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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Maid; Maiden
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maÌ„d, maÌ„d´'n: Used in the King James Version in the sense of a girl or young female; of an unmarried woman or virgin, and of a female servant or handmaid. Thus, it translates several Hebrew words: (1) The more generic word is × ×¢×¨×”, na‛ăraÌ„h, “girl,†feminine form of the common × ×¢×¨, na‛ar, “boy†(; , ; , ff; ; ) In several places masculine form × ×¢×¨, na‛ar, with feminine form of verb rendered “damsel†(, , , ; , ; ); compare ἡ πσῖς, heÌ„ paıÌs (, ); see also παιδιÌσκη, paidıÌskeÌ„, diminutive (Sirach 41:22; , ; ; κοÏαÌσιον, koraÌsion, Septuagint for nă‛araÌ„h, “maid,†in f with f; Susanna verses 15, 19). (2) The Hebrew עלמה, ‛almaÌ„h, also rendered “maid,†refers to a woman of marriageable age (; ), whether married or not, whether a virgin or not. The same word is translated “virgin†in several places ( the King James Version; ; ; ). (3) The word בּתוּלה, bethuÌ„laÌ„h, a common Hebrew word for “virgin,†a chaste woman Septuagint παÏθεÌνος, partheÌnos), is frequently rendered “maid†and “maiden†(; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; compare , , having “the marks (tokens) of virginityâ€); בּתוּלי×, bethuÌ„lı̄m, rendered “maid.†See VIRGIN. (4) Two Hebrew words covering the idea of service, handmaid, handmaiden, and in numerous passages so rendered: (a) ×מה, 'aÌ„maÌ„h, translated “maid†(; ; , ; ; ; ; ); (b) ש×פחה, shiphhÌ£aÌ„h, “a family servant,†“a handmaid,†so rendered in numerous passages (“maid,†“maiden,†ff; , ; , , , , ; ; ; ). In the King James Version they are variously translated “maid,†“handmaid,†etc. (5) The rather rare word ἀÌβÏα, haÌbra, “favorite slave,†is rendered “maid†in Judith 10:2, 5; 13:9; 16:23; Additions to Esther 15:2, 7. (6) δουÌλη, douÌleÌ„, “female slave,†in the King James Version Judith 12:49 (the Revised Version (British and American) “servantâ€).
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 (); daughters might be sold by their fathers into this condition (). 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; Sirach 41:22.
“Maidservants†replaces “maidens†of the King James Version in . Compare .