Bondmaid
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Bondmaid in the Bible?
A bondmaid was a female servant or slave in ancient Israelite society, encompassing statuses ranging from debt servitude to chattel slavery, with specific legal protections and roles defined in biblical law.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding the role of the bondmaid clarifies the legal and social structures of ancient households, revealing how biblical laws regulated the treatment of vulnerable female servants and distinguished their status from other forms of servitude.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Bondmaid. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Bondmaid in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Bondmaid clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.
How to Cite This Entry
"Bondmaid." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/bondmaid/