Bible Encyclopedia: Maid

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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

Greek

3814. paidiske -- a young girl, maidservant
... maidservant. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: paidiske Phonetic Spelling:
(pahee-dis'-kay) Short Definition: a female slave, maidservant, maid. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3814.htm - 6k

1399. doule -- female slave, bondmaid.
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: doule Phonetic Spelling: (doo'-lay)
Short Definition: a female slave, bonds-maid Definition: a female slave ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1399.htm - 6k

3816. pais -- a child, boy, youth
... analogy), a girl, and (genitive case) a child; specially, a slave or servant
(especially a minister to a king; and by eminence to God) -- child, maid(-en), ( ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3816.htm - 7k

2877. korasion -- girl
... damsel, girl. Neuter of a presumed derivative of kore (a maiden); a (little) girl --
damsel, maid. (korasion) -- 5 Occurrences. (korasio) -- 3 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2877.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

519. amah -- a maid, handmaid
... 518, 519. amah. 520 . a maid, handmaid. Transliteration: amah Phonetic
Spelling: (aw-maw') Short Definition: maidservant. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/519.htm - 6k

8198. shiphchah -- maid, maidservant
... 8197c, 8198. shiphchah. 8199 . maid, maidservant. Transliteration: shiphchah
Phonetic Spelling: (shif-khaw') Short Definition: maid. ...
/hebrew/8198.htm - 6k

1904. Hagar -- Sarah's Eg. maid, the mother of Ishmael
... 1903, 1904. Hagar. 1905 . Sarah's Eg. maid, the mother of Ishmael. Transliteration:
Hagar Phonetic Spelling: (haw-gawr') Short Definition: Hagar. ...
/hebrew/1904.htm - 6k

5959. almah -- a young woman, a virgin
... Word Origin fem. of elem Definition a young woman, a virgin NASB Word Usage girl
(1), maid (1), maiden (1), maidens (3), virgin (1). damsel, maid, virgin. ...
/hebrew/5959.htm - 6k

1330. bethulah -- a virgin
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition a virgin NASB Word Usage maidens
(1), virgin (32), virgins (17). maid, virgin. Feminine ...
/hebrew/1330.htm - 6k

1331. bethulim -- virginity
... Word Origin from the same as bethulah Definition virginity NASB Word Usage evidence
of my virginity (1), virgin (5), virginity (4). maid, virginity. ...
/hebrew/1331.htm - 6k

5291. naarah -- a girl, maiden
... damsel, maiden, young woman. Feminine of na'ar; a girl (from infancy to adolescence) --
damsel, maid(-en), young (woman). see HEBREW na'ar. 5290, 5291. ...
/hebrew/5291.htm - 6k

8189. Shaarayim -- two cities in Isr.
... Shaaraim. Word Origin from the same as shaar Definition two cities in Isr.
NASB Word Usage maid (2), Shaaraim (3). Shaaraim. Dual ...
/hebrew/8189.htm - 6k

2153. Zilpah -- one of Jacob's wives
... Zilpah. : from an unused root apparently meaning to trickle, as myrrh; fragrant
dropping; Zilpah, Leah's maid -- Zilpah. 2152, 2153. Zilpah. 2154 . ...
/hebrew/2153.htm - 6k

Library

A Little Maid
... BIBLE STORIES AND RELIGIOUS CLASSICS A LITTLE MAID. ... Of all old stories, I hardly
know a better one than this of Naaman and the little maid from Samaria. ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/a little maid.htm

The Little Captive Maid.
... THE LITTLE CAPTIVE MAID. ... And the King was told what the maid had said, and he sent
a letter to the King of Israel commanding him to cure Naaman of his leprosy. ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/the little captive maid.htm

A Little Jewish Maid.
... A LITTLE JEWISH MAID. Ben-hadad ... her messages. When her mistress washed
her hands, the little maid held the basin on bended knee. ...
/.../anonymous/children of the old testament/a little jewish maid.htm

The Maid of France, with visioned Eyes
... No. 104 The Maid of France, with visioned eyes. SAINTS, St. Jeanne d' Arc
The Maid of France, with visioned eyes. Rt. Rev. Msgr. ...
/.../various/the st gregory hymnal and catholic choir book/no 104 the maid of.htm

A Little Maid of Israel.
... THE OLD TESTAMENT CHAPTER XXIX. A LITTLE MAID OF ISRAEL. There was war ... flesh
away. The little maid said to her mistress one day,. "Would ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxix a little maid.htm

To Nanna, Daughter of Benincasa a Little Maid, Her Niece, in ...
... LETTERS TO NANNA, DAUGHTER OF BENINCASA A LITTLE MAID, HER NIECE, IN FLORENCE.
This tender and playful little letter, with its childlike ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/to nanna daughter of benincasa.htm

Thou Shalt not Covet Thy Neighbor's House. Thou Shalt not Covet ...
... house. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor
his maid-servant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is his. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/luther/the large catechism/thou shalt not covet thy.htm

