What does the Bible say about violence against women?
Bible violence against women
Violence against women is a tragic reality in our world today, as it has always been since the fall of humankind. We live in a sin-corrupted realm, which includes sexual and gender-based aggression. It should come as no surprise that many Bible stories contain accounts of violence against women, just as any record of present-day society might also include.
Some Bible readers have interpreted the ill-treatment of women in the Bible as justification for abusing and subjugating women. However, Scripture does not promote violence against women; neither does it present it as an appealing option. While some biblical stories appear neutral on the topic, most accounts depict the mistreatment of women in either an openly or indirectly critical light.
Readers who wish to correctly interpret what the Bible says about violence against women must understand the cultural backdrop that provides the setting for the Bible’s narrative. The ancient Near East and Graeco-Roman worlds of the Bible were male-dominated, patriarchal societies in which men held all the social, economic, legal, and domestic power. A women’s principal role was to become a wife and mother. Thus, most women were dependent on men—either their fathers, husbands, brothers, or sons—for their entire lives, leaving them particularly vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.
In the Old Testament, God called His people to protect, care for, and promote justice for vulnerable members of society, such as widows, orphans, the poor, and foreigners (Exodus 22:22; Deuteronomy 24:19; 27:19; Isaiah 1:17; Zechariah 7:10). Nevertheless, in legal, financial, and domestic matters, the law almost always favored the interests of men (Deuteronomy 22:13–21, 28–29; Numbers 5:11–31). In cases of rape, the offender was to receive the death penalty (Deuteronomy 22:25–27).
By New Testament times, the Bible speaks more candidly to men regarding violence against women. Colossians 3:19 commands, “Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly” (NLT). In Ephesians 5:25–33, Paul condemns the mistreatment of women, urging men to love and care for their wives in the same way “they love their own bodies” (NLT). Peter teaches believing husbands to treat their wives with honor and respect as an “equal partner in God’s gift of new life” (1 Peter 3:7, NLT).
By this time, women were gaining a slightly more influential place in society. Jesus included women on His ministry team (Matthew 27:55; Luke 8:1–3), and women were named as influencers in the early church (Romans 16:1–3, 7, 12; Philippians 4:2–3; 1 Corinthians 16:19).
Physical and sexual violence against women is recorded in several biblical passages:
Hagar was forced to become a surrogate mother for Abraham and Sarah. The maidservant was further abused by her mistress, Sarah, who became jealous and treated Hagar harshly. Eventually, Hagar and her son were cast out of the household into the desert. But God rescued, cared for, and blessed Hagar and Ishmael (Genesis 16:1–16; 21:8–21).
Jacob’s daughter, Dinah, was abducted and raped by Shechem (Genesis 34:1–31). Jephthah’s daughter fell victim to her father’s lack of faith and misguided vow (Judges 11:12–40). In a horrifying scene of violence against women, the men of Gibeah savagely gang raped and murdered a Levite’s concubine (Judges 19:11–30). This story illustrates the increasing violence spreading throughout the land in the days when “Israel had no king” (Judges 19:1; 21:25) as the nation drifted further away from God.
David’s adulterous affair with Bathsheba definitely involved a power imbalance and is another example of a woman being victimized. As king, David used his position of power to take what he wanted, and Bathsheba had no real choice in the matter (2 Samuel 11:1—12:31). God’s displeasure and condemnation were directed at David, not Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:1–15). David’s son Amnon perpetuated the violence against women, raping his half-sister Tamar (2 Samuel 13:1–39).
While God may seem to be silent about the abuse in many of these accounts, the criminality of the offenses is apparent when viewed within the whole context of Scripture. In the case of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:2–11), Jesus unambiguously revealed God’s heart toward violence against women. Attentive readers will note the woman’s vulnerability as the men in the story bring her forward and call her out as the only transgressor—dehumanizing her as if she were the embodiment of sexual sin. But Jesus defended the woman, treating her with dignity and compassion.
Violence against women (or any person) in the Bible must be understood and interpreted according to God’s condemnation and prohibition of every kind of abusive behavior. God hates violence (Psalm 11:5; Jeremiah 22:3; Ezekiel 45:9; Malachi 2:16). He calls believers to love and protect the innocent and vulnerable (Luke 10:30–37; Ephesians 4:2; Philippians 4:5). The Lord comes to the aid of those who are threatened by violence (2 Samuel 22:49; Psalm 18:48; Matthew 2:13; Luke 22:50–51). Scripture overwhelmingly demonstrates that violence against women is unacceptable in God’s eyes and among His people (2 Samuel 22:3; Psalm 72:14; Galatians 5:14; Romans 13:10).
Anyone can say anything they want. But how putting my two cents in becomes attacking someone is beyond me. The problem isn't that I'm attacking anyone, it's what I'm saying that people don't like, so out comes the over the top reactions and falsehoods about me.
I'm going to say something I'm sure you won't like and that is the reason you're reacting the way you are is because most of your life you've been able to talk a lot of nonsense but rarely if ever got challenged on it. Well now you're being challenged and instead of actually trying to have a reasonable dialog with me you just throw together some meaningless verbiage thrown in with some insults and you call it good.
I'm going to ask again. Perhaps you could try and have a well reasoned intellectual, and more importantly a logical conversation with me? Moonbean can't seem to do it, so far you haven't been able to do it, Ontnet can't seem to manage it either.
Any and all are welcome to tell me why they disagree with me about anything. Quoting scripture is fine but please include an explanation as to how it applies. Use your own words not someone else interpretation.
I just want to reiterate why I feel men should be able to comment on women's forums. Again if a forum has anything in any way shape matter or form something to to with men in it then he has the right to comment if he wants. There are tons of things for women to talk about that men wouldn't even care to be a part of so it's not like I or any other man is going to involve himself on those conversations.
