Original Word: παιδίσκη
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: paidiské
Pronunciation: pahee-DEE-skay
Phonetic Spelling: (pahee-dis'-kay)
Definition: Maidservant, slave girl, young woman
Meaning: a female slave, maidservant, maid, young girl.

bondmaid, damsel, maiden.

Feminine diminutive of pais; a girl, i.e. (specially), a female slave or servant -- bondmaid(-woman), damsel, maid(-en).

see GREEK pais

Word Origin
dim. of pais
Definition
a young girl, maidservant
NASB Translation
bondwoman (5), servant-girl (4), servant-girls (1), slave-girl (2), slaves* (1), women (1).

STRONGS NT 3814: παιδίσκη

παιδίσκη, παιδίσκης, ἡ (feminine of παιδίσκος, a young boy or slave; a diminutive of παῖς, see νεανίσκος);

1. a young girl, damsel (Xenophon, Menander, Polybius, Plutarch, Lucian; the Sept. Ruth 4:12).

2. a maid-servant, a young female slave; cf. German Mädchen (our maid) for a young female-servant (Herodotus 1, 93; Lysias, Demosthenes, others): Luke 12:45; Acts 16:16; opposed to ἡ ἐλευθέρα, Galatians 4:22f, 30f; specifically, of the maid-servant who had charge of the door: Matthew 26:69; Mark 14:66, 69; Luke 22:56; Acts 12:13; ἡ παιδίσκη ἡ θυρωρός, John 18:17; (also in the Sept. of a female slave, often for אָמָה, שִׁפְחָה). Cf. Lob. ad Phryn., p. 239. (Synonym: see παῖς, at the end.)

Word Origin: Diminutive form of παῖς (pais), meaning "child" or "servant."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Greek term παιδίσκη corresponds to several Hebrew terms that denote female servants or maidens, such as אֲמָה (amah, Strong's Hebrew 519) and שִׁפְחָה (shiphchah, Strong's Hebrew 8198), both of which are used in the Old Testament to describe female servants or handmaids. These terms similarly reflect the roles and social status of women in servitude within ancient Hebrew society.

Usage: The term παιδίσκη appears in the New Testament to describe young female servants or maidens. It is used in contexts that highlight their roles within households or in relation to specific events.

Context: The Greek term παιδίσκη is used in the New Testament to refer to young female servants or maidens, often in a context that underscores their subordinate position within a household. This term appears in several key passages, illustrating various aspects of social and familial structures in the biblical world.

In the Gospel of Luke, παιδίσκη is used to describe the servant girl who recognized Peter as a follower of Jesus during the events leading up to the crucifixion: "Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight, looked intently at him and said, 'This man was also with Him.'" (Luke 22:56, BSB). This highlights the role of servant girls in domestic settings and their interactions with other members of the household.

The term also appears in the Book of Acts, where it describes Rhoda, a servant girl who recognized Peter's voice when he was miraculously released from prison: "When he knocked at the outer gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it." (Acts 12:13, BSB). This passage illustrates the duties and responsibilities of servant girls, as well as their involvement in significant events within the early Christian community.

Additionally, παιδίσκη is used in Galatians 4:22-23 to draw a contrast between Hagar, the slave woman, and Sarah, the free woman, in Paul's allegory about the two covenants: "For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman." (Galatians 4:22, BSB). Here, the term underscores the distinction between slavery and freedom, serving as a metaphor for the old and new covenants.

Overall, παιδίσκη provides insight into the lives and roles of young female servants in the biblical era, reflecting broader themes of servitude, social hierarchy, and the unfolding narrative of redemption.

παιδίσκαι παιδισκας παιδίσκας παιδισκη παιδίσκη παιδισκην παιδίσκην παιδισκης παιδίσκης παιδισκων παιδισκών παιδισκῶν paidiskas paidískas paidiske paidiskē paidíske paidískē paidisken paidiskēn paidísken paidískēn paidiskes paidiskēs paidískes paidískēs paidiskon paidiskôn paidiskōn paidiskō̂nInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts