concubine in the bible

Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. The rights of the first two were protected by the law, ( Exodus 21:7 ; 21:10-14 ) but the third was unrecognized and the fourth prohibited. If she is displeasing in the eyes of her master who designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. 1 Chronicles 1:32 | View whole chapter | See verse in context Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine: she bare Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. Judges 19 Modern English Version (MEV) A Levite and His Concubine. Accepted without question as part of Israel's culture, the concubine regularly lived in the household and was recognized and provided for by Israelite custom. While concubines did not have the same status as wives, they were not to be mistreated ( Exod 21:7-10 ) nor could they be violated by other males ( Gen 35:22 ) with impunity ( Gen 49:3-4 ). I gave my maid into your arms, but when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her sight. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubine s: and his wives turned away his heart. Some evidence suggests that royal wives (concubines?) If he will not do these three things for her, then she shall go out for nothing, without payment of money. A secondary 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 sons of some concubines were treated as co-heirs with the sons of wives. The story of Judges 19-20 suggests that the terminology used of relationships in a regular marriage are also used in a concubinage relationship. Judges 19:11. Gen. 16, 35, 36). English Bible translations, beginning with the King James Version, have habitually used concubine to translate pilegesh for a Hebrew term of unclear meaning. Also below are examples within Bible verses highlighted in … Locate examples of ‘concubine’ in Bible verses. “Uncontrolled as water, you shall not have preeminence. But the king left ten concubines to keep the house. Below are the English definition details. Then her husband arose and went after her to speak tenderly to her in order to bring her back, taking with him his servant and a pair of donkeys. 2. Because you went up to your father’s bed; Then you defiled it—he went up to my couch. He does not have authority to sell her to a foreign people because of his unfairness to her. The sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine, whom she bore, were Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah. The offspring of a concubine did not share equal rights with the offspring of a wife, nor did they have an inheritance (Gen 21:10-12)(Gen 25:5-6)(Gal 4:30)(Rom 9:7)(Heb 11:18). WORDS OF GOD IN RED. Concubines were used as surrogate mothers, yet there children would not be heirs. In the Bible denotes a female conjugally united to a man, but in a relation inferior to that of a wife. It concerns a Levite from Ephraim and his concubine, who travel through the Benjaminite city of Gibeah and are assailed by a mob, who wish to sodomize the Levite. Ask for him also the kingdom—for he is my older brother—even for him, for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah!”. And of the son of the maid I will make a nation also, because he is your descendant.”. 1. For usage information, please read the Baker Book House Copyright Statement. Now Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac; but to the sons of his concubines, Abraham gave gifts while he was still living, and sent them away from his son Isaac eastward, to the land of the east. She said, “Here is my maid Bilhah, go in to her that she may bear on my knees, that through her I too may have children.” So she gave him her maid Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her. Then her husband arose and went after her to speak tenderly to her in order to bring her back, taking with him his servant and a pair of donkeys. If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her according to the custom of daughters. Entry for Concubine in Smith’s Bible Dictionary. If he will not do these three things for her, then she shall go out for nothing, without payment of money. Meanwhile David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron; and more sons and daughters were born to David. If she is displeasing in the eyes of her master who designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. and one Aram. In the Bible denotes a female conjugally united to a man, but in a relation inferior to that of a wife. All rights reserved. Concubine : The difference between wife and concubine was less marked among the Hebrews than among us, owing to the absence of moral stigma. It came about while Israel was dwelling in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it. But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the lad and your maid; whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her, for through Isaac your descendants shall be named. He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away. 2 Yet his concubine became angry with him and went away from him to her father’s house at Bethlehem in Judah. Here is concubine in the Bible. ( 2 Samuel 1:1 Acts 5:13 ), The difference between wife and concubine was less marked among the Hebrews than among us, owing to the absence of moral stigma. Now it came about in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite staying in the remote part of the hill country of Ephraim, who took a concubine for himself from Bethlehem in Judah. The term “concubine” in the Bible refers to a slave wife. May the Lord judge between you and me.” But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your power; do to her what is good in your sight.” So Sarai treated her harshly, and she fled from her presence. In the Bible denotes a female conjugally united to a man, but in a relation inferior to that of a wife. ( 1 Kings 2:21-24 ). After she had been there four months, her husband went to her to persuade her to return. But his concubine played the harlot against him, and she went away from him to her father’s house in Bethlehem in Judah, and was there for a period of four months. The sons of Jahdai were Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah and Shaaph. Now Gideon had seventy sons who were his direct descendants, for he had many wives. Babylonian and Assyrian law codes regulate primary and secondary marriages more specifically than do the Old Testament laws. were inherited by succeeding kings ( 1 Sam 12:8 ). Abraham eventually gives the full inheritance to Isaac, and only gives gifts to his concubines' sons ( Gen 25:6 ). Thus approaching the royal concubines ( 1 Sam 16:21-22 ) or even requesting the king's female attendant for a wife ( 1 Kings 2:13-22 ) can be understood as the act of one attempting to take the throne away from its designated occupant ( 1 Kings 2:22 ). So they ate and drank and lodged there. What does the source Hebrew word לְחֵנָה mean and how is it used in the Bible? Judges 8:30-31 Now Gideon had seventy sons who were his direct descendants, for he had many wives. She was a concubine, a sort of second-status wife, not quite a wife by not free either. To seize on royal concubines for his use was probably the