HANDMAID (אָמָה, H563, שִׁפְחָה, H9148, δούλη, G1527; variously tr. female slave, slave-girl, maid, maidservant, bondwoman, bondmaid, servant). Both Heb. words normally occur in OT for a female slave within the household who sometimes became a concubine and substitute wife in a childless marriage (Gen 16:1; 25:12; 29:24, 29; 30:4; Exod 23:12; Judg 19:19; etc.).

Also in the OT both Heb words are used by women of themselves before great men as an expression of humility (Ruth 2:13; 3:9; 1 Sam 28:21; 1 Kings 1:13, 17; etc.).

A pious woman in godly humility may use ’āmâ in reference to herself (1 Sam 1:11; cf. Ps 86:16; 116:16).

Of the three occurrences in the KJV of “handmaid” in the KJV NT, two are pious references by Mary to herself (Luke 1:38, 48).