Women are a big deal in the Bible. From Eve, who was the mother of all living, to Mary, who was the mother of Jesus, to Jael, a heroine in the Bible who killed a bad man by driving a tent peg through his temple. Despite all of the miraculous stories of women in the Bible, there is still a lot of confusion about the role of women, whether God values women, and what the Bible actually says about women. Join us as we answer questions around women in the Bible, journey through the stories of heroic females in the Bible, and learn what the Bible says about women’s rights.
Bible Verses About Women
If you’re asking, “What does God say about women in the Bible?”, the first place to look is the Bible itself. Throughout its pages, God values women, speaks to their identity, and affirms that women are to be honored, protected, and cared for.
“This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” - Genesis 2:23
When God made Adam and found that there was no suitable helper for him (Genesis 2:20), God knew it was time to make the woman. The word “helper” in this verse translates to ‘ezer’ in Hebrew. ‘Ezer’ is a combination of “to rescue”, “to be strong,” and “to save”. God’s intention for women is so much more than just a helper in the kitchen or a helper with the kids. God even refers to Himself as an ‘ezer’ sixteen times in the Bible when He rescues, saves, or shows His strength on behalf of His people!
This Bible verse about women reminds us that the woman was created from the man and that Adam’s first words towards Eve were “This is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” When God formed woman in the Bible, He made her with joy, vision, and strength. And, as God says about all his creation, “It is very good!” (Genesis 1:31)
A kindhearted woman gains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth. - Proverbs 11:16
If you’re wondering, “What does God say about women in the Bible?”, the Book of Proverbs is a great place to start. The Proverbs show the contrast between a wayward woman and a virtuous woman. Wisdom itself is even personified as a woman! This Bible verse about women shows us that kindhearted women are a force to be reckoned with.
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. - Proverbs 31:25
Proverbs 31 is the most well-known passage about women in the Bible. The subtitle of this Proverb is labeled, “A Wife of Noble Character”. However, this Bible verse about women applies to any woman who is following God. God gives women strength, dignity, and laughter. Women can trade in the fear of the future for the peace of God.
Learn more about the peace that God offers: 21 Bible Verses for When You Feel Anxious or Worried
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. - Proverbs 31:30
This Bible verse about women is also from Proverbs 31. Bible verses for women stress character over outward appearance and faith in God as an anchor for life. The fear of the Lord in this Bible verse for women doesn’t mean fear in the way we commonly understand it. It means respect, honor, and reverence like you’d have to a father or towards a King.
God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at the break of day. - Psalm 46:5
This Bible verse about women comes from Psalm 46, where God is encouraging His people, Israel. However, this Bible verse about women comforts both Israel and the reader today. God is strong, mighty, and always available to help us.
Learn more about the God who redeems and restores in our interview with Armin Assadi, a former crime boss who dropped everything to follow Jesus: A Real Story of God’s Redemption
"Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” - Luke 1:45
This Bible verse about women comes from Luke 1:45, when Elizabeth is encouraging Mary. Mary is the mother of Jesus. The Holy Spirit empowered Mary to have Jesus supernaturally as a virgin. This Bible verse about women encourages us to believe the Lord’s promises and walk in faith, even when it seems unreasonable.
Faith is powerful. Learn more about how to grow your belief in God in our blog: How to Walk By Faith
She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. - Proverbs 31:20
Proverbs 31 is full of Bible verses about women. In Proverbs 31:20, God tells us that women of God are generous and compassionate. Jesus even says in Matthew 25 that whatever you do for the least of these, you do for Jesus Himself. (Matthew 25:34-40)
In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. - 1 Timothy 3:11
What does the Bible say about women? They are to show their respect for all by refraining from gossip and slander. This Bible verse about women encourages women to be respectable and careful with their tongues. In James 3:6, the Bible talks about how the tongue is able to create a world of wickedness and how it is like a fire. We can either use our tongue for blessing or cursing. As a Christian, whether you’re a man or a woman, choose to use your words for good and not harm.
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. - 1 Peter 3:3-4
What does the Bible say about women? The Bible says that true beauty comes from the inside, not the outside. There is unfading beauty in a gentle and quiet spirit. The word ‘quiet’ in this passage can translate to peaceable or tranquil. This Bible verse about women isn’t saying that women can’t dress up or adorn themselves; rather, it highlights the importance of character over outward beauty.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. - Psalm 139:14
Psalm 139:14 is an essential Bible verse about women. Every single person was fearfully and wonderfully made in their mother’s womb. God crafted women with wonder. How God made women is a reason to praise!
She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings, she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. - Proverbs 31:16-17
This Bible verse about women clears up the myth that the Bible instructs women to stay at home and not work. While a woman may choose not to work, it’s not a requirement in the Bible. In fact, Proverbs 31 says that a woman of noble character buys a field, takes from her earnings to plant a vineyard, and that she sets about her work vigorously.
Whether the women in your life are working in corporate, own a small business, or are full-time at home with kids, God honors and celebrates women. Hear from Cassie Goosen, a mom to 7, and a faithful follower of Jesus, in our blog: Celebrating Mothers: Honoring God’s Vision for Women
What Does the Bible Say About Women?
