Jump to: Smith's • ATS • Easton's • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms Topical Encyclopedia In the context of the Bible, a concubine is a woman who lives with a man but has a lower status than that of a wife. Concubines were often taken by men of wealth and status, and their primary role was to bear children and increase the man's lineage. While not holding the same status as a wife, concubines were considered part of the household and were often provided for and protected.Old Testament Context The practice of taking concubines is documented throughout the Old Testament. It was a culturally accepted practice in ancient Near Eastern societies, including among the Israelites. Concubines were often acquired through various means, such as being given as gifts, captured in war, or taken from among the servants or slaves. One of the most notable examples of a concubine in the Bible is Hagar, the Egyptian maidservant of Sarah, Abraham's wife. When Sarah was unable to conceive, she gave Hagar to Abraham as a concubine to bear a child on her behalf. Genesis 16:3 states, "So after he had lived in Canaan for ten years, Abram’s wife Sarai took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife." King David also had concubines, as recorded in 2 Samuel 5:13: "After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him." His son Solomon expanded this practice significantly, as noted in 1 Kings 11:3: "He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray." Legal and Social Status The legal status of concubines was distinct from that of wives. While wives were often taken from among the man's own people and came with a formal marriage contract, concubines did not have the same legal rights or social standing. However, the children of concubines were considered legitimate and could inherit from their father, though they might not have the same status as the children of wives. The Mosaic Law provided some protections for concubines. For instance, Exodus 21:7-11 outlines the rights of a female servant who becomes a concubine, ensuring she is not deprived of food, clothing, or marital rights. If these were not provided, she was to be set free. Moral and Theological Considerations The practice of taking concubines, while culturally accepted in ancient times, is not explicitly endorsed by biblical teachings. The narratives involving concubines often highlight the complexities and moral challenges associated with such relationships. For example, the account of Hagar, Sarah, and Abraham illustrates the tension and conflict that can arise from these arrangements (Genesis 16, 21). The New Testament does not mention concubines, and the teachings of Jesus and the apostles emphasize the sanctity of marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Ephesians 5:31-33 reflects this ideal: "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." Historical and Cultural Impact The practice of concubinage reflects the historical and cultural context of the biblical era, where polygamy and the acquisition of concubines were common among the wealthy and powerful. While the Bible records these practices, it also provides a framework for understanding the evolving view of marriage and family within the Judeo-Christian tradition. In summary, concubines in the Bible were women who lived with men in a relationship similar to marriage but without the full status of a wife. Their presence in biblical narratives serves as a reflection of the cultural norms of the time and provides insight into the social and familial structures of ancient Israel. Easton's Bible Dictionary In the Bible denotes a female conjugally united to a man, but in a relation inferior to that of a wife. Among the early Jews, from various causes, the difference between a wife and a concubine was less Marked than it would be amongst us. The concubine was a wife of secondary rank. There are various laws recorded providing for their protection (Exodus 21:7; Deuteronomy 21:10-14), and setting limits to the relation they sustained to the household to which they belonged (Genesis 21:14; 25:6). They had no authority in the family, nor could they share in the household government.The immediate cause of concubinage might be gathered from the conjugal histories of Abraham and Jacob (Genesis 16;30). But in process of time the custom of concubinage degenerated, and laws were made to restrain and regulate it (Exodus 21:7-9). Christianity has restored the sacred institution of marriage to its original character, and concubinage is ranked with the sins of fornication and adultery (Matthew 19:5-9; 1 Corinthians 7:2). Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (n.) A woman who cohabits with a man without being his wife; a paramour.2. (n.) A wife of inferior condition; a lawful wife, but not united to the man by the usual ceremonies, and of inferior condition. Such were Hagar and Keturah, the concubines of Abraham; and such concubines were allowed by the Roman laws. Their children were not heirs of their father. Greek 28. Hagar -- Hagar, a concubine of Abraham ... Hagar, a concubine of Abraham. Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Hagar Phonetic Spelling: (ag'-ar) Short Definition: Hagar Definition ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/28.htm - 6k Strong's Hebrew 6370. pilegesh -- concubine... 6369, 6370. pilegesh or pilegesh. 6371 . concubine. Transliteration: pilegesh or pilegesh Phonetic Spelling: (pee-leh'-ghesh) Short Definition: concubine. ... /hebrew/6370.htm - 6k 3904. lechenah -- a concubine 7532. Ritspah -- concubine of Saul 7208. Reumah -- concubine of Nahor 1090a. Bilhah -- a concubine of Jacob 1090. Bilhah -- a concubine of Jacob 2912. tachan -- to grind 49. Abishag -- "my father is a wanderer," an Israelite woman Library Whether it was ever Lawful to have a Concubine? Whether it is against the Natural Law to have a Concubine? Whether it is a Mortal Sin to have Intercourse with a Concubine? Meanwhile My Sins were Being Multiplied, and My Concubine Being ... Of Sarah's Handmaid, Hagar, whom She Herself Wished to be ... Whether it May have Been Lawful by Dispensation to Put Away a Wife ... Whether Irregularity is Contracted by Marrying one who is not a ... Of Plurality of Wives (Five Articles) Letter clxvii . To Rusticus, Bishop of Gallia Narbonensis, with ... Chapter xxv Thesaurus Concubine (21 Occurrences)... Among the early Jews, from various causes, the difference between a wife and a concubine was less Marked than it would be amongst us. ... /c/concubine.htm - 15k Aiah (7 Occurrences) Gibeah (52 Occurrences) Ishbosheth (13 Occurrences) Rizpah (4 Occurrences) Maachah (19 Occurrences) Concubinage (1 Occurrence) Ai'ah (5 Occurrences) Ish-bosheth (14 Occurrences) Polygamy Resources What can we learn from the story of the Levite and his concubine? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is a concubine? Why did God allow men to have concubines in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org How many wives did Abraham have? | GotQuestions.org Concubine: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Concubine (21 Occurrences)Genesis 22:24 Genesis 35:22 Genesis 36:12 Judges 8:31 Judges 19:1 Judges 19:2 Judges 19:9 Judges 19:10 Judges 19:24 Judges 19:25 Judges 19:27 Judges 19:29 Judges 20:4 Judges 20:5 Judges 20:6 2 Samuel 3:7 2 Samuel 21:11 1 Chronicles 1:32 1 Chronicles 2:46 1 Chronicles 2:48 1 Chronicles 7:14 Subtopics Related Terms |
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