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Hebrew noun (feminine) · H6370

פִּילֶגֶשׁ

pilegeshpee-leh'-ghesh

concubine

37 uses in the Hebrew text, one for each word STEP Bible has tagged with this key

Concordance spelling: pîylegesh

Word page · Part of the concordance, one page for every word of the Hebrew and Greek text. Strong's H6370is this word's number in James Strong's 1890 index of the King James Bible.

  • 9 of 39
    Old Testament books
  • 33
    spellings

The definition in full

Strong's key (1890) · H6370

a concubine; also (masculine) a paramour

The King James renders it: concubine, paramour.

James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), public domain. Strong indexed the King James text, and this site quotes his entry as that index.

Summary

pilegesh is rendered "concubine". It stands 37 times in the Hebrew text, across nine books.

  • Twelve of the uses stand in Judges, more than in any other book.
  • Its first use in canonical order opens the ledger below.Genesis 22:24Moreover, Nahor’s concubine, whose name was Reumah, bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.
  • The Greek text spells it thirty-three different ways.

The first use

Moreover, Nahor’s concubine, whose name was Reumah, bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.

Genesis 22:24וּפִֽילַגְשׁ֖וֹ

The first use, in the order of the Old Testament's books.

Where the word stands

Twelve of the word's thirty-seven uses are in Judges.

The other 30 Old Testament books never use the word.

What the word means

Each meaning, and the words it is translated by

How the Greek text is glossed, word by word

  • concubine of6
  • and concubine his5
  • concubines5
  • a concubine3
  • and concubines3
  • concubine his3
  • concubines of2
  • on concubine his2
  • and concubine my1
  • and concubines his1
  • concubine my1
  • concubines your1

and 4 more, 37 uses in all

The words built on the same word-part

Each word below begins with the same letters this one begins with. A shared word-part shows a family. It does not settle what any one of them means, so each word carries its own uses on its own page. Scholars call that shared part the stem.

פִּידpiddisasterUses4
פִּיחַpiachsootUses2
פִּיפִיָּהpiphiahtoothUses2
פִּיקpiqtotteringUses1
פִּימָהpimahexcess fatUses1

All 37, in canonical order

Every use, in order

Every use, grouped by book, with its verse.

33 spellings and their grammar

STEP Bible tags every word of the Hebrew and Greek text with its spelling and its grammar. Both lists below count the rows printed underneath, written out in English, with the code beside each one as it was tagged.

How it is spelled

  • פִּילֶ֣גֶשׁ3
  • וּפִילַגְשׁ֖וֹ2
  • וּפִֽילַגְשִׁ֖ים2
  • בְּפִ֣ילַגְשׁ֔וֹ1
  • בְּפִֽילַגְשׁ֔וֹ1
  • בְּפִֽילַגְשִׁי֙1
  • הַפִּֽילַגְשִׁים֙1
  • הַפִּֽילַגְשִׁ֑ים1
  • וּפִֽילַגְשֵׁ֗הוּ1
  • וּפִֽילַגְשׁ֖וֹ1
  • וּפִֽילַגְשׁוֹ֙1
  • וּפִֽילַגְשִׁ֖י1

and 21 more spellings in the ledger below.

The grammar of each form

  • noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)6HNcfsc
  • conjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singular5HC/Ncfsc/Sp3ms
  • noun · masculine plural5HNcmpa
  • conjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine plural3HC/Ncmpa
  • noun · feminine singular3HNcfsa
  • noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singular3HNcfsc/Sp3ms
  • noun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”)2HNcmpc
  • preposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singular2HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms
  • the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine plural2HTd/Ncmpa
  • conjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 1st person masculine or feminine singular1HC/Ncfsc/Sp1bs
  • conjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singular1HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms
  • noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 1st person masculine or feminine singular1HNcfsc/Sp1bs

Genesis

four uses
  • Moreover, Nahor’s concubine, whose name was Reumah, bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.

    Genesis 22:24

    • וּפִֽילַגְשׁ֖וֹufilagshoconjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: and concubine his
  • But while he was still alive, Abraham gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east.

    Genesis 25:6

    • הַפִּֽילַגְשִׁים֙hapilagshimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: the concubines
  • While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons:

    Genesis 35:22

    • פִּילֶ֣גֶשׁpilegeshnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: concubine of
  • Additionally, Timna, a concubine of Esau’s son Eliphaz, gave birth to Amalek. These are the grandsons of Esau’s wife Adah.

