Lexical Summary shiphchah: Maidservant, female servant, handmaid Original Word: שִׁפְחָה 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 Originfrom 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. 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. Key Scriptural References Genesis 16:2; 25:12 Exodus 20:10; 21:7–11 Deuteronomy 5:14; 16:11, 14 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 wəšip̄ḥāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman'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 Genesis 16:2 Genesis 16:3 Genesis 16:5 Genesis 16:6 Genesis 16:8 Genesis 20:14 Genesis 24:35 Genesis 25:12 Genesis 29:24 Genesis 29:24 Genesis 29:29 Genesis 29:29 Genesis 30:4 Genesis 30:7 Genesis 30:9 Genesis 30:10 Genesis 30:12 Genesis 30:18 Genesis 30:43 Genesis 32:5 Genesis 32:22 Genesis 33:1 Genesis 33:2 63 Occurrences |
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