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 Sam 9:11; 2 Kgs 5:2; 2 Kgs 5:4; Esth 2:4; Esth 2:7; Job 41:5; Amos 2:7) In several places masculine form na`ar, with feminine form of verb rendered "damsel" (Gen 24:14; Gen 24:16; Gen 24:28; Gen 24:55; Gen 34:3; Gen 34:12; Deut 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 Matt 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 (Exod 2:8; Prov 30:19), whether married or not, whether a virgin or not. The same word is translated "virgin" in several places (Gen 24:43 the King James Version; So 13; 6:8; Isa 7:14).

(3) The word bethulah, a common Hebrew word for "virgin," a chaste woman Septuagint parthenos), is frequently rendered "maid" and "maiden" (Exod 22:16; Judg 19:24; 2 Chr 36:17; Ps 78:63; Ps 148:12; Jer 51:22; Lam 5:11; Ezek 9:6; Ezek 44:22; Zech 9:17; compare Deut 22:14; Deut 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" (Gen 30:3; Exod 2:5; Exod 21:20; Exod 21:26; Lev 25:6; Ezra 2:65; Job 19:15; Nah 2:7);

(b) shiphchah, "a family servant," "a handmaid," so rendered in numerous passages ("maid," "maiden," Gen 16:2 ff; 29:24,29; 30:7,9,10,12,18; Isa 24:2; Ps 123:2; Eccl 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 Judithh 10:2,5; 13:9; 16:23; Additions to Esther 15:2,7.

(6) doule, "female slave," in the King James Version Judithh 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 (Gen 31:33); daughters might be sold by their fathers into this condition (Exod 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; Judithh 10:10; Sirach 41:22.

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

Edward Bagby Pollard