Women in the Scriptures The Hebrew Bible, The New Testament, and The Quran

1
Women in the ScripturesThe Hebrew Bible, The New
Testament, and The Quran

• Gina Belmonte
• Taylor Chaput
• Katrina Gould
• Lindsay Smith

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Women in the Hebrew Bible

• Ruth 116-18 211-13 413-17
• Esther 216-17 35-6 47-9 422-30 83-12
• Judges 4--5
• Numbers 2659
• Exodus 1520-21

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Roles in the Hebrew Bible

• Women were portrayed in various ways- victims,
  sinners, and leaders
• wives and mothers/center of household
• not the social or economic equals of men
• They could engage in business and trade (Proverbs
  31)
• women of highest status within the Tanakh were
  religious married mothers, especially mothers of
  sons ,
• i.e. prophetess Deborah was both married and a
  mother
• Women could own property, and collect inheritance
  if there were no sons

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Influential Women in the HB

• Eve, wife of Adam original female sinner
• Sarah, wife of Abraham patriarch passed her off
  as his sister, allowing local rulers to lie with
  her. At age 90, God told her she would become
  pregnant and she bore Isaac
• Rebekah, wife of Isaac and mother of Esau and
  Jacob she conspired with her younger son Jacob
  to steal his older brother's blessing. Jacob
  later became Israel.
• Tamar, sister-in-law to Judah After the death of
  her first two husbands, she seduced Judah in the
  guise of a prostitute and bore his child.
  According to the new testament, this began the
  line that leads through King David to Jesus.
• Miriam, sister of Moses defied the Egyptian law
  (requiring the death of all male Hebrew children)
  and watched infant float Moses down the Nile for
  pharaoh's daughter to find.

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Influential Women in the HB

• Delilah The Philistine wife of Samson. Tricked
  him into revealing the secret of his power and
  then betrayed him to her countrymen.
• Deborah judge and prophetess.
• Ruth of The Book of Ruth. Moabite woman who
  married Elimelech and converted to Judaism great
  grandmother of David
• Bathsheba married King David, mother of
  Solomon
• Judith seduced the tyrant Holofernes and then
  killed him in his tent as he slept.

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Prophetesses

• 7 of the 55 prophets of the Bible were women
• Sarah (Gen 1129 - 2320)
• Miriam (Ex. 1520-21 Num. 121-1215, 201)
• Deborah (Judges 41 - 531)
• Hannah (1 Sam 11 - 221)
• Abigail (1 Sam 251 - 2542)
• Huldah (2 Kings 2214-20)
• Esther (The book of Esther)

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Sirach

• 2512-25
• discusses women and portrays them as wicked
• 261-18
• Summarizes the virtues of women, and how they
  should support their families

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Women in the New Testament

• Luke 139-66 736-50 1038-42
• John 44-26

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Roles in the New Testament

• Women are mentioned in all the gospels, but
  especially in Luke
• Women are presented as wives, mothers, and
  disciples
• The earliest and most devout followers of Jesus
  (Luke 81-3)
• Often excluded from religious discussion until
  the arrival of Jesus (John 427)
• Husbands and wives worked as missionary teams
  (Romans 161-15)
• Teachings were directed towards Brothers and
  Sisters

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Influential Women in the NT

• Elizabeth Zechariahs wife, mother of John the
  Baptist
• Herodias wife of Herod, persuaded her daughter
  to ask for John the Baptist's head
• Mary wife of Joseph, virgin mother of Jesus
• Mary Magdalene disciple of Jesus, first to hear
  of Jesus resurrection
• Martha sister of Mary and Lazarus, disciple of
  Jesus
• Numerous unnamed women, important in parables and
  conversion stories. (John 44-42, Luke 1038-42,
  John 111-44)

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Luke

• 126-38
• The announcement of the conception of Jesus.
• 736-50
• Forgiveness of the adulterous woman.
• 211-4
• Contribution of the poor widow.
• 2326-31
• Jesus talks to women on the way to his
  crucifixion.

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Women in the Qur'an

• 335-37, 42-51
• 1916-29
• 2191
• 612
• 3328-34, 50-55
• 3335

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Roles of Women in the Qur'an

• Islam states that men and women are equal
• In many ayahs the revelations are directed to
  both men and women (Surah 3335)
• What truly matters in Islamic morality, is not
  whether someone is male or female, but whether or
  not he or she is a believer who fears and
  respects Allah (Surah 971, 4124)
• Valued as mothers and wives
• The Qur'an makes provisions for the physical and
  financial well-being of women (Surah 2236, 2240)

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Influential Women in the Qur'an

• Maryam (Mary mother of Jesus) is the only woman
  named in the entire Qur'an.
• However, there are numerous unnamed women
  mentioned such as the pharaohs wife, faithful
  women and the wives of the prophet

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Surah 4

• 19-25The treatment of wives, and proper
  courtship
• 32 Fair treatment of women
• 34 Roles of husbands in regard to wives and
  their loyalty

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Major Women Characters in the Hebrew Bible, New
Testament and Quran
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HB Miriam

• Older sister of Moses and Aaron
• Prophetess- she foresaw Moses birth as bringing
  about redemption for the Israelites
• Responsible for well-being throughout the Exodus
• Died before reaching the Promised Land
• Miriam is considered one of the liberators of the
  Children of Israel, along with her brothers Moses
  and Aaron.
• Ex 21, 1520-21, Numbers 121-15, 201

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NT Mary, mother of Jesus

• Known commonly as Mary of Nazareth
• Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
  Of her was born Jesus, who is called the
  Messiah. (Matthew 116)
• Chosen by God to bear His son because of her
  great faith and virtue.
• Was a virgin and gave birth to Christ,
• the Messiah.
• Present at Jesus first miracle, crucifixion,
• and resurrection.
• Important saint often prayed for intercession.
• Believed to have been assumed into Heaven,
• body and soul.
• Has made many apparitions on Earth, important to
  many Christians.

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NT Mary Magdalene

• Mary derived from Miriam, sister of Moses
• Jesus cured her of seven demons and she followed
  him from one town to another as he preached.
• Present at the crucifixion of Christ
• In all of the four gospels, Mary Magdalene is
  present at the resurrection of Jesus, one of the
  first to learn about his resurrection

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Quran Maryam (Mary mother of Jesus)

• Mary, mother of Christ (335-37, 42-47, 19
  16-29)
• Mary is the only woman named in the Quran
• Virgin conception and role as mother of the
  Messiah recognized in the Quran
• Chosen by and obedient to Allah
• There are some references to Elizabeth, cousin of
  Mary, wife of Zachariah, though she is never
  named (337-41, 191-15)
• Numerous ayahs mention the wives of the prophet
  and how they should behave (3328-34) more on
  wives. . .

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Compare and contrast

• Rosh Codesh-
• Women are wives and mothers in all three books,
  but they are more independent in the New
  Testament and not even named in the Quran.
• Mary MiriamMaryam , HB, OT, Quran
• Angel Gabriels Appearances
• Purim and Esther
• Female Saints and Apparitions of the Virgin Mary

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Worksheet Questions

• 1) Compare and contrast how Mary, mother of
  Jesus, is portrayed, mentioned, or alluded to in
  the scriptures of each religion (as usual, cite
  specific scriptural references)
•  
• Judaism
•  
• Christianity
•  
• Islam
•  
• 2) Based on the assigned readings, pick another
  female character from each religion (other than
  Mary, Mother of Jesus) and describe her role in
  that passage (again, please cite specific
  references).
•  
• Judaism
•  
• Christianity
•  
• Islam