Scripture's account of women stands in stark contrast to the practice of the nations round about, where the status of women was generally circumscribed and often precarious. Rooted in the Old Testament and blossoming in the New, the Christian faith gives women dignity, worth and spiritual standing. This article sets the condition of women among the nations beside the teaching and practice found in the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

The Status of Women Among the Nations

Among the nations round about Israel—including Mesopotamia, Egypt, Canaan, and Assyria—societies were overwhelmingly patriarchal. Women generally occupied a subordinate position to men, legally, economically, and socially. Their primary roles were often confined to the domestic sphere, focused on childbearing and household management. Their law codes, while offering some protections, consistently reflected male headship and the woman's status as dependent on her father or husband.

  • Marriage and Family: Marriages were typically arranged, often for economic or political alliances, with the bride's family providing a dowry. Polygamy was a common practice, particularly for men of means, and a wife's value was frequently tied to her ability to produce male heirs. Divorce was generally initiated by the husband, who could often dismiss his wife with relative ease, leaving her vulnerable and without support.
  • Legal and Economic Rights: Women's legal rights were severely limited. They could not typically inherit property equally with male siblings, and their testimony in legal proceedings often held less weight. While some women, particularly in Egypt, might attain higher status or engage in commerce, these were exceptions to the general rule of female subordination. A woman's identity and security were almost entirely dependent on her father or husband.
  • Religious Roles: While some of the nations' religions featured female deities or priestesses, their roles often served to reinforce societal norms, such as fertility cults, or were limited to specific domestic or cultic functions that did not challenge male authority. Women were rarely seen as equal participants in the intellectual or spiritual leadership of their communities.

In essence, the nations round about generally viewed women by their usefulness to men and the continuing of the family line, rather than as persons bearing the image of God.

The Christian Perspective on Women's Status: The Old Testament Foundation

The Old Testament, though it sets women within the headship of father and husband, presents a foundational theology that differs radically from the practice of the nations regarding women's inherent worth. It begins with creation itself:

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Genesis 1:27
KJV

This verse establishes the shared image of God and gives male and female equal dignity. The woman, Eve, is created as a "help meet for him" (Genesis 2:18), a partner suitable and complementary, not inferior. The institution of marriage as "one flesh" (Genesis 2:24) speaks to an intimate union of equals in worth, though with distinct roles.

Despite the fall bringing sin and its consequences, including the man's rule over the woman (Genesis 3:16), the Mosaic Law introduced specific protections for women that were far more protective than the practice of the nations round about:

The case of Zelophehad's daughters (Numbers 27:1-8, Numbers 36:1-12) reveals God's intervention to grant women inheritance rights when there were no male heirs, by the LORD's own ruling to Moses. Furthermore, the Old Testament features numerous women who exercised significant influence and leadership: Deborah, a prophetess and judge who led Israel (Judges 4:4); Esther, who saved her people; Ruth, a woman of great loyalty and integrity; and Hannah, a woman of faith whose prayer anticipated the coming Messiah. These examples demonstrate that God used women powerfully within the patriarchal structure, affirming their individual worth and capacity for spiritual and societal impact.

The Christian Perspective on Women's Status: The New Testament Revolution

The New Testament elevates the status of women, not by dismantling all societal structures, but by radically altering the underlying spiritual and relational dynamics. Jesus Christ consistently demonstrated a revolutionary respect and inclusion of women that defied the customs of His day:

  • He engaged in theological discourse with the Samaritan woman (John 4:7-27), though "the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans" (John 4:9).
  • He affirmed Mary's choice to sit and learn at His feet, prioritizing spiritual learning over traditional domestic roles (Luke 10:38-42).
  • Women were among His closest followers and supporters, including Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna (Luke 8:2-3).
  • Crucially, women were the first witnesses to His resurrection, a pivotal moment in Christian history, entrusted with proclaiming the good news (Matthew 28:1-10).

The Apostle Paul states the equality of all believers in Christ:

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:28
KJV

This declaration establishes spiritual equality before God across every distinction, gender included. While Paul also teaches on distinct roles within the church and marriage, emphasizing submission within a divinely ordained order (Ephesians 5:22-24; 1 Timothy 2:11-14), these teachings must be understood in context. The submission of wives to husbands is paralleled by the husband's sacrificial love for his wife, "even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it" (Ephesians 5:25). This is a call to mutual respect and self-sacrificing love, turning male dominance into a relationship of Christ-like service and care.

Women were also active in the early church. Phoebe is commended as "a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea" (Romans 16:1-2), a servant by office in acts of charity and hospitality, as Matthew Henry reads it. Women prayed and prophesied (1 Corinthians 11:5), and Paul regulates the manner of it. The command that women "keep silence in the churches" (1 Corinthians 14:34) is read, with Matthew Henry, as forbidding women to teach in the congregation, in keeping with 1 Timothy 2:11-14 above; Paul grounds it in the law ("as also saith the law") and in the order of the churches ("God is not the author of confusion", 1 Corinthians 14:33).

The New Testament elevates women by affirming their spiritual equality, valuing their contributions, and redefining marriage as a covenant of mutual love and respect under Christ's headship, a radical departure from the practice of the nations round about.

Conclusion

The status of women differed sharply between the nations round about and the Scriptures. Among the nations, women had limited rights, depended on male authority, and were often confined to subservient roles. Their worth was often measured by their usefulness and their bearing of children.

Conversely, Christianity, from its Old Testament foundations to its New Testament fulfillment, consistently upholds the dignity of women, beginning with their creation in the image of God. It provides unique legal protections and celebrates women of faith and influence. Most significantly, through the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and the apostles, Christianity introduced a spiritual equality that transcends gender, transforming marriage into a relationship of mutual love and respect, and affirming the vital roles of women within the community of faith. While recognizing distinct roles, the core message of Christianity is that both male and female are equally precious in the sight of God, co-heirs of His grace, and vital members of the body of Christ. This biblical perspective offered, and continues to offer, a liberating and dignified status for women, far beyond the practice of the nations.