4 Examples of Women's Role in the Bible

“Likewise, tell the older women to be reverent in behavior, not to be slanderers or slaves to drink; they are to teach what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be self-controlled, chaste, good managers of the household, kind, being submissive to their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited.” Titus 2:3-5

In the East, women did not participate in public life. When a Jewish woman from Jerusalem left the house, her face was covered with a headdress, which consisted of two veils over her head, a diadem on her forehead with ribbons hanging down to her chin and a mesh of laces and knots; so you could not recognize the features of her face.


“To the woman he said, I will greatly increase your pangs in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband and he shall rule over you.” Genesis 3:16

The woman who left without a headdress that hid her face offended good manners so much that her husband had the right, even the duty, to be rid of her, without being obligated to pay the sum stipulated for divorce in the marriage contract. There were women so strict that they were not uncovered at home either. In popular places the habits were not as rigid.

“A good wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.” Proverbs 12:4

In the father's house the daughters had to pass through after the boys. Their training was limited to learning domestic jobs. In the father's eyes, they had the same duties as the boys, but not the same rights. Regarding inheritance, for example, the boys and their descendants preceded the daughters.


“But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by its cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:3

The duties of the wife consisted in attending to the needs of the house. She had to grind, sew, wash, cook, nurse the children, make her husband's bed, and, in compensation for her sustenance, make the wool (spinning and weaving); others added the duty of preparing a drink for her husband, washing his face, hands, and feet.