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The views of women presented in the Hebrew Bible (also called Tanakh in Judaism, Old Testament in Christianity and Taurat/Tawrah in Islam) are complex and often ambivalent. The question of women's status relative to men in the society depicted in the biblical books, i.e. Iron Age and Hellenistic era Judea, remains a central and controversial issue.

The Genesis creation accounts have been used to deprecate women on the authority of the Bible: Jews and Christians, throughout their history, have used the story of Adam and Eve to justify the inferior status for women. Thus, Paul and other early Christians looked to the Adam and Eve story to put the blame for the Fall on Eve and derived from that the conclusion that women should not be allowed to hold positions of authority or to teach.

Creation narratives

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The creation of Adam and Eve is narrated from somewhat different perspectives in Genesis 1:26–27 and Genesis 2:24. The Genesis 1 narration declares the purpose of God, antedating the creation of the sexes. It has been called the "non-subordinating" view of woman.

Genesis 5:1–2 reaffirms that perspective and has been described as interpretative of that decree of God's initial purpose.

The Genesis 2 narrative has been called the "subordinating view" of woman for two reasons: man is created first, and woman is created out of man.

Although the Genesis 2 passage is often cited as biblical evidence that subordination represents God’s will for women, theologian Roger Nicole disagrees. He believes women's place in the home, in society, and in the church is not an issue that can be conclusively determined by a few apparently restrictive passages. He writes that the starting point must be at the creation of humanity, as Jesus himself exemplified by quoting Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:24 in response to a question by the Pharisees.Matt. 19:4–5 Mk. 10:6–7

Double standard and male priority

The status of woman in the Old Testament is not uniform.

In the Decalogue (Ten Commandments) of Exodus 20, both male priority and gender balance can be seen. In the tenth commandment, a wife is depicted in the examples of a neighbor's property not to be coveted: house, wife, male or female slave, ox or donkey, or any other property. In this perspective, wife along with other properties belongs to the husband. On the other hand, the fourth commandment does not make any distinction between honor to be shown to parents: "father and your mother." This is consistent with the mutual respect shown for both parents throughout the Old Testament.

Judges and prophets

Scripture portrays Rebekah, Rahab, Deborah, Jael, Judith, and Esther and their contributions to the nation of Israel with faithfulness and extreme candor. These women are represented in the Old Testament as multidimensional human beings – self-reliant, resourceful, influential, and courageous – but at the same time capable of resorting to morally questionable means in order to accomplish their ends.

Distinctions were usually made between men and women during the Old Testament period. Only men were required to attend the annual festivalsEx. 23:17 Lev. 23 though women were permitted to attend if they chose to do so due to unweaned children.1 Sam. 1:9 1:21–22 The Mosaic Law recognized women’s responsibilities at home as wives and mothers. However, this did not prohibit women from all religious service. Women served at the door of the Tabernacle.Ex. 38:8 Both men and women contributed their valuables for use in the building of the Tabernacle.Ex. 35:22–26 The Laver for ministry in the court of the tabernacle was made of brass from the mirrors of the women only.

Deborah was a prophetess who actually judged Israel.Judges 4:4 When the Israelite men lacked faith in yahuah to assume leadership, Deborah shamed Barak, the military commander of Israel’s army, for failing to assume his God-given leadership. Ultimately, he refused to advance against the enemy without Deborah’s presence and commanding influence (Judges 4:8).

See also

• Women in the Bible

References

1. ^ Starr, L. A. The Bible Status of Woman. New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1926
2. ^ Stagg, Evelyn and Frank. Woman in the World of Jesus. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1978
3. Nicole, Roger. "Biblical Egalitarianism and the Inerrancy of Scripture." Priscilla Papers, Vol. 20, No. 2. Spring 2006
4. Tanner, Stephen L. Women in Literature of the Old Testament. University of Idaho, 1975. ERIC ED112422.
5. "Kinship in Ancient Israel". Creighton University , Ronald A Simkins course page. Archived from the original on 19 January 2004.
6. Hirsch, Emil G.; Levi, Gerson B.; Schechter, Solomon; Kohler, Kaufmann (1906). "Deborah". In Cyrus Adler; et al. (eds.). Jewish Encyclopedia. {{cite book}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |editor1-first= (help)

• Hebrew Bible topics
• Judaism and women
• Christianity and women
• Women in the Hebrew Bible
• Gender in the Bible