concubine

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “concubine” in English is translated in Kutu as “slave made to be his woman” or “female slave he married” and similarly in Makonde, “a slave who is/was a wife.”

In Kwere it is translated as “small wife.” This is the term for subsequent wives when polygamy is practiced among the Kwere. While they enjoy most of the same rights and privileges as the first wife, their status is not necessarily the same. In Kalanga it is likewise translated with balongwana or “small wife.” (Source for all: project-specific notes in Paratext)

In Newari it is translated as “illegitimate wife” (source: Newari Back Translation).

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Concubine .

complete verse (1 Chronicles 2:48)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 2:48:

  • Kupsabiny: “Caleb also had another wife who was called Maacah. She bore to Caleb two sons and those were: Sheber and Tirhanah.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Another of Caleb’s concubines [lit.: illegitimate wives] was Maacah. Maacah was the mother of Sheber and Tirhanah.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The other wife of Caleb was Maaca. They had sons who were Sheber, Tirhana,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Chronicles 2:48

Maacah, Caleb’s concubine, bore Sheber and Tirhanan: Some versions render concubine as “another concubine” (Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, La Bible du Semeur, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente; similarly New Living Translation), since verse 46 refers to Ephah, a different concubine of Caleb. The Hebrew verb rendered bore is third person masculine, but the context clearly requires that the verb be corrected to read “she bore.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Chronicles 2:48

2:48 Caleb’s concubine Maacah was the mother of Sheber and Tirhanah.

Caleb’s ⌊other⌋ concubine ⌊named⌋ Maacah ⌊bore him⌋ Sheber and Tirhanah.
-or-

⌊A different wife of lower status⌋ of Caleb called Maacah ⌊gave birth to⌋ Sheber and Tirhanah.

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