In the context of the Bible, the term "mistress" can refer to a woman who has authority or control over servants or slaves, or it can denote a woman who is in a position of influence or power. The term is used in various contexts throughout the Scriptures, often reflecting the social and cultural norms of the times.

Old Testament References

1. Sarah and Hagar: One of the most notable uses of the term "mistress" is found in the account of Sarah and Hagar. In Genesis 16:4, Hagar, the Egyptian maidservant of Sarah, is described as having contempt for her mistress after she becomes pregnant with Abraham's child. The passage reads, "And when she saw that she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress." This narrative highlights the complex dynamics of authority, jealousy, and social hierarchy within the household.

2. Proverbs 30:23: The book of Proverbs includes a reference to a maidservant who displaces her mistress, illustrating a reversal of social order that is considered undesirable. Proverbs 30:23 states, "an unloved woman who marries, and a maidservant who supplants her mistress." This verse is part of a list of things that cause the earth to tremble, emphasizing the disruption caused by such a reversal.

New Testament Context

The New Testament does not explicitly use the term "mistress" in the same way as the Old Testament. However, the concept of women in positions of authority or influence can be seen in various passages. For example, Lydia, a seller of purple goods in Acts 16:14, is a woman of influence and authority in her household and community. While not referred to as a "mistress," her role reflects the broader biblical theme of women who hold significant positions.

Cultural and Theological Implications

In biblical times, the role of a mistress was often tied to the household structure, where she would have authority over servants and manage domestic affairs. This role is reflective of the patriarchal society in which the Scriptures were written, where women often derived their status and authority from their relationship to male figures, such as husbands or fathers.

Theologically, the interactions between mistresses and their subordinates, such as Sarah and Hagar, can be seen as illustrative of broader themes of authority, submission, and God's sovereignty. These narratives often serve as a backdrop for exploring human relationships and divine intervention.

Conclusion

The term "mistress" in the Bible encompasses a range of meanings and implications, from authority and influence to social disruption. While the specific term may not be prevalent in the New Testament, the concept continues to be relevant in understanding the roles and relationships of women within the biblical narrative.1. (n.) A woman having power, authority, or ownership; a woman who exercises authority, is chief, etc.; the female head of a family, a school, etc.

2. (n.) A woman well skilled in anything, or having the mastery over it.

3. (n.) A woman regarded with love and devotion; she who has command over one's heart; a beloved object; a sweetheart.

4. (n.) A woman filling the place, but without the rights, of a wife; a concubine; a loose woman with whom one consorts habitually.

5. (n.) A title of courtesy formerly prefixed to the name of a woman, married or unmarried, but now superseded by the contracted forms, Mrs., for a married, and Miss, for an unmarried, woman.

6. (n.) A married woman; a wife.

7. (n.) The old name of the jack at bowls.

8. (v. i.) To wait upon a mistress; to be courting.

MISTRESS

mis'-tres (ba`alah, gebhereth): Is the translation of ba`alah, "lady," "owner" (1 Kings 17:17 Nahum 3:4); in 1 Samuel 28:7, "a woman that hath a familiar spirit" is literally, "the mistress of a familiar spirit"; of gebhereth (Genesis 16:4, 8, 9 2 Kings 5:3 Psalm 123:2 Proverbs 30:23 Isaiah 24:2); in Isaiah 47:5, 7, we have the King James Version and the English Revised Version "lady," the American Standard Revised Version "mistress."

3136. Martha -- Martha, a Christian woman
... Martha. Probably of Chaldee origin (meaning mistress); Martha, a Christian woman --
Martha. (martha) -- 10 Occurrences. (marthan) -- 2 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3136.htm - 6k1404. gebereth -- lady, queen, mistress
... 1403, 1404. gebereth. 1405 . lady, queen, mistress. Transliteration: gebereth
Phonetic Spelling: (gheb-eh'-reth) Short Definition: mistress. ...
/hebrew/1404.htm - 6k

1172. baalah -- a mistress
... 1171, 1172. baalah. 1173 . a mistress. Transliteration: baalah Phonetic Spelling:
(bah-al-aw') Short Definition: medium. Word Origin fem. ... that hath, mistress ...
/hebrew/1172.htm - 6k

7705. shiddah -- perhaps a mistress
... shiddah. 7706 . perhaps a mistress. Transliteration: shiddah Phonetic Spelling:
(shid-dah') Short Definition: concubines. ... wife, mistress, musical instrument. ...
/hebrew/7705.htm - 6k

1192. Baalath Beer -- "mistress of a well," a city in Simeon
... "mistress of a well," a city in Simeon. Transliteration: Baalath Beer Phonetic
Spelling: (bah-al-ath' beh-ayr') Short Definition: Baalath-beer. ...
/hebrew/1192.htm - 6k

