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 part of the social and familial structures in ancient Near Eastern cultures, including those of the Israelites. The role and status of concubines in biblical times can be understood through various scriptural references and narratives.

Old Testament Context

Concubines are mentioned throughout the Old Testament, often in the context of polygamous relationships. They were considered legitimate partners, though they did not have the same legal status as wives. The primary purpose of concubinage was to produce offspring, especially in cases where a wife was barren or when a man desired more children. Concubines could also be taken for political alliances or as a result of war.

One of the earliest references to concubinage is found in the account of Abraham and Hagar. Hagar, an Egyptian maidservant, became Abraham's concubine at the behest of his wife, Sarah, who was barren at the time. 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 to be his wife." Although referred to as a wife in this context, Hagar's status was that of a concubine.

Jacob, another patriarch, had two concubines, Bilhah and Zilpah, who were maidservants to his wives Rachel and Leah, respectively. These relationships are detailed in Genesis 30, where both women bore children for Jacob, contributing to the twelve tribes of Israel.

King David had several concubines, as noted in 2 Samuel 5:13 : "After he had come from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him." David's son, Solomon, is famously known for having 700 wives and 300 concubines, as recorded in 1 Kings 11:3 : "He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away."

Legal and Social Implications

The Mosaic Law provided certain protections for concubines, though they were not as extensive as those for wives. 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 provisions were not met, she was to be set free.

Concubines and their children often faced social challenges, as their status could lead to familial strife. The account of Abimelech, the son of Gideon's concubine, illustrates the potential for conflict. Judges 8:31 notes, "His concubine who lived in Shechem also bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech." Abimelech's ambition and subsequent actions led to violence and turmoil, as detailed in Judges 9.

New Testament Perspective

The New Testament does not explicitly address the practice of concubinage, as the cultural and social context had evolved by the time of its writing. The teachings of Jesus and the apostles emphasize monogamous marriage as the ideal, reflecting a shift from Old Testament practices. Passages such as Matthew 19:4-6 highlight the sanctity and unity of marriage: "Haven’t you read," He replied, "that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

Conclusion

The practice of concubinage in the Bible reflects the historical and cultural context of the times. While it was a common practice in the Old Testament, the New Testament teachings emphasize a different model for relationships, focusing on the unity and exclusivity of marriage.2 Samuel 5:13
And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.
Topicalbible.org

1 Timothy 3:12
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
Topicalbible.org

1 Timothy 3:2
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
Topicalbible.org

3904. lechenah -- a concubine
... 3903, 3904. lechenah. 3905 . a concubine. Transliteration: lechenah Phonetic
Spelling: (lekh-ay-naw') Short Definition: concubines. ...
/hebrew/3904.htm - 5k

7705. shiddah -- perhaps a mistress
... 7704, 7705. shiddah. 7706 . perhaps a mistress. Transliteration: shiddah
Phonetic Spelling: (shid-dah') Short Definition: concubines. ...
/hebrew/7705.htm - 6k

6370. pilegesh -- concubine
... Word Origin perhaps of foreign origin Definition concubine NASB Word Usage concubine
(22), concubines (14), paramours (1). concubine, paramour. ...
/hebrew/6370.htm - 6k

1090. Bilhah -- a concubine of Jacob
... Bilhah From balahh; timid; Bilhah, the name of one of Jacob's concubines; also of
a place in Palestine -- Bilhah. see HEBREW balahh. 1089, 1090. ...
/hebrew/1090.htm - 5k

The Eighty Concubines, What; the Knowledge of the Incarnation ...
... Chapter VI."The Eighty Concubines, What; The Knowledge of the Incarnation Communicated
to the Prophets. It still remains to speak concerning the concubines. ...
/.../chapter vi the eighty concubines what.htm

There are Threescore Queens and Fourscore Concubines, and virgins ...
... CHAPTER VI. 7. There are threescore queens and fourscore concubines, and
virgins without number. The Bridegroom declares that there ...
/.../guyon/song of songs of solomon/7 there are threescore queens.htm

The Passage Explained; the Queens, the Holy Souls Before the ...
... Chapter IV."The Passage Explained; The Queens, the Holy Souls Before the Deluge;
The Concubines, the Souls of the Prophets; The Divine Seed for Spiritual ...
/.../chapter iv the passage explained the.htm

What is Meant by Abraham's Marrying Keturah after Sarah's Death.
... covenant? For both are called both the wives and the concubines of Abraham;
but Sarah is never called a concubine (but only a wife). ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 34 what is meant by.htm

Whether it was ever Lawful to have a Concubine?
... Hence wherever in the Old Testament we read of concubines being taken by such men
as we ought to excuse from mortal sin, we must needs understand them to have ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether it was ever lawful 2.htm

But if Moreover any not Having Charity, which Pertaineth to the ...
... hereditary possessions in which we are "heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ:")
but some other which may be received even by the sons of concubines to whom ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/on patience /23 but if moreover any.htm

Virgins Being Martyrs First among the Companions of Christ.
... Undoubtedly these are the souls whom the Word calls alone His chosen spouse and
His sister, but the rest concubines and virgins and daughters, speaking thus ...
/.../chapter iii virgins being martyrs first.htm

Belshazzar's Feast
... which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem;
that the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, might drink ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/vii belshazzars feast.htm

The Unseen Watcher
... Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king,
and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein." The ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 43 the unseen watcher.htm

Concerning the Insurrection of Absalom against David and ...
... He committed himself to God, to judge between them about all their actions; and
left the care of his royal palace to his ten concubines, and went away from ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 9 concerning the insurrection.htm

Concubines (18 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Concubines (18 Occurrences). Genesis 25:6 but
to the sons of Abraham's concubines, Abraham gave gifts. ...
/c/concubines.htm - 13k

Women-concubines (1 Occurrence)
Women-concubines. Women-children, Women-concubines. Women's .
Multi-Version Concordance Women-concubines (1 Occurrence). ...
/w/women-concubines.htm - 6k

Goblets (12 Occurrences)
... which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem;
that the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, might drink from ...
/g/goblets.htm - 10k

Consorts (3 Occurrences)
... which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem;
that the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, might drink ...
/c/consorts.htm - 7k

Concubine (21 Occurrences)
... 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. ...
/c/concubine.htm - 15k

Women's (9 Occurrences)
... In the evening she went, and on the next day she returned into the second women's
house, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch, who kept the concubines...
/w/women's.htm - 9k

Queens (4 Occurrences)
... Queens (4 Occurrences). Song of Songs 6:8 There are sixty queens, eighty concubines,
and virgins without number. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/q/queens.htm - 7k

Twenty-eight (13 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 11:21 Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives
and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and sixty concubines, and ...
/t/twenty-eight.htm - 9k

Eighteen (22 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 11:21 Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives
and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and sixty concubines, and ...
/e/eighteen.htm - 13k

Ma'acah (22 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 11:21 Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives
and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and sixty concubines, and ...
/m/ma'acah.htm - 12k

What is a concubine? Why did God allow men to have concubines in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Why did God allow Solomon to have 1,000 wives and concubines? | GotQuestions.org

Why did David need Abishag to keep him warm when he had wives and concubines? | GotQuestions.org

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