Lexical Summary amah: Maidservant, female servant, handmaid Original Word: אָמָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance handmaid, bondwoman, maidservant Apparently a primitive word; a maid-servant or female slave -- (hand-)bondmaid(-woman), maid(-servant). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition a maid, handmaid NASB Translation female (15), female servant (4), female slave (2), handmaid (2), handmaids (1), maid (8), maids (5), maidservant (19), servant* (1), servants* (6), slave* (4), slaves* (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs אָמָה noun feminine maid, handmaid (Phoenician אמת, Arabic  , Sabean אמת in proper name SabDenkm20, Aramaic  , Assyrian amtu ZimBP 67) — ׳א absolute Genesis 21:10 +; suffix אֲמָתִי Genesis 30:3 +, etc.; plural absolute אֲמָהֹת Genesis 31:33; 2 Samuel 6:22; construct אַמְהוֺת 2 Samuel 6:20; אַמְהֹתַי Job 19:5 etc. — maid, handmaid. 1 literally maidservant (= שִׁפְחָה q. v., where however sometimes more servile; rarely P in Hexateuch) Genesis 30:3; Genesis 31:33 ("" שִׁפְחָה Genesis 29:24,29; P Genesis 30:4f. J etc.) Exodus 2:5 (all E); 2 Samuel 6:20,22; Job 19:15; Nahum 2:8 (suffix refers to mistress, except Job 19:15 compare 2 Samuel 6:20,22); in legisl. ("" עֶבֶד) Exodus 20:10,17; Exodus 21:20,26,27,32 (all E) Leviticus 25:6,44 (twice in verse) (H) Deuteronomy 5:14 (twice in verse); Deuteronomy 5:18; Deuteronomy 12:12,18; Deuteronomy 15:17 (compare see 12) Deuteronomy 16:11,14; compare also Job 31:13; Ezra 2:65; Nehemiah 7:67; applied to concubine (suffix of master) Genesis 20:17; Genesis 21:12; Exodus 23:12 (all E) Judges 9:18; Judges 19:19; also Genesis 21:10 (twice in verse); Genesis 21:13 (Genesis 16:1f. P שִׁפְחָה q. v.) Exodus 21:7 (all E), see on this StaGesch i: p. 380. 2 figurative in address, אֲמָֽתְךָ etc., referring to speaker, in token of humility; Ruth 3:9 (twice in verse) ("" שׁפחה Ruth 2:13) 1 Samuel 1:16 ("" id. 1 Samuel 1:18) 1 Samuel 25:24 (twice in verse); 1 Samuel 25:25,28,31,41 ("" id. 1 Samuel 25:27) 2 Samuel 14:15,16 ("" id. 2 Samuel 14:6; 2 Samuel 14:7; 2 Samuel 14:12; 2 Samuel 14:15; 2 Samuel 14:17; 2 Samuel 14:19); 2 Samuel 20:17; 1 Kings 1:13,17; 1 Kings 3:20; in addressing God (never שׁפחה) 1 Samuel 1:11 (3 t. in verse), compare ׳בֶּןאֿ Psalm 86:16; Psalm 116:16. Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Scope אָמָה designates a woman in a position of service, usually within a household, ranging from a personal maid (Genesis 16:1–2) to an indentured servant protected by covenant law (Exodus 21:7–11). In narrative, legal, poetic, and prophetic texts the term functions both as a social descriptor and an expression of humility before human authorities or the LORD. Household Servants in the Patriarchal Narratives • Hagar (Genesis 16:1; 21:10) and Bilhah (Genesis 30:3) illustrate how an אָמָה could be elevated to bear children on behalf of the mistress, intertwining servant-status with inheritance issues. Covenant Legislation and Protection Exodus 21:7–11 regulates the sale of an אָמָה, safeguarding her dignity and future provision; failure to honor these terms required her release “without payment of money.” The Sabbath command extends rest to “your male servant and your female servant” (Deuteronomy 5:14), rooting social justice in creation and redemption. Leviticus 25:44–46 distinguishes perpetual foreign servitude from the protected status of Israelite servants, yet the Jubilee principle tempers oppression for all (Leviticus 25:54–55). Narratives of Faith and Petition • Ruth’s self-designation: “Spread your cloak over your maidservant, for you are a kinsman-redeemer” (Ruth 3:9) combines personal humility with covenant appeal. Poetic Usage: Humility