Topical Bible: Maidservants

Bible > Topical > Maidservants

◄ Maidservants ►

Jump to: Concordance • Thesaurus • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical context, maidservants, also referred to as female servants or handmaids, played significant roles within the household and society. The term "maidservant" is used to describe women who served in various capacities, often within the homes of their masters or mistresses. These women were integral to the daily functioning of households and were sometimes involved in pivotal biblical narratives.

Old Testament References

Maidservants are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament, where they are depicted as part of the patriarchal household structure. In Genesis 16:1-2 , we encounter Hagar, the Egyptian maidservant of Sarai (later Sarah), who becomes a central figure in the account of Abraham. Sarai, being barren, gives Hagar to her husband Abram to bear a child, illustrating the customs and social norms of the time: "Now Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, 'Look now, the LORD has prevented me from having children. Please go to my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family by her.'"

Another notable mention is in Genesis 30, where Rachel and Leah, the wives of Jacob, give their maidservants Bilhah and Zilpah to Jacob as wives to bear children on their behalf. This practice highlights the importance of lineage and the continuation of family lines in ancient Israelite culture.

Maidservants also appear in the context of the Ten Commandments, where they are included in the list of possessions that should not be coveted, as seen in Exodus 20:17 : "You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

New Testament References

In the New Testament, maidservants are mentioned less frequently but still hold significance. In Luke 1:38 , Mary, the mother of Jesus, refers to herself as the "Lord’s servant" or handmaid, demonstrating humility and submission to God's will: "I am the Lord’s servant," Mary answered. "May it happen to me according to your word." This reflects the broader biblical theme of servanthood as a virtue.

Social and Legal Status

The social and legal status of maidservants varied. In some cases, they were considered part of the household and could be treated with kindness and respect, as seen in the laws given to the Israelites. For instance, Deuteronomy 15:12-14 outlines the treatment of Hebrew servants, including maidservants, emphasizing fair treatment and provision upon their release: "If your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you must set him free. And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed."

However, maidservants could also be subject to harsh conditions and exploitation, as seen in the account of Hagar, who fled from Sarai's mistreatment (Genesis 16:6). The biblical narrative often reflects the complexities of human relationships and the moral and ethical challenges faced by individuals in positions of power.

Spiritual Symbolism

Maidservants in the Bible can also carry spiritual symbolism, representing humility, obedience, and service to God. The role of a servant is often used metaphorically to describe the relationship between believers and God, emphasizing the virtues of faithfulness and dedication.

Overall, maidservants in the Bible are depicted in various roles and contexts, reflecting the cultural, social, and spiritual dimensions of servanthood in biblical times. Their accounts contribute to the rich tapestry of biblical history and theology, offering insights into the values and practices of ancient societies.

Strong's Hebrew

8198. shiphchah -- maid, maidservant
... maid, maidservant NASB Word Usage female (9), female servant (3), female servants
(5), maid (20), maids (5), maidservant (15), maidservants (1), servants* (6 ...
/hebrew/8198.htm - 6k

Library

The Seventh Book
... Nay, as far as passive endurance of their lust is concerned, who among them did
not reduce his wife to the status of his maidservants and degrade the sacrament ...
//christianbookshelf.org/salvian/on the government of god/the seventh book.htm

Leadership for Service
... But if that servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall
begin to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink ...
/.../the social principles of jesus/chapter vii leadership for service.htm

St. Malachy's Apostolic Labours, Praises and Miracles.
... From the first day of his conversion to the last of his life, he lived without personal
possessions.[593] He had neither menservants nor maidservants,[594] nor ...
/.../chapter vi st malachys apostolic.htm

The Census and the Journey of the Holy Family
... wound. Anna was very busy; she went here and there fetching and distributing
wool and apportioning their tasks to her maidservants. ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/x the census and the.htm

Obadiah
... And he had his great household of slaves, men-servants and maidservants, guards
and footmen, singing men and singing women"perhaps a hundred souls and more ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon ix obadiah.htm

Simon Cephas Said unto Him, Our Lord, is it to us that Thou Hast ...
... [2953] But if that evil servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his [6] coming;
[2954] and shall begin to beat his servants and the maidservants of his lord ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section xliii simon cephas said.htm

So for that Reason one Should, in Fact...
... and daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions and your old
men shall dream dreams; yea, and on my menservants and my maidservants in those ...
/.../patrick/the confession of st patrick/section 40 so for that.htm

Naaman's Imperfect Faith
... Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards,
and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? 27. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/naamans imperfect faith.htm

How under Eli's Government of the Israelites Booz Married Ruth ...
... and perhaps was so pious a man as to make some provision for them, she went out
again on the days following, to gather the gleanings with Booz's maidservants. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 9 how under elis.htm

Manners of the Susid??.
... and indeed of the best sort, being decked with ornaments and precious stones; also
they go abroad supported by the aid of their maidservants, with much greater ...
/.../unknown/recognitions of clement /chapter xxiii manners of the susidae.htm

Thesaurus

Maidservants (28 Occurrences)
...Maidservants (28 Occurrences). ... Mark 14:66 Now while Peter was below in the
quadrangle, one of the High Priest's maidservants came, (WEY). ...
/m/maidservants.htm - 15k

