Maid, Maiden
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 , naarah, girl, feminine form of the common , naar, boy (1Sa 9:11; 2Ki 5:2, 2Ki 5:4; Est 2:4, Est 2:7 ff; Job 41:5; Amo 2:7) In several places masculine form , naar, 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; Deu 22:15); compare , he pas (Luk 8:51, Luk 8:54); see also , paidske, diminutive (Sirach 41:22; Mar 14:66, Mar 14:69; Luk 12:45; , korasion, Septuagint for naarah, maid, in Mat 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 (Exo 2:8; Pro 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; Son 1:3; Son 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 (Exo 22:16; Jdg 19:24; 2Ch 36:17; Psa 78:63; Psa 148:12; Jer 51:22; Lam 5:11; Eze 9:6; Eze 44:22; Zec 9:17; compare Deu 22:14, Deu 22:17, having the marks (tokens) of virginity); , bethulm, 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; Exo 2:5; Exo 21:20, Exo 21:26; Lev 25:6; Ezr 2:65; Job 19:15; Nah 2:7); (b) , shiphhah, a family servant, a handmaid, so rendered in numerous passages (maid, maiden, Gen 16:2 ff; Gen 29:24, Gen 29:29; Gen 30:7, Gen 30:9, Gen 30:10, Gen 30:12, Gen 30:18; Isa 24:2; Psa 123:2; Ecc 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 (Gen 31:33); daughters might be sold by their fathers into this condition (Exo 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 Luk 12:45. Compare Job 31:13.