What does the Bible say about women?
In this modern age, there is a lot of push for gender equality. Women are meant to be seen as not only gentle mothers but also as determined warriors. Does the Bible teach that women are not as valuable as men? Does the Bible support the feminist movement? Let’s take a look and see what Scripture teaches about women.
Christian quotes
“A woman’s heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her.”
“Nothing is more beautiful than a woman who is brave, strong, and emboldened because of who Christ is in her.”
“A woman who walks with God will always reach her destination.”
“A wise woman puts God first.”
“I cannot tell you how much I owe to the solemn word of my good mother.” Charles Haddon Spurgeon
“The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to top him, nor out of his feet to be trampled on by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be loved by him.” Matthew Henry
Godly women
There are a number of virtuous and courageous women in the Bible. These women are considered of such great importance that their story was included in the God-breathed gift of Scripture.
Moses was about to be put to death until Zipporah stepped in and courageously circumcised his sons and saved his life.
1) Exodus 4:24-26 “At a lodging place on the way the Lord met him and sought to put him to death. Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it and said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!” So he let him alone. It was then that she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.”
Barak was afraid and refused to obediently go to lead the Israelites in war. Deborah valiantly stepped up to the plate, spoke boldly to him and reminded him of God’s promise.
2) Judges 4:6-7 “She sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali and said to him, “Has not the LORD, the God of Israel, commanded you, ‘Go gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 from the people of Naphtali and the people of Zebulum. And I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin’s army, to meet you by the river Kishon with his chariots and his troops, and I will give him into your hand’?”
Manoah was afraid and overreacting after God visited him. His wife spoke words of wisdom calmly. She had the courage to speak to him and enable him to trust in God.
3) Judges 13:22-23 “And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, for we have seen God.” But his wife said to him, “If the LORD had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering at our hands, or shown us all these things, or now announced to use such things as these.”
Ruth too was bold and brave in trusting the Lord. She followed the God of her husband, knowing He was the true God. After her husband died, she bravely followed her mother in law to a distant land, filled with people that were historically her enemies, and trusted God to provide for her and her mother in law. She bravely recognized God’s choice for her in Boaz as her kinsman redeemer. She became the great grandmother of David.
4) Ruth 3:9 “Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.”
Jesus
It is because of the teachings found in Scripture that women are treated better. Christianity elevates the treatment of women. Jesus elevated the treatment of women. He did not treat them as second class citizens, but treated them with dignity and honor. This is clearly seen in how He treated the Samaritan woman at the well.
Samaritans were viewed as very low class by the Israelites. No self-respecting rabbi would dare to speak to a Samaritan woman. Jesus did. He not only spoke with her, but He shared the Gospel with her. He showed the disciples that the Gospel message was for more than just the Jews by doing so.
5) John 4:9-10 “The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
6) Luke 8:43-48 “And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. 45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” 47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
Role of a woman in marriage
Most of the controversy around women in Christianity comes from a misunderstanding of Scriptures command for women to be submissive.
- Scripture does not teach that women are to submit to any other man but their own husband.
- Scripture does not teach that women are not allowed to have different opinions than their husband, nor does it teach that they lose their individuality.
- The Bible teaches a complementarian view of marriage. A husband and a wife have equal value, but different roles to fill. A wife submits to her husband out of reverence for Christ. A husband is also commanded to love his wife selflessly and sacrificially, this leaves no room for harsh treatment or a domineering behavior towards his wife.
- Since we have to take all of Scripture in its entirety, we also see that murder is wrong, and so is allowing murder. Scripture also says that it is wicked to treat one another harshly. Thus, there is no place for abuse in marriage and it should not be allowed under the context of submission.
- The role of a wife is her husband’s helpmeet. This title is only given to one other person in all of Scripture, the Holy Spirit. What an honor that role is. No one can provide the kind of help to a man as his wife can. She is his partner, friend, soul-mate, and a companion in ministry.
- There is also mutual submission in marriage. This is not an excuse to support Egalitarianism, but a command to treat each other out of selfless love, agape, each considering the good of each other over their own.
- A woman must submit as unto the Lord, she cannot submit to the sinful will of her husband. Her husband cannot ask her to turn a blind eye to his sin, nor is he allowed to command her to sin or go against her conscience.
7) Mark 10:8 “And they two shall be one flesh: so then they are no more two, but one flesh.”
8) Colossians 3:18-19 “Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.”
9) Genesis 2:24 “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall join to his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
10) 1 Peter 3:7 “Likewise, you husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”
11) 1 Corinthians 7:2 “Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.”
12) Hebrews 13:4 “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”
13) 1 Peter 3:8 “Finally, be you all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brothers, be pitiful, be courteous.”
14) Ephesians 5:33 “Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”
15) Genesis 2:18 “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.”
Encouragement for singles
Scripture clearly teaches that singleness is a gift from God. It may be a temporary gift, or it may be lifelong. It like all other gifts, needs to be used for God’s glory.
Do you struggle as a single woman? Do you yearn for marriage?
- Desiring marriage is a good thing – but it can’t be the thing in your life. A desire for marriage can be a gift from God in and of itself, but it shouldn’t be greater than your desire to draw closer to Him.
- God is faithful. He knows every thought and every disappointment. God is safe to trust with your heart and your future. He is currently working everything out for your good and His glory.
- Even as a single woman, you can glorify God by your relationships.
- Serve where you are, in this season of life.
- Use this single season as a gift from God to grow right where you are – singleness has many advantages.
- Singleness is not a second-best status in the Kingdom of God.
16) 1 Corinthians 7:7 “I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.”
17) Matthew 19:11 “But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given.”