    Genesis 36:12

    • פִילֶ֗גֶשׁfilegeshnoun · feminine singulartagged: a concubine

Judges

twelve uses
  • His concubine, who dwelt in Shechem, also bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech.

    Judges 8:31

    • וּפִֽילַגְשׁוֹ֙ufilagshoconjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: and concubine his
  • Now in those days, when there was no king in Israel, a Levite who lived in the remote hill country of Ephraim took for himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah.

    Judges 19:1

    • פִילֶ֔גֶשׁfilegeshnoun · feminine singulartagged: a concubine
  • But she was unfaithful to him and left him to return to her father’s house in Bethlehem in Judah. After she had been there four months,

    Judges 19:2

    • פִּֽילַגְשׁ֔וֹpilagshonoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: concubine his
  • When the man got up to depart with his concubine and his servant, his father-in-law, the girl’s father, said to him, “Look, the day is drawing to a close. Please spend the night. See, the day is almost over. Spend the night here, that your heart may be merry. Then you can get up early tomorrow for your journey home.”

    Judges 19:9

    • וּפִילַגְשׁ֖וֹufilagshoconjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: and concubine his
  • But the man was unwilling to spend the night. He got up and departed, and arrived opposite Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), with his two saddled donkeys and his concubine.

    Judges 19:10

    • וּפִילַגְשׁ֖וֹufilagshoconjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: and concubine his
  • Look, let me bring out my virgin daughter and the man’s concubine, and you can use them and do with them as you wish. But do not do such a vile thing to this man.”

    Judges 19:24

    • וּפִֽילַגְשֵׁ֗הוּufilagshehuconjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: and concubine his
  • But the men would not listen to him. So the Levite took his concubine and sent her outside to them, and they raped her and abused her throughout the night, and at dawn they let her go.

    Judges 19:25

    • בְּפִ֣ילַגְשׁ֔וֹbefilagshopreposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: on concubine his
  • In the morning, when her master got up and opened the doors of the house to go out on his journey, there was his concubine, collapsed in the doorway of the house, with her hands on the threshold.

    Judges 19:27

    • פִֽילַגְשׁ֗וֹfilagshonoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: concubine his
  • When he reached his house, he picked up a knife, took hold of his concubine, cut her limb by limb into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout the territory of Israel.

    Judges 19:29

    • בְּפִֽילַגְשׁ֔וֹbefilagshopreposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: on concubine his
  • So the Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, answered: “I and my concubine came to Gibeah in Benjamin to spend the night.

    Judges 20:4

    • וּפִֽילַגְשִׁ֖יufilagshiconjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 1st person masculine or feminine singulartagged: and concubine my
  • And during the night, the men of Gibeah rose up against me and surrounded the house. They intended to kill me, but they abused my concubine, and she died.

    Judges 20:5

    • פִּילַגְשִׁ֥יpilagshinoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 1st person masculine or feminine singulartagged: concubine my
  • Then I took my concubine, cut her into pieces, and sent her throughout the land of Israel’s inheritance, because they had committed a lewd and disgraceful act in Israel.

    Judges 20:6

    • בְּפִֽילַגְשִׁי֙befilagshipreposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 1st person masculine or feminine singulartagged: on concubine my

2 Samuel

nine uses
  • Meanwhile, Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ish-bosheth questioned Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”

    2 Samuel 3:7

    • פִּלֶ֔גֶשׁpilegeshnoun · feminine singulartagged: a concubine
    • פִּילֶ֥גֶשׁpilegeshnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: concubine of
  • After he had arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.

    2 Samuel 5:13

    • פִּֽלַגְשִׁ֤יםpilagshimnoun · masculine pluraltagged: concubines
  • Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace.

    2 Samuel 15:16

    • פִּֽלַגְשִׁ֖יםpilagshimnoun · masculine pluraltagged: concubines
  • Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become a stench to your father, then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.”

    2 Samuel 16:21

    • פִּלַגְשֵׁ֣יpilagsheinoun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”)tagged: concubines of
  • So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

    2 Samuel 16:22

    • פִּֽלַגְשֵׁ֣יpilagsheinoun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”)tagged: concubines of
  • Then Joab went into the house and said to the king, “Today you have disgraced all your servants who have saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, of your wives, and of your concubines.

