
2. Progressive Revelation: Old Testament tolerance does not equal approval; New Testament restoration of creation order in passages such as Matthew 19:4-6 and 1 Timothy 3:2 effectively ends the practice among God’s people.
3. Sovereignty of God: Despite human failings, the LORD works redemptively—e.g., the Messianic line passes through Bathsheba, formerly a wife taken during polygamous circumstances (1 Chronicles 3:5).

Points of Ministry Application

• God’s forbearance with Israel’s flawed family structures encourages patience and grace in discipling believers emerging from broken relational backgrounds.
• Scripture’s honest portrayal of sexual sin and its consequences provides pastoral warning against lust, misuse of authority, and distortion of marriage.
• The Levite’s concubine impels the church to protect the vulnerable and confront gender-based violence.

Prophetic and Poetic Usage

Concubinage imagery illustrates covenant devotion or breach. Song of Solomon elevates exclusive marital love above harem abundance, hinting at Christ’s singular love for His bride, the church (Ephesians 5:25-27). Prophets condemn spiritual harlotry by evoking illicit unions (Hosea 3), implicitly critiquing polygamy’s spiritual parallels.

Typological and Redemptive Significance

Concubines’ offspring often symbolize fleshly expedients versus promised inheritance (cf. sons of Keturah vs. Isaac). The tension highlights reliance on God’s promise rather than human schemes. Ultimately, Scripture moves from accommodation to restoration, culminating in the “marriage of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:7) where perfect, exclusive union is realized.

Summary

The פילגש occupies a significant yet subordinate place in Old Testament family structures. The narratives surrounding concubines reveal both God’s providential use of imperfect circumstances and the painful consequences of deviating from the monogamous ideal set forth at creation. Through these accounts, believers are called to uphold God’s design for marriage, extend compassion to the marginalized, and trust the LORD whose redemptive purposes prevail amid human weakness.

Forms and Transliterations

בְּפִ֣ילַגְשׁ֔וֹ בְּפִֽילַגְשִׁי֙ בְּפִֽילַגְשׁ֔וֹ בפילגשו בפילגשי הַפִּֽילַגְשִׁ֑ים הַפִּֽילַגְשִׁים֙ הפילגשים וּפִ֣ילַגְשָׁ֔יו וּפִֽילַגְשִׁ֖י וּפִֽילַגְשִׁ֖ים וּפִֽילַגְשֵׁ֗הוּ וּפִֽילַגְשׁ֖וֹ וּפִֽילַגְשׁוֹ֙ וּפִֽלַגְשִׁ֖ים וּפִילַגְשׁ֖וֹ ופילגשהו ופילגשו ופילגשי ופילגשיו ופילגשים ופלגשים פִּֽילַגְשִׁ֑ים פִּֽילַגְשׁ֔וֹ פִּֽילַגְשׁוֹ֙ פִּֽלַגְשִׁ֖ים פִּֽלַגְשִׁ֤ים פִּֽלַגְשֵׁ֣י פִּֽלַגְשֵׁיהֶ֑ם פִּילֶ֣גֶשׁ פִּילֶ֥גֶשׁ פִּילַגְשִׁ֥י פִּלֶ֔גֶשׁ פִּלֶ֤גֶשׁ פִּלֶ֥גֶשׁ פִּלַגְשִׁ֡ים פִּלַגְשֵׁ֣י פִּלַגְשֶֽׁיךָ׃ פִֽילַגְשִׁ֖ים פִֽילַגְשׁ֗וֹ פִילֶ֔גֶשׁ פִילֶ֗גֶשׁ פילגש פילגשו פילגשי פילגשים פלגש פלגשי פלגשיהם פלגשיך׃ פלגשים bə·p̄î·laḡ·šî bə·p̄î·laḡ·šōw befilagShi beFilagSho bəp̄îlaḡšî bəp̄îlaḡšōw filagShim filagSho fiLegesh hap·pî·laḡ·šîm happilagShim happîlaḡšîm pi·laḡ·šê pi·laḡ·šê·hem pi·laḡ·še·ḵā pî·laḡ·šî pi·laḡ·šîm pî·laḡ·šîm p̄î·laḡ·šîm pî·laḡ·šōw p̄î·laḡ·šōw pi·le·ḡeš pî·le·ḡeš p̄î·le·ḡeš pilaḡšê pilaḡšêhem pilaḡšeḵā pilagShei pilagSheicha pilagsheiHem pilagShi pilagShim pilagSho pîlaḡšî pilaḡšîm pîlaḡšîm p̄îlaḡšîm pîlaḡšōw p̄îlaḡšōw pileḡeš pîleḡeš p̄îleḡeš piLegesh ū·p̄î·laḡ·šāw ū·p̄î·laḡ·šê·hū ū·p̄î·laḡ·šî ū·p̄i·laḡ·šîm ū·p̄î·laḡ·šîm ū·p̄î·laḡ·šōw uFilagShav ufilagShehu ufilagShi ufilagShim ufilagSho ūp̄îlaḡšāw ūp̄îlaḡšêhū ūp̄îlaḡšî ūp̄ilaḡšîm ūp̄îlaḡšîm ūp̄îlaḡšōw

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 22:24
HEB: וּפִֽילַגְשׁ֖וֹ וּשְׁמָ֣הּ רְאוּמָ֑ה
NAS: His concubine, whose name was Reumah,
KJV: And his concubine, whose name
INT: his concubine name was Reumah

Genesis 25:6
HEB: וְלִבְנֵ֤י הַפִּֽילַגְשִׁים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאַבְרָהָ֔ם
NAS: but to the sons of his concubines, Abraham
KJV: But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham
INT: to the sons of his concubines after Abraham

Genesis 35:22
HEB: אֶת־ בִּלְהָ֖ה֙ פִּילֶ֣גֶשׁ אָבִ֑֔יו וַיִּשְׁמַ֖ע
NAS: his father's concubine, and Israel
KJV: his father's concubine: and Israel
INT: and lay Bilhah concubine his father's heard

Genesis 36:12
HEB: וְתִמְנַ֣ע ׀ הָיְתָ֣ה פִילֶ֗גֶשׁ לֶֽאֱלִיפַז֙ בֶּן־
NAS: Timna was a concubine of Esau's son
KJV: And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz
INT: Timna become was a concubine Eliphaz son

Judges 8:31
HEB: וּפִֽילַגְשׁוֹ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בִּשְׁכֶ֔ם
NAS: His concubine who was in Shechem
KJV: And his concubine that [was] in Shechem,
INT: his concubine who Shechem

Judges 19:1
HEB: לוֹ֙ אִשָּׁ֣ה פִילֶ֔גֶשׁ מִבֵּ֥ית לֶ֖חֶם
NAS: who took a concubine for himself from Bethlehem
INT: took ess A concubine Bethlehem Judah

Judges 19:2
HEB: וַתִּזְנֶ֤ה עָלָיו֙ פִּֽילַגְשׁ֔וֹ וַתֵּ֤לֶךְ מֵֽאִתּוֹ֙
NAS: But his concubine played the harlot
KJV: And his concubine played the whore
INT: played against his concubine went about

Judges 19:9
HEB: לָלֶ֔כֶת ה֥וּא וּפִילַגְשׁ֖וֹ וְנַעֲר֑וֹ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר
NAS: to go along with his concubine and servant,
KJV: to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant,
INT: to go he his concubine and servant said

Judges 19:10
HEB: חֲמוֹרִים֙ חֲבוּשִׁ֔ים וּפִילַגְשׁ֖וֹ עִמּֽוֹ׃
NAS: donkeys; his concubine also was with him.
KJV: saddled, his concubine also [was] with him.
INT: donkeys of saddled his concubine with

Judges 19:24
HEB: בִתִּ֨י הַבְּתוּלָ֜ה וּפִֽילַגְשֵׁ֗הוּ אוֹצִֽיאָה־ נָּ֤א
NAS: daughter and his concubine. Please
KJV: a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out
INT: daughter is my virgin and his concubine bring Please

Judges 19:25
HEB: וַיַּחֲזֵ֤ק הָאִישׁ֙ בְּפִ֣ילַגְשׁ֔וֹ וַיֹּצֵ֥א אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם
NAS: seized his concubine and brought
KJV: took his concubine, and brought
INT: seized the men his concubine and brought about

Judges 19:27
HEB: וְהִנֵּ֧ה הָאִשָּׁ֣ה פִֽילַגְשׁ֗וֹ נֹפֶ֙לֶת֙ פֶּ֣תַח
NAS: then behold, his concubine was lying
KJV: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down
INT: behold the woman his concubine was lying the doorway

Judges 19:29
HEB: הַֽמַּאֲכֶ֙לֶת֙ וַיַּחֲזֵ֣ק בְּפִֽילַגְשׁ֔וֹ וַֽיְנַתְּחֶ֙הָ֙ לַעֲצָמֶ֔יהָ
NAS: and laid hold of his concubine and cut
KJV: and laid hold on his concubine, and divided
INT: A knife and laid of his concubine and cut limb

