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 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 ContextConcubines 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 ImplicationsThe 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 PerspectiveThe 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."
ConclusionThe 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.
Topical Bible Verses
2 Samuel 5:13And 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.org1 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
Strong's Hebrew
3904. lechenah -- a concubine... 3903, 3904. lechenah. 3905 . a concubine. Transliteration: lechenah Phonetic
Spelling: (lekh-ay-naw') Short Definition:
concubines.
...7705. shiddah -- perhaps a mistress
... 7704, 7705. shiddah. 7706 . perhaps a mistress. Transliteration: shiddah
Phonetic Spelling: (shid-dah') Short Definition:concubines....
6370. pilegesh -- concubine
... Word Origin perhaps of foreign origin Definition concubine NASB Word Usage concubine
(22),concubines (14), paramours (1). concubine, paramour....
1090. Bilhah -- a concubine of Jacob
... Bilhah From balahh; timid; Bilhah, the name of one of Jacob'sconcubines; also of
a place in Palestine -- Bilhah. see HEBREW balahh. 1089, 1090....
Library
The EightyConcubines, What; the Knowledge of the Incarnation...
... Chapter VI."The EightyConcubines, What; The Knowledge of the Incarnation Communicated
to the Prophets. It still remains to speak concerning theconcubines....
There are Threescore Queens and FourscoreConcubines, and virgins...
... CHAPTER VI. 7. There are threescore queens and fourscoreconcubines, and
virgins without number. The Bridegroom declares that there...
The Passage Explained; the Queens, the Holy Souls Before the...
... Chapter IV."The Passage Explained; The Queens, the Holy Souls Before the Deluge;
TheConcubines, the Souls of the Prophets; The Divine Seed for Spiritual...
What is Meant by Abraham's Marrying Keturah after Sarah's Death.
... covenant? For both are called both the wives and theconcubines of Abraham;
but Sarah is never called a concubine (but only a wife)....
Whether it was ever Lawful to have a Concubine?
... Hence wherever in the Old Testament we read ofconcubines being taken by such men
as we ought to excuse from mortal sin, we must needs understand them to have...
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 ofconcubines to whom...
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 restconcubines and virgins and daughters, speaking thus...
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 hisconcubines, might drink...
The Unseen Watcher
... Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king,
and his princes, his wives, and hisconcubines, might drink therein." The...
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 tenconcubines, and went away from...
Thesaurus
Concubines (18 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Concubines (18 Occurrences). Genesis 25:6 but
to the sons of Abraham's
concubines, Abraham gave gifts.
...Women-concubines (1 Occurrence)
Women-concubines. Women-children, Women-concubines. Women's .
Multi-Version Concordance Women-concubines (1 Occurrence)....
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 hisconcubines, might drink from...
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 hisconcubines, might drink...
Concubine (21 Occurrences)
... Such were Hagar and Keturah, theconcubines of Abraham; and suchconcubines were
allowed by the Roman laws. Their children were not heirs of their father....
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 theconcubines...
Queens (4 Occurrences)
... Queens (4 Occurrences). Song of Songs 6:8 There are sixty queens, eightyconcubines,
and virgins without number. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)....
Twenty-eight (13 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 11:21 Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives
and hisconcubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and sixtyconcubines, and...
Eighteen (22 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 11:21 Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives
and hisconcubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and sixtyconcubines, and...
Ma'acah (22 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 11:21 Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives
and hisconcubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and sixtyconcubines, and...
Resources
What is a concubine? Why did God allow men to have concubines in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhy did God allow Solomon to have 1,000 wives and concubines? | GotQuestions.orgWhy did David need Abishag to keep him warm when he had wives and concubines? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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