In biblical times, the term "woman-servant" refers to a female servant or maidservant who was part of a household, often serving in various domestic capacities. The role and status of woman-servants in ancient Israelite society can be gleaned from various passages in the Bible, which provide insight into their lives, duties, and the legal and moral considerations surrounding their treatment.

Old Testament Context

The Hebrew term often translated as "maidservant" or "woman-servant" is "amah" or "shiphchah." These terms appear in several Old Testament passages, indicating the presence and roles of female servants in Israelite households. For instance, in Genesis 16:1, we read about Hagar, the Egyptian maidservant of Sarai (Sarah), who plays a significant role in the narrative: "Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar."

The Mosaic Law provided specific regulations concerning the treatment of woman-servants. Exodus 21:7-11 outlines the rights of a female servant who was sold by her father, emphasizing her protection and fair treatment: "If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as the menservants do. If she is displeasing to her master who has selected her for himself, he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, since he has broken faith with her."

Roles and Responsibilities

Woman-servants were often responsible for various domestic tasks, including cooking, cleaning, and assisting their mistresses. In some cases, they also played roles in child-rearing and could be given as concubines to bear children on behalf of their mistresses, as seen in the case of Hagar and later with Bilhah and Zilpah, the maidservants of Rachel and Leah, respectively (Genesis 30:3-10).

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the Greek term "paidiskē" is used to refer to a female servant or slave. While the New Testament does not focus extensively on the roles of woman-servants, it does provide glimpses into their presence in early Christian communities. For example, in Acts 12:13, we read about Rhoda, a servant girl who recognized Peter's voice when he knocked at the door of Mary’s house: "When he knocked at the outer gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it."

Moral and Ethical Considerations

The Bible emphasizes the fair and compassionate treatment of servants, including woman-servants. The principles of justice and mercy are underscored in passages such as Deuteronomy 15:12-15, which instructs the Israelites to release their Hebrew servants in the seventh year and to provide for them generously: "If your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you, he shall serve you six years, and in the seventh year you shall set him free."

The biblical narrative also highlights instances where woman-servants are shown favor and kindness, reflecting the broader biblical theme of God's concern for the marginalized and oppressed. The account of Ruth, though not a servant in the traditional sense, illustrates the potential for social mobility and divine blessing for women of humble status.

Conclusion

The role of woman-servants in the Bible is multifaceted, reflecting the social and economic structures of ancient times. While they often occupied lowly positions, the biblical text provides guidelines for their humane treatment and acknowledges their significant contributions to the household and community.8198. shiphchah -- maid, maidservant
... handmaiden, bondwoman, woman-servant. ... a female slave (as a member of the household) --
(bond-, hand-)maid(-en, -servant), wench, bondwoman, womanservant. ...
/hebrew/8198.htm - 6k

Life Amongst the Upper Ten Thousand
... I made ready and in due course the Yamen carriage arrived, a springless, but elegantly
upholstered cart, and accompanied by a woman servant we started. ...
/.../the fulfilment of a dream of pastor hsis/chapter xviii life amongst the.htm

But this Time Also had I Rejected the Lying Divinations and ...
... He said then that he had heard of his father, that what time his mother was about
to give birth to him, Firminus, a woman-servant of that friend of his ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter vi but this time.htm

Love's Triumph Over Sin
... Overpowered by fear, beaten down from all his vain-glorious self-confidence by a
woman-servant's sharp tongue and mocking eye, he lied"and then came the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/loves triumph over sin.htm

The Self Life.
... He became afraid when the woman servant charged him with belonging to Jesus, and
three times said, "I know not this man, I have nothing to do with Him." He ...
//christianbookshelf.org/murray/the masters indwelling/ii the self life.htm

The Family of a Saint
... was confirmed from her earliest years, it is not so much to the lessons of her mother
that she owed it, as to the training of an old woman-servant of whom she ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bertrand/saint augustin/ii the family of a.htm

A Prince's Bride
... A woman servant hastening after a line of men bearing a great divan, picking up
the draperies and pillows that had dropped, stopped and salaamed to her master. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/miller/the city of delight/chapter i a princes bride.htm

the Legendary History of Egypt
... bent, "his mouth trembled, his slaver trickled down to earth and his saliva dropped
upon the ground." Isis, who had hitherto been a mere woman-servant in the ...
/.../chapter iii -the legendary history of.htm

The Polity Settled by Moses; and How He Disappeared from among ...
... But if he have a son by a woman servant in his purchaser's house, and if, on account
of his good-will to his master, and his natural affection to his wife and ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 the polity settled.htm

The Story of the Stranger at the Well
... And to get away from her, he went out into the porch of the house. There another
woman-servant saw him and said: "This man was one of those with Jesus!". ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of the stranger.htm

Another Wonderful Record of 25.
The Wonders of Prayer. <. ...
/.../various/the wonders of prayer/another wonderful record of 25 00.htm

Woman-servant (12 Occurrences)
Woman-servant. Woman's, Woman-servant. Womb . Multi-Version
Concordance Woman-servant (12 Occurrences). Luke 22:56 And ...
/w/woman-servant.htm - 10k

Man-servant (18 Occurrences)
... (ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT). Exodus 21:20 If a man gives his man-servant or his
woman-servant blows with a rod, causing death, he is certainly to undergo punishment. ...
/m/man-servant.htm - 12k

Servant-woman (7 Occurrences)
Servant-woman. Servant-wives, Servant-woman. Servant-women . Multi-Version
Concordance ... (BBE). Servant-wives, Servant-woman. Servant-women . Reference Bible
/s/servant-woman.htm - 8k

Causing (248 Occurrences)
... Exodus 21:20 If a man gives his man-servant or his woman-servant blows with a rod,
causing death, he is certainly to undergo punishment. (BBE). ...
/c/causing.htm - 38k

Woman's (20 Occurrences)

/w/woman's.htm - 12k

Firelight (1 Occurrence)
... Luke 22:56 And a certain woman-servant, seeing him in the light of the fire, and
looking at him with attention, said, This man was with him. (See NAS NIV). ...
/f/firelight.htm - 6k

Bondmaid (18 Occurrences)
... The word here is shiphchah. It occurs often in the Old Testament, but is elsewhere
translated "maid," "handmaid," "womanservant," "maidservant," etc. ...
/b/bondmaid.htm - 13k

Attention (236 Occurrences)
... Luke 22:56 And a certain woman-servant, seeing him in the light of the fire, and
looking at him with attention, said, This man was with him. (BBE). ...
/a/attention.htm - 36k

Servant-girl (18 Occurrences)
... Luke 22:56 And a certain woman-servant, seeing him in the light of the fire, and
looking at him with attention, said, This man was with him. (See NAS). ...
/s/servant-girl.htm - 11k

Worker (36 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 25:6 And the Sabbath of the land will give food for you and your man-servant
and your woman-servant and those working for payment, and for those of ...
/w/worker.htm - 20k

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