Judges 20:4
HEB: בָּ֛אתִי אֲנִ֥י וּפִֽילַגְשִׁ֖י לָלֽוּן׃
NAS: I came with my concubine to spend the night
KJV: that [belongeth] to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.
INT: came my concubine to spend

Judges 20:5
HEB: לַהֲרֹ֔ג וְאֶת־ פִּילַגְשִׁ֥י עִנּ֖וּ וַתָּמֹֽת׃
NAS: me; instead, they ravished my concubine so that she died.
KJV: to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced,
INT: intended to kill my concubine ravished died

Judges 20:6
HEB: וָֽאֹחֵ֤ז בְּפִֽילַגְשִׁי֙ וָֽאֲנַתְּחֶ֔הָ וָֽאֲשַׁלְּחֶ֔הָ
NAS: And I took hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces
KJV: And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces,
INT: took of my concubine and cut and sent

2 Samuel 3:7
HEB: וּלְשָׁא֣וּל פִּלֶ֔גֶשׁ וּשְׁמָ֖הּ רִצְפָּ֣ה
NAS: Now Saul had a concubine whose name
KJV: And Saul had a concubine, whose name
INT: now Saul concubine name was Rizpah

2 Samuel 3:7
HEB: בָּ֖אתָה אֶל־ פִּילֶ֥גֶשׁ אָבִֽי׃
NAS: in to my father's concubine?
KJV: unto my father's concubine?
INT: gone had a concubine to my father's

2 Samuel 5:13
HEB: דָּוִ֨ד ע֜וֹד פִּֽלַגְשִׁ֤ים וְנָשִׁים֙ מִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם
NAS: more concubines and wives
KJV: took [him] more concubines and wives
INT: David more concubines and wives Jerusalem

2 Samuel 15:16
HEB: עֶ֧שֶׂר נָשִׁ֛ים פִּֽלַגְשִׁ֖ים לִשְׁמֹ֥ר הַבָּֽיִת׃
NAS: left ten concubines to keep the house.
KJV: women, [which were] concubines, to keep
INT: ten women concubines to keep the house

2 Samuel 16:21
HEB: בּ֚וֹא אֶל־ פִּלַגְשֵׁ֣י אָבִ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר
NAS: in to your father's concubines, whom
KJV: unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left
INT: Go about concubines to your father's whom

2 Samuel 16:22
HEB: אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ אֶל־ פִּֽלַגְשֵׁ֣י אָבִ֔יו לְעֵינֵ֖י
NAS: in to his father's concubines in the sight
KJV: unto his father's concubines in the sight
INT: and Absalom about concubines to his father's the sight

2 Samuel 19:5
HEB: נָשֶׁ֔יךָ וְנֶ֖פֶשׁ פִּלַגְשֶֽׁיךָ׃
NAS: and the lives of your concubines,
KJV: and the lives of thy concubines;
INT: of your wives and the lives of your concubines

2 Samuel 20:3
HEB: עֶֽשֶׂר־ נָשִׁ֣ים ׀ פִּלַגְשִׁ֡ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִנִּיחַ֩
NAS: women, the concubines whom
KJV: women [his] concubines, whom he had left
INT: the ten women the concubines whom had left

2 Samuel 21:11
HEB: בַת־ אַיָּ֖ה פִּלֶ֥גֶשׁ שָׁאֽוּל׃
NAS: of Aiah, the concubine of Saul,
KJV: of Aiah, the concubine of Saul,
INT: the daughter of Aiah the concubine of Saul

37 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6370
37 Occurrences

bə·p̄î·laḡ·šî — 1 Occ.
bə·p̄î·laḡ·šōw — 2 Occ.
p̄î·laḡ·šîm — 1 Occ.
p̄î·laḡ·šōw — 1 Occ.
p̄î·le·ḡeš — 2 Occ.
hap·pî·laḡ·šîm — 2 Occ.
pi·laḡ·šê — 2 Occ.
pi·laḡ·še·ḵā — 1 Occ.
pi·laḡ·šê·hem — 1 Occ.
pî·laḡ·šî — 1 Occ.
pi·laḡ·šîm — 4 Occ.
pî·laḡ·šōw — 2 Occ.
pî·le·ḡeš — 7 Occ.
ū·p̄î·laḡ·šāw — 1 Occ.
ū·p̄î·laḡ·šê·hū — 1 Occ.
ū·p̄î·laḡ·šî — 1 Occ.
ū·p̄i·laḡ·šîm — 3 Occ.
ū·p̄î·laḡ·šōw — 4 Occ.