Lexical Definition

‎שִׁפְחָה‎ shiphchâh (shif-khaw') maidservant ^H:N-F
feminine from an unused root meaning to spread out (as a family; see ‎מִשְׁפָּחָה‎)

(bond-, hand-) maid(-en, -servant), wench, bondwoman, womanservant.

• a female slave (as a member of the household)

1) maid, maid-servant, slavegirl
1a) maid, maid-servant (as belonging to a mistress)
1b) of address, speaker, humility (fig)

See Greek: γυνή · παιδίσκη

Brown-Driver-Briggs

Also see: אָמָה

‎שִׁפְחָה‎ noun feminine maid, maid-servant (synonym ‎אָמָה‎, q. v.; originally = concubine ? compare √); — absolute ‎׳‎‎שׁ‎ Gen 16:1 +; construct ‎שִׁפְחַת‎ vGen 16:2 +; suffix ‎שִׁפְחָתִי‎ vGen 16:2 +, etc.; plural absolute ‎שְׁפָחוֺת‎ Gen 12:16 +; suffix ‎שִׁפְחֹתֶ֑ךָ‎ Ruth 2:13, etc.; —

1. literally, maid, maid-servant, as belonging to a mistress Gen 16:1; Gen 16:3; Gen 16:6; Gen 16:8 (PJ) Gen 29:24; Gen 29:29 (P) Ps 123:2; Prov 30:23; Isa 24:2 even where concubine of master (compare ‎אָמָה‎) Gen 16:2; Gen 16:5 (PJ) Gen 25:12; Gen 35:25; Gen 35:26 (P) Gen 30:4; Gen 30:7; Gen 30:9; Gen 30:10; Gen 30:12; Gen 30:18 (all J E); less often reference to master Gen 29:24; Gen 29:29 (J), Ruth 2:13, of concubine Gen 32:23*, compare Gen 33:1; Gen 33:2; Gen 33:6 (all J); marriageable Lev 19:20 (H, compare Exod 11:5 not elsewhere in legisl.); in general, especially of menial service (never ‎אָמָה‎) Exod 11:5 (J) 1Sam 25:41 (opposed to ‎אָמָה‎) 2Sam 17:17 (|| ‎עֶבֶד‎) Gen 12:16; Gen 24:35(J) Gen 20:14 (E) Gen 30:43 (P) Gen 32:6* (J; collective) Deut 28:68; 1Sam 8:16; 2Kgs 5:26; Isa 14:2; Jer 34:9; Jer 34:10; Jer 34:11 (twice in verse); Jer 34:16 (twice in verse); Joel 3:2*; Eccl 2:7; 2Chr 28:10; Esth 7:4.

2. figurative in address, ‎שִׁפְחָֽתְךָ‎, etc., of speaker, in token of humility (see ‎אָמָה‎) Ruth 2:13 (|| ‎אָמָה‎ Ruth 3:9), 1Sam 1:18 (|| id. v1Sam 1:16), 1Sam 25:27, (|| v1Sam 25:24f.), 1Sam 28:21; 1Sam 28:22; 2Sam 14:6; 2Sam 14:7; 2Sam 14:12 (twice in verse); 2Sam 14:15; 2Sam 14:17; 2Sam 14:19 (|| ‎אָמָה‎ v2Sam 14:15 v2Sam 14:16); 2Kgs 4:2; 2Kgs 4:16 not toward God; but see ‎אָמָה‎.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References