Meaning
A female servant or woman who serves another person or household.
Biblical Usage
Scripture uses handmaid for a female servant or subordinate woman. The term appears in household, family, and social settings, and is sometimes used by a woman when speaking respectfully of herself in relation to another person.
Handmaid can also occur in contexts involving marriage, childbearing, and personal service. In Scripture, the term describes a person’s social or household position rather than a single specific occupation.
Key References
- Genesis 16:1 — Hagar is described as Sarai’s handmaid.
- Genesis 30:3 — Rachel gives her handmaid Bilhah to Jacob.
- Ruth 3:9 — Ruth identifies herself as Boaz’s handmaid.
- 1 Samuel 1:11 — Hannah repeatedly calls herself the LORD’s handmaid.
- 2 Samuel 6:20 — Michal refers to the handmaids of David.
- Luke 1:38 — Mary calls herself the handmaid of the Lord.
- Luke 1:48 — Mary says the Lord has regarded her low estate as his handmaid.
Related Terms
- Maidservant
- Servant
- Bondwoman
- Woman
- Household