8198. shiphchah
Lexical Summary
shiphchah: Maidservant, female servant, handmaid

Original Word: שִׁפְחָה
Part of Speech: noun feminine
Transliteration: shiphchah
Pronunciation: shif-KHAH
Phonetic Spelling: (shif-khaw')
KJV: (bond-, hand-)maid(-en, -servant), wench, bondwoman, womanservant
NASB: maid, maidservant, female, female servants, maids, female servant, maidservants
Word Origin: [feminine from an unused root meaning to spread out (as a family]

1. see H4940)
2. a female slave (as a member of the household)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
handmaiden, bondwoman, woman-servant

Feminine from an unused root meaning to spread out (as a family; see mishpachah); a female slave (as a member of the household) -- (bond-, hand-)maid(-en, -servant), wench, bondwoman, womanservant.

see HEBREW mishpachah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
maid, maidservant
NASB Translation
female (9), female servant (3), female servants (5), maid (20), maids (5), maidservant (15), maidservants (1), servants* (6), slave (1), slave girl (1), slaves* (4), women (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
שִׁפְחָה noun feminine maid, maid-servant (synonym אָמָה, q. v.; originally = concubine ? compare √); — absolute ׳שׁ Genesis 16:1 +; construct שִׁפְחַת Genesis 16:2 +; suffix שִׁפְחָתִי Genesis 16:2 +, etc.; plural absolute שְׁפָחוֺת Genesis 12:16 +; suffix שִׁפְחֹתֶ֑ךָ Ruth 2:13, etc.; —

1 literally, maid, maid-servant, as belonging to a mistress Genesis 16:1,3,6,8 (PJ) Genesis 29:24; Genesis 29:29 (P) Psalm 123:2; Proverbs 30:23; Isaiah 24:2; even where concubine of master (compare אָמָה) Genesis 16:2,5 (PJ) Genesis 25:12; Genesis 35:25,26 (P) Genesis 30:4,7,9,10,12,18 (all J E); less often reference to master Genesis 29:24,29 (J), Ruth 2:13, of concubine Genesis 32:23, compare Genesis 33:1,2,6 (all J); marriageable Leviticus 19:20 (H, compare Exodus 11:5; not elsewhere in legisl.); in General, especially of menial service (never אָמָה) Exodus 11:5 (J) 1 Samuel 25:41 (opposed to אָמָה) 2 Samuel 17:17 ("" עֶבֶד) Genesis 12:16; Genesis 24:35(J) Genesis 20:14 (E) Genesis 30:43 (P) Genesis 32:6 (J; collective) Deuteronomy 28:68; 1 Samuel 8:16; 2 Kings 5:26; Isaiah 14:2; Jeremiah 34:9,10,11 (twice in verse); Jeremiah 34:16 (twice in verse); Joel 3:2; Ecclesiastes 2:7; 2Chronicles 28:10; Esther 7:4.

2 figurative in address, שִׁפְחָֽתְךָ, etc., of speaker, in token of humility (see אָמָה) Ruth 2:13 ("" אָמָה Ruth 3:9), 1 Samuel 1:18 ("" id. 1 Samuel 1:16), 1 Samuel 25:27, ("" 1 Samuel 25:24f.), 1 Samuel 28:21,22; 2 Samuel 14:6,7,12 (twice in verse); 2 Samuel 14:15,17,19; ("" אָמָה 2 Samuel 14:15; 2 Samuel 14:16); 2 Kings 4:2,16; not toward God; but see אָמָה.

Topical Lexicon
Definition and Range of Meaning

שִׁפְחָה (shiphchah) designates a female servant who is under the authority of a household head. She may carry out domestic duties, engage in agricultural labor, or become a secondary wife (concubine) when given to the master. The term is parallel to עֶבֶד (eved, “male servant”) but always feminine. In polite speech a woman often calls herself “your maidservant” as an expression of humility before God or a superior.

