There are many books in the Bible about women, their impacts in the ancient days and as the source of inspiration to present-day Christian women can not be overemphasized.
The Bible is a sacred religious book written with the guidance of the holy spirit to guide, shape and direct billions of believers and non-believers worldwide.
The Bible respective of its enormous impact, influence and vision in the world has been lambasted by some quarters based on its principles and certain restrictive conditions on women.
However, there are lots of Bible chapters that portrays the lives of some women who lived impactful lives to serve their generations, and household and left their contributions for the present female Christians to emulate their paths for an impactful living.
13 Books in the Bible about Women
Esther is one of the most known, read and preached books in the Bible. The book tells the story of a young brave and proactive Jewish girl who became the Queen of Persia.
Out of wisdom she used her good offices and saved her tribe from destruction and today she is being celebrated in her tribe’s tradition -Jew and the book of Esther is being read during this festive period.
She left an indelible mark on her generation and she is a strong source of inspiration for today’s female Christians.
Another most preached and recognised book that talks about a woman are the book of Ruth. Ruth was a Moabite, she became a widow and decided to stay with her mother-in-law Ruth despite losing her husband.
She was kind, loyal and resourceful. Graciously, Ruth found favor with Boaz, a wealthy farmer and became his wife. The lineage of Jesus Christ can be traced to Ruth and she is celebrated for her loyalty and resilience
In this write-up, I will further talk about other books in the Bible that expatiated the characters of women in the Bible. Some of these characteristics had a positive impact while some were negative and it showed in their lives.
1. Ruth
Ruth 1:14-18
“14. Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15. And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16. But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” 18. And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.
Ruth 1:14-18 (ESV)
The book of Ruth says everything about the kind of woman Ruth was. Ruth was married to Naomi’s son. The Bible specified that Naomi had two sons and she also had daughters-in-law although the Bible didn’t specify which of the sons got married to Ruth.
Ruth clung to her mother-in-law when her husband died. She kept the woman company and kept her going until she bore a son from a man Boaz, whom Naomi asked her to go after.
She was loyal, and adventurous, put her faith in the God of her mother-in-law and above all, she was honest and hardworking.
2. Proverbs – Virtuous Woman
Proverbs 31:10-31
The book of Proverbs chapter 31 summarizes the attributes to look out for in a virtuous woman. When a virtuous woman is mentioned, the book of Proverbs 31:10-31 clarifies all doubts in anyone’s heart concerning a virtuous woman.
The proverbs 31 woman never existed anywhere, it’s a mental picture of a virtuous woman, whom the mother of Samuel asked him to look out for in a woman. According to Proverbs 31, a virtuous woman is purposeful, visionary, hardworking,
a breadwinner, a supportive wife and a caring mother. She brings her food from afar and considers a garden and purchases it. She’s praised by all and her children call her blessed. She is a crown to her husband and her beauty beams through her character.
3. Samuel – Abigail
1 Samuel 25:2-43
2. And there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. The man was very rich; he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. He was shearing his sheep in Carmel. 3. Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife was Abigail. The woman was discerning and beautiful, but the man was harsh and badly behaved; he was a Calebite. 4. David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep. 5. So David sent ten young men. And David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel, and go to Nabal and greet him in my name”.
1 Samuel 25:2-43 (ESV)
The book of Samuel tells the story of Abigail the wife of Labal; her beauty, wisdom, humility and proactive instinct. Abigail was married to Nabal, an opposite personality to hers. While Abigail was generous Nabal was stingy.
She stood in the gap for her husband when he objected to King David’s request and there was a threat on the life of Abigail’s household and she speedily rose to the occasion and saved her family from the fast-approaching danger.
She later became the wife of King David after the death of her first husband Nabal. She saved her household from the anger of King David through generosity and humility.
