“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household.” (Proverbs 31:25–27)
Sunday, March 8th marks International Women’s Day. Since 1909, this observance has become a public holiday in numerous nations including Uganda, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. The day rallies supporters of gender equality, advocates for safe environments, and celebrates women in their varied roles.
This year’s IWD theme: “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls”
An Israeli woman enjoys a falafel, a traditional Middle Eastern sandwich.
The Bible contains numerous women who played decisive roles as prophets and leaders enabling significant change in Jewish society. Queen Esther, celebrated during Purim, exemplifies this legacy. Following Khomeini’s death, Iranian women celebrated in the streets—drawing a parallel to women seeking justice and equality across cultures and centuries.
Many biblical women’s lives involved exploitation and injustice, yet they were often redeemed and avenged by those seeking change. While avengers’ methods were not always godly, their moral outrage remains commendable.
Let’s take a look at some of these women and those who stood by them in good and in evil, boldly seeking change.
Queen Esther
Queen Esther, by Edwin Long
“Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.” (Esther 2:17)
Purim (Festival of Lots) celebrates “the exemplary leadership and bravery of Hadassah, a Jewish girl who rose to become ancient Persia’s Queen Esther.”
As queen, Esther risked death to inspire change, advocating for Jewish salvation from planned genocide. She modeled modesty, courage, and perseverance while rallying her people to fast and pray.
Approaching the king uninvited carried enormous risk. However, she heeded her uncle Mordecai’s counsel to break through social barriers and act with power, even risking death.
Rev. Eric Maefonea wrote: “Mordecai trained Esther so that when the time came to exercise courage to risk her life and her nation (that special moment), she was able to accomplish what God wanted. It takes courage to push yourself to places that you’ve never been before, to test your limits, to break through barriers.” (Solomon Star News)
Esther seized her moment and boldly yet modestly transformed a decree of death into one of life.
Jacob’s Daughter Dinah: Brotherly Revenge
Seduction of Dinah, Daughter of Leah, by James Tissot
“Now Dinah, the daughter Leah had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the women of the land.” (Genesis 34:1)
In Genesis 34, Dinah, daughter of Israel, was violated by Shechem, son of a local ruler who claimed to love her. He even underwent circumcision to marry her.
Dinah’s brothers Simeon and Levi responded by attacking Shechem and every male in his city, which incurred their father’s condemnation. (Genesis 49:5–7)
Despite Jacob’s rebuke, the brothers questioned: “Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?” (Genesis 34:31)
Judah’s Daughter-in-Law Tamar: The Pursuit of Justice
Judah and Tamar (1653), by Ferdinand Bol (1616–1680)
“He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children.” (Psalm 113:9)
Tamar, wife of Judah’s firstborn son Er, lost her husband before conceiving children. (Genesis 38)
Under Yibbum (Levirate marriage) (Deuteronomy 25:5–6), Er’s brother Onan was obligated to marry the widow and produce an heir. Onan refused and died prematurely as divine judgment.
Judah then told Tamar to wait for his youngest son Shelah to mature.
However, he had no genuine intention of following through, blaming Tamar for his sons’ deaths and believing her cursed.
Judah and Tamar, by Rembrandt
When Tamar understood Judah’s deception, she disguised herself as a prostitute to raise an heir for her deceased husband. Judah unknowingly hired her.
Upon discovering her pregnancy, Judah condemned her for prostitution and demanded she be burned alive.
In her wisdom, Tamar retained Judah’s seal, cord, and staff—emblems of his leadership—as evidence of his involvement.
These items also provided proof that Tamar’s deceased husband, Er, would finally receive an heir from a close male relative, as was the custom.
When Judah recognized his paternity, he repented:
“She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn’t give her to my son Shelah.” (Genesis 38:26)
By securing justice for herself, Tamar protected her husband’s lineage and the Messianic line. Her son Perez became ancestor to King David and Yeshua (Jesus). (Matthew 1:3; Luke 3:33)
The Lion of Judah is the symbol of the Tribe of Judah
Ruth: A Woman of Excellence
“But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.'” (Ruth 1:16)
Similar to Tamar, the Book of Ruth highlights a situation in which a woman overcomes obstacles.
Ruth, a Gentile daughter-in-law of the Jewess Naomi, sought the family go’el (kinsman redeemer) to redeem her from widowhood and purchase Naomi’s land, preserving family inheritance.
