Women

Women were created in the image of God and to be partners with men.

• Genesis 1:27
• Genesis 2:21-22

It was Adam who named them “women”.

• Genesis 2:23

Women fell into sin and as a result were cursed along with men.

• Genesis 3:1-16
• 2 Corinthians 11:3
• 1 Timothy 2:14

Humanity received a promise that one woman would conceive a Messiah that would lift this curse. This was fulfilled by Mary.

• Genesis 3:15

They sometimes had separate apartments in dwellings.

• Genesis 24:67
• Genesis 31:33
• Esther 2:9,11

Sometimes they veiled their faces.

• Genesis 24:65

There were specific rules about women’s vows.

• Numbers 30:3-16

When jealously charged with infidelity, their guilt or innocence was to be determined by an ordeal.

• Numbers 5:12-31

They took part in ancient worship.

• Exodus 15:20
• Exodus 21
• Exodus 38:8
• 1 Samuel 2:22

They sang in choruses.

• 1 Chronicles 25:5,6
• Ezra 2:65
• Nehemiah 7:67

Some women served in the tabernacle.

• Exodus 38:8
• 1 Samuel 2:22

Women consecrated jewels for tabernacle use.

• Exodus 35:22

They consecrated mirrors to the tabernacle.

· Exodus 38:8

They were required to attend to the reading of the law of Moses.

• Deuteronomy 31:12
• Joshua 8:35

They followed rituals of purification after menstruation.

• Leviticus 15:19-33
• 2 Samuel 11:4

They followed rituals of purification after childbirth.

• Leviticus 12
• Luke 2:22

The rituals differed depending on whether she bore a male or female child.

• Leviticus 12

Women prayed with the apostles and received the Holy Spirit.

• Acts 1:14

Women were equal recipients of the Great Commission.

• Acts 1:5, 8

Women held church services in their homes.

• Acts 12:12-13

Women could pray and prophesy in a public worship service.

• 1 Corinthians 11:5
• 1 Timothy 2:11

Note: For a more full treatment on the role of women in the church see “Women, role in church.”

They had certain domestic duties.

• Genesis 18:6
• Proverbs 31:15-19
• Matthew 24:41

They cooked.

• Genesis 18:6

They spun.

• Exodus 35:25,26
• 1 Samuel 2:19
• Proverbs 31:19-24

They embroidered.

• Proverbs 31:22

They made garments.

• Acts 9:39
• Cp. Proverbs 31

They gleaned in the fields.

• Ruth 2:8

They kept vineyards.

• Song of Solomon 1:6

They tended flocks and herds.

• Genesis 24:11,13,14,19,20
• Genesis 29:9
• Exodus 2:16

They worked in fields.

• Isaiah 27:11
• Ezekiel 26:6,8

They served as doorkeepers.

• Matthew 26:69
• John 18:16-17
• Acts 12:13-14

They were forbidden to wear men’s clothing.

• Deuteronomy 22:5

They wore their hair long.

• 1 Corinthians 11:5-15

Paul gave certain dress guidelines for Christian women.

• 1 Timothy 2:9,10
• 1 Peter 3:3,4

They wore ornaments.

• Isaiah 3:16-23

They were acknowledged to be generally weaker than men.

• 1 Peter 3:7

They were at times timid.

• Isaiah 19:16
• Jeremiah 50:37
• Jeremiah 51:30
• Nahum 3:13

They were at times affectionate.

• 2 Samuel 1:26

They were at times tender to their offspring.

• Isaiah 49:15
• Lamentations 4:10

They can laugh and joke.

• Judges 11:34
• Judges 21:21
• Jeremiah 31:13
• Zechariah 9:17

They should be courteous to strangers.

• Genesis 24:17

They could not marry without the consent of their parents.

• Genesis 24:3-4
• Genesis 34:6
• Exodus 22:17

Not to be given in marriage was considered a calamity

• Judges 11:37
• Psalm 78:63
• Isaiah 4:1

Sometimes they were taken captive.

• Numbers 31:9,15,17,18,35
• Lamentations 1:18
• Ezekiel 30:17,18

A severe punishment was inflicted upon men for seducing betrothed women.

• Deuteronomy 22:23-27

The punishment for seducing, when not betrothed, was different.

• Exodus 22:16-17
• Deuteronomy 22:28-29

They were sometimes treated with cruelty in war.

• Deuteronomy 32:25
• Lamentations 2:21
• Lamentations 5:11

Virtuous women were held in high esteem.

• Ruth 3:11
• Proverbs 31:10-30

Some women were fond of self-indulgence.

• Isaiah 32:9-11

Women were sometimes fond of ornaments.

• Jeremiah 2:32

Some could be subtle and deceitful.

• Proverbs 6:24-29,32-35
• Proverbs 7:6-27
• Ecclesiastes 7:26

Silly women can be easily led into error.

• 2 Timothy 3:6

Some women were zealous in promoting superstition and idolatry.

• Jeremiah 7:18
• Ezekiel 13:17,23

Some women were actively involved in instigating sin.

• Numbers 31:15-16
• 1 Kings 21:25
• Nehemiah 13:26

Women participated in and promoted false religion that taught homosexuality and lesbianism.

• 2 Kings 23:7
• Romans 1:26

Saying a woman ruled over you was viewed as an insult.

• Isaiah 3:12

But Deborah ruled wisely and well.

• Judges 4:4

There are several other examples of women ruling as well:

Athaliah

· 2 Kings 11:1-16

· 2 Chronicles 22:2,3,10-12

Queen of Sheba

· 1 Kings 10:1-13

Queen Candace

· Acts 8:27

A Persian queen sat on a throne beside her king

· Nehemiah 2:6

Women could be patriotic:

Miriam

· Exodus 15:20

Deborah

· Judges 5

The women of Israel

· 1 Samuel 18:6

The women of the Philistines

· 2 Samuel 1:20

They could help in defensive operations.

• Judges 9:53

There were women poets.

Miriam

· Exodus 15:21

Deborah

· Judges 5

Hannah

· 1 Samuel 2:1-10

Elisabeth

· Luke 1:42-45

Mary

· Luke 1:46-55

They could be prophetesses.

Miriam

· Exodus 15:20-21

· Micah 6:4

Deborah

· Judges 4:4,5

Huldah

· 2 Kings 22:14-20

· 2 Chronicles 34:22-28

Noadiah

· Nehemiah 6:14

Anna

· Luke 2:36-38

Philip's four unmarried daughters

· Acts 21:9

Just like men, some could be false prophets.

• Ezekiel 13:17-23

They were involved in business.

• Proverbs 31:14-18,24

They had property rights:

In inheritance

· Numbers 27:1-11; 36

· Joshua 17:3-6

· Job 42:15

To sell real estate

· Ruth 4:3-9

Sometimes a woman would be sold for her husband's debts.

• Matthew 18:25

A woman was the first human to sin.

• Genesis 3:6

Women were the last ones to remain standing at the cross, when all the male disciples had fled.

• Matthew 27:55,56
• Mark 15:40-41

Women were first at the gravesite.

• Mark 15:46,47
• Mark 16:1-6
• Luke 23:27,28,49,55-56
• Luke 24:1-10

Women were first receive a visitation from the risen Lord.

• Mark 16:9
• John 20:14-18

Women were converted by preaching of Paul.

• Acts 16:14-15
• Acts 17:4,12,34

We see here the social status of some women in Persia.

• Esther 1:10-22
• Daniel 5:1-12

And we can get a glimpse of the social status of women in Roman customs.

• Acts 24:24
• Acts 25:13,23
• Acts 26:30

Women were sometimes used figuratively of the body (ekklesia) of Christ.

• Psalm 45:2-15
• Galatians 4:26
• Revelation 12:1

Women were sometimes used figuratively of saints

• Matthew 25:1-4
• 2 Corinthians 11:2
• Revelation 14:4

Women were sometimes used figuratively of backsliding

• Jeremiah 6:2
• Revelation 17:4,18

Women were sometimes used figuratively of evil people

• Isaiah 32:9,11
• Matthew 25:1-13

Following are some specific women who are named or described in the Bible.

Deborah, a judge, prophetess, and military leader

· Judges 4; 5

Mother of Samson

· Judges 13:23

Naomi

· Ruth 1; 2; 3:1

Ruth

· Ruth 1:4,14-22

· Ruth 2; 3; 4

Hannah, the mother of Samuel

· 1 Samuel 1:9-18,24-28

Widow of Zarephath, who fed Elijah during the famine

· 1 Kings 17:8-24

The Shunammite woman, who gave hospitality to Elisha

· 2 Kings 4:8-38

Vashti

· Esther 1:11-12

Esther

· Esther 4:15-17

Mary

· Luke 1:26-38

Elisabeth

· Luke 1:6,41-45

Anna

· Luke 2:36-38

The widow who put her two mite (small coins, Greek: leptas) into the treasury

· Mark 12:41-44

· Luke 21:2-4

Mary and Martha

· Mark 14:3-9

· Luke 10:42

· John 11:5

Mary Magdalene

· Mark 16:1

· Luke 8:2

· John 20:1-2,11-16

Pilate's wife

· Matthew 27:19

Dorcas (Tabitha)

· Acts 9:36

Lydia

· Acts 16:14

Priscilla (Prisca)

· Acts 18:26

Phoebe

· Romans 16:1-2

Julia

· Romans 16:15

Mary

· Romans 16:6

Lois and Eunice

· 2 Timothy 1:5

The Philippian Christians

· Philippians 4:3

Following are some examples of wicked women.

• 2 Kings 9:30-37
• 2 Kings 23:7
• Jeremiah 44:15-19,25
• Ezekiel 8:14
• Romans 1:26

Some wicked women were zealous in promoting licentious practices of idolatry.

• 2 Kings 23:7
• Hosea 4:13-14

Some women were full of deceit and licentiousness.

• Proverbs 2:16-19
• Proverbs 5:3-20
• Proverbs 6:24-29,32-35
• Proverbs 7:6-27
• Ecclesiastes 7:26
• Ezekiel 16:32

A woman committed forgery.

• 1 Kings 21:8

Some women were silly and wayward.

• 2 Timothy 3:6

Some examples of silly and wayward women are…

Eve, in yielding to temptation and seducing her husband

• Genesis 3:6
• 1 Timothy 2:14

Sarah, in her jealousy and malice toward Hagar

• Genesis 21:9-11
• Genesis 21:12-21

Lot's wife, in her rebellion against her situation, and against the destruction of Sodom

• Genesis 19:26
• Luke 17:32

The daughters of Lot, in their incestuous lust

• Genesis 19:31-38

Rebecca, in her partiality for Jacob, and her sharp practice to secure for him Isaac's blessing

• Genesis 27:11-17

Rachel, in her jealousy of Leah

• Genesis 30:1

Rachel, in stealing images

• Genesis 31:19,34

Leah, in her imitation of Rachel in the matter of children

• Genesis 30:9-18

Dinah, in her fornication

• Genesis 34:1-2

Tamar, in her adultery

• Genesis 38:14-24

Potiphar's wife, in her lascivious lust and slander against Joseph

• Genesis 39:7-20

Zipporah, in her persecution of Moses on account of his religious obligations

• Exodus 4:25-26

Miriam, in her sedition with Aaron against Moses

• Numbers 12

Rahab, in her harlotry

• Joshua 2:1

Delilah, in her conspiracy against Samson

• Judges 16:4-20

Peninnah, the wife of Elkanah, in her jealous taunting of Hannah

• 1 Samuel 1:4-8

The Midianite woman in the camp of Israel, taken in adultery

• Numbers 25:6-8

Micahhal, in her derision of David's religious zeal

• 2 Samuel 6:16,20-23

Bath-sheba, in her adultery, in becoming the wife of her husband's murderer

• 2 Samuel 11:4,5,27
• 2 Samuel 12:9-10

Solomon's wives, in their idolatrous and wicked influence over Solomon

• 1 Kings 11:1-11
• Nehemiah 13:26

Jezebel, in her persecution and destruction of the prophets of the Lord

• 1 Kings 18:4,13

Jezebel, in her persecution of Elijah

• 1 Kings 19:2

Jezebel, in her conspiracy against Naboth, to cheat him out of his vineyard

• 1 Kings 21:1-16

Jezebel, in her evil counsels to, and influence over, Ahab

• 1 Kings 21:25
• 1 Kings 21:17-27
• 2 Kings 9:30-37

The cannibalistic mothers of Samaria

• 2 Kings 6:28,29

Athaliah, in destroying the royal household and usurping the throne

• 2 Kings 11:1-16
• 2 Chronicles 22:10,12
• 2 Chronicles 23:12-15

The sodomites of the southern kingdom (Judah)

• 2 Kings 23:7

Noadiah, a false prophetess in attempting to intimidate the Jews when they were restoring Jerusalem

• Nehemiah 6:14

Haman's wife, in advising him to hang Mordecai

• Esther 5:14
• Esther 6:13

Job's wife, in suggesting to him that he curse God and die

• Job 2:9
• Job 19:17

Gomer, the adulterous wife of Hosea

• Hosea 1:2-3
• Hosea 3:1

Herodias, in her incestuous marriage with Herod Antipas

• Matthew 14:3,4
• Mark 6:17-19
• Luke 3:19

Herodius, by indirectly causing John the Baptist to be decapitated

• Matthew 14:6-11
• Mark 6:24-28

The daughter of Herodias, in her complicity with her mother in securing the death of John the Baptist

• Matthew 14:8
• Mark 6:18-28

Sapphira, in her blasphemous falsehood

• Acts 5:2-10

The woman caught in the act of adultery and brought to Jesus in the temple

• John 8:1-11

UNCLASSIFIED SCRIPTURES RELATING TO

Genesis 2:18,21-24; 3:16; Esther 1:20-22; Proverbs 11:16,22; 12:4; 14:1; 18:22; 19:13,14; 21:9,19; 25:24; 27:15,16; 30:21-23; 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 7:26-28; Isaiah 3:16-24; 32:9-12; Ezekiel 13:17-23; 1 Corinthians 11:3-15; 14:34,35; 1 Timothy 2:9-15; 3:11; 5:1-16; 2 Timothy 3:6,7; Titus 2:3-5