Servitude in Patriarchal Times

In Genesis the institution appears early. Sarai gives Hagar, her Egyptian maidservant, to Abram “that I may obtain children through her” (Genesis 16:2). Later, Leah and Rachel each give their maidservants Zilpah and Bilhah to Jacob (Genesis 30:3–13). These narratives show that maidservants could be elevated to the status of child-bearers, and their offspring were counted among the covenant people (cf. Genesis 35:22–26). The practice reflects ancient Near Eastern customs while demonstrating God’s sovereign use of imperfect human arrangements to advance His redemptive purposes.

Legal Protections and Responsibilities under Mosaic Law

1. Sabbath Rest: “But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter… nor your manservant or maidservant” (Exodus 20:10; Deuteronomy 5:14). Even the lowest household member shares the covenant sign of rest.
2. Human Dignity: Kidnapping and selling a maidservant incurs the death penalty (Exodus 21:16).
3. Marital Rights: If a maidservant is elevated to concubine status, food, clothing, and marital rights must not be diminished (Exodus 21:7–11).
4. Participation in Festivals: Maidservants join household worship at Passover (Deuteronomy 16:11) and Feast of Weeks (Deuteronomy 16:14), illustrating the inclusive scope of God’s grace.
5. Justice and Equity: Job protests any abuse of servants: “If I have denied justice to my manservant or maidservant… what then will I do when God rises to judge?” (Job 31:13–14).

Role in Covenant History and Redemptive Narrative

Hagar’s account (Genesis 16; 21) anticipates God’s concern for the oppressed. The angel of the LORD seeks her in the wilderness, giving her a promise and revealing God as “the God who sees” (Genesis 16:13). Hannah’s repeated cry, “O LORD of Hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant” (1 Samuel 1:11), frames her as a prototype of humble faith whose son Samuel ushers Israel from judges to monarchy. Mary’s echo, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord” (Luke 1:38), signals continuity between Testaments.

Metaphorical and Prophetic Usage

Psalm 86:16 parallels “Your servant” with “the son of Your maidservant,” linking covenant loyalty across generations of humble believers. In Joel 2:29 God promises, “Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.” Peter cites this at Pentecost (Acts 2:18), underscoring that social status does not limit participation in the Spirit’s outpouring.

Ethical and Theological Reflections

Scripture regulates, mitigates, and points beyond servitude. By insisting on rest, legal protection, and worship inclusion, the Law reveals God’s concern for the vulnerable. Prophetic texts envision a future where the Spirit equally empowers “male and female servants,” anticipating the New Covenant in which all are one in Christ (Galatians 3:28). The trajectory moves from ownership to brotherhood, from human hierarchies to kingdom equality.

Ministerial Application Today

• Human dignity: Ministries should champion the inherent worth of every person, especially those marginalized.
• Servant humility: Hannah’s model encourages believers to approach God with the posture of a maidservant—utter dependence and devotion.
• Inclusive worship: Congregational life must reflect God’s heart by integrating all socioeconomic groups.
• Spirit empowerment: The promise to “female servants” legitimizes the gifting and service of women in the church, within biblical parameters.

Key Scriptural References

Genesis 16:2; 25:12

Genesis 30:3–13

Exodus 20:10; 21:7–11

Deuteronomy 5:14; 16:11, 14

Job 31:13–15

1 Samuel 1:11, 16, 18

Psalm 86:16

Joel 2:29

Jeremiah 34:9–10

Joel 2:29 (quoted Acts 2:18)

