פִּלֶגֶשׁ pilegesh

Hebrew word for “concubine” · Strong’s H6370 · used 37 times in 35 verses

Explore it in the Word Atlas

Meaning

1) concubine, paramour; 1a) concubine; 1b) paramour

How it is translated

Glosses given for pilegesh in context, with how often each is used:

• concubine 22
• concubines 14
• paramours 1

Where it is used

Chapters where it is used most

Judges 19 (8), Judges 20 (3), 2 Samuel 16 (2), 1 Chronicles 2 (2), Song of Solomon 6 (2), Genesis 22 (1), Genesis 25 (1), Genesis 35 (1), Genesis 36 (1), Judges 8 (1)

Forms

• פילגשׁ 6
• ופילגשׁו 4
• פילגשׁו 3
• פלגשׁ 3
• פלגשׁים 3
• הפילגשׁים 2
• בפילגשׁו 2
• פלגשׁי 2
• פילגשׁים 2
• ופילגשׁים 2

Words used with it

Words that share verses with pilegesh more often than their overall frequency would suggest:

• יָלַד yalad “to beget” 10
• אִשָּׁה ishshah “woman” 11
• בַּת bat “daughter” 7
• אָב av “father” 7
• מַעֲכָה maakhah “Maacah” 3
• רִצְפָּה ritspah “Rizpah” 2
• לוּן lun “to lodge” 3
• אֲבִישָׁלוֹם avishalom “Absalom” 3
• אַיָּה ayyah “Aiah” 2
• שָׁמַר shamar “to keep” 4
• נָתַח natach “to cut” 2
• נְבָלָה nevalah “folly” 2

Key verses

The verses using pilegesh that are most connected by cross-references (King James Version):

• Genesis 25:6 — But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east…
• Genesis 35:22 — And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob…
• Judges 19:1 — And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a…
• Judges 20:6 — And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and…
• 2 Samuel 5:13 — 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.
• 2 Samuel 16:21 — And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of…
• 2 Samuel 16:22 — So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
• 1 Kings 11:3 — And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
• 1 Chronicles 1:32 — Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: she bare Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan; Sheba, and…
• 2 Chronicles 11:21 — And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat…
• Song of Solomon 6:8 — There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.
• Song of Solomon 6:9 — My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea,…

See all 35 verses in the Word Atlas

Hebrew and Greek text, tagging, glosses and lexicon definitions: STEPBible.org, Tyndale House Cambridge (TAHOT, TAGNT, TBESH, TBESG; CC BY 4.0), adapted. Counts follow King James verse numbering; a word counts each time it is written.