The Bible is a religious book that contains many references to the human body, including that of men and women. People often ask what the Bible say about a woman’s body in their quest to live a godly life as instructed by paul Apostle and other Apostles.
According to Paul Apostle, the Bible instructs that a woman’s or man’s body must be cared for, respected and honored as a living sacrifice and vessel of honor to God.
Specifically about a woman’s body, the scripture according to Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 2:9-10 harps on modesty in dressing, self-control in actions and deeds, and exhibiting godliness in all endeavours.
“Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. instructs women to be modest in dressing” 1 Timothy 2:9-10.
What does the Bible say about a Woman’s Body?
The Bible instructs women to honor God with their bodies as a living sacrifice and the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, I Corinthians 6: 19-20 “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?
You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”
The Bible in 1 Timothy 2:9-10 implies that a woman’s beauty emanates from her actions and character, rather than external adornment with expensive apparel and braided hair.
Although the value of a woman’s body can be equal to that of a man, because, in the Christ Jesus, there are no Jews nor Gentiles, all are one body in one God.
What this means is that in Christ there is no gender before God, no male nor female, no race and tribe, no region nor age. We were all called by one God through the redemptive work of Christ on the cross of Calvary.
So, I want us to consider the following Bible passages for us to unravel more about what the Bible say about a woman’s body.
1. A Woman’s Body Should be Decorated with Strength and Dignity
Proverbs 31:25
“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.”
Proverbs 31:25 (ESV)
A woman’s body should not only be decorated with clothing but with strength and dignity. A woman looks more beautiful when she exhibits strength of character in her dealings and with a strong voice of influence.
There are so many ways a woman can adorn herself with strength and dignity; she can equip herself with the scripture and wear prayers as her armour of war among other godly fruits.
2. A Woman should Adorn herself with Respectable Apparel
1st Timothy 2:9-10
“9. Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire,10. But with what is proper for women who profess godliness — with good works”.
1st Timothy 2:9-10 (ESV)
This portion admonishes that women should adorn themselves with respectable apparel, modesty and self-control. Some apparels are respectable in the sight of God these are meekness, kindheartedness and as well as physically modest dressing.
To please God with our bodies as women, there is a need to dress responsibly and if hair should be braided, it should be done in a modest manner pleasant and acceptable to God.
3. A Woman Should Adorn Herself with Good Character
1 Peter 3:3
“Do not let your adorning be external — the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear”
1 Peter 3:3 (ESV)
As far as adornment is involved, it must radiate from inward character, approaches to issues and the ability to remain calm and equanimity in every situation.
Physical adornment of oneself has to be modest and complemented with inner qualities.
4. Flee from Sexual Immoralities
1 Corinthians 6:18-20
“18. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20. For you were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your body”.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (ESV)
To live in a way that pleases God with our bodies as women, there is a need to flee from sexual immoralities, adultery and fornication should not be practiced by godly women.
The scripture expects women to keep their bodies clean from any form of defilement bearing in mind it is the dwelling place of the holy spirit.
This can be achieved when you get yourself acquainted with the word of God and allow the holy spirit to dwell in you all earthly desires shall varnish and Christ will take over the centre of your life.
5. Work by the Word of God
Galatians 5:19-23
19. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20. Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21. Envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23. Gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:19-23 (ESV)
Immorality separates one from God. The Bible instructs women to live their lives according to God’s instructions in the scripture.
When a woman avoids immorality, she begins to exhibit and experience love, goodness, kindness and self-control which are the fruits of the spirit.
To remain chaste and work in a way that pleases God, there is a dire need to flee from the above-named sins.
6. Connect with the Husband’s Love
Ephesians 5:28-30
“28. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church 30. Because we are members of his body”.
Ephesians 5:28-30 (ESV)
7. Her Hair is the Husband’s Crown
1 Corinthians 11:15
“But if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.”
This portion of the Bible recommends that women should keep their hair and not cut it; it represents their glory and the crown to their husbands.
1 Corinthians 11:15 (ESV)
8. It is more Profiting to fear God other than Men
Proverbs 31:30
“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”
Proverbs 31:30 (ESV)
It is good to be beautiful but it is more profiting to fear God; He will adorn your beauty, and single you out as a model to other women.
9. God has given us Everything to Satisfy our Test of Beauty
I Corinthians 12:23-24
23. “And on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,” 24. “Which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it.”
I Corinthians 12:23-24 (ESV)
God has composed our body and made it beautiful to His standard, it is not ideal to augment it with our idea, remember God’s model of beauty lies within good characters.
10. Children are Gifts from God, Pregnancy is a Reward
Psalm 127:3
“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.
Psalm 127:3 (ESV)
Some women in the name of civilisation have decided not to have children to maintain their shapes and curves.
It is important to know that every woman is favored by God through childbirth and children are blessings from God, and rewards to every woman.
11. Each Woman should Marry one Man
1 Corinthians 7:2
“But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.”
1 Corinthians 7:2 (ESV)
This is the solution that Jesus proffered for society to do away with the sin of fornication, and adultery; a man should have one wife and a woman should be married to a man, this is God’s instructions that should be adhered to.
12. The Worth of an Excellent Woman is Incomparable
Proverbs 31:10
“An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.”
Proverbs 31:10 (ESV)
13. Women should be Shown Honor
1 Peter 3:7
“Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”
1 Peter 3:7 (ESV)
14. Women Should be more Concerned About Life After Now
John 4:13-14
“13. Jesus said to her, Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again. 14. But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
John 4:13-14 (ESV)
15. Older Women should Live by Example
Titus 2:3-4
“3. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good. 4. And so train the young women to love their husbands and children”.
Titus 2:3-4 (ESV)
16. The Essence of Jesu’ Death Should be Referenced
1 Corinthians 6:20
“For you were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your body.”
1 Corinthians 6:20 (ESV)
17. Women should Continually Encourage themselves Positively
Psalm 139:14
“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
Psalm 139:14 (ESV)
18. Women Should Connect to God
1 Corinthians 12:27
“27. Now you are the body of Christ and individual members of it”.
1 Corinthians 12:27 (ESV)
Conclusion
A woman should keep her body chaste and pure without blemish and spot before the creator. A woman should nourish her body and free herself from the bondage of sin.
The word of God is like a compass and it will direct the woman about what the Bible needs of them in terms of dressing.
The Bible illustrates that a woman’s body should be decorated with strength and dignity, and a woman should adorn herself with respectable apparel.
Explicitly, the Bible says adorning should not only be external but should be garnished with the word of God.