Menservants (19 Occurrences)
... Luke 12:45 But if that servant says in his heart,'My lord delays his coming,' and
begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink ...
/m/menservants.htm - 12k

Maids (28 Occurrences)
... Luke 12:45 But if that servant says in his heart,'My lord delays his coming,' and
begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink ...
/m/maids.htm - 14k

Asses (68 Occurrences)
... Genesis 12:16 And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen,
and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels. ...
/a/asses.htm - 29k

Maid-servants (25 Occurrences)
Maid-servants. Maidservants, Maid-servants. Maidservant's . Multi-Version
Concordance ... (YLT). Maidservants, Maid-servants. Maidservant's . Reference Bible
/m/maid-servants.htm - 14k

Quadrangle (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Quadrangle (1 Occurrence). Mark 14:66 Now while Peter
was below in the quadrangle, one of the High Priest's maidservants came, (WEY). ...
/q/quadrangle.htm - 7k

Oxen (176 Occurrences)
... Genesis 12:16 And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen,
and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels. ...
/o/oxen.htm - 38k

Goodliest (3 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 8:16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your
goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. (KJV JPS ASV). ...
/g/goodliest.htm - 7k

Galilaean (7 Occurrences)
... Matthew 26:69 Peter meanwhile was sitting outside in the court of the palace, when
one of the maidservants came over to him and said, "You too were with Jesus ...
/g/galilaean.htm - 8k

Drunk (84 Occurrences)
... Luke 12:45 But if that servant says in his heart,'My lord delays his coming,' and
begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink ...
/d/drunk.htm - 34k

Resources

What is biblical homemaking? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Maidservants (28 Occurrences)

Matthew 26:69
Peter meanwhile was sitting outside in the court of the palace, when one of the maidservants came over to him and said, "You too were with Jesus the Galilaean."
(WEY)

Mark 14:66
Now while Peter was below in the quadrangle, one of the High Priest's maidservants came,
(WEY)

Luke 12:45
But if that servant says in his heart,'My lord delays his coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken,
(WEB ASV DBY RSV NIV)

Acts 2:18
and also upon My men-servants, and upon My maid-servants, in those days, I will pour out of My Spirit, and they shall prophesy;
(See RSV)

Genesis 12:16
And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.
(KJV RSV NIV)

Genesis 20:17
So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
(KJV)

Genesis 24:35
And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.
(KJV RSV NIV)

Genesis 30:43
And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.
(KJV RSV NIV)

Genesis 31:33
And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maidservants' tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent.
(KJV RSV NIV)

Genesis 32:5
And I have oxen, and asses and flocks, and men-servants and maid-servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favour in thy sight.'
(See RSV NIV)

Genesis 32:22
And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two maidservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford of the Jabbok;
(DBY NIV)

Genesis 33:1
And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and with him four hundred men. And he distributed the children to Leah, and to Rachel, and to the two maidservants:
(DBY NIV)

Genesis 33:2
and he put the maidservants and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindmost.
(DBY NIV)

Genesis 33:6
And the maidservants drew near, they and their children, and they bowed.
(DBY NIV)

Deuteronomy 12:12
And ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God, ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gates; forasmuch as he hath no part nor inheritance with you.
(KJV RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 12:18
but thou shalt eat them before the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, and the Levite that is within thy gates; and thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God in all that thou puttest thy hand unto.
(See NIV)

Deuteronomy 16:11
And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, and the Levite that is within they gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are in the midst of thee, in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to cause His name to dwell there.
(See NIV)

Deuteronomy 16:14
And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, and the Levite, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.
(See NIV)

Ruth 2:13
Then she said: 'Let me find favour in thy sight, my LORD; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken to the heart of thy handmaid, though I be not as one of thy handmaidens.'
(See NAS RSV)

1 Samuel 8:16
And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
(KJV RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 6:22
And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honor.
(KJV)

2 Kings 5:26
And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?
(KJV RSV NIV)

Ezra 2:65
beside their men-servants and their maid-servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven; and they had two hundred singing men and singing women.
(See RSV NIV)

Nehemiah 7:67
Beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and five singing men and singing women.
(KJV RSV NIV)

Job 19:15
They that dwell in my house, and my maids, count me for a stranger; I am become an alien in their sight.
(See RSV NIV)

Job 31:13
If I did despise the cause of my man-servant, or of my maid-servant, when they contended with me--
(See NIV)

Isaiah 14:2
And the peoples shall take them, and bring them to their place; and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the LORD for servants and for handmaids; and they shall take them captive, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors.
(See NIV)

Joel 2:29
And also on the men-servants, and on the maid-servants, In those days I do pour out My Spirit.
(See RSV)

Subtopics

Maidservants

Related Terms

Maid-servants (25 Occurrences)

Menservants (19 Occurrences)

Men-servants (22 Occurrences)

Maids (28 Occurrences)

Subdue (26 Occurrences)

Asses (68 Occurrences)

Maid-servant (49 Occurrences)

Freed (32 Occurrences)