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Concubine

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Treasury of Biblical Knowledge
• Spoils of War, Concubines?
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American Tract Society
• Concubine
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary
• Concubine
Baker's Evangelical Dictionary
• Concubine
Easton's Bible Dictionary
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Fausset Bible Dictionary
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Holman Bible Dictionary
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Hastings' BibleDictionary
• Concubine
Dictionary of Early Christian Biography
• Marcia, Concubine of Commodus
King James Dictionary
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Morrish Bible Dictionary
• Concubines
Hawker's Poor Man's Dictionary
• Concubine
People's Bible Dictionary
• Concubine
Smith Bible Dictionary
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Webster Dictionary
• Concubine
• Concubinate
• Concubinal
Watson's Theological Dictionary
• Concubine
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McClintock and Strong's Bible Encyclopedia
• Concubine
Lexicons
• לְחֵנָה
• פִּלֶגֶשׁ
• שִׁדָּה

פילגש . This term, in western authors, commonly signifies, a woman, who, without being married to a man, yet lives with him as his wife; but, in the sacred writers, the word concubine is understood in another sense; meaning a lawful wife, but one not wedded with all the ceremonies and solemnities of matrimony; a wife of the second rank, inferior to the first wife, or mistress of the house. Children of concubines did not inherit their father's fortune; but he might provide for, and make presents to, them. Thus Abraham, by Sarah his wife, had Isaac, his heir; but, by his two concubines, Hagar and Keturah, he had other children, whom he did not make equal to Isaac. As polygamy was tolerated in the east, it was common to see in every family, beside lawful wives, several concubines. Since the abrogation of polygamy by Jesus Christ, and the restoration of marriage to its primitive institution, concubinage is ranked with adultery or fornication.