18) Psalm 94:19 “When anxiety abounds within me, Your comforts delight my soul.”
19) Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
20) Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
21) Lamentations 3:25 “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.”
22) Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
23) Song of Solomon 8:4 “Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.”
24) Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
Proverbs 31
The woman described in Proverbs 31 is the woman that all women should strive to be like. She is described as more precious than jewels.
25) Proverbs 31:10 “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.”
She is someone who her husband can trust completely. Her husband is better off having her as his wife because she is his helpmeet and is good for him.
26) Proverbs 31:11-12 “The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.”
The woman here is not lazy. She is resourceful and productive. She seeks out the best deals on her wool and flax and food. She tends to the household duties well. This woman has not neglected her role in the home – it is her top priority. Her goal here is to manage her household well. She is buying food for her family, and working hard to make sure there is even a vineyard for grapes and wine for her family.
27) Proverbs 31:13-16 “She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.”
In the next session we can see that the woman takes care of herself. She is strong and she dresses in an attractive manner. She has done such a good job at weaving for her family that she is able to make extra to sell. We can see that she works her job from home – her home is the primary object of her attention here. She is working late at night, after the kids have gone to bed in order to weave extra to sell. This woman also is hospitable and ministers to others. Because of her care, her family are able to wear expensive looking and warm clothing.
28) Proverbs 31:17-22 “She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.”
Her husband is well known because of her diligence. “Oh that’s so-in-so’s husband.” The people in the town say. She does what she does not for self-glorification, but for the good of her family, out of admiration and love for her husband. This passage says that even though she makes lovely items to sell, strength and dignity are her clothing. What covers her, what best describes her, what she is commonly identified with, is not her business. That is not her identity. She is identified as someone of strength and dignity. She is known for her joy, and lack of worry. She is confident. She speaks words of wisdom – not crass joking, or words of folly. She teaches others, including her children, with kind words.
This woman is not a harsh woman. She manages her household and is not lazily idling about. Her family adores her. They admire her. Her husband is known for how well he speaks of her publicly. Lastly, this passage teaches us that the greatest attribute of a woman is that she fears the Lord. This passage proclaims that a woman should receive the fruit of her labor – give her the verbal recognition and respect that is due.
29) Proverbs 31:22-31 “Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.”
Women’s rights
Women’s rights are among the social justice discussions. Twitter has been exploding with debate over this issue, especially since the Dallas Statement was issued. But what does the Bible say about women’s rights?
Woman was given to man as a gift to compliment him, to be his other half, to work alongside him in his work. Scripture also expresses that the wife is to be treasured and highly valued. She is to be protected by her husband out of respect for her. She is to be selflessly served the way Christ served the church.
We can see even in the Old Testament that specific laws were given to protect women, especially widows, orphans and single women. Though these laws may seem strange to us in our modern era, they were in place to ensure that the women were provided for.
God has designed women differently than men and has designed the role of women to function differently than men. It is a woman’s God-given right to embrace the beauty that is inherent in being female. For this reason (among others,) we must oppose the transgender movement. God has also given wives the right to carry children and care for them in the womb, and we must defend that right against any who would want to force an abortion. Women also have the same God given right as men to flourish in the environments He has divinely placed her.
Scripture teaches that women should be treated fairly, and are of equal value because we are “joint heirs of the grace of life.” Women are also allowed to own property and to an education. Women are allowed to be their own individual selves and make decisions. Scripture also supports women receiving equal pay and not being forced into an unwilling marriage.
30) Genesis 2:18, 22 “Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him…The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.”
31) Ephesians 5:25-30 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body.”
32) Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
33) Exodus 22:22 “You shall not afflict any widow or orphan.”
34) Joshua 17:3-4 “However, Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, only daughters; and these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah. They came near before Eleazar the priest and before Joshua the son of Nun and before the leaders, saying, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” So according to the command of the Lord he gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers.”
35) Psalm 139:13 “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb.”
36) Colossians 3:19 “Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.”
37) Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
38) Proverbs 31:16 “She considers a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.”
39) Deuteronomy 24:17 “You shall not pervert the justice due an alien or an orphan, nor take a widow’s garment in pledge.”
40) Numbers 36:6 “This is what the Lord has commanded concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, ‘Let them marry whom they wish; only they must marry within the family of the tribe of their father.”
Role in the church
The Bible also supports the woman’s right to serve in the church according to her role and gifts.
However, there is no scriptural mandate for women to be given equal roles as men. In 1 Timothy 2:11-12 women are told to learn submissively or hupotage, which means “to line up under.” This means that women are to learn in subject to those in authority over them. Women are not given roles of authority over men in church leadership. John MacArthur says, “Women are to keep quiet in the sense of not teaching, and they are to demonstrate submission by not usurping authority.”
Throughout the Bible we can clearly see that the role of authority in the roles of Church leadership was given to men. Even in the Old Testament we can see the roles of the priests and temple leaders was given to men. And in the New Testament the roles for church offices are spoken of in what is clearly the male pronoun. Even in examining church history, women were not allowed to have a role in church leadership until the last century. History books are not inspired and inerrant, they can be instructive.
41) 1 Timothy 3:11 “Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things.”
42) Titus 2:3-5 “Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.”
43) 1 Timothy 2:11-12 “A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.”
Encouraging Scriptures
44) Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls; for he has not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
45) Proverbs 18:22 “Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the Lord.”
46) Ephesians 4:2 “With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love”
47) Joshua 1:9 “Have not I commanded you? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be you dismayed: for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
48) Luke 1:45 “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
49) 1 Corinthians 15:10 “By the grace of God, I am what I am”
50) Proverbs 11:16 “A kindhearted woman gains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.”
