In biblical times, the term "maid" often referred to a young female servant or a young unmarried woman. The role and status of maids in the biblical narrative can be understood through various passages that highlight their duties, relationships, and significance within the household and society.

Old Testament References

1. Hagar: One of the most notable maids in the Old Testament is Hagar, the Egyptian maidservant of Sarah, Abraham's wife. In Genesis 16, Sarah, unable to bear children, gives Hagar to Abraham as a concubine to bear a child on her behalf. Hagar's account illustrates the complex social dynamics and personal struggles faced by maidservants. Genesis 16:1-2 states, "Now Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, 'Please now, the LORD has prevented me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family by her.'"

2. Rebekah's Maids: In Genesis 24, when Rebekah leaves her family to marry Isaac, she is accompanied by her maids. These maids served as attendants and companions, highlighting the practice of providing personal servants to women of status. Genesis 24:59 notes, "So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham’s servant and his men."

3. Leah and Rachel's Maids: Bilhah and Zilpah, the maidservants of Rachel and Leah respectively, play crucial roles in the expansion of Jacob's family. Both maids bear children for Jacob, which are considered part of the twelve tribes of Israel. This practice underscores the cultural norms regarding fertility and inheritance. Genesis 30:3-4 records Rachel's words, "Then she said, 'Here is my maidservant Bilhah. Go, sleep with her so that she can bear children for me and I too can build a family through her.'"

New Testament References

1. Peter's Denial: In the New Testament, a maidservant plays a role in the narrative of Peter's denial of Jesus. In Mark 14:66-67 , it is written, "While Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the high priest’s servant girls came down and saw him warming himself there. She looked at Peter and said, 'You also were with Jesus the Nazarene.'"

2. Rhoda: In Acts 12, Rhoda is a maidservant who recognizes Peter's voice when he miraculously escapes from prison and knocks at the door of Mary’s house. Her role, though minor, is significant in the context of the early Christian community's prayer and faith. Acts 12:13-14 states, "When he knocked at the outer gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that she forgot to open the gate, but ran inside and announced, 'Peter is standing at the gate!'"

Cultural and Social Context

In biblical times, maids often held a dual role as both servants and integral members of the household. They were entrusted with various domestic duties and sometimes played pivotal roles in family matters, as seen in the narratives of Hagar, Bilhah, and Zilpah. The presence of maids in biblical accounts reflects the patriarchal and hierarchical structure of ancient societies, where women, particularly those of lower social status, were often subject to the authority of their masters and mistresses.

The biblical portrayal of maids also highlights themes of faith, loyalty, and divine intervention. Despite their lowly status, maidservants like Hagar and Rhoda are depicted as individuals with personal agency and spiritual significance, contributing to the unfolding of God's plan in the biblical narrative.

A Hymn Concerning Her.
... the high God comes. "A hallowed maid gives birth to Him Who gave the world
its being; Mary, the gate of God, a maiden gives Him, birth. ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap xx a hymn concerning.htm

Whether Seduction Should be Reckoned a Species of Lust?
... 3541]Q[153], A[1]). And a special deformity attaches to the violation of a virgin
who is under her father's care: both on the part of the maid, who through ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether seduction should be reckoned.htm

How He Healed a Sick Maiden by his Prayers. [705 AD ]
... Wherefore he went in, taking me with him to the maid, who lay, as I said, in sore
anguish, and her arm swelling so greatly that it could not be bent at all at ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap iii how he healed.htm

Letter Xlii. To Marcella.
... When the apostle Peter, taken aback by a maid's question, denied the Lord,
did he sin against the Son of Man or against the Holy Ghost? ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter xlii to marcella.htm

Whether the Consent Needs to be Expressed in Words?
... Now there is a case of marriage without the expression of words if the maid is silent
through bashfulness when her parents give her away to the bridegroom. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the consent needs to.htm

The Murket's Sacrifice
... Where is thy pride?". Kenkenes stopped him with a motion of his hand. "A
maid's unwillingness is obstacle enough," he said. "Shall ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xxxvi the murkets sacrifice.htm

Now Follows the Practice of Piety in Dying for the Lord.
... cxlix.9.) And I have just cause to fear, that the miracles of Lipsius's two ladies,
Blunstone's boy, Garnet's straw, and the maid's fiery apron, will not ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/now follows the practice of.htm

Parting Promises and Warnings
... A flippant maid's tongue was enough to finish him then. It is sometimes
easier to bear a great load for Christ than a small one. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/parting promises and warnings.htm

The Strait Gate;
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the strait gate.htm

The Life and Death of Mr. Badman,
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the life and death of.htm

Maid's (2 Occurrences)
...Maid's (2 Occurrences). Exodus 21:26 "If a man strikes his servant's eye, or his
maid's eye, and destroys it, he shall let him go free for his eye's sake. (WEB) ...
/m/maid's.htm - 7k

Maids (28 Occurrences)

/m/maids.htm - 14k

Odours (8 Occurrences)
... Esther 2:12 Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after
that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for ...
/o/odours.htm - 9k

Eye's (1 Occurrence)
... Eye's (1 Occurrence). Exodus 21:26 "If a man strikes his servant's eye, or his maid's
eye, and destroys it, he shall let him go free for his eye's sake. ...
/e/eye's.htm - 6k

Destroys (23 Occurrences)
... Exodus 21:26 "If a man strikes his servant's eye, or his maid's eye, and destroys
it, he shall let him go free for his eye's sake. (WEB NAS RSV NIV). ...
/d/destroys.htm - 12k

Purifications (3 Occurrences)
... Esther 2:12 Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after
that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for ...
/p/purifications.htm - 7k

Purifying (17 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 12:5 But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks,
as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying ...
/p/purifying.htm - 11k

Compensate (4 Occurrences)
... Compensate (4 Occurrences). Exodus 21:26 "If a man strikes his servant's eye, or
his maid's eye, and destroys it, he shall let him go free for his eye's sake. ...
/c/compensate.htm - 8k

Servant's (29 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE WBS NIV). Galatians 4:31 So then, brethren, we are not maid
servant's children, but children of the free woman. (DBY YLT). ...
/s/servant's.htm - 15k

Strikes (39 Occurrences)
... Exodus 21:20 "If a man strikes his servant or his maid with a rod, and he dies
under his hand, he shall surely be punished. (WEB NAS RSV). ...
/s/strikes.htm - 16k

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