There are a lot of misconceptions in our day and age about what the Bible says about women and what God says about women. Bible passages about women taken out of context have been used throughout history to be unkind and cruel to women. We’re here to clear up the confusion and provide clarity around women in the Bible and how what the Bible says about women translates to modern day.
What Does the Bible Say About Women's Rights?
What does the Bible say about women and women’s rights? First, let’s start with what women’s rights are. The women’s rights movement started in 1848 when a group of women in New York started a movement to fight discrimination against women. Over time, women gained the right to vote, the right to own property, and the right to keep their wages. There have been three primary waves of feminism over the years.
First-wave feminism was primarily the suffrage movement, which fought for equal protection under the law and secured voting rights for women. Second-wave feminism focused on the right to work, equal pay, and access to education. Most agree that third-wave feminism is currently going on. Third-wave feminism focuses on addressing sexual harassment, while promoting access to abortion, intersectionality, and sexuality.
Women’s rights matter to God. Besides Proverbs 31, several Bible verses support women’s rights in the scriptures:
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. - Galatians 3:28
What does the Bible say about women’s rights? Galatians 3:28 talks about the equality of all followers of Jesus. Regardless of gender, we are all one in Christ Jesus. Everyone has access to salvation because of what Jesus did on the cross.
Learn more about the Good News in our blog: This is For You
Nevertheless, in the Lord, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God - 1 Corinthians 11:11-12
This Bible verse about women promotes equality between men and women in a unique way. Man is not independent of woman, and woman is not independent of man. We need one another to exist, yet above all of this, we belong to God.
Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. - Judges 4:4
If you’re asking the question, “What does the Bible say about women’s rights?”, it’s important to look at the Old Testament and the New Testament. Despite the ancient world being harsh to women, God raised up women as prophets to speak the words of God. Deborah was the only woman who was both a prophetess and a judge in the Old Testament. God values women’s voices and has historically raised them up in cultures that oppressed them.
And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams - Acts 2:17
In Acts 2, the Holy Spirit falls on believers after Jesus' resurrection from the dead. Scholars estimate there were probably 120 people in the Upper Room waiting for the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit came, Peter quoted Joel 2 to the crowd. This Bible verse about women shows us that God doesn’t withhold His spirit from women or children. He gives His Holy Spirit to everyone who asks!
Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. - Colossians 3:19
This Bible verse about women comes from Colossians 3:19. Husbands are instructed by God to love their wives and not to be harsh with them. This is encouraging and empowering. Though there are Bible verses about wives submitting to their husbands, that does not apply in cases of abuse. Colossians clearly states it is the responsibility of the husband to love their wives and be gentle to them.
Should you or someone you know be experiencing abuse in their marriage, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline for free, immediate help today.
He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. - Acts 18:26
This Bible verse about women’s rights highlights the marriage of Priscila and Aquila. Priscila was a female missionary serving to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with her husband, Aquila. Later in this blog, we will address the controversial Bible verse about women in 1 Timothy 2:12, but as you can see in Acts 18:26, Priscilla and Aquila were able to correct and encourage fellow believers together.
Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. - Philippians 4:3
This Bible verse about women’s rights shows that Paul is championing women who have worked alongside him to spread the Good News. Women are honored in the book of Philippians, and it goes to show that God cares about the rights and the voice of women.
However, when it comes to the topic of abortion, God cares about the rights of the unborn as well as the rights of women. God clearly states through the Bible that murder is wrong and that He crafted every human being with intention. (Psalm 139: 13-16, Jeremiah 1:5, Exodus 20:13)
Regardless of your past, hope and healing are always available. If you or someone you love has experienced an abortion, there are free resources to help you process the pain. Remember: you are never alone and God is with you.
For free and confidential post-abortive care, please call or text H3 Helpline at 866- 721-7881.
Experiencing an unplanned pregnancy? Reach out to Option Line to get free resources, ultrasounds, and more. Call 1-800-712-4357 for free support today.
What Does the Bible Say About Working Women?
Some may be wondering, what does the Bible say about women working? The short answer is not much. The Bible never forbids a woman from working outside the home. Proverbs 31 even says that a wife of noble character considers a field and buys it, and out of her earnings she plants a vineyard (Proverbs 31:16-17).
Other examples of working women in the Bible include Lydia, an entrepreneur who sold cloth ( Acts 16:14), and Deborah, who led the Israelites into battle (Judges 4, 5). Whether a woman decides to stay at home or work in the corporate world, it makes no difference to God. Through prayer, God will direct each woman in the way she should go and lead her through every season of life.
What Does the Bible Say About Women in Leadership?
Misunderstood Mentions of Women in the Bible
Outside of the Church, there is no Biblical basis for a woman to be refused a place of leadership. However, two misinterpreted Bible verses have led to confusion about what the Bible says about women in leadership in the Church. We’ll discuss this more in our section below, What Does the Bible Say About Women in the Church?