Forms and Transliterations
בְּשִׁפְחָתֶֽךָ׃ בשפחתך׃ הַשְּׁפָח֑וֹת הַשְּׁפָח֔וֹת הַשְּׁפָח֛וֹת הַשְּׁפָחֽוֹת׃ הַשִּׁפְחָ֔ה הַשִּׁפְחָה֙ השפחה השפחות השפחות׃ וְ֝שִׁפְחָ֗ה וְלִשְׁפָח֑וֹת וְלִשְׁפָח֖וֹת וְלִשְׁפָח֤וֹת וְלִשְׁפָחֽוֹת׃ וְשִׁפְחָ֑ה וּלְשִׁפְחָֽתְךָ֙ וּשְׁפָח֔וֹת וּשְׁפָחֹ֔ת וּשְׁפָחֽוֹת׃ וּשְׁפָחוֹת֙ ולשפחות ולשפחות׃ ולשפחתך ושפחה ושפחות ושפחות׃ ושפחת כַּשִּׁפְחָ֖ה כשפחה לְשִׁפְחָ֔ה לְשִׁפְחָֽה׃ לְשִׁפְחָתְךָ֥ לשפחה לשפחה׃ לשפחתך שִׁפְח֨וֹתֵיכֶ֜ם שִׁפְחַ֣ת שִׁפְחַ֥ת שִׁפְחָ֣תְךָ֔ שִׁפְחָ֥ה שִׁפְחָֽה׃ שִׁפְחָֽתְךָ֔ שִׁפְחָֽתְךָ֙ שִׁפְחָה֙ שִׁפְחָה֮ שִׁפְחָת֑וֹ שִׁפְחָת֔וֹ שִׁפְחָת֛וֹ שִׁפְחָתְךָ֖ שִׁפְחָתְךָ֛ שִׁפְחָתִ֔י שִׁפְחָתִ֖י שִׁפְחָתִי֙ שִׁפְחָתֵךְ֙ שִׁפְחָתֶ֑ךָ שִׁפְחָתֶ֔ךָ שִׁפְחָתֶ֗ךָ שִׁפְחָתָ֔הּ שִׁפְחָתָ֖הּ שִׁפְחָתוֹ֙ שִׁפְחֹתֶֽיךָ׃ שִׁפְחֹתָ֔יו שפחה שפחה׃ שפחותיכם שפחת שפחתה שפחתו שפחתי שפחתיו שפחתיך׃ שפחתך bə·šip̄·ḥā·ṯe·ḵā beshifchaTecha bəšip̄ḥāṯeḵā haš·šə·p̄ā·ḥō·wṯ haš·šip̄·ḥāh hashshefaChot hashshifChah haššəp̄āḥōwṯ haššip̄ḥāh kaš·šip̄·ḥāh kashshifChah kaššip̄ḥāh lə·šip̄·ḥā·ṯə·ḵā lə·šip̄·ḥāh leshifChah leshifchateCha ləšip̄ḥāh ləšip̄ḥāṯəḵā shifChah shifChat shifchaTah shifchateCh shifchaTecha shifchaTi shifchaTo shifchoTav shifchoTeicha shifChoteiChem šip̄·ḥā·ṯāh šip̄·ḥā·ṯe·ḵā šip̄·ḥā·ṯə·ḵā šip̄·ḥā·ṯêḵ šip̄·ḥā·ṯî šip̄·ḥā·ṯōw šip̄·ḥāh šip̄·ḥaṯ šip̄·ḥō·ṯāw šip̄·ḥō·ṯe·ḵā šip̄·ḥō·w·ṯê·ḵem šip̄ḥāh šip̄ḥaṯ šip̄ḥāṯāh šip̄ḥāṯêḵ šip̄ḥāṯeḵā šip̄ḥāṯəḵā šip̄ḥāṯî šip̄ḥāṯōw šip̄ḥōṯāw šip̄ḥōṯeḵā šip̄ḥōwṯêḵem ū·lə·šip̄·ḥā·ṯə·ḵā ū·šə·p̄ā·ḥō·wṯ ū·šə·p̄ā·ḥōṯ uleshifchateCha ūləšip̄ḥāṯəḵā ūšəp̄āḥōṯ ūšəp̄āḥōwṯ ushefaChot velishfaChot veshifChah wə·liš·p̄ā·ḥō·wṯ wə·šip̄·ḥāh wəlišp̄āḥōwṯ wəšip̄ḥāh
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Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 12:16
HEB: וַחֲמֹרִ֔ים וַעֲבָדִים֙ וּשְׁפָחֹ֔ת וַאֲתֹנֹ֖ת וּגְמַלִּֽים׃
NAS: and male and female servants and female donkeys
KJV: and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses,
INT: and donkeys and male and female and female and camels

Genesis 16:1
HEB: ל֑וֹ וְלָ֛הּ שִׁפְחָ֥ה מִצְרִ֖ית וּשְׁמָ֥הּ
NAS: [children], and she had an Egyptian maid whose name
KJV: children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian,
INT: no had borne maid had an Egyptian name

