This feminine noun designates a rival wife in a polygamous household. 1 Samuel 1:6 uses it to describe Peninnah's relationship to Hannah—she was her rival wife or co-wife. The term inherently carries connotations of tension and competition, as multiple wives competed for their husband's attention and favor, particularly regarding children. The root suggests vexing or distressing, appropriate for a relationship characterized by jealousy and rivalry. Peninnah's provocation of the childless Hannah exemplifies the painful dynamics this noun encapsulates.