נַעֲרָה

From the study of Deuteronomy 22:21

Range of meaning

A girl or young woman, typically unmarried or newly married, and still socially attached to her father's house. Also a female servant.

Against the English

'Damsel' (KJV) sounds romantic and archaic. 'Young lady' (WEB) sounds polite and modern. 'Young woman' is accurate.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used throughout Deut 22:15–29 for the girl in each case. The consonantal Pentateuch writes it נער with the reading tradition supplying 'na'arah'. The one exception, Deut 22:19, is spelled out in full.

From the study of Deuteronomy 22:15

Range of meaning

A girl or young woman, from childhood through her teens. It can also mean a female servant or attendant (Exod 2:5; Ruth 2:8). It refers to age and stage of life, and often implies that she is still under her father's authority. It does not in itself mean 'virgin'.

Against the English

KJV 'damsel', YLT 'damsel', WEB 'young lady', BSB 'young woman'. All are acceptable. 'Damsel' sounds quaint now. 'Young lady' can sound like adult polish, which hides how young she probably was.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Five Books of Moses it is almost always written with the consonants נער and read as naʿărāh. The full spelling נערה appears only in Deut 22:19. Elsewhere it is used of Rebekah (Gen 24:16), Dinah (Gen 34:3) and Ruth's fellow workers.

From the study of Genesis 24:61

Range of meaning

A young woman of marriageable age, or a girl in someone's service (a maidservant or attendant). Which one is meant depends on context. The word points to youth and a dependent position. It says nothing in itself about virginity, which Hebrew expresses with a different word (betulah, as in 24:16).

Against the English

BSB "servant girls" and NASB "maids" stress service. ESV "young women" and YLT stress age. KJV "damsels" sounds archaic and romantic. WEB "ladies" makes them sound higher in status than the Hebrew suggests.

Used elsewhere in the period

Rebekah is called a na'arah in 24:14, 16, 28, 55, 57, where the Torah's consonants often spell it without the final -h. Attendant girls: Pharaoh's daughter's maidens (Exod 2:5) and Abigail's five maidservants (1 Sam 25:42). Later, Laban gives Leah and Rachel a maidservant each when they marry (29:24, 29).