עוֹנָה
sexual (cohabitation)
Definition
The Hebrew noun עוֹנָה (ʻôwnâh) specifically refers to a husband's marital duty of providing sexual intimacy to his wife. It appears only in Exodus 21:10, within a legal context outlining the rights of a female slave who has been taken as a secondary wife. The term denotes the concrete provision of conjugal relations, understood as a fundamental obligation within the marriage covenant. There are no other biblical occurrences where the meaning differs, as its usage is confined to this singular legal stipulation.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exactly once in the Old Testament, in Exodus 21:10. It appears in the context of casuistic law (case law) governing the treatment of a Hebrew female slave who has been designated as a wife. The law states that if the master takes another wife, he must not diminish the first wife's food, clothing, or עוֹנָה—her marital rights. Its usage is purely legal and prescriptive, establishing a baseline standard of care and dignity within a complex social institution.
Etymology
Derived from an unused Hebrew root (עון) that apparently meant 'to dwell together' or 'to cohabit.' This root sense directly informs the word's specific meaning of conjugal cohabitation or sexual relations within marriage. The noun form carries the sense of that which is due or owed as part of shared domestic life.
Semantic Range
This term is theologically significant as it explicitly frames sexual intimacy within marriage as a right and a duty, not merely a privilege or optional aspect. It underscores the biblical view of marriage as a covenant involving mutual, though here asymmetrically protected, obligations. In Exodus 21:10, it protects the vulnerable (a slave-wife) from neglect, affirming her inherent dignity and personhood before God. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting how biblical law sought to regulate and humanize existing social structures.
In its original context, this law provided crucial protections for women in a patriarchal society where polygyny was practiced and slavery existed. The 'marital duty' was a recognized legal category, ensuring a wife, even one acquired through servitude, could not be functionally abandoned. This contrasts with some modern understandings where sexual relations might be viewed more as a private matter of choice rather than a legally enforceable spousal right. The law aimed to prevent exploitation and secure a minimal standard of welfare.
יָדַע (yāḏaʿ, H3045) — a verb meaning 'to know,' often used euphemistically for sexual intercourse, focusing on the intimate act itself rather than the legal obligation. דֹּד (dōḏ, H1730) — a noun meaning 'love' or 'beloved,' often used in the sensual context of the Song of Songs, emphasizing affection and desire rather than duty. שָׁכַב (šāḵaḇ, H7901) — a verb meaning 'to lie down,' a common euphemism for sexual relations, neutral in terms of covenant context.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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