Genesis 16:2
HEB: נָא֙ אֶל־ שִׁפְחָתִ֔י אוּלַ֥י אִבָּנֶ֖ה
NAS: go in to my maid; perhaps
KJV: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may
INT: Please to my maid perhaps will obtain

Genesis 16:3
HEB: הָגָ֤ר הַמִּצְרִית֙ שִׁפְחָתָ֔הּ מִקֵּץ֙ עֶ֣שֶׂר
NAS: the Egyptian, her maid, and gave
KJV: Hagar her maid the Egyptian,
INT: Hagar the Egyptian her maid after ten

Genesis 16:5
HEB: אָנֹכִ֗י נָתַ֤תִּי שִׁפְחָתִי֙ בְּחֵיקֶ֔ךָ וַתֵּ֙רֶא֙
NAS: done me be upon you. I gave my maid into your arms,
KJV: [be] upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom;
INT: I gave my maid your arms saw

Genesis 16:6
HEB: שָׂרַ֗י הִנֵּ֤ה שִׁפְחָתֵךְ֙ בְּיָדֵ֔ךְ עֲשִׂי־
NAS: Behold, your maid is in your power;
KJV: unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid [is] in thy hand;
INT: Sarai Behold your maid your power do

Genesis 16:8
HEB: וַיֹּאמַ֗ר הָגָ֞ר שִׁפְחַ֥ת שָׂרַ֛י אֵֽי־
NAS: Sarai's maid, where
KJV: Sarai's maid, whence
INT: said Hagar maid Sarai's whence

Genesis 20:14
HEB: וּבָקָ֗ר וַעֲבָדִים֙ וּשְׁפָחֹ֔ת וַיִּתֵּ֖ן לְאַבְרָהָ֑ם
NAS: and male and female servants,
KJV: and menservants, and womenservants, and gave
INT: and oxen and male and female and gave to Abraham

Genesis 24:35
HEB: וְזָהָ֔ב וַעֲבָדִם֙ וּשְׁפָחֹ֔ת וּגְמַלִּ֖ים וַחֲמֹרִֽים׃
NAS: and servants and maids, and camels
KJV: and menservants, and maidservants, and camels,
INT: and gold and servants and maids and camels and donkeys

Genesis 25:12
HEB: הָגָ֧ר הַמִּצְרִ֛ית שִׁפְחַ֥ת שָׂרָ֖ה לְאַבְרָהָֽם׃
NAS: Sarah's maid, bore
KJV: Sarah's handmaid, bare
INT: Hagar the Egyptian maid Sarah's to Abraham

Genesis 29:24
HEB: אֶת־ זִלְפָּ֖ה שִׁפְחָת֑וֹ לְלֵאָ֥ה בִתּ֖וֹ
NAS: also gave his maid Zilpah
KJV: Zilpah his maid [for] an handmaid.
INT: Laban Zilpah his maid Leah to his daughter

Genesis 29:24
HEB: לְלֵאָ֥ה בִתּ֖וֹ שִׁפְחָֽה׃
NAS: to his daughter Leah as a maid.
KJV: Zilpah his maid [for] an handmaid.
INT: Leah to his daughter A maid

Genesis 29:29
HEB: אֶת־ בִּלְהָ֖ה שִׁפְחָת֑וֹ לָ֖הּ לְשִׁפְחָֽה׃
NAS: also gave his maid Bilhah
KJV: Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
INT: to his daughter Bilhah his maid her maid

Genesis 29:29
HEB: שִׁפְחָת֑וֹ לָ֖הּ לְשִׁפְחָֽה׃
NAS: to his daughter Rachel as her maid.
KJV: Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
INT: Bilhah his maid her maid

Genesis 30:4
HEB: אֶת־ בִּלְהָ֥ה שִׁפְחָתָ֖הּ לְאִשָּׁ֑ה וַיָּבֹ֥א
NAS: So she gave him her maid Bilhah
KJV: him Bilhah her handmaid to wife:
INT: gave Bilhah her maid A wife went

Genesis 30:7
HEB: וַתֵּ֕לֶד בִּלְהָ֖ה שִׁפְחַ֣ת רָחֵ֑ל בֵּ֥ן
NAS: Rachel's maid Bilhah conceived
KJV: Rachel's maid conceived
INT: and bore Bilhah maid Rachel's son

