The Hebrew word ʻalmâh, represented by H5959, is a specific term for a lass, often translated as damsel, maid, or virgin. It appears 7 times in 7 unique verses, indicating its specialized use in scripture. The word's base definition describes a young woman who is veiled or kept private.
In biblical narrative, H5959 is used to describe young women in various roles. In Genesis, it is used for a young woman who comes to draw water at a well Genesis 24:43. It can refer to a young girl, as when Pharaoh's daughter sends a maid to fetch a child's mother Exodus 2:8. The term also appears in a worship context, describing damsels playing timbrels in a procession Psalms 68:25, and in a context of relationship in the phrase "the way of a man with a maid" Proverbs 30:19. Most significantly, it is used in a prophetic sign where a virgin is foretold to conceive and bear a son Isaiah 7:14.
Several related words provide a broader context for the roles and status of the ʻalmâh:
- H2030 hâreh (pregnant): This word is used alongside H5959 in the prophecy that a "virgin shall conceive" Isaiah 7:14, linking the young woman to the act of becoming pregnant.
- H3205 yâlad (to bear young): Following conception, this term is used to describe the outcome where the virgin will "bear a son" Isaiah 7:14, completing the prophetic sign.
- H4436 malkâh (a queen): This term for a royal wife is used to distinguish a separate class of women from the virgins mentioned in the Song of Solomon Song of Solomon 6:8.
- H8608 tâphaph (to drum, i.e. play (as) on the tambourine): This describes the activity of the damsels in a celebratory procession, showing them in a public role of worship Psalms 68:25.
The theological weight of H5959 is primarily centered on its prophetic use, but it also helps define certain social and relational ideals.
- Prophetic Sign: The most significant use of H5959 is in Isaiah 7:14, where a virgin conceiving and bearing a son is given as a sign from the Lord himself.
- Idealized Youth and Purity: The term is used to describe young women in contexts of devotion and desirability. In the Song of Solomon, the virgins love the kingly figure for his character, which is like "good ointments" Song of Solomon 1:3, and the term is used to differentiate them from queens and concubines Song of Solomon 6:8.
- Role in Worship and Community: The word is not limited to private or domestic settings. In Psalms 68:25, damsels are active participants in a public, musical procession of worship, playing with timbrels among singers and players on instruments.
In summary, H5959 ʻalmâh denotes a young woman, but its specific context determines whether the emphasis is on her youth (maid), her unmarried status (damsel), or her chastity (virgin). While used only a few times, its appearances are significant. It defines an ideal of young womanhood in relational contexts Proverbs 30:19, a participant in joyful worship Psalms 68:25, and most centrally, the subject of a monumental prophecy that carries deep theological weight Isaiah 7:14.
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