    2 Samuel 19:5

    • פִּלַגְשֶֽׁיךָ׃pilagsheikhanoun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person masculine singulartagged: concubines your
  • When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to care for the palace, and he placed them in a house under guard. He provided for them, but he no longer slept with them. They were confined until the day of their death, living as widows.

    2 Samuel 20:3

    • פִּלַגְשִׁ֡יםpilagshimnoun · masculine pluraltagged: concubines
  • When David was told what Saul’s concubine Rizpah, daughter of Aiah, had done,

    2 Samuel 21:11

    • פִּלֶ֥גֶשׁpilegeshnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: concubine of

1 Kings

one use
  • He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines—and his wives turned his heart away.

    1 Kings 11:3

    • וּפִֽלַגְשִׁ֖יםufilagshimconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: and concubines

1 Chronicles

five uses
  • The sons born to Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan.

    1 Chronicles 1:32

    • פִּילֶ֣גֶשׁpilegeshnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: concubine of
  • Caleb’s concubine Ephah was the mother of Haran, Moza, and Gazez. Haran was the father of Gazez.

    1 Chronicles 2:46

    • פִּילֶ֣גֶשׁpilegeshnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: concubine of
  • Caleb’s concubine Maacah was the mother of Sheber and Tirhanah.

    1 Chronicles 2:48

    • פִּלֶ֤גֶשׁpilegeshnoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: concubine of
  • These were all the sons of David, besides the sons by his concubines. And Tamar was their sister.

    1 Chronicles 3:9

    • פִֽילַגְשִׁ֖יםfilagshimnoun · masculine pluraltagged: concubines
  • The descendants of Manasseh: Through his Aramean concubine, Asriel, as well as Machir the father of Gilead.

    1 Chronicles 7:14

    • פִּֽילַגְשׁוֹ֙pilagshonoun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: concubine his

2 Chronicles

two uses
  • Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom more than all his wives and concubines. In all, he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and he was the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

    2 Chronicles 11:21

    • וּפִ֣ילַגְשָׁ֔יוufilagshavconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: and concubines his
    • וּפִֽילַגְשִׁ֖יםufilagshimconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: and concubines

Esther

one use
  • She would go there in the evening, and in the morning she would return to a second harem under the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he delighted in her and summoned her by name.

    Esther 2:14

    • הַפִּֽילַגְשִׁ֑יםhapilagshimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: of the concubines

Song of Solomon

two uses
  • There are sixty queens and eighty concubines, and maidens without number,

    Song of Solomon 6:8

    • פִּֽילַגְשִׁ֑יםpilagshimnoun · masculine pluraltagged: concubines
  • but my dove, my perfect one, is unique, the favorite of the mother who bore her. The maidens see her and call her blessed; the queens and concubines sing her praises.

    Song of Solomon 6:9

    • וּפִֽילַגְשִׁ֖יםufilagshimconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: and concubines

Ezekiel

one use
  • and lusted after their lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of stallions.

    Ezekiel 23:20

    • פִּֽלַגְשֵׁיהֶ֑םpilagsheihemnoun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine pluraltagged: paramours their

The letters

Where it leads

How the numbers are counted

Every count on this page comes from STEP Bible's tagged Hebrew and Greek text, the same text the ledger prints. A use is counted once each time the tagging marks a word with this key.

Spellings are counted as the Greek text spells them, with the sentence's own punctuation taken off the word first, so a form that ends a clause is not counted as a second spelling.

The words it stands beside are the nouns, verbs and adjectives immediately before or after it, counted in every verse where the word stands. The article, the conjunctions and the prepositions are left out, because they stand beside every word.

The family is read from the lexicon by the stem the two words share, with the accents off, and a person or a place named on the stem is left out.

Hebrew and Greek text, word tagging and grammar: STEP Bible (www.STEPBible.org), Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0. Their grammar codes are written out in English here and shown as tagged beside each one.

Meaning and senses: STEP Bible TBESH gloss (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary key: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890, public domain). English verse text: Berean Standard Bible (public domain, 2023).

Revised 2026-09-05. Every cited work, the sources registry →