Original Word: לְחֵנָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: lchenah
Pronunciation: leh-kheh-nah
Phonetic Spelling: (lekh-ay-naw')
Definition: "Therefore," "thus," "so"
Meaning: a concubine

concubine

(Aramaic) from an unused root of uncertain meaning; a concubine -- concubine.

Word Origin
(Aramaic) of uncertain derivation
Definition
a concubine
NASB Translation
concubines (3).

[לְחֵנָה] noun feminine concubine (ᵑ7 לְחֵינְתָא; Fl^{Levy NHWB ii. 534 f.} compare Arabic , indelicate epithet for woman; Batten^{Ezra 2:65} compare Arabic note, tune, song; still otherwise Wetzst^{De, HL u. Koh. 454}); — plural suffix לְחֵנָתָךְ Daniel 5:23, הֵּ֯ Daniel 5:2; Daniel 5:3.

Word Origin: Derived from the root word חֵן (ḥēn), meaning "favor" or "grace."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G4103 (πιστός, pistos) • faithful, trustworthy
• G1135 (γυνή, gynē) • woman, wife
• G3956 (πᾶς, pas) • all, every

These Greek entries provide a broader understanding of the roles and perceptions of women in biblical texts, though they do not directly translate to the concept of a concubine. The Greek terms reflect the New Testament's emphasis on faithfulness and the roles of women within the early Christian communities.

Usage: The term לְחֵנָה is used in the context of ancient Near Eastern social structures, where concubines were part of the household but did not have the full status of a wife. This term is found in Aramaic portions of the Hebrew Bible.

Context: The term לְחֵנָה (leḥēnāh) refers to a concubine, a woman who, in ancient times, was part of a man's household but did not possess the full legal status of a wife. Concubines were often taken for various reasons, including the desire for more children, political alliances, or social status. In the biblical context, concubines were sometimes given by a wife to her husband to bear children on her behalf, as seen in the stories of Hagar and Bilhah. The role of a concubine was complex, as she was both a member of the household and yet distinct from the wife in terms of rights and status. The presence of concubines in biblical narratives highlights the patriarchal and polygamous nature of ancient Near Eastern societies. While the term לְחֵנָה itself is Aramaic, the concept is prevalent throughout the Hebrew Bible, illustrating the cultural and legal practices of the time.

וּלְחֵנָתֵֽהּ׃ וּלְחֵנָתָךְ֮ ולחנתה׃ ולחנתך ū·lə·ḥê·nā·ṯāḵ ū·lə·ḥê·nā·ṯêh ulechenaTeh ulechenatoCh ūləḥênāṯāḵ ūləḥênāṯêhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts