was a woman’s normal way of expressing proper deference to a social superior, used in the Bible especially in relation to a man to whom she wishes to ingratiate herself. (Men used a corresponding masculine term ‘ened, often translated as “servant.”) It is part of the biblical rhetoric of persuasion. Hannah calls herself ’amatekha (your ’amah) in her addresses to God (1 Sam. 1:11) and to the priest Eli (1:16). Both queens (1 Kings 1:13, 17) and prostitutes (1 Kings 3:20) call themselves ’amatekha