1807. Delilah -- Philistine mistress of Samson
... 1806, 1807. Delilah. 1808 . Philistine mistress of Samson. Transliteration:
Delilah Phonetic Spelling: (del-ee-law') Short Definition: Delilah. ...
/hebrew/1807.htm - 6k

1377. gebirah -- lady, queen
... of gebir Definition lady, queen NASB Word Usage queen (1), queen mother (5). queen.
Feminine of gbiyr; a mistress -- queen. see HEBREW gbiyr. 1376, 1377. ...
/hebrew/1377.htm - 6k

8282. sarah -- princess, noble lady
... lady, princess, queen. Feminine of sar; a mistress, ie Female noble -- lady, princess,
queen. see HEBREW sar. 8281, 8282. sarah. 8283 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/8282.htm - 6k

He Dismisses one Mistress, and Chooses Another.
... Book VI. Chapter XV."He Dismisses One Mistress, and Chooses Another. 25.
Meanwhile my sins were being multiplied, and my mistress ...
/.../the confessions and letters of st/chapter xv he dismisses one mistress.htm

Arria and Her Brother were Far from the Shores of Hellas and Near ...
... "Beloved mistress," said Cyran, kneeling by the side of Arria and kissing the border
of her robe, "listen; I will tell you of the coming of the great love. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bacheller/vergilius/chapter 21 arria and her.htm

Psalm CXXIII.
... "Behold, even as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as
the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress: even so our eyes wait ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxxiii.htm

Concerning the Signal Chastity of Joseph.
... to him, she could easily persuade him to come and lie with her, and that he would
look upon it as a piece of happy fortune that his mistress should entreat him ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 4 concerning the signal.htm

Explanation of the Preceding Chapter.
... When the holy and noble Joseph perceived that the love of his mistress tended
to the ruin of that which was due to his master: Ah! ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter vii explanation of the.htm

Chapter xxx
... She was originally bestowed upon her mistress at the time of the marriage of the
mistress, partly in view of the possibility of the barrenness of her mistress ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxx.htm

"Good-For-Nothing"
... When he was really gone, my mistress called me in to speak to her; so grave, yet
so kind she looked, so wisely she spoke, like an angel, indeed. ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/good-for-nothing.htm

A Little Jewish Maid.
... When her mistress washed her hands, the little maid held the basin on bended
knee. ... One day she sighed, and said to her mistress,". ...
/.../anonymous/children of the old testament/a little jewish maid.htm

Mr. ...
... "Would you be afraid to sleep alone, Diamond?" asked his mistress. ... "You
would like this room, then, Diamond?" said his mistress. ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 35 mr .htm

How Human Actions are Without Worth when they are done Without ...
... they were all born after Sara's decease; and as for Ismael, though his mother Agar
had at first acted by the authority of Sara her mistress, yet afterwards she ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xi how human actions.htm

Mistress (20 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) The old name of the jack at bowls. 8. (vi) To wait upon a mistress;
to be courting. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MISTRESS. ...
/m/mistress.htm - 14k

Hagar (15 Occurrences)
... whom she gave to Abraham (qv) as a secondary wife (16:2). When she was about to
become a mother she fled from the cruelty of her mistress, intending apparently ...
/h/hagar.htm - 22k

Lady (37 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) A woman who looks after the domestic affairs
of a family; a mistress; the female head of a household. ...
/l/lady.htm - 22k

Queen (59 Occurrences)
... is the title given to Vashti (1:9) and Esther (2:22); compare Songs 6:8 f. Another
Hebrew word for queen consort is gebhirah, literally "mistress" (compare 1 ...
/q/queen.htm - 44k

Ishmael (44 Occurrences)
... As soon as Hagar "saw that she had conceived," her behavior toward her mistress
underwent a radical change; she was "despised in her eyes." But for the ...
/i/ishmael.htm - 38k

Miss (7 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A title of courtesy prefixed to the name of a girl or a woman who has not
been married. See Mistress. ... 3. (n.) A kept mistress. See Mistress. ...
/m/miss.htm - 10k

Baalah (5 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Mistress; city. (1.) A city in the south of Judah
(Joshua 15:29), elsewhere called Balah (Joshua 19:3) and ...
/b/baalah.htm - 10k

Maid (57 Occurrences)
... Where are you going?" She said, "I am fleeing from the face of my mistress
Sarai." (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). ...
/m/maid.htm - 27k

Horrible (12 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 15:13 and also Maachah his mother -- he turneth her aside from being mistress,
in that she made a horrible thing for a shrine, and Asa cutteth down her ...
/h/horrible.htm - 11k

Horrid (2 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 15:13 and also Maachah his mother -- he turneth her aside from being mistress,
in that she made a horrible thing for a shrine, and Asa cutteth down her ...
/h/horrid.htm - 7k

What is the biblical significance of Beer Lahai Roi? | GotQuestions.org

Who were the Ishmaelites? | GotQuestions.org

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Mistress: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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