Bible Dictionary
BONDMAID
A female slave or bondservant. The term refers in the Old Testament to Hebrew or foreign slave girls and in Galatians to Hagar, Abraham's Egyptian slave woman.
Definition
A bondmaid is a female slave or bondservant. The term may refer to a Hebrew girl in temporary slavery, a foreign slave girl, or a slave woman generally.
Biblical Usage
The Old Testament uses the term for Hebrew and foreign slave girls. In Galatians it refers to Hagar, Abraham’s Egyptian slave woman.
Historical Background
The Hebrew terms include words elsewhere translated maid, handmaid, woman servant, or maidservant. The Greek term in Galatians means a slave girl.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>bond'-mad: Occurs but three times in the King James Version (Le 19:20; 25:44; Ga 4:22 (the Revised Version (British and American) "handmaid")). The first instance is that of Hebrew girl who has by birth, purchase or otherwise come into temporary slavery. The word here is shiphchah. It occurs often in the Old Testament, but is elsewhere translated "maid," "handmaid," "woman servant," "maidservant," etc. The other instance (Le 25:44) refers to foreign slave girls and has different word, 'amah, which also occurs number of times, but is elsewhere translated "handmaid," etc. The New Testament instance (Ga 4:22) refers to Hagar, Abraham's Egyptian slave girl. The original word paidiske, occurs several other times, but in the King James Version is elsewhere translated "maid," "damsel," etc. It means a slave girl.</p><p>See SLAVERY.</p><p>William Joseph McGlothlin</p>