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Zarah - Co-wife!?

DaPastor

Member
Real Person
Here is a term we haven't discussed any - Zarah! This is the term that is used in the Soncino Talmud. The glossary defines it: A co-wife, a married woman
in relation to the other wives of her husband. What is fasinating about this word is its etymology and history.

From Soncino Talmud footnote 1 of this page: (http://www.come-and-hear.com/yebamoth/y ... .html#2a_1)

Heb., zarah, [H] 'rival'. Where a husband has more than one wife, each woman is a zarah in relation to the other. The term is derived from [H] which signifies oppression, hence 'rival', 'adversary', as in I Sam. I, 6 (cf. Kimhi a.l.), or 'to tie up', 'to bind', hence 'associate', 'co-wife'.

So, when Abraham and his wife Sarai decide that Sarai's slave Hagar, should bear a child for Abraham. and after Hagar becomes pregnant, Sarai and Hagar become polygamy rivals (zarah), and Sarai treats her cruelly.

It should be mentioned that this shouldn't be taken as a promise. However, it should be noted that "in the natural" this is what can be expected. In the "spiritual", women who love their God, their husband, and desire to walk in the Spirit are admonished to treat their "Zarahs" in the following ways:

Love One another

John 13:34
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that
you also love one another.
John 13:35
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 15:12
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
John 15:17
These things I command you, that you love one another.
Romans 12:10
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to
one another;
Romans 13:8
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the
law.
1 Thessalonians 3:12
And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as
we do to you,
1 Thessalonians 4:9
But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves
are taught by God to love one another;
1 Peter 1:22
Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the
brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,
1 Peter 4:8
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of
sins.”
1 John 3:11
For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,
1 John 3:23
And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and
love one another, as He gave us commandment.
1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God
and knows God.
1 John 4:11
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:12
No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has
been perfected in us.
2 John 5
And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that
which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another.

Serve One another

John 13:14
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one
another’s feet.
Galatians 5:13
For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the
flesh, but through love serve one another.
Be intricately involved with one another
Romans 12:5
So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
Ephesians 4:25
Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are
members of one another.
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and
the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Care for one another

Romans 12:16
Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but
associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
Romans 15:5
Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one
another, according to Christ Jesus,
1 Corinthians 12:25
That there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care
for one another.

Edify and Encourage One another

Romans 14:19
Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may
edify another.
Ephesians 5:19
Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making
melody in your heart to the Lord,
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Hebrews 3:13
But exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened
through the deceitfulness of sin.
Hebrews 10:25
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting
one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching

Receive and Greet One another

Romans 15:7
Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.
Romans 16:16
Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.
2 Corinthians 13:12
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
1 Peter 5:14
Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen
Admonish One Another
Romans 15:14
Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness,
filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the
Lord.

Considering One Another

1 Corinthians 11:33
Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.
Ephesians 4:2
With all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love
Colossians 3:13
Bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against
another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
Hebrews 10:24
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works

Bear One Another’s Burdens

Galatians 6:2
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Submitting to one another
Ephesians 5:21
submitting to one another in the fear of God.
1 Peter 5:5
Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive
to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to
the humble.”
Forgiving One another
Colossians 3:13
Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against
another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

Teaching One Another

Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the
Lord.

Comfort One Another

1 Thessalonians 4:18
Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Confess to One Another
James 5:16
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Pray for One Another

James 5:16
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Have Compassion for One Another

1 Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be
tenderhearted, be courteous;

Practice Hospitality to One Another

1 Peter 4:9
Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
Minister Spiritual Gifts to One Another
1 Peter 4:10
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the
manifold grace of God.
 
That is a great study Pastor Randy....mind if I steal it? :D

Blessings,

Doc
 
duelingbanjos said:
That is a great study Pastor Randy....mind if I steal it? :D

Blessings,

Doc

No problem, brother. It is interesting to note how Scripture makes the home and the church parallel. Living out these Scriptures can only result in close knit unity in the home, resulting as an exquisite example of how the local church should work. As the saying goes, "As the home goes, so goes the church!" If there is strife in the home, it is only because these passages are being ignored.
 
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