before God Psalms extends the servant imagery from human hierarchy to divine relationship. These texts transform social servitude into a paradigm of covenant devotion. Prophetic Vision and Eschatological Hope Joel 2:29 foretells, “Even on My male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days,” anticipating a democratisation of divine empowerment realized at Pentecost (Acts 2:18). Isaiah 24:2 and Jeremiah 34:10 employ אָמָה to denounce covenant-breaking oppression, while the amnesty demanded in Jeremiah’s day shows God’s concern for the marginalized. Contrast with שִׁפְחָה (shiphchah) Though often interchangeable, אָמָה commonly appears in contexts emphasising personal relationship and covenant protection, whereas שִׁפְחָה can stress labor function. The overlap underlines Scripture’s insistence on the equal moral value of all women, regardless of status. Theological and Redemptive Trajectory Servant language culminates in the portrayal of the Messiah as the Servant of the LORD (Isaiah 42–53). The humble obedience expected of an אָמָה foreshadows the voluntary submission of Jesus Christ, “taking the very nature of a servant” (compare Philippians 2:7). The New Testament application broadens the call to all believers—male and female—to live as willing servants of God, reflecting the heart posture embedded in the term אָמָה. Ministry Implications 1. Dignity: Biblical law affirms the worth of every woman, whether free or bond, challenging modern readers to uphold dignity in all social structures. In sum, אָמָה threads through Scripture as a vivid reminder that true greatness lies in faithful service under the covenant Lord who redeems and honors His servants. Forms and Transliterations אֲמָ֣תְךָ֔ אֲמָֽתְךָ֙ אֲמָת֖וֹ אֲמָתְךָ֖ אֲמָתִ֥י אֲמָתֶ֑ךָ אֲמָתֶ֔ךָ אֲמָתֶ֗ךָ אֲמָתֶֽךָ׃ אֲמָתָ֖הּ אֲמָתֽוֹ׃ אֲמָתוֹ֙ אַמְה֣וֹת אָמָ֑ה אמה אמהות אמתה אמתו אמתו׃ אמתי אמתך אמתך׃ הָֽאֲמָהוֹת֙ הָאֲמָהֹ֖ת הָאָמָ֖ה הָאָמָ֣ה הָאָמָ֥ה האמה האמהות האמהת וְ֭אַמְהֹתַי וְאַמְהֹֽתֵיהֶם֙ וְאַמְהֹתֵיכֶ֑ם וְאַמְהֹתֶ֗יהָ וְאַמְהֹתָ֖יו וְאָמָֽה׃ וְלַֽאֲמָתֶ֔ךָ וְלַאֲמָתֶ֑ךָ וַ֠אֲמָתֶךָ וַאֲמָֽתְךָ֙ וַאֲמָֽתְךָ֜֙ וַאֲמָתְךָ֖ וַאֲמָתִ֑י וַאֲמָתֶ֔ךָ וַאֲמָתֶךָ֒ וַאֲמָתוֹ֙ ואמה׃ ואמהתי ואמהתיה ואמהתיהם ואמהתיו ואמהתיכם ואמתו ואמתי ואמתך ולאמתך לְאָמָ֑ה לַֽאֲמָתֶ֔ךָ לַאֲמָֽתְךָ֙ לַאֲמָתְךָ֖ לאמה לאמתך ’ă·mā·ṯāh ’ă·mā·ṯe·ḵā ’ă·mā·ṯə·ḵā ’ă·mā·ṯî ’ă·mā·ṯōw ’ā·māh ’am·hō·wṯ ’āmāh ’ămāṯāh ’ămāṯeḵā ’ămāṯəḵā ’ămāṯî ’ămāṯōw ’amhōwṯ aMah amaTah amaTecha amaTi amaTo amHot hā’āmāh hā’ămāhōṯ hā’ămāhōwṯ hā·’ă·mā·hō·wṯ hā·’ă·mā·hōṯ hā·’ā·māh haaMah haamaHot la’ămāṯeḵā la’ămāṯəḵā la·’ă·mā·ṯe·ḵā la·’ă·mā·ṯə·ḵā laamateCha lə’āmāh lə·’ā·māh leaMah vaamateCha vaamaTi vaamaTo veaMah Veamhotai veamhoTav veamhoteiChem veamhoTeiha veamhoteiHem velaamaTecha wa’ămāṯeḵā wa’ămāṯəḵā wa’ămāṯî wa’ămāṯōw wa·’ă·mā·ṯe·ḵā wa·’ă·mā·ṯə·ḵā wa·’ă·mā·ṯî wa·’ă·mā·ṯōw wə’āmāh wə’amhōṯāw wə’amhōṯay wə’amhōṯehā wə’amhōṯêhem wə’amhōṯêḵem wə·’ā·māh wə·’am·hō·ṯāw wə·’am·hō·ṯay wə·’am·hō·ṯe·hā wə·’am·hō·ṯê·hem wə·’am·hō·ṯê·ḵem wə·la·’ă·mā·ṯe·ḵā wəla’ămāṯeḵāLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 20:17 HEB: וְאֶת־ אִשְׁתּ֛וֹ וְאַמְהֹתָ֖יו וַיֵּלֵֽדוּ׃ NAS: and his wife and his maids, so that they bore KJV: and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare INT: Abimelech and his wife and his maids bore Genesis 21:10 Genesis 21:10 Genesis 21:12 Genesis 21:13 Genesis 30:3 Genesis 31:33 Exodus 2:5 Exodus 20:10 Exodus 20:17 Exodus 21:7 Exodus 21:20 Exodus 21:26 Exodus 21:27 Exodus 21:32 Exodus 23:12 Leviticus 25:6 Leviticus 25:44 Leviticus 25:44 Deuteronomy 5:14 Deuteronomy 5:14 Deuteronomy 5:21 Deuteronomy 12:12 Deuteronomy 12:18 Deuteronomy 15:17 56 Occurrences |
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