What Does the Bible Say About Women in Power?
Throughout history, God has raised up women in power. In the Bible, we have women who held positions of power. Women like…
- Esther, who saved Israel by using her voice. She bravely confronted the King, though summoning him without first being summoned meant death.
- Deborah was a prophetess, judge, and military leader in Israel’s history.
- Ruth, a woman who followed God’s leadership despite tragedy, served in the fields of Boaz and eventually married him. Remember King David? Ruth is David’s great-grandmother!
Apart from the Bible, we see that God raised up Christian women to change the world for the better. Women like:
- Harriet Tubman, an abolitionist, was nicknamed ‘Moses’ because she led around 300 slaves out of slavery as a conductor on the Underground Railroad.
- Corrie Ten Boom, a watchmaker who stayed faithful to God’s commands during World War II, and rescued Jews during the Holocaust.
- Fanny Crosby, a poet and songwriter who wrote over 8,000 songs. She is regarded as one of the most prolific hymn writers in history.
What Does the Bible Say About Gossiping Women?
The Bible takes a strong, unwavering stance on the topic of gossip, for both men and women. Gossip is consistently described as a sin, with some Bible verses going as far as to say that those who gossip won’t enter the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
So, with that being said, whether you are a man or a woman, gossip is not okay. Though there are some Bible verses about gossiping women, they refer to women in a certain town being gossips or busybodies (1 Timothy 5:13) or a particular woman who is known for gossip, like Jezebel (1 Kings 16, 19, 21, 22).
Bible verses about gossip remind us that both men and women are to control their tongues (James 3:5-6). Christians are to be modest in their speech and encourage others with their words (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
What Does the Bible Say About Women in the Church?
While the Bible never explicitly says that women can’t hold leadership in the workplace, there are two misinterpreted Bible verses about women in the Church that can confuse the reader.
Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. - 1 Corinthians 14:34-35
This Bible verse about women in the Church can be tough to read. For those who read it at face value, they assume that women are to be silent, in full submission, and only to inquire at home. In context, some scholars assume that women within the Church of Corinth were causing disruptions and behaving disrespectfully.
In Brittany Rust’s article, The Biblical Case for Women in Leadership, she states, “Paul is calling out the lack of order and not women speaking in church. We know he was an advocate for such roles because 1) Paul had already established the giftings of ministry roles to both genders in 1 Corinthians 12, and 2) in 1 Corinthians 11:5, we see Paul mention women as participants in prayer and prophesy in the assembly.”
Given that Phoebe was called a deaconess by Paul (Romans 16:1) and that Phillip had four daughters who prophesied (Acts 21:8-9), we know that Paul did allow women to speak within the Church. This specific letter seems to be addressing disorder within the Church of Corinth, rather than creating a rule for all women.
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. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. - 1 Timothy 2:11-13
This Bible verse about women in the Church needs context to be fully understood. In CBE International’s article, Short Answers to Challenging Texts, the author writes, “The letter was intended to address specific problems that Timothy was encountering at the church in Ephesus, namely, false teachers. These women, according to Paul, were unlearned in the faith, so it was probable that they could have been advancing false teaching. It seems likely that (in verses 11-12) Paul is referring to the way in which learning required submission to a teacher.”
When you look at the context of these controversial verses about women in the church, the argument that a woman should be silent falls to the wayside. From Miram, who led the Israelites in worship (Exodus 15:20-21), to Junia, whom the apostle Paul called outstanding (Romans 16:7), to Tabitha, who was in charge of charity to the poor (Acts 9:36), God reveals Himself as an advocate for women throughout the Bible.
Misinterpretations When it Comes to the Bible & Women
As you can see, the Bible has a lot to say about women. God encourages and edifies women, noting their value, wonder, and beauty throughout the scripture. However, discussions about women in leadership, a woman’s role in the home, and whether a woman should serve in the Church have been a cause of arguments between Christians for centuries. The most important thing is to focus on loving God, loving others, and loving our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31).
Bible verses about women that seem to contradict one another are an invitation to deeper study of the Bible and deeper prayer for understanding. When we get to Heaven, we will finally understand the mystery of certain Bible verses about women that have been misinterpreted and misused.
Regardless, it is not a sin for a woman to speak, given that Deborah, Esther, and several prominent women in the Bible did speak. For further study to address misinterpretations when it comes to the Bible and women, it helps to get a broad view of perspectives. Some places to start are:
Fashioned to Reign by Kris Valotton
Complementarianism vs. Egalitarianism by Got Questions.Org
Reconciling the Opposing Views on Women in Leadership by Kainos Project
Conclusion
In conclusion, it's clear that the Bible has some truly amazing things to say about women. Women are heirs of God’s promise and made in the image of God. From Eve, the very first mother, to Mary, Jesus's own mother, and even heroines like Jael, Esther, and Deborah, women play a huge part in God's story. While there might have been some misunderstandings about women's roles over time, a closer look at the Bible shows us just how much God values women. Whether you’re a woman in the workplace, the home, or serving in the Church, God sees you, knows you, and loves you.
