Meaning
(1) The more generic word is na`arah, "girl," feminine form of the common na`ar, "boy" (1Sa 9:11, 2Ki 5:2, 2Ki 5:4, Est 2:4, Est 2:7, Job 41:5, Amo 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, Deu 22:15); compare he pais (Luk 8:51, Luk 8:54); see also paidiske, diminutive (Wisdom of Sirach 41:22, Mar 14:66, Mar 14:69, Luk 12:45; korasion, Septuagint for na`arah, "maid," in Mt 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 (Ge 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" (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"); 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, Exo 2:5, Exo 21:20, Exo 21:26, Lev 25:6, Ezr 2:65, Job 19:15, Nah 2:7);
(b) shiphchah, "a family servant," "a handmaid," so rendered in numerous passages ("maid," "maiden," Ge 16:2 ff; 29:24,29; 30:7,9,10,12,18; 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 (Ge 31:33); daughters might be sold by their fathers into this condition (Ex 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; Wisdom of Sirach 41:22.
"Maidservants" replaces "maidens" of the King James Version in Lu 12:45. Compare Job 31:13.
Edward Bagby Pollard
