The meaning of Maid; Maiden in the Bible
(From International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)
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" (I Samuel 9:11; II Kings 5:2, II Kings 5:4; Esther 2:4, Esther 2:7 ff.; Job 41:5; Amos 2:7) In several places masculine form na'ar, with feminine form of verb rendered "damsel" (Genesis 24:14, Genesis 24:16, Genesis 24:28, Genesis 24:55; Genesis 34:3, Genesis 34:12; Deuteronomy 22:15); compare he pais (Luke 8:51, Luke 8:54); see also paidiske, diminutive (Sirach 41:22; Mark 14:66, Mark 14:69; Luke 12:45; korasion, Septuagint for na'arah, "maid," in Matthew 9:24 f. with Job 6:12 f.; 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; Song of Solomon 1:3; Song of Solomon 6:8; 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; II Chronicles 36:17; Psalms 78:63; Psalms 148:12; Jeremiah 51:22; Lamentations 5:11; Ezekiel 9:6; Ezekiel 44:22; Zechariah 9:17; compare Deuteronomy 22:14, Deuteronomy 22:17, 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, Exodus 21:26; 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 ff.; Genesis 29:24, Genesis 29:29; Genesis 30:7, Genesis 30:9-10, Genesis 30:12, Genesis 30:18; Isaiah 24:2; Psalms 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; 13:9; 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
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