intent of Abners act, ( 2 Samuel 3:7 ) and similarly the request on behalf of Adonijah was construed. New Heart English Bible His secondary wife who was in Shechem, she also bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech. Proud member And the sons of Jokshan; Sheba, and Dedan. His father-in-law, the girl’s father, detained him; and he remained with him three days. Salem Media Group. Concubines in the patriarchal age and beyond held an inferior rank—they were “secondary” wives. Concubines and religion Concubines appeared in the Bible as well. There were two classes of wives in the Scriptures – free wives and slave wives. Now Sarai, Abram’s wife had borne him no children, and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar. What is the definition of a concubine in the Bible? But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. Among the early Jews, from various causes, the difference between a wife and a concubine was less marked than it would be amongst us. What does the source Hebrew word פִּילֶגֶשׁ mean and how is it used in the Bible? But the God in whose hand are your life-breath and all your ways, you have not glorified. "Concubine" - discussed most often in the books of Judges (12), Chronicles-1 (4) and Genesis (3). CONCUBINE (IN THE BIBLE) In Biblical usage, a concubine (Heb. Concubines were an ancient practice where a man would have a servant/slave that he would treat as a wife, but would not hold the same rights as a wife. The hands of all who are with you will also be strengthened.”. In addition, the practice provided a social safety net for poor families who could sell their daughters in dire times ( Exod 21:7-10 ; Judges 19:1 ). but you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which do not see, hear or understand. Watch more videos for more knowledge What defines a woman as a concubine? The practice of taking concubines as "wife" was used to provide a male heir for a barren wife (cf. He turns his concubine over to … Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. And a maidservant when she supplants her mistress. Maacah, Caleb’s concubine, bore Sheber and Tirhanah. The difference probably lay in the absence of the right of the bill of divorce, without which the wife could not be repudiated. “Reuben, you are my firstborn;My might and the beginning of my strength,Preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. Was this facilitated by the wife accepting and naming the child as her own, or was the father's act of "adopting" the son required? The child grew and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. Babylonian and Assyrian law codes regulate primary and secondary marriages more specifically than do the Old Testament laws. Answer: In the Bible, a concubine is a woman who lives with a man as if she were a wife, but without having the same status as a wife. A man from the tribe of Levi had married a woman – well, not quite. Maacah, Caleb’s concubine, bore Sheber and Tirhanah. He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her sight. A concubine rebels. Order of Succession Nor do you refuse to show honor and respect to public officials (when it is expected) just because you are a Jew on the "outside". but you have risen against my father’s house today and have killed his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your relative—, nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “through Isaac your descendants will be named.”, But what does the Scripture say?“Cast out the bondwoman and her son,For the son of the bondwoman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.”, it was he to whom it was said, “In Isaac your descendants shall be called.”, It came about while Israel was dwelling in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it.Now there were twelve sons of Jacob—. 2 Instances - Page 1 of 1 Expand or Limit Your Search Results: All KJV books Old Testament only New Testament only Apocrypha only (?) The practice of having concubines probably grew out of a desire for numerous offspring, and this also was one support of polygamy: when there was a plurality of wives, some were placed in an inferior grade. The Israelites often kept concubines in addition to their wives. It seems plausible to suggest that the practice of taking concubines was perpetuated to meet the sexual desires of the males and/or to cement political alliances between nations. "Concubine" - mentioned in 4 books and occurs 21 times in the Bible. In the Bible. A free wife was a woman born to a free man. And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it. These are the sons of Esau’s wife Adah. With regard to the children of wife and of concubine, there was no such difference as our illegitimacy implies. nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “, the son of the bondwoman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman. He took a concubine for himself from Bethlehem in Judah. So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy, and sent her away. If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her according to the custom of daughters.read more.If he takes to himself another woman, he may not reduce her food, her clothing, or her conjugal rights. CONCUBINE, a slave woman in ancient societies who was the legal chattel of her master, and could enter in legitimate sexual relations with her master. The sons of Manasseh were Asriel, whom his Aramean concubine bore; she bore Machir the father of Gilead. Now Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking. The Rape Of The Concubine Bible scriptures located in Judges 19:11-30 explains directly from God's Word the Rape Of The Concubine topic. She left him and went back to her parents’ home in Bethlehem, Judah. But in process of time the custom of concubinage degenerated, and laws were made to restrain and regulate it ( Exodus 21:7-9 ). Bethuel became the father of Rebekah; these eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. The immediate cause of concubinage might be gathered from the conjugal histories of Abraham and Jacob ( Genesis 1630 ;30). If he takes to himself another woman, he may not reduce her food, her clothing, or her conjugal rights. So Sarai said to Abram, “Now behold, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. So they ate and drank and lodged there. His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore Tebah and Gaham and Tahash and Maacah. No dowry or bride price was required to have a concubine. So she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as a wife.”, King Solomon answered and said to his mother, “And why are you asking Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? "CONCUBINE" in the KJV Bible. And of the son of the maid I will make a nation also, because he is your descendant.” So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy, and sent her away. Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God which was in Jerusalem; and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. When Belshazzar tasted the wine, he gave orders to bring the gold and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. Therefore she said to Abraham, “Drive out this maid and her son, for the son of this maid shall not be an heir with my son Isaac.” The matter distressed Abraham greatly because of his son. 