Judges 8:31
And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.
Original Language Analysis
וּפִֽילַגְשׁוֹ֙
And his concubine
H6370
וּפִֽילַגְשׁוֹ֙
And his concubine
Strong's:
H6370
Word #:
1 of 12
a concubine; also (masculine) a paramour
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
2 of 12
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יָֽלְדָה
she also bare
H3205
יָֽלְדָה
she also bare
Strong's:
H3205
Word #:
4 of 12
to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage
גַם
H1571
גַם
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
6 of 12
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
הִ֖יא
H1931
הִ֖יא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
7 of 12
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
בֵּ֑ן
him a son
H1121
בֵּ֑ן
him a son
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
8 of 12
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
וַיָּ֥שֶׂם
he called
H7760
וַיָּ֥שֶׂם
he called
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
9 of 12
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
10 of 12
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Historical Context
Shechem was a Canaanite city with a temple to Baal-berith (9:4), located in the territory of Manasseh. Its mixed Israelite-Canaanite population made it a center of religious syncretism. The city had significant covenant history (Joshua 24:1-28), making its apostasy particularly tragic. Concubines' sons often had inferior inheritance rights, creating rivalry with sons of full wives.
Questions for Reflection
- How do the mixed messages you send create confusion and harm in the next generation?
- What ambitions lurk beneath your public denials, revealed in your private choices?
- In what ways do compromised family arrangements set up future tragedy?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
His concubine that was in Shechem—the Hebrew פִּילֶגֶשׁ (pilegesh, 'concubine') refers to a secondary wife with lower status than a full wife. That she was in Shechem suggests she remained in her father's household rather than Gideon's in Ophrah. She also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech (אֲבִימֶלֶךְ)—the name means 'my father is king' or 'father of a king,' a supremely ironic choice given Gideon's rejection of kingship (v. 23).
This naming reveals Gideon's true ambitions. Though he denied wanting to establish a dynasty, he names his son 'father of a king.' Abimelech's Shechemite connections (his mother's hometown had Canaanite inhabitants) and his inferior status as son of a concubine created the perfect storm for the murderous rivalry described in chapter 9. When leaders say one thing publicly but signal different ambitions privately, they create confusion and competition that devastates the next generation. Names matter in Scripture—they prophesy destiny, and Abimelech fulfilled his ominous name in the most horrifying way.