What was a concubine in the Old Testament?

What was a concubine in the Old Testament?

Background of the Concubine It is usually translated into English as “concubine” and understood to refer to a wife or sexual partner of secondary status. Although certain men in the Hebrew Bible have both wives and concubines, no wives or additional concubines are referred to in Judges 19.

What is the work of a concubine?

a woman who cohabits with a man to whom she is not legally married, especially one regarded as socially or sexually subservient; mistress. (among polygamous peoples) a secondary wife, usually of inferior rank.

What is a concubine in Israel?

Pilegesh (Hebrew: פִּילֶגֶשׁ‎) is a Hebrew term for a concubine , a marital companion of social and legal status inferior to that of a wife. Among the Israelites, men commonly acknowledged their concubines, and such women enjoyed the same rights in the house as legitimate wives.

What is the difference between a concubine and a harem?

As nouns the difference between concubine and harem is that concubine is a woman who lives with a man, but who is not a wife while harem is the private part of an arab household in traditional arab culture, this part of the household was forbidden to male strangers.

How were concubines treated?

Naturally, concubines were strictly forbidden from having sex with anyone other than the emperor. Most of their activities were overseen and monitored by the eunuchs, who wielded great power in the palace. Concubines were required to bathe and be examined by a court doctor before the emperor visited their bed chamber.

What was the purpose of concubines in biblical times?

The main function of concubinage was producing additional heirs, as well as bringing males pleasure. Children of concubines had lower rights in account to inheritance, which was regulated by the Dishu system.

What was the reason for concubines?

What is a male concubine?

a male concubine ( concubin ) is almost husband of his almost wife ( a concubine ); he is a partner of a concubine.

What is a group of concubines called?

In English the term harem can mean also “the wives (or concubines) of a polygamous man.” The practice of female seclusion is not exclusive to Islam, but the English word harem usually denotes the domestic space reserved for women in Muslim households.

Do concubines still exist today?

In modern China’s far more open society, concubines can be seen in the shopping malls and cafes of the cities, especially in the south, where there are thousands of what are known as “er nai” or “second breast”. Young women become concubines today for reasons of money and lifestyle, but also as a way out of poverty.

What was the purpose of concubines in the Bible?

In Judaism, a concubine is a marital companion of inferior status to a wife. Among the Israelites, men commonly acknowledged their concubines, and such women enjoyed the same rights in the house as legitimate wives.

What does the Bible say about concubines?

The Bible never explains why God allowed men to have concubines. He allowed divorce and polygamy, too, although neither was part of His original plan for marriage. Jesus said God allowed divorce because of the hardness of men’s hearts (Matthew 19:8). We can assume the same hardness of heart led to polygamy and concubinage.

Are concubines biblical?

CONCUBINE (IN THE BIBLE ) In Biblical usage, a concubine (Heb. pīlegeš ) is a true wife, although of secondary rank. 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.

What is a concubine mean?

Definition of concubine. : a woman with whom a man cohabits without being married: such as. a : one having a recognized social status in a household below that of a wife.