3 Common Misconceptions About Women in the Bible

Hi there! Meredith Storrs here, author of Brave and Beloved: An In-Depth Study of Women of the Bible. There are a lot of really great books out in the world that have helped me learn about women in the Bible, but to get to them (and more importantly, to dig into what Scripture actually tells us), I have had to wade through a number of stereotypes and tropes. Here are the most common misconceptions I’ve found about women and what the Bible actually says about us.

1. “Women are always the sidekick.”

Women in the Bible changed the entire trajectory of nations, worked quietly behind the scenes building the character of their children, and ministered personally to Jesus himself. When you read Scripture closely, you start to see how all our favorite Bible stories are deeply influenced by the women involved. Besides the mothers who birthed great men like Abraham, Moses, and David, there are also a number of women who provide counsel, guidance, and encouragement at key moments. Whatever important work happens in God’s story, you find both men and women invited to participate.

2. “Women are either virgins or vixens.”

Sometimes we just can’t help ourselves. When reading a story, we want to know—who are the bad guys and who are the good guys? But just like the people you know in real life, women in the Bible are not so simply categorized. Certainly, some stories focus sharply on a person’s flaws and certain characters are introduced to expressly foil the main player. But we are reading about real people, not fairy tales. So even when we only see the highlight reel of a person’s fame or failures, we should remember that behind every narrative are the lives of real humans with worries, hopes, dreams, and desires.

3. “Women are not theologians or teachers.”

It can be easy to view women in the Bible as followers, not really deep thinkers or change makers. Depending on your personal experience and views about modern motherhood, it can also be tempting to assume that women in the Bible were important only to bear children and keep their homes tidy. And yes, motherhood and homemaking are beautiful, honored realities in the lives of most of these women. But in their role as mothers, both in their families and in the greater community, women were vital agents for sharing the story of God. Women contribute songs and poems to the very text of Scripture, share the direct word of God as prophetesses, and are important teachers, ensuring that the next generation follows in the way of the Lord.

Don’t have a Copy of Brave and Beloved of your own yet?

Check out this bible study exploring the wisdom and diversity of women in the Bible.