Since its inception, the Bible has been appreciated as a sacred historical document that provides tenets of operation for Christians the world over. It is expected that her characters should be approached with respect, but yet, there were silly women in the Bible.
The Bible with its deep meaning and spiritual significance to billions of people, has characters of both male and female genders and the characteristics and attributes they exhibited classified them into wise or silly men and women
Top 5 Silly Women in the Bible
In the Bible as a religious text, some female characters had complex and multifaceted attributes, although they shouldn’t be reduced to judgmental treatment.
Yet the attributes that classified them into the class of silly women must be discussed for today’s Christian women to learn and make possible amends when necessary.
So, in this piece, I will especially talk about the top 5 most silly women in the Bible.
Some of them lived a life that was not in harmony with their husbands, children, and the entire society, so society tags them as silly women. The top five silly women in the Bible were Herodias, Sapphira, Delilah, the five virgins, and Jezebel.
1. Herodias
Matthew 14:6-12
“6. But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod. 7. So that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. 8. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” 9. And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given.10 He sent and had John beheaded in the prison,11 And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.12 And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus”.
Matthew 14:6-12 (ESV)
Herodias is considered one of the silly women in the Bible because of how she persuaded her daughter to request John the Baptist’s head.
She didn’t possess the attributes of a godly woman. She committed adultery with her brother-in-law, and John the Baptist kicked against her incest, so she developed a deep hatred for him.
She ill-advised her daughter and lost a golden opportunity that would have changed the fortunes of her family if she had advised her to request treasures, maybe a scholarship, or whatever was their immediate need.
2. Sapphira
Acts 5:1–5, 9–10
“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. 9. But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10. Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband”.
Acts 5:1-5, 9-10 (ESV)
Sapphira is considered one of the silly women in the Bible because of the part she played in making her husband tell lies in front of an Apostle of God, which led to her instant death and that of her husband.
She was deceitful and not straightforward. That resulted in their untimely deaths. She didn’t portray the image of Christ as expected of a godly woman.
3. Delilah
Judges 16:13-20
“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.19. She made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. 20. And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had left him”.
Judges 16:13-20 (ESV)
Delilah was one of the silliest women in the Bible. She masterminded the killing of her husband, Sampson.
She inquired from her husband about the source of his strength and disclosed the same to the Philistines, and they barbed his hair where his strength was and blinded him.
Although Sampson regained his strength when his hair grew back and destroyed thousands of Filipinos on his last day, his wife has been penciled down as a silly woman who destroys her home with her own hands.
4. The Five Virgins
Matthew 25:2-12
“2. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4. but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7. Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9. But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10. And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.11. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12. But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’’
Matthew 25:2-12 (ESV)
The five virgins are considered silly women in the Bible because of how neglectful they were in preparing for the wedding ceremony they were supposed to attend and meet with the groom.
According to the above scriptures, ten virgins gathered to meet with the bridegroom in a room with a lantern as their source of light.
The wise five virgins filled their lanterns with sufficient kerosene, while the foolish ones waited till their lights went off before they started sourcing for kerosene to light up their lanterns again.
As they stepped out in search of kerosene, the groom arrived and shut the door behind them. This portion portrays the lives of lukewarm Christians who are not ready for the second coming of Christ. So, they could also be called silly Christians.
5. Jezebel
1 Kings 1:5-16
“5. But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, “Why is your spirit so vexed that you eat no food?” 6. And he said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money, or else, if it please you, I will give you another vineyard for it.’ And he answered, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’” 7. And Jezebel his wife said to him, “Do you now govern Israel? Arise and eat bread and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.” 8. So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and she sent the letters to the elders and the leaders who lived with Naboth in his city. 9. And she wrote in the letters, “Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth at the head of the people.10 And set two worthless men opposite him, and let them bring a charge against him, saying, ‘You have cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.” 11. And the men of his city, the elders and the leaders who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them. As it was written in the letters that she had sent to them, 12 They proclaimed a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people.13. And the two worthless men came in and sat opposite him. And the worthless men brought a charge against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death with stones. 14. Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned; he is dead.” 15. As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money, for Naboth is not alive, but dead.” 16. And as soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab arose to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it”.
1 Kings 1:5-16 (ESV)
Jezebel was a catalyst for the stoning and killing of Naboth. She was the wife of King Ahab. The King was interested in the plot of land owned by Naboth, but Naboth refused to sell out his inheritance to the King.
So, Jezebel plotted the killing of Naboth and committed murder, even though it was by proxy. She didn’t have the fear of God in her. She was an arrogant woman full of pride and negative influence.
She wasn’t a community builder; she was a negative influence, an attribute every Christian woman should avoid.
What Characterizes a Silly Woman?
A woman engaging in characters and behaviours that are considered to be lacking common sense is considered silly. Although some level of silliness can be considered positive because it provides comic relief when it presents no threats to life or general well-being,
1. Impulsive Reaction
A silly woman reacts impulsively even in situations that demand ample time and other considerations. She acts without having a second thought about the consequences of their actions.
2. She Pays Less Attention to Time and Season
When a woman is considered to be silly, she tends to frequently make jokes and other humorous tendencies in critical and inappropriate times.
3. She Lacks Wisdom
The generality of a silly person is that they can find humor even in serious matters that demand tact and seriousness. They make a caricature of every situation and lack results in all their engagements.
Conclusion
Silly women in the Bible lived a life that was quite opposite to the lives of virtuous women.
Instead of building their homes, they scattered their homes with the words of their mouth and with their characters, and some even used their children as agents to bring their wickedness to materialization.
Although silly women existed in the Bible as a result of their characters, there were women in the Bible to look up to with examples of strength, courage, and faith.