4. Esther – Esther
Esther 2:7-13
7. He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, the daughter of his uncle, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his daughter. 8. So when the king’s order and his edict were proclaimed, and when many young women were gathered in Susa the citadel in custody of Hegai, Esther also was taken into the king’s palace and put in custody of Hegai, who had charge of the women. 9. And the young woman pleased him and won his favor. And he quickly provided her with her cosmetics and her portion of food, and with seven chosen young women from the king’s palace, and advanced her and her young women to the best place in the harem.
Esther 2:7-13 (ESV)
Esther 4:15-16
15. Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 16. “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”
Esther 4:15-16 (ESV)
The book of Esther tells a beautiful story of wisdom, humility and the powers of prayer. Esther was an orphan; she was raised by her uncle, Mordecai. Esther took Vashti’s seat and became the Queen.
Esther went with an undisclosed identity and remained unidentified as she was instructed by her uncle Mordecai. Esther is noted for her audacious spirit and leadership.
She was instrumental in saving the Jews from destruction and she is still celebrated by her kinsmen she is a great inspiration to the present generation of female Christians.
5. Judges – Deborah
Judges 4:4-5
4. “Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. 5. She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the people of Israel came up to her for judgment”.
Judges 4:4-5 (ESV)
The book of Judges talks about the qualities of Deborah. Deborah was the wife of Lappidoth and she was a female judge in the land of Israel.
She was a woman of valour, a warrior helped and directed by God to do His will for her people and she restored peace in the land of Israel for a good number of years.
Deborah was a prophetess. She is an inspiration to the present-day church where the practice of prophesying has gradually taken the back seat and been adulterated by false prophets.
6. Genesis – Sarah
Genesis 17:15-16
“15. And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16. I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her”.
Genesis 17:15-16 (ESV)
Genesis 16:1-4
1. Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. 2. And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3. So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife. 4. And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress.
Genesis 16:1-4 (ESV)
The book of Genesis characterizes Sarah as the mother of many nations because of the fulfilment of God’s promise in her life even in old age.
Sarah was married to Abraham and their initial names were Sarai and Abram. God changed their names because of the need to fulfil His promises in their lives.
Sarah laughed when God promised her a son at her menopause age; she did not think that it would be possible considering her age and her body system but God fulfilled His promises in their lives against all human odds.
She had her promised son, Isaac at ninety (90) years and died at the age of one hundred and twenty-seven (127).
7. Genesis – Eve
Genesis 2:21-22
21. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man”.
Genesis 2:21-22 (ESV)
Genesis 3:6-7
“6. So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths”.
Genesis 3:6-7 (ESV)
The book of Genesis tells the story of Eve as the first woman that was created by God from the ribs of her husband Adam.
Eve was created as a companion to Adam. On creation, Adam and his wife Eve were instructed not to eat of the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” Genesis 2:17.
But Eve was deceived by the serpent to eat from the tree and she also gave the fruit to her husband.
Through Eve and Adam’s disobedience, sin and death entered the world. Consequently, God cursed the land because of man, Genesis 3:17 and thorns and thistles began to grow on the fields for man.
As for Eve, God declared that only through travails and pains shall she bring forth a child and her desires shall be for her husband, Genesis 3:16.
To the serpent, God took its limbs and caused him to eat the dust of the earth and put enmity between the woman and the serpent. Genesis 3:14.
But through the unending love of God, he caused his only son Jesus Christ to die and redeem the world from the shackles of sin. Through the first man, sin entered into the world but when God sent the second Adam, the world was redeemed.
8. Judges – Delilah
Judges 16:13-18
13. Then Delilah said to Samson, “Until now you have mocked me and told me lies. Tell me how you might be bound.” And he said to her, “If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web and fasten it tight with the pin, then I shall become weak and be like any other man. 14. So while he slept, Delilah took the seven locks of his head and wove them into the web. And she made them tight with the pin and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But he awoke from his sleep and pulled away the pin, the loom, and the web. 15. And she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and you have not told me where your great strength lies. 16. And when she pressed him hard with her words day after day, and urged him, his soul was vexed to death. 17. And he told her all his heart, and said to her, “A razor has never come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man. 18. When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up again, for he has told me all his heart.” Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hands”.
