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Rev. Robert M. Celeste
Friday June 19th, 2009 Can a Christian man have a concubine?
Abraham, God’s friend, had a concubine: Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine: she bare Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. 1Chronicles 1:32a
King David had concubines: 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 5:13
Solomon had concubines, boy did he ever: And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. 1Ki 11:3
But what about you, today’s Christian man? Well seems there are a number of Pastors who would seem, by their teachings, to believe that Christian men today can and in some of their teachings, should have a concubine or two or even more today.
But, what does God’s word say? Has God ever condoned the taking of more than wife? Has He ever condoned the having of concubine(s)?
The argument on both sides pretty much comes down to the meaning of verse 24:
21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Genesis 2:21-24
We are going to look at several words in the original Hebrew. But first there are a few things I want you to look at and think about. First God took but one rib, second He made but one woman. Third, if God had meant for man to have more than one wife wouldn’t He have taken more than one rib from Adam and made him more than one wife? If God had intended for Adam to have a wife and a concubine or two wouldn’t He have taken the rib for Eve and maybe a toe bone or two for lesser women called concubines?
Alright, let’s look at the controversial verse that God said to Adam, to The Holy Spirit and the Father, and to us: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
Let’s look at the controversies, and then we’ll pull some words apart.
Those of us who believe in one wife, no concubines, believe that verse is exactly as it should be and that it means one man and one woman will join together in sexual intercourse and become glued together as in cleave.
Those who believe that a man can have a concubine or two or more say “cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” means that they will join by having sexual intercourse and create one new flesh called a baby.
So, it comes down to what does God mean by “and they shall be one flesh.” Should it be, “and they shall be one flesh.” or should it be translated “and they shall create one flesh.”
You see, if it means that the man and woman shall be one flesh, then having more than one woman at a time is strictly prohibited, but if it means the two join together and have a baby, then there is an opening for concubines and more than one wife.
Let’s look at the whole again in context and then we shall look at the Hebrew for some key words. If you want more detail, email me.
21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Genesis 2:21-24
One as in ”one of his ribs“. That word, one, in the Hebrew is the word echad, and it is pronounced ekh-awd' and means properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first:--a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, each (one), + eleven, every, few, first, + highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together.
I think that the word one is really just what it says, one, God took only one of Adams ribs. Not eleven, not ten, not eight or nine, not even two, but just one.
Next let’s look at the Hebrew word for “woman” as in “made He a woman,”. The Hebrew word translated woman in verse 22 is 'ishshah, pronounced ish-shaw', and it means
a woman (used in the same wide sense as 582):--(adulter)ess, each, every, female, X many, + none, one, + together, wife, woman. The plural would be the irregular plural, nashiym pronounced naw-sheem'.
So, it is pretty obvious that God took but one rib from Adam and made but one woman for Adam. That in itself seems pretty conclusive to me, but let us continue.
Since “cleave” is agreed by all to mean join, we can leave it alone and go to the statement made by God the Creator, “and they shall be one flesh”.
Young’s literal translation states: “and they have become one flesh”.
The passage itself reads, with the Hebrew shown: “and they shall be one ('echad) flesh (basar).”
See why it can be confusing? One Hebrew word, 'echad translated into five English words, “and they shall be one”. Now, let me flatly state, I am only going to give you the two Hebrew words and their definition. I am not going to editorialize or comment on either. This is too important an issue, and it must be between you and Christ, not me and you.
First the phrase “and they shall be one”, echad, pronounced ekh-awd' is defined as: properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first:--a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-)ly, each (one), + eleven, every, few, first, + highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together.
The Hebrew word for Flesh is: basar, baw-sawr' flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphem.) the pudenda of a man:--body, (fat, lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-)kind, + nakedness, self, skin.
Now, let’s look at what Jesus tells us concerning this very subject.
But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; and they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Mark 10:6-9
Twain means two, one means one. They shall no more be two individuals but one individual, not make one new flesh or baby, but they two shall be one flesh.
Are you going to go to hell for having a concubine?
While I consider having a mistress or concubine absolutely wrong, since it is adultery, let us look at what a concubine is, a concubine is nothing more than a mistress that your wife knows about because she lives in your house. A mistress is a woman you see without your wife and family knowing about. A concubine is a mistress that lives under your roof and your wife and family know all about.
No, you are not going to hell for having a concubine or mistress, but it is wrong, but the only reason anyone goes to hell is for rejecting Christ and not becoming a Born Again Washed in the Blood fo the Lamb Christian.
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All Scripture, unless otherwise noted, is from the ACP/KJV
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