The Hebrew word amah (אָמָה) denotes a female slave or maidservant, particularly one who is a permanent household servant or bondwoman. Distinct from shifchah (H8198, a lower-status female slave), amah often implies a closer, more trusted domestic position. The term appears in legal, narrative, and poetic contexts throughout the Old Testament.
The Old Testament law treated the amah with notable dignity compared to ancient Near Eastern norms. Exodus 21:7–11 establishes protections for a female Hebrew slave sold as a wife-servant, guaranteeing her food, clothing, and conjugal rights. The Psalmist's self-identification as "the son of your maidservant [amah]" (Psalm 86:16) is a profound act of humility before God — placing oneself fully in God's household as a dependent servant. This posture becomes a model of prayer: approaching God not in pride but in utter dependence.