Let None of those who are on the Priestly List Possess any Woman ...
... The Sixth Ecumenical Council. Canon V. Let none of those who are on the
priestly list possess any woman or maid� Let none of those ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon v let none of.htm

Sie Ist Mir Lieb, Die Werthe Magd. Dear is to Me the Holy Maid.
... XXX. Sie ist mir lieb, die werthe Magd. Dear is to me the holy Maid. Founded on
the twelfth chapter of the Revelation. Melody, Wittenberg, 1545. ...
/.../bacon/the hymns of martin luther/xxx sie ist mir lieb.htm

And all the Multitude of the Gadarenes Entreated Him to Depart ...
... 23] teacher. [913] But Jesus heard, and said unto the father of the maid,
Fear not: but believe [24] only, and she shall live. [914 ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section xii and all the.htm

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) An unmarried woman; usually, a young unmarried woman; esp., a girl; a virgin; a maiden.

2. (n.) A man who has not had sexual intercourse.

3. (n.) A female servant.

4. (n.) The female of a ray or skate, esp. of the gray skate (Raia batis), and of the thornback (R. clavata).

Thesaurus

Maid (57 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) The female of a ray or skate, esp. of the gray skate (Raia batis), and of
the thornback (R. clavata). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MAID; MAIDEN. ...
/m/maid.htm - 27k

Maid-servants (25 Occurrences)
Maid-servants. Maidservants, Maid-servants. Maidservant's .
Multi-Version Concordance Maid-servants (25 Occurrences). ...
/m/maid-servants.htm - 14k

Maid-servant (49 Occurrences)
Maid-servant. Maidservant, Maid-servant. Maidservants .
Multi-Version Concordance Maid-servant (49 Occurrences). Luke ...
/m/maid-servant.htm - 22k

Maid's (2 Occurrences)
...Maid's (2 Occurrences). Exodus 21:26 "If a man strikes his servant's eye, or his
maid's eye, and destroys it, he shall let him go free for his eye's sake. (WEB) ...
/m/maid's.htm - 7k

Maid-child (1 Occurrence)
Maid-child. Maid, Maid-child. Maiden . Multi-Version Concordance
Maid-child (1 Occurrence). Leviticus 12:5 But if she ...
/m/maid-child.htm - 6k

Bond-maid (2 Occurrences)
Bond-maid. Bondmaid, Bond-maid. Bondmaids . Multi-Version
Concordance Bond-maid (2 Occurrences). Galatians 4:22 For ...
/b/bond-maid.htm - 7k

Maid-servant's (2 Occurrences)
Maid-servant's. Maidservant's, Maid-servant's. Mail . Multi-Version
Concordance Maid-servant's (2 Occurrences). Galatians ...
/m/maid-servant's.htm - 6k

Man-servant (18 Occurrences)
... Genesis 32:5 and I have ox, and ass, flock, and man-servant, and maid-servant, and
I send to declare to my lord, to find grace in his eyes.' (YLT). ...
/m/man-servant.htm - 12k

Men-servants (22 Occurrences)
... Genesis 12:16 And he dealt well with Abram for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen,
and he-asses, and men-servants, and maid-servants, and she-asses, and ...
/m/men-servants.htm - 13k

Maidservants (28 Occurrences)
... Acts 2:18 and also upon My men-servants, and upon My maid-servants, in those days,
I will pour out of My Spirit, and they shall prophesy; (See RSV). ...
/m/maidservants.htm - 15k

Bible Concordance

Maid (57 Occurrences)

Matthew 9:24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
(KJV WBS)

Matthew 9:25 But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
(KJV WBS)

Matthew 26:69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the court, and a maid came to him, saying, "You were also with Jesus, the Galilean!"
(WEB WEY ASV DBY YLT RSV)

Matthew 26:71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS RSV)

Mark 14:69 The maid saw him, and began again to tell those who stood by, "This is one of them."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Luke 8:54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.
(KJV ASV WBS)

Luke 22:56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.
(KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

John 18:16 but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought in Peter.
(See RSV)

John 18:17 Then the maid who kept the door said to Peter, "Are you also one of this man's disciples?" He said, "I am not."
(WEB ASV DBY YLT RSV)

Acts 12:13 When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer.
(WEB WEY ASV DBY RSV)

Acts 16:16 And it came to pass, as we were going to the place of prayer, that a certain maid having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by soothsaying.
(ASV YLT)

Galatians 4:22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the free woman.
(Root in WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Galatians 4:23 However, the son by the handmaid was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.
(Root in WEB ASV DBY YLT)

Galatians 4:30 However what does the Scripture say? "Throw out the handmaid and her son, for the son of the handmaid will not inherit with the son of the free woman."
(Root in WEB ASV DBY YLT)

Galatians 4:31 So then, brothers, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the free woman.
(Root in WEB ASV DBY YLT)

Genesis 16:1 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, bore him no children. She had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 16:2 Sarai said to Abram, "See now, Yahweh has restrained me from bearing. Please go in to my handmaid. It may be that I will obtain children by her." Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 16:5 Sarai said to Abram, "This wrong is your fault. I gave my handmaid into your bosom, and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes. Yahweh judge between me and you."
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Genesis 16:6 But Abram said to Sarai, "Behold, your maid is in your hand. Do to her whatever is good in your eyes." Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her face.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Genesis 16:8 He said, "Hagar, Sarai's handmaid, where did you come from? Where are you going?" She said, "I am fleeing from the face of my mistress Sarai."
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Genesis 21:10 Therefore she said to Abraham, "Cast out this handmaid and her son! For the son of this handmaid will not be heir with my son, Isaac."
(Root in WEB ASV DBY YLT NAS)

Genesis 21:12 God said to Abraham, "Don't let it be grievous in your sight because of the boy, and because of your handmaid. In all that Sarah says to you, listen to her voice. For from Isaac will your seed be called.
(Root in WEB ASV DBY YLT NAS NIV)

Genesis 21:13 I will also make a nation of the son of the handmaid, because he is your seed."
(Root in WEB ASV DBY YLT NAS NIV)

Genesis 25:12 Now this is the history of the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bore to Abraham.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 29:24 Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid to his daughter Leah for a handmaid.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 29:29 Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah, his handmaid, to be her handmaid.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 30:3 She said, "Behold, my maid Bilhah. Go in to her, that she may bear on my knees, and I also may obtain children by her."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 30:4 She gave him Bilhah her handmaid as wife, and Jacob went in to her.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Genesis 30:7 Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid, conceived again, and bore Jacob a second son.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Genesis 30:9 When Leah saw that she had finished bearing, she took Zilpah, her handmaid, and gave her to Jacob as a wife.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 30:10 Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, bore Jacob a son.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Genesis 30:12 Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, bore Jacob a second son.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Genesis 30:18 Leah said, "God has given me my hire, because I gave my handmaid to my husband." She named him Issachar.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 35:25 The sons of Bilhah (Rachel's handmaid): Dan and Naphtali.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 35:26 The sons of Zilpah (Leah's handmaid): Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 2:5 Pharaoh's daughter came down to bathe at the river. Her maidens walked along by the riverside. She saw the basket among the reeds, and sent her handmaid to get it.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Exodus 2:8 Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Go." The maiden went and called the child's mother.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS)

Exodus 21:20 "If a man strikes his servant or his maid with a rod, and he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Exodus 21:26 "If a man strikes his servant's eye, or his maid's eye, and destroys it, he shall let him go free for his eye's sake.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NIV)

Exodus 22:16 And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.
(KJV WBS)

Leviticus 12:5 But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days.
(KJV JPS ASV)

Leviticus 25:6 The Sabbath of the land shall be for food for you; for yourself, for your servant, for your maid, for your hired servant, and for your stranger, who lives as a foreigner with you.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NIV)

Deuteronomy 22:14 And give occasions of speech against her, and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid:
(KJV WBS)

Ruth 3:9 He said, "Who are you?" She answered, "I am Ruth your handmaid. Therefore spread your skirt over your handmaid; for you are a near kinsman."
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

1 Samuel 25:41 She arose, and bowed herself with her face to the earth, and said, "Behold, your handmaid is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord."
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 17:17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying by En-rogel; and a maid-servant used to go and tell them; and they went and told king David: for they might not be seen to come into the city.
(ASV DBY JPS WBS YLT NAS RSV)

2 Kings 5:2 The Syrians had gone out in bands, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maiden; and she waited on Naaman's wife.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

2 Kings 5:4 Someone went in, and told his lord, saying, "The maiden who is from the land of Israel said this."
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

Esther 2:7 He brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter; for she had neither father nor mother. The maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

Job 31:1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
(KJV JPS DBY WBS)

Psalms 123:2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress; so our eyes look to Yahweh, our God, until he has mercy on us.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Proverbs 30:19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent on a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maiden.
(Root in WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Proverbs 30:23 for an unloved woman when she is married; and a handmaid who is heir to her mistress.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 24:2 It will be as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the creditor, so with the debtor; as with the taker of interest, so with the giver of interest.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 2:32 Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
(KJV JPS WBS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 51:22 With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid;
(KJV JPS DBY WBS RSV NIV)

Amos 2:7 They trample on the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and deny justice to the oppressed; and a man and his father use the same maiden, to profane my holy name;
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

Subtopics

Maid

Related Terms

Maid-servants (25 Occurrences)

Maid-servant (49 Occurrences)

Maid's (2 Occurrences)

Maid-child (1 Occurrence)

Bond-maid (2 Occurrences)

Maid-servant's (2 Occurrences)

Man-servant (18 Occurrences)

Men-servants (22 Occurrences)

Maidservants (28 Occurrences)