H2278 H2278
consort, companion-wife (emphasizing covenant partnership in marriage)
A term for a wife emphasizing her role as companion and covenant partner, appearing in Malachi's rebuke of faithless husbands. The prophet calls the wife 'your companion' parallel to 'the wife of your covenant,' highlighting marriage as partnership, not merely legal arrangement. The root connects to association and fellowship, making this a warm term for the intimate companionship of marriage. Malachi's usage underscores the relational betrayal of divorce, not just the legal breach.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A wife viewed as companion and covenant partner. Malachi 2:14 rebukes those who deal treacherously with 'your companion, the wife of your covenant.' The term emphasizes the relational dimension of marriage—she is your partner, your associate in life—making betrayal not just covenant-breaking but friendship-breaking. Spanish 'compañera' and French 'compagne' both carry this sense of intimate partnership. 1×
AR["رَفِيقَتُكَ"]·ben["তোমার-সঙ্গিনী"]·DE["[חברתך]"]·EN["your-companion"]·FR["compagne"]·heb["חברתך"]·HI["तेरी-साथी"]·ID["teman-kamu"]·IT["compagna"]·jav["kanca-panjenengan"]·KO["반려-너의"]·PT["tua-companheira"]·RU["подруга-твоя"]·ES["compañera-tuya"]·SW["mwenzako"]·TR["eşin"]·urd["تیری-ساتھی"]
Related Senses
H0376 1. man, person, human male (2130×)H0251 1. brother (blood sibling) (573×)H0120 1. man, human being (individual/generic) (527×)H0802 1. woman, female person (519×)H0802 2. wife, spouse (255×)H0517 1. mother, female parent (217×)G0435 1. man, male person (202×)G1135 1. woman, adult female (190×)H2233 1. offspring, descendants (172×)H0001 2. ancestor, forefather (146×)H5288 1. Youth, young man (122×)H0269 1. sister (female sibling) (113×)H1755 1. generation, contemporaries (96×)G5043 1. child, offspring (89×)G0444 2. people, humankind (86×)H3206 1. child, boy, youth (86×)H2145 1. male (human being) (79×)G3384 1. mother (77×)H6485a 1. Qal passive participle: numbered ones, enrollment (76×)H1397 1. man (strong/mighty) (65×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [חֲבֶ֫רֶת] n.f. consort, i.e. wife וְהִיא חֲבֶרְתְּךָ Mal 2:14 (‖ אֵשֶׁת בְּרִיתֶ֑ךָ).