### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic word **lᵉchênâh**, represented by `{{H3904}}`, is defined as a **concubine**. It is derived from an unused root with an uncertain meaning. This specific term is quite rare, appearing only **3 times** across **3 unique verses** in the Bible, all within a single chapter.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The use of `{{H3904}}` is exclusively found in the account of King Belshazzar's feast in the book of Daniel. In this narrative, the king commands that the sacred golden and silver vessels, taken from the temple in Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, be brought out so that he, his lords, his wives, and his **concubines** could drink from them [[Daniel 5:2]]. This act of desecration is repeated, with the text noting that the king, his princes, his wives, and his **concubines** drank from the holy vessels [[Daniel 5:3]]. The term appears a final time when Daniel rebukes the king for lifting himself up against God, specifically mentioning that the king, his lords, his wives, and his **concubines** had drunk wine from the vessels while praising false gods [[Daniel 5:23]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related Aramaic words provide context for the role and setting of the **concubines**:
* `{{H7695}}` **shêgâl** (wife): Defined as a legitimate queen or **wife**, this word appears directly before `{{H3904}}` in every instance. The consistent pairing of "his wives, and his **concubines**" highlights a distinction between the two groups within the royal household [[Daniel 5:2]].
* `{{H7261}}` **rabrᵉbân** (lord, prince): Referring to a magnate or **prince**, this word identifies the high-ranking officials present at the feast. They are listed as part of the assembly that participated in the sacrilege alongside the king, his wives, and **concubines** [[Daniel 5:23]].
* `{{H8355}}` **shᵉthâh** (drink): This verb, meaning to **drink** or imbibe, describes the central profane action of the event. The **concubines** are explicitly included among those who **drank** from the temple vessels [[Daniel 5:3]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H3904}}` is tied directly to the narrative of judgment in which it appears.
* **Participation in Sacrilege:** The inclusion of the **concubines** in the group that drank from the holy vessels emphasizes the widespread nature of the profanity at Belshazzar's court. The desecration was not a private act of the king but involved his entire royal entourage [[Daniel 5:23]].
* **Indicator of Royal Excess:** The presence of wives and **concubines** at a state feast where sacred objects are misused points to the moral and spiritual decay of Belshazzar's kingdom, setting the stage for its imminent fall.
* **Context for Divine Judgment:** By participating in the feast, the **concubines**, along with the rest of the court, became part of the context for God's judgment against Belshazzar for praising idols and failing to glorify the God in whose hand his breath was [[Daniel 5:23]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H3904}}` is a specific term for **concubine** whose biblical usage is confined to the story of Belshazzar's feast. While a minor detail, its inclusion serves to illustrate the comprehensive involvement of the royal household in an act of profound disrespect toward God. The word helps paint a picture of a court engaged in sacrilege, highlighting the gravity of the offense that prompted divine intervention and judgment.
TRV