MAID; MAIDEN

mad, mad'-'n: Used in the King James Version in the sense of a girl or young female; of an unmarried woman or virgin, and of a female servant or handmaid. Thus, it translates several Hebrew words:

(1) The more generic word is na`arah, "girl," feminine form of the common na`ar, "boy" (1 Samuel 9:11 2 Kings 5:2, 4 Esther 2:4, 7 Job 41:5 Amos 2:7) In several places masculine form na`ar, with feminine form of verb rendered "damsel" (Genesis 24:14, 16, 28, 55; Genesis 34:3, 12 Deuteronomy 22:15); compare he pais (Luke 8:51, 54); see also paidiske, diminutive (Sirach 41:22; Mark 14:66, 69 Luke 12:45; korasion, Septuagint for na`arah, "maid," in Matthew 9:24 with Job 6:12; Susanna verses 15, 19).

(2) The Hebrew `almah, also rendered "maid," refers to a woman of marriageable age (Exodus 2:8 Proverbs 30:19), whether married or not, whether a virgin or not. The same word is translated "virgin" in several places (Genesis 24:43 the King James Version; So 13; 6:08; Isaiah 7:14).

(3) The word bethulah, a common Hebrew word for "virgin," a chaste woman Septuagint parthenos), is frequently rendered "maid" and "maiden" (Exodus 22:16 Judges 19:24 2 Chronicles 36:17 Psalm 78:63; Psalm 148:12 Jeremiah 51:22 Lamentations 5:11 Ezekiel 9:6; Ezekiel 44:22 Zechariah 9:17; compare Deuteronomy 22:14, 17, having "the marks (tokens) of virginity"); bethulim, rendered "maid." See VIRGIN.

(4) Two Hebrew words covering the idea of service, handmaid, handmaiden, and in numerous passages so rendered:

(a) 'amah, translated "maid" (Genesis 30:3 Exodus 2:5; Exodus 21:20, 26 Leviticus 25:6 Ezra 2:65 Job 19:15 Nahum 2:7);

(b) shiphchah, "a family servant," "a handmaid," so rendered in numerous passages ("maid," "maiden," Genesis 16:2;; 29:24, 29; 30:7, 9, 10, 12, 18; Isaiah 24:2 Psalm 123:2 Ecclesiastes 2:7). In the King James Version they are variously translated "maid," "handmaid," etc.

(5) The rather rare word habra, "favorite slave," is rendered "maid" in Judith 10:2, 5; 13:09; 16:23; Additions to Esther 15:2, 7.

(6) doule, "female slave," in the King James Version Judith 12:49 (the Revised Version (British and American) "servant").

Maidservant means simply a female slave in the different positions which such a woman naturally occupies. They were the property of their masters; sometimes held the position of concubines (Genesis 31:33); daughters might be sold by their fathers into this condition (Exodus 21:7). It is regrettable that no uniform translation was adopted in the King James Version. And in the Revised Version (British and American) compare Tobit 3:7; Judith 10:10; Sirach 41:22.

"Maidservants" replaces "maidens" of the King James Version in Luke 12:45. Compare Job 31:13.

Edward Bagby Pollard