Concubine

Concubine
   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).

Easton's Bible Dictionary. . 1897.

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  • CONCUBINE — CONCUBINE, marital companion of inferior status to a wife. In the Bible The term in Hebrew is pilegesh, the equivalent of Greek pallakis (παλλακίς) and Latin pellex. Among the Assyrians the concubine (esirtu) gained the rank of wife only after… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • concubine — CONCUBINE. s. f. Celle qui n étant point mariée avec un homme, vit avec lui comme si elle étoit sa femme. Ce n est pas sa femme, c est sa concubine. Entretenir, avoir une concubine …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • concubine — CONCUBINE. s. f. Celle qui n estant point mariée avec un homme, vit avec luy comme si elle estoit sa femme. Ce n est pas sa femme, ce n est que sa concubine. entretenir, ou avoir une concubine …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Concubine — Con cu*bine, n. [F., fr. L. concubina; con + cubare to lie down, concumbere to lie together, akin to E. cubit.] 1. A woman who cohabits with a man without being his wife; a paramour. [1913 Webster] Note: Concubine has been sometimes, but rarely,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • concubine — Concubine, Concubina, Pallaca. Concubine d un homme marié, Pellex, pellicis …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • concubine — c.1300, from L. concubina (fem.), from concumbere to lie with, to lie together, to cohabit, from com with (see COM (Cf. com )) + cubare to lie down (see CUBICLE (Cf. cubicle)). Recognized by law among polygamous peoples as a secondary wife …   Etymology dictionary

  • concubine — ► NOUN 1) chiefly historical (in polygamous societies) a woman who lives with a man but has lower status than his wife or wives. 2) archaic a mistress. ORIGIN Latin concubina, from con with + cubare to lie …   English terms dictionary

  • concubine — [kän′kyo͞o bīn΄, käŋ′kyo͞o bīn΄] n. [ME < OFr concubin(e) < L concubina (masc. concubinus) < concumbere, to lie with < com , with + cubare, to lie down: see CUBE1] 1. Law a woman who cohabits with a man although not legally married to …   English World dictionary

  • Concubine — Statue de Yang Guifei (719 756), concubine favorite de l empereur Tang Xuanzong Concubine est un terme désignant à l origine une femme vivant quasi maritalement avec un homme de statut plus élevé possédant déjà une épouse officielle et une ou… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Concubine Qi — Consort Qi redirects here. For the Qing Dynasty imperial consort, see Consort Qi (Qing Dynasty). Concubine Qi Spouse Emperor Gaozu of Han Issue Liu Ruyi, Prince of Zhao Died 194 BC Concubine Qi (戚姬, pinyin qì ji) (died 194 BC), also known as Lady …   Wikipedia

  • concubine — n. 1) to have, keep a concubine 2) by one s concubine (he had many children by his concubines) * * * [ kɒŋkjʊbaɪn] keep a concubine to have by one s concubine (he had many children by his concubines) …   Combinatory dictionary

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