שִׁפְחָה

n.f. maid, maid-servant (syn. אָמָה, q.v.; orig. = concubine? cf. √);—abs. שׁ׳ Gn 16:1 +; cstr. שִׁפְחַת v 2 +; sf. שִׁפְחָתִי v 2 +, שִׁפְחָתֶ֑ךָ Ru 2:13, etc.; pl. abs. שְׁפָחוֹת 12:16 +; etc.;— lit., maid, maid-servant, as belonging to a mistress Gn 16:1, 3, 6, 8 (PJ) 29:24, 29 (P) ψ 123:2, Pr 30:23; Is 24:2; even where concubine of master (cf. אָמָה) Gn 16:2, 5 (PJ) 25:12; 35:25, 26 (P) 30:4, 7, 9, 10, 12, 18 (all JE); less often ref. to master 29:24, 29 (J), Ru 2:13, of concubine Gn 32:23, cf. 33:1, 2, 6 (all J); marriageable Lv 19:20 (H, cf. Ex 11:5; not elsewhere in legisl.); in gen., especially of menial service (never אָמָה) Ex 11:5 (J) 1 S 25:41 (opp. אָמָה) 2 S 17:17 (‖ עֶבֶד) Gn 12:16; 24:35 (J) 20:14 (E) 30:43 (P) 32:6 (J; coll.) Dt 28:68; 1 S 8:16; 2 K 5:26; Is 14:2; Je 34:9, 10, 11(×2), 16(×2) Jo 3:2; Ec 2:7; 2 Ch 28:10; Est 7:4. fig. in address, שִׁפְתָֽתְךָ, etc., of speaker, in token of humility (v. אָמָה) Ru 2:13 (‖ אָמָה 3:9), 1 S 1:18 (‖ id. v 16), 25:27 (‖ v 24 f.), 28:21, 22; 2 S 14:6, 7, 12, 15, 17, 19 (‖ אָמָה v 15, 16); 2 K 4:2, 16; not toward God; but v. אָמָה.