Genesis 30:9
HEB: אֶת־ זִלְפָּ֣ה שִׁפְחָתָ֔הּ וַתִּתֵּ֥ן אֹתָ֛הּ
NAS: she took her maid Zilpah
KJV: Zilpah her maid, and gave
INT: took Zilpah her maid and gave Jacob

Genesis 30:10
HEB: וַתֵּ֗לֶד זִלְפָּ֛ה שִׁפְחַ֥ת לֵאָ֖ה לְיַעֲקֹ֥ב
NAS: Leah's maid Zilpah bore
KJV: And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob
INT: bore Zilpah maid Leah's Jacob

Genesis 30:12
HEB: וַתֵּ֗לֶד זִלְפָּה֙ שִׁפְחַ֣ת לֵאָ֔ה בֵּ֥ן
NAS: Leah's maid Zilpah bore
KJV: And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob
INT: bore Zilpah maid Leah's son

Genesis 30:18
HEB: אֲשֶׁר־ נָתַ֥תִּי שִׁפְחָתִ֖י לְאִישִׁ֑י וַתִּקְרָ֥א
NAS: I gave my maid to my husband.
KJV: I have given my maiden to my husband:
INT: because gave my maid to my husband named

Genesis 30:43
HEB: צֹ֣אן רַבּ֔וֹת וּשְׁפָחוֹת֙ וַעֲבָדִ֔ים וּגְמַלִּ֖ים
NAS: flocks and female and male servants
KJV: cattle, and maidservants, and menservants,
INT: flocks large and female and male and camels

Genesis 32:5
HEB: צֹ֖אן וְעֶ֣בֶד וְשִׁפְחָ֑ה וָֽאֶשְׁלְחָה֙ לְהַגִּ֣יד
NAS: and male and female servants;
KJV: and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent
INT: flocks and male and female have sent to tell

Genesis 32:22
HEB: וְאֶת־ שְׁתֵּ֣י שִׁפְחֹתָ֔יו וְאֶת־ אַחַ֥ד
NAS: and his two maids and his eleven
KJV: and his two womenservants, and his eleven
INT: wives and his two maids a ten

Genesis 33:1
HEB: וְעַ֖ל שְׁתֵּ֥י הַשְּׁפָחֽוֹת׃
NAS: and Rachel and the two maids.
KJV: and unto the two handmaids.
INT: among and the two maids

Genesis 33:2
HEB: וַיָּ֧שֶׂם אֶת־ הַשְּׁפָח֛וֹת וְאֶת־ יַלְדֵיהֶ֖ן
NAS: He put the maids and their children
KJV: And he put the handmaids and their children
INT: put the maids and their children front

63 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 8198
63 Occurrences


bə·šip̄·ḥā·ṯe·ḵā — 1 Occ.
haš·šə·p̄ā·ḥō·wṯ — 5 Occ.
haš·šip̄·ḥāh — 2 Occ.
kaš·šip̄·ḥāh — 1 Occ.
lə·šip̄·ḥāh — 2 Occ.
lə·šip̄·ḥā·ṯə·ḵā — 1 Occ.
šip̄·ḥāh — 4 Occ.
šip̄·ḥaṯ — 7 Occ.
šip̄·ḥā·ṯāh — 3 Occ.
šip̄·ḥā·ṯêḵ — 1 Occ.
šip̄·ḥā·ṯe·ḵā — 10 Occ.
šip̄·ḥā·ṯî — 3 Occ.
šip̄·ḥā·ṯōw — 5 Occ.
šip̄·ḥō·ṯāw — 1 Occ.
šip̄·ḥō·ṯe·ḵā — 1 Occ.
šip̄·ḥō·w·ṯê·ḵem — 1 Occ.
ū·lə·šip̄·ḥā·ṯə·ḵā — 1 Occ.
ū·šə·p̄ā·ḥōṯ — 6 Occ.
wə·liš·p̄ā·ḥō·wṯ — 6 Occ.
wə·šip̄·ḥāh — 2 Occ.

8197c
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