Judges 16:13-18 (ESV)
The book of Judges describes Delilah the wife of Sampson as a betrayer, cunning and a traitor. She betrayed Sampson for money. Sampson revealed the secret of his strength and power to her and she used it against him.
Sampson prayed to God and his hair grew back, as a man of valour, on his last day, he destroyed his enemies in thousands.
9. Matthew, Mark and Luke – Herodias
Mark 6:17-22
17. For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife because he had married her. 18. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19. And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20. for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly. 21. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22. For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.”
Mark 6:17-22 (ESV)
The book of Matthew, Mark and Luke tell similar stories about Herodias.
Herodias was married to Phillip, Herod’s wife but she committed adultery with her brother-in-law. John the Baptist was strongly against such incest and she looked for means to kill John.
On Herod’s birthday after her daughter Salome had danced to the pleasure of the king, the King asked Salome to request anything.
She was prompted by her mother to request John the Baptist’s head which she did and John the Baptist was killed.
She was a negative influence as recorded in the Bible and contemporary women should guide against giving destructive advice to people who need genuine advice and help from them.
10. Acts – Sapphira
Acts 5:1-5
1. But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2. and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4. While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5. When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it”.
Acts 5:1-5 (ESV)
The book of Acts talks about Sapphira, her insincerity and dishonesty even in the house of God.
Sapphira convinced her husband Ananias to tell lies to keep some of the proceeds they got from selling their plots for the work of God.
The husband adhered to her ill instruction and they all died at the same time as a result of telling lies before the priests. She was another negative example in the Bible.
11. John – Mary of Bethany
John 12:3
“Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume”.
John 12:3 (ESV)
The book of John talks about Mary of Bethany as a true worshipper and a giver.
Her story teaches today’s Christians the act of giving the best to God. Her cost of worship and praise was priceless. She gave the master the needed adornment in preparation for his redemption work on the cross.
Mary poured Jesus a very precious ointment and she also used her hair (crown) to wipe Jesus’ feet which signifies humility and value.
12. Acts – Dorcas
Acts 9:36
“Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity”.
Acts 9:36-43 (ESV)
The book of Acts describes Dorcas as a widow that was full of good works and service to her people.
Her good works spoke for her when her eyes and mouth were closed in death. She was brought back to life to continue from where she had stopped for the good of man and the glory of God.
13. Genesis and Romans – Rebekah
Genesis 24:45-48
45. “Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her water jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. I said to her, ‘Please let me drink. 46. She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels drink also.’ So I drank, and she gave the camels drink also. 47. Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her arms. 48. Then I bowed my head and worshiped the LORD and blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to take the daughter of my master’s kinsman for his son”.
Genesis 24:45-48 (ESV)
The book of Genesis describes Rebekah as a woman with a humble Character that qualified her to be chosen as Isaac’s wife. Rebekah was the daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son.
Her generosity to a stranger qualified her to the married to Isaac, the promised son of Abraham and Sarah.
Genesis 27:5
“Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it.”
Genesis 27:5 (ESV)
The above Bible verses chronicled the life of Rebekah, her kindness to strangers and how she became the wife of Isaac.
Her story is meant to encourage, inspire and motivate today’s Christians on the need to remain humble and be kind to anyone that is in need.
Romans 9:10
“And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac”.
Romans 9:10 (ESV)
According to the above Bible verse, Rebekah engineered the hatred between her sons. She assisted Jacob to receive the blessings that were meant for Esau. Although she was generous and humble at the beginning of her life, she was partial to her two sons.
Conclusion
The Bible despite facing unquantifiable critics for its limitations on women, contains many books that highlight the contributions of women and their experiences as Christians, wives and mothers.
It is pertinent for present-day Christians to study these books and be conversant with them for a deeper understanding and implementation of the positive lessons in their daily lives.
Women can also use their God-given talents and grace to impact their homes, society, church and the present generation. They can also serve as role models to other female Christians.
