HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H6370
פִּלֶ֫גֶשׁ
pi.le.gesh — concubine
1) concubine, paramour 1a) concubine 1b) paramour
34 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →BIBLE DICTIONARY + WORD STUDY
Concubine
Original Hebrew / Aramaic / Greek connected to this term
How to read this: there is rarely one magic “true meaning” hidden behind an English word. A lexicon records a word’s semantic range. The intended meaning is narrowed by grammar, sentence, author, historical usage and context.
HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H3904
לְחֵנָה
le.che.nah — concubine
concubine
3 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H7705
שִׁדָּה
shid.dah — concubine
1) concubine, wife, harem 1a) meaning unknown
1 tagged verse occurrence · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H1129
בָּנָה
ba.nah — to build
1) to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to build, rebuild 1a2) to build a house (ie, establish a family) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be built 1b2) to be rebuilt 1b3) established (of restored exiles) (fig.) 1b4) established (made permanent) 1b5) to be built up (of childless wife becoming the mother of a family through the children of a concubine) Aramaic equivalent: be.nah (בְּנָה "to build" H1124)
329 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H40
אֲבִימֶ֫לֶךְ
a.vi.me.lekh — Abimelech
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.20.2 § Abimelech = "Melek is father" or "my father is king" 1) king of Gerar in Abraham's time 2) king of Gath in David's time; maybe title of Philistine kings 3) son of Gideon by a concubine 4) priest, son of Abiathar
61 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H5291
נַעֲרָה
na.a.rah — maiden
1) girl, damsel, female servant 1a) girl, damsel, little girl 1a1) of young woman, marriageable young woman, concubine, prostitute 1b) maid, female attendant, female servant
57 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H519
אָמָה
a.mah — maidservant
1) maid-servant, female slave, maid, handmaid, concubine 1a) of humility (fig.)
49 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H4601
מַעֲכָה
ma.a.khah — Maacah
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, only mentioned at Gen.22.24; son of: Nahor (H5152H) and Reumah (H7208); brother of: Tebah (H2875), Gaham (H1514) and Tahash (H8477); half-brother of: Uz (H5780H), Buz (H0938), Kemuel (H7055), Chesed (H3777), Hazo (H2375), Pildash (H6394), Jidlaph (H3044) and Bethuel (H1328A) § Maachah = "oppression" son of Nahor by concubine Reumah
23 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H4353
מָכִיר
ma.khir — Machir
A man of the tribe of Manasseh living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Gen.50.23; son of: Manasseh (H4519) and Aramitess (H0761); brother of: Asriel (H0844H); married to Maacah (H4601M); father of: Gilead (H1568H), daughter_of_Machir (H4353I), Peresh (H6570), Sheresh (H8329) and Hammolecheth (H4447); also called in NIV: Makir Also named: ma.khi.ri (מָכִירִי "Machirite" H4354) § Machir = "sold" 1) eldest son of Manasseh by an Aramite or Syrian concubine and progenitor of a large family 2) son of Ammiel, a powerful chief of one of the Transjordanic tribes who rendered essential services to Saul and to David
20 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H4648
מְפִיבֹשֶׁת
me.phi.vo.shet — Mephibosheth
A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.4.4; son of: Jonathan (H3083H); father of: Micah (H4318H); also called Merib-baal at 1Ch.8.34; 9.40; § Mephibosheth = "exterminating the idol" 1) grandson of Saul and son of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, Saul's concubine; he and his brother Armoni were among the 7 victims surrendered by David to the Gibeonites to avert a famine 2) son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul 2a) also 'Merib-baal'
13 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H1090
בִּלְהָה
bil.hah — Bilhah
A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.29; married to Israel (H3478); mother of: Dan (H1835H) and Naphtali (H5321) § Bilhah = "troubled" Rachel's handmaid whom she gave to Jacob as a concubine, mother to two of Jacob's children, Dan and Naphtali
11 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H1904
הָגָר
ha.gar — Hagar
A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.16.1; married to Abraham (H0085); mother of: Ishmael (H3458) Also named: Agar (Ἄγαρ "Hagar" G0028) § Hagar = "flight" Sarah's Egyptian slave girl, Abraham's concubine, Ishmael's mother
10 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H2153
זִלְפָּה
zil.pah — Zilpah
A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.24; married to Israel (H3478); mother of: Gad (H1410) and Asher (H0836) § Zilpah = "a trickling" the Syrian given by Laban to Leah as a handmaid, a concubine of Jacob, mother of Asher and Gad
7 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H2039
הָרָן
ha.ran — Haran