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 ). Now Sarai, Abram’s wife had borne him no children, and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar. Now Gideon had seventy sons who were his direct descendants, for he had many wives. He does not have authority to sell her to a foreign people because of his unfairness to her. “If a man sells his daughter as a female slave, she is not to go free as the male slaves do. For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. Paucity of information prevents us from answering this definitively. The difference probably lay in the absence of the right of the bill of divorce, without which the wife could not be repudiated. Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah; and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?”. Among the early Jews, from various causes, the difference between a wife and a concubine was less Marked than it would be amongst us. After Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. She was acquired as a wife when a man approached her father and offered him the bride price. I also gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your care, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these! Here are concubine, paramour and related words in the Bible. Several other points should be noted regarding concubines in the Bible. Now it came about in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite staying in the remote part of the hill country of Ephraim, who took a concubine for himself from Bethlehem in Judah. The sons of Jahdai were Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah and Shaaph. The concubine was a wife of secondary rank. Free Hebrew women also might become concubines. They seem to have received higher status if they bore sons, or at least they are remembered by name ( Gen 21:10 ; 22:24 ; 30:3 ; 36:12 ). For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. CONCUBINE, marital companion of inferior status to a wife.. But she was unfaithful to him. So she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as a wife.” King Solomon answered and said to his mother, “And why are you asking Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Now Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking. In all elaborate polygamous societies, there are many levels of social stature; and the concubine was not a mere servant yet she was not free and did not have the rights of the free wife. His concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech. The English word “concubine” is an anachronistic word for the biblical pilegesh because the English word is attested for the first time only in the thirteenth century C.E. May the. His concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech. Concubines are mentioned very early in Scripture, as in the Define ‘concubine’ as used in the Bible. So she brought him into her father’s house, and when the girl’s father saw him, he was glad to meet him.read more.His father-in-law, the girl’s father, detained him; and he remained with him three days. A concubine would generally be either (1) a Hebrew girl bought of her father; (2) a Gentile captive taken in war; (3) a foreign slave bought; or (4) a Canaanitish woman, bond or free. Preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. 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. Therefore she said to Abraham, “Drive out this maid and her son, for the son of this maid shall not be an heir with my son Isaac.”read more.The matter distressed Abraham greatly because of his son. His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore Tebah and Gaham and Tahash and Maacah. Timna was a concubine of Esau’s son Eliphaz and she bore Amalek to Eliphaz. The child grew and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. So the king went out and all his household with him. Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; so that he is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright. Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom more than all his other wives and concubines. The story starts with a blunt statement: at this particular time, Israel had no king. of Bethuel became the father of Rebekah; these eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. “Concubine ” means . The concubine was a wife of secondary rank. Copyright © 2021, Bible Study Tools. The latter were a supplementary family to the former; their names occur in the patriarchal genealogies, ( Genesis 22:24 ; 1 Chronicles 1:22 ) and their position and provision would depend on the fathers will. And the sons of Jokshan were Sheba and Dedan. The episode of the Levite's concubine is a biblical narrative in Judges 19–21. When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing, she took her maid Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. One Heb. Sometimes the man could give … Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God which was in Jerusalem; and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. They had no authority in the family, nor could they share in the household government. NET Bible His concubine, who lived in Shechem, also gave him a son, whom he named Abimelech. It was a lawless time where anything could happen. My might and the beginning of my strength. ( Genesis 25:6 ) The state of concubinage is assumed and provided for by the law of Moses. In at least one case the inheritance potential of the concubine's son seems to present a threat to the primary wife and her son ( Gen 21:10 ). ; Concubine. Among the early Jews, from various causes, the difference between a wife and a concubine was less marked than it would be amongst us. Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father. But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubine s, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified: And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done me be upon you. He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her sight. So she gave him her maid Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her. Although certain men in the Hebrew Bible have both wives and concubines, no wives or additional concubines are referred to in Judges 19. The Hebrew word for concubine (pileges [ v,g,lyiP ]) is a non-Semitic loanword borrowed to refer to a phenomenon not indigenous to Israel. "Concubine (in the Bible) More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! Could not be heirs said to Abram, “ now behold, Lord... The inheritance lines, but in process of time the custom of concubinage is assumed provided! Of Judges 19-20 suggests that royal wives ( concubines? all your ways, you shall not authority... State of concubine in the bible, but would increase the available family workforce and the of! Keep the house concubines as `` wife '' was used to provide a male heir for barren! Not share the same rights as a secondary wife and of concubine, whose name Reumah... Let her be redeemed king James Bible Verses in Judah name was Reumah, also bore and. 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