Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Concubinage?
17 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Concubinage in the Bible
Discover 17 Bible verses about concubinage. This comprehensive collection of Scripture quotes reveals God's wisdom and guidance on concubinage, with verses from across the Old and New Testaments.
Top 10 Verses About Concubinage
- 1Genesis 15:4
“And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.”
KJV - 2Genesis 16:3
“And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.”
KJV - 3Genesis 21:9
“And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.”
KJV - 4Genesis 21:10
“Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.”
KJV - 5Genesis 22:23
“And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham's brother. Rebekah: Gr. Rebecca”
KJV - 6Genesis 22:24
“And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah.”
KJV - 7Genesis 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 country.”
KJV - 8
- 9Genesis 36:12
“And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau's son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau's wife.”
KJV - 10Genesis 37:2
“These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.”
KJV
Subtopics of Concubinage
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Concubinage? (17 Verses)
“And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.”
“And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.”
“And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.”
“Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.”
“And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham's brother. Rebekah: Gr. Rebecca”
“And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah.”
“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 country.”
“And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.”
“And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau's son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau's wife.”
“These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.”
“And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do.”
“And whosoever lieth carnally with a woman, that is a bondmaid, betrothed to an husband, and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her; she shall be scourged; they shall not be put to death, because she was not free. betrothed: or, abused by any: Heb. reproached by (or, for) man she shall: or, they, etc: Heb. there shall be a scourging”
“When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, and the LORD thy God hath delivered them into thine hands, and thou hast taken them captive,”
“And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech. called: Heb. set”
“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 concubine out of Bethlehemjudah . a concubine: Heb. a woman a concubine, or, a wife a concubine”
“And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father's house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him. friendly: Heb. to her heart”
“Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. father: or, grandfather taken: Cald. brought forth”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Concubinage
- 1
Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.
- 2
Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about concubinage. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
- 3
Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.
- 4
Memorise at least one key verse about concubinage and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.
Practical Application
Studying what the Bible says about concubinage is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:
Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on concubinage needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about concubinage with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.
Pray through the key verses about concubinage, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.
How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Concubinage?
You have studied 17 verses about concubinage. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.