What does the Bible say about women? It’s the question we ask when faced with trials and triumphs both great and small. It’s what we ponder when we try to make friends but still feel so out of place. It’s the echo in the back of our minds when we see Nancy bring her famous pie to the church potluck, and we’re left wondering if we’d be admired if we were just more like her.
Our culture has a lot to say about women, who they should be, what they should prioritize, and which things they should strive to achieve. In fact, there’s even an International Women’s Day each March, dedicated to women everywhere.
However, only one voice truly matters when we consider biblical womanhood, and that’s the voice of Christ. God has a lot to say about women, their importance, and their critical role in biblical community.
Great women of the Bible
God intentionally included examples of women in the Bible to help us learn what it means to live as one of His daughters. By considering snapshots of some of their lives, we can discover practical takeaways and put them into action in our own homes and hearts.
Use this list as a jumping-off point for further in-depth study on your own, in your church small group, or in your daily devotional time with God. As you take the time to look up each woman’s story and dive deeper, your faith will grow:
Ruth
Ruth’s story, recorded in the book of the same name, gives us a peek behind the scenes of a woman struggling with heartache. We often incorporate her statements on wall art, plaques, mugs, and even purses. However, upon further evaluation, the value of her story echoes much deeper.
“‘Look,’ said Naomi, ‘your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.’ But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.’ When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.” – Ruth 1:15-18 [NIV]
Upon the death of her husband, Ruth intentionally decided to stay with Naomi, her mother-in-law. Not many women would make such a choice, let alone what Ruth decided to do: take a journey and settle in a foreign land. Ruth would live as a stranger, an immigrant, with no community, no support, no family connections, and no hope of a future. However, she decided to put her trust in the hope of the Lord, and what a turn her story took!
Practical takeaways: As women, we’re important to the Kingdom of God. Our choices make a difference in the lives of those around us – but it can also change the course of history. We can take chances when God is calling us to move forward in faith. When we obey His voice, He is faithful to lead us and build community around us.
Esther
The story of Esther, also found in the biblical book of the same name, demonstrates to us that God cares for His people and is faithful to rescue us even when hope seems lost.
“When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: ‘Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?’” – Esther 4:12-14 [NIV]
Esther didn’t want to approach the king on behalf of her people. She was full of fear and doubt, concerned that her position, and even her life itself, would be taken from her. She’d already been through a lot of pain, having been orphaned at a young age. Later, she was also taken from the only family she knew to see if she’d be worthy enough to become the king’s wife. Now, with a stable position in life, she was faced with an impossible choice: approach the king to save her people’s lives or try to keep her stable position. At the urging of Mordecai, she decided to take the risk.
Practical takeaways: As women, we’re intentionally placed in our roles: wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend, co-worker, teacher, leader, and many more. If we let Him into those roles, God transforms heartache into healing. He meets us in each calling and uses our unique gifts to bring about His glory.
Abigail
Abigail’s story is found in 1 Samuel 25, showing us what it means to be a strong woman in the face of difficult decisions and delicate situations.
“One of the servants told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, ‘David sent messengers from the wilderness to give our master his greetings, but he hurled insults at them. Yet these men were very good to us. They did not mistreat us, and the whole time we were out in the fields near them nothing was missing. Night and day they were a wall around us the whole time we were herding our sheep near them. Now think it over and see what you can do, because disaster is hanging over our master and his whole household. He is such a wicked man that no one can talk to him.’ Abigail acted quickly…” – 1 Samuel 25:14-18
Abigail was faced with a tricky situation, as her husband (who was said to be wicked) made a grave mistake in insulting the future king – David. David intended to destroy not only Nabal, but his whole household. However, Abigail didn’t hesitate. She knew what needed to be done to restore the relationship and prevent disaster. She stood in the gap, approached David herself, and asked for mercy. As a result of her bold choice, David decided to marry her upon the death of her husband Nabal. This secured Abigail’s position and status in life, giving her a bright future.
Practical takeaways: As women, we’re gifted with wisdom and grace from God, and we’re called to use those gifts to seek mercy and unity. We can step out in boldness when God calls us forward.
Strong women: You have a place in biblical community
What if there was one thing that each of these women have in common? In fact, what if it’s something all the biblical women have in common?
Spoiler alert: they do! It’s their flaws.
Not one woman listed in the Bible reacted perfectly, lived flawlessly, or had every aspect of their heart and home in order. Far from it.
In fact, we see many examples of women who tried their best, but sinned. We see examples of women who were misguided or intentionally chose harder paths. We see examples of women who faced trauma, abuse, anxiety, brokenness, homelessness, and heartache. We also see snapshots of women’s lives where it seemed like they made good choices, however, it’s important to remember that we truly only see one story out of the entire tapestry of their existence.
We know there are no human beings without sin. No one, except Jesus, was perfect. This fills our hearts with hope, because we can approach God’s throne of grace through the blood of Christ. We’re not perfect, and we’ll never be on this side of heaven. This means that we’re not disqualified, nor should we be discouraged. Rather, God calls His imperfect daughters to important roles in biblical community. From homemakers and homeschool moms, to teachers, lawyers, missionaries, writers, artists, leaders and so many more, women have crucial skills to offer our world.
God wants His daughters to know how valuable they truly are. He says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made [Psalm 139:14], beautiful and beloved [Song of Songs 4:7], and that He has good plans for our lives [Jeremiah 29:11]. He calls us to be women of valor and virtue, stepping out in faith to allow God to work through our lives and hearts. As we do, we can be sure that we’ll be living out God’s call to biblical womanhood.