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.11.26; son of: Terah (H8646); brother of: Abraham (H0085), Nahor (H5152H) and Sarah (H8283); father of: Lot (H3876), Milcah (H4435) and Iscah (H3252) § Haran = "mountaineer" 1) youngest son of Terah, brother of Abraham, father of Lot, Milcah, and Iscah; born and died in Ur of the Chaldees 2) a Gershonite Levite in the time of David, one of the family of Shimei 3) a son of Caleb by the concubine Ephah 4) name of the place to which Abraham migrated from Ur of the Chaldees and where the descendants of his brother Nahor established themselves; probably located in Mesopotamia, in Padanaram, the cultivated district at the foot of the hills between the Khabour and the Euphrates below Mount Masius
6 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H345
אַיָּה
ay.yah — Aiah
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.24; son of: Zibeon (H6649H); brother of: Anah (H6034I) § Aiah or Ajah = "falcon" 1) a Horite, son of Zibeon 2) father of Rizpah, Saul's concubine
6 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H8555
תִּמְנָע
tim.na — Timna
A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.12; married to Eliphaz (H0464); mother of: Amalek (H6002H) § Timna or Timnah = "restrained" 1) a chief or duke of Esau and of Edom 2) the concubine of Eliphaz, the son of Esau 3) daughter of Seir the Horite and sister of Lotan
6 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H3309
יָפִיעַ
ya.phi.a — Japhia
A man living before Israel's Monarchy, only mentioned at Jos.10.3 § Japhia = "shining" 1) a town on the border of Zebulun and Issachar 1a) perhaps modern 'Yafa' 2) the king of Lachish at the time of the conquest of Canaan by Joshua 3) a son of David by a concubine
5 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H4162
מוֹצָא
mo.tsa — Moza
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, only mentioned at 1Ch.2.46; son of: Caleb (H3612H) and Ephah (H5891H); brother of: Haran (H2771B) and Gazez (H1495); half-brother of: Hur (H2354), Jesher (H3475), Shobab (H7727H), Ardon (H0715), Mareshah@1Ch.2.42 (H4337), Jahdai (H3056), Sheber (H7669), Tirhanah (H8647), Shaaph (H8174H), Sheva (H7724) and Achsah (H5915H) § Moza = "fountain" 1) son of Caleb by Ephah his concubine 2) son of Zimri and a descendant of Saul
5 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H5891
עֵיפָה
e.phah — Ephah
A man of the Midianites living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.4; son of: Midian (H4080); brother of: Epher (H6081), Hanoch (H2585I), Abida (H0028) and Eldaah (H0420) § Ephah = "gloomy" 1) a son of Midian 2) a Judaite, son of Jahdai 3) a concubine of Caleb in the line of Judah
5 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H7532
רִצְפָּה
rits.pah — Rizpah
A woman living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.3.7; daughter of: Aiah (H0345H); married to Saul (H7586G); mother of: Armoni (H0764) and Mephibosheth (H4648H) § Rizpah = "pavement" a concubine of king Saul and mother of Armoni and Mephibosheth
4 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H7695
שֵׁגָל
she.gal — consort
king's wife, king's concubine, (royal) consort Aramaic of she.gal (שֵׁגָל "queen" H7694)
3 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H7724
שְׁוָא
she.va — Sheva
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, only mentioned at 1Ch.2.49; son of: Caleb (H3612H) and Maacah (H4601L); brother of: Sheber (H7669), Tirhanah (H8647) and Shaaph (H8174H); half-brother of: Hur (H2354), Jesher (H3475), Shobab (H7727H), Ardon (H0715), Mareshah@1Ch.2.42 (H4337), Haran (H2771B), Moza (H4162), Gazez (H1495), Jahdai (H3056) and Achsah (H5915H); father of: Machbenah (H4343) and Gibea (H1388) § Sheva = "Jehovah contends" Judaite, son of Caleb by his concubine Maachah and grandson of Hezron
2 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H8174
שַׁ֫עַף
sha.aph — Shaaph
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.2.47; son of Caleb (H3612H) and Jahdai (H3056); brother of: Regem (H7276), Jotham (H3147I), Geshan (H1529), Pelet (H6404) and Ephah (H5891I) § Shaaph = "division" 1) son of Jahdai of the family of Caleb, the brother of Jerahmeel 2) son of Caleb, the brother of Jerahmeel, by his concubine Maachah and father of Madmannah
2 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G3541
νόθος
nothos — illegitimate
νόθος, -η, -ον [in LXX: Wis.4:3 * ;] a bastard, base born, i.e. born of a slave or concubine: Heb.12:8.† (AS)
1 tagged verse occurrence · see every occurrence →Historical dictionary entry
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 (Ex. 21:7; Deut. 21:10-14), and setting limits to the relation they sustained to the household to which they belonged (Gen. 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 (Gen. 16;30). But in process of time the custom of concubinage degenerated, and laws were made to restrain and regulate it (Ex. 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 (Matt. 19:5-9; 1 Cor. 7:2).
Scripture references
Exodus 21:7Deuteronomy 21:10-14Genesis 21:14Genesis 25:6Genesis 16Genesis 30Exodus 21:7-9Matthew 19:5-91 Corinthians 7:2Genesis 22:241 Chronicles 1:22Exodus 21:10-142 Samuel 3:71 Kings 2:21-24
Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.