Moonshiner purposely eggs these type of situations on by repeatedly posting anything she can cut and paste, but absolutely none of you women have said anything to her about it. Now why is that? Can you spell hypocrite?
The term women’s rights gained popularity in America beginning in 1848, in Seneca, New York, when 300 people signed a declaration calling for an end to discrimination against women. However, in 1866 the 14th Amendment, which was to guarantee the basic rights of all citizens, designated the word citizen to mean “male voter,” thus eliminating women from such protection. But by 1900 every state had passed legislation that allowed married women to own property and keep their own wages. Despite those advancements, history has not been kind to women. In the face of the freedoms women enjoy in modern America, the unfair laws and practices of the past still haunt us, and there are many countries that continue to treat women as lesser human beings. Some people claim that the Bible is one reason women have been treated unfairly. Others point to the Bible as planting the seeds of liberation for women. Let’s consider women’s rights in light of the Bible.
Before looking at what the Bible has to say about social issues, we must always understand the context of a particular passage and the audience to whom it was addressed. The Bible is a collection of books, each inspired by God but written by different authors, in different eras, for different purposes (2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16). For example, God’s command to the Israelites to “utterly destroy the Hittites and the Canaanites” (Deuteronomy 10:17) was not written to 21st-century Christians. We cannot act on that command; it was not intended for us. Instead, we learn from it and seek to understand God’s purposes in it. Likewise, some Old Testament elements that sound to our Western ears as though God disrespects women need to be considered in light of the culture of the Near East in 4000 BC.
What we know from Scripture is that God created woman as a complement and a gift to man (Genesis 2:18, 22). She is to be treasured, protected, and selflessly served the way Christ loves and serves His church (Ephesians 5:25–30; 1 Peter 3:7). But fallen man, acting according to his sinful flesh, perverts what God creates. Over time, God’s ideal for the woman was shattered, and she became little more than a sexual object, baby-bearer, and slave to the man. This was not God’s plan, just as war, disease, and suffering were not His plan. But God allows humankind free will to choose whether to honor His commands or defy them; however, consequences come with either choice. One consequence that resulted from man’s misuse of the woman God gave him is that one-half of His image (Genesis 1:27) has been abused, subjugated, disrespected, and violated throughout history.
When God gave the Law to the Israelites (Exodus 24:12), He worked within the social structure they already knew. Ancient civilizations were often violent, idolatrous, superstitious, and evil (Genesis 6:5–6). God called out a people and began to teach them about Himself, help them separate themselves from the pagan nations around them, and show them a better way to live (Jeremiah 32:38–39). One aspect of His Law elevated the status of women and children to new heights. God worked within their social structure to ensure “women’s rights”; that is, in the Law women were protected, given fair treatment, and provided for so that no woman could be used and then discarded as was the practice in the pagan nations. God implemented specific laws to protect widows, orphans, and single women without male providers (Exodus 22:22; Deuteronomy 27:19; Joshua 17:3–4).
The problem with the term women’s rights is that it implies that certain groups can demand “rights” that God did not give them. Less noble inclusions usually piggyback on the benign phrase. For example, demand for “women’s rights” is usually equated with the pro-choice agenda. Activists maintain that part of a woman’s “right” is sovereignty over her own body, even if that body is housing a separate human being. But we cannot create our own “rights.” We have the right to life because God gave it to us. We have the right to avoid danger and abuse whenever possible because our bodies are God’s temple (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). We have the right to choose whether or not to obey God—and the right to receive the consequences of that choice. But we do not have the “right” to infringe upon any rights belonging to someone else.
The following is a list of rights God gave women:
1. A woman has the right to be treated as a woman the way God designed her. In other words, no one has the “right” to force a woman to behave as a man and defy her God-given gender. God placed beauty and grace in the female soul different from the characteristics He gave men (Deuteronomy 22:5). A woman who cannot accept her design as a female needs to be loved, counseled, and shown what it truly means to be a woman. Lesbianism and gender-reassignment surgeries are not solutions God endorses.
2. A woman has the right to nurture and protect her own baby growing inside her body. No one has the right to force a woman to abort her child, and, by the same token, no woman has the right to force her baby’s death (Psalm 139:13).
3. A woman has the right to flourish and grow within the boundaries God created for her, just as men do. Men do not have the right to inhibit that growth and freedom, as has been done in the past and is still practiced in many parts of the world (Colossians 3:19).
4. A woman has the right to fair treatment because women are “joint heirs of the grace of life” (1 Peter 3:7). This includes equal opportunities to own property (Proverbs 31:16), receive an education, make personal decisions for herself, receive equal pay for equal work (Deuteronomy 24:17), and marry or not marry as she chooses (Numbers 36:6).
5. A woman has the right to serve the Lord according to her gifts and within the boundaries God set for His church (Titus 2:3–5; 1 Timothy 3:11).
6. A woman has the right to compete on an equal level with a man for opportunities not related to gender. However, to expect business and institutions to alter their standards so that women have a better chance is not equality at all. (For example, gender may prohibit a 4'6," 110-lb. woman from being hired for a heavy construction job.) Gender should never be a consideration for college admissions, medical school, or the business world because a woman’s feminine qualities in no way affect her performance.
7. A woman has a right to everything a man claims as his right, while honoring the God-given distinctions between the sexes (Galatians 3:28). Neither gender nor race should ever be used as an excuse to oppress or exclude a person from anything God allows.
When the phrase women’s rights agrees with the rights God instituted when He designed the woman, then the Bible fully supports those rights. When that term is hijacked to include evil that God never endorsed, then those so-called “rights” are not rights at all.
