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; seemishpachah); a female slave (as a member of the household) -- (bond-, hand-)maid(-en, -servant), wench, bondwoman, womanservant.
see HEBREWmishpachah
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom an unused word
Definitionmaid, maidservant
NASB Translationfemale (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
(synonym , q. v.; originally =
concubine ? compare √); — absolute
Genesis 16:1 +; construct
Genesis 16:2 +; suffix
Genesis 16:2 +, etc.; plural absolute
Genesis 12:16 +; suffix
Ruth 2:13, etc.; —
literally,maid, maid-servant, as belonging to a mistressGenesis 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 )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 masterGenesis 29:24,29 (J),Ruth 2:13, of concubineGenesis 32:23, compareGenesis 33:1,2,6 (all J); marriageableLeviticus 19:20 (H, compareExodus 11:5; not elsewhere in legisl.); in General, especially of menial service (never )Exodus 11:5 (J)1 Samuel 25:41 (opposed to )2 Samuel 17:17 ("" )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.
, , etc., of speaker, in token of humility (see )Ruth 2:13 (""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; (""2 Samuel 14:15;2 Samuel 14:16);2 Kings 4:2,16; not toward God; but see .
Topical Lexicon
Definition and Range of Meaningשִׁפְחָה (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. InJoel 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 (quotedActs 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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