Redemption would enable Ruth to support her mother-in-law, who lacked husband, sons, or grandchildren.
Boaz consented to marry Ruth and redeem the land, fulfilling patriarchal duty. (Ruth 4:5; Deuteronomy 25:6)
Through their union, Boaz and Ruth became ancestors of both King David and Yeshua.
Ruth in Boaz’s Field, by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld
Ruth demonstrated admirable qualities beyond being an overcomer, inspiring both men and women.
When her husband died, she could have remained in Moab and allowed Naomi to travel alone to Israel.
But she insisted on standing by Naomi and returning with her to Israel, even though it was a foreign land to her.
She exemplified chesed (compassion) and courage, gleaning grain in dangerous fields to feed her mother-in-law.
Ruth demonstrated loyalty and obedience by accepting Naomi’s plan for marriage to Boaz. (Ruth 3:5)
Ruth, by Antonio Cortina Farinós
Boaz didn’t only marry Ruth because of his responsibility to Naomi. He recognized her evident qualities and called her an eshet chayil (virtuous and capable wife, worthy woman, woman of excellence).
“Don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character [eshet chayil].” (Ruth 3:11)
This same phrase appears in Proverbs 31, which Jewish men recite over their wives each Shabbat as a blessing.
“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.” (Proverbs 31:10)
An Israeli bride and groom
King David’s Daughter Tamar: Purity and Innocence
Another woman in the Bible named Tamar is King David’s daughter and the sister of Absalom.
This Tamar is described as innocent, pure, and beautiful.
David’s firstborn son Amnon believed he loved her and devised a plan to assault her. Despite her resistance, he forced himself upon her.
Once he finished with her, he realized he didn’t love her, and he threw her out as damaged goods, destroying her emotionally.
David grew angry but failed to protect his daughter’s honor, possibly due to his own guilt regarding Bathsheba.
Absalom cared for her and, two years later, avenged the assault by having Amnon murdered.
“Her brother Absalom said to her, ‘Has that Amnon, your brother, been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister; he is your brother. Don’t take this thing to heart.’ And Tamar lived in her brother Absalom’s house, a desolate woman.” (2 Samuel 13:20)
The City of David in biblical times
The Prophetic Ministry of Judge Deborah
“Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel.” (Judges 5:7)
Long before Golda Meir, at age 71, became the first female prime minister of the Jewish homeland, a Jewess named Deborah ruled Israel, showing civil and spiritual leadership.
Unlike Queen Esther’s detailed account, the Bible does not record how Deborah achieved national leadership status.
She is one of few Bible women who achieved that status.
Judges 4:4–7 indicates Deborah was not only wise but made herself available to assist others seeking her counsel.
As judge, people approached her “to have their disputes decided.” (Judges 4:5)
Within her judicial role, Deborah held prophetic ministry as the Lord’s messenger.
As a prophet, she sought God’s decisions on community matters and issued direct commands.
Judges reveals Israel had drifted from God, experiencing judgment through 20 years of oppression by Jabin’s military commander Sisera.
To deliver Israel from oppression and this superior military might, God granted Deborah strategic military wisdom. She detailed God’s plan to Barak, specifying the victory location.
“She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, ‘The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: “Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.”‘” (Judges 4:6–7)
The Kishon River at Haifa, Israel
Barak accepted the plan but required Deborah to accompany him.
“If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.” (Judges 4:8)
Verses 8–13 illustrate Deborah’s faithful obedience to the Lord, courage, and personal availability as a leader.
Defying social conventions, she joined him at the battlefield, prophesying that God would deliver Sisera through a woman.
“Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” (Judges 4:9)
Yael (Jael) fulfilled this prophecy. She welcomed the fleeing Sisera into her tent and killed him while he slept. Her valor earned this blessing from Deborah and Barak:
“Yael is most blessed of women, the wife of Heber the Kenite; she is most blessed among tent-dwelling women.” (Judges 5:24)
Jael Smote Sisera and Slew Him, by James Tissot
A Woman’s Place: More than the Home
“She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.” (Proverbs 31:16–18)
Although the Bible clearly demonstrates women’s capacity for leadership, many societies worked to restrict women’s roles.
The 1960s feminist movement asserted women’s capabilities, with some arguing this disadvantaged men.
However, at the heart of God’s Word, we discover that men and women are fundamentally equal.
The original Biblical model reminds us:
“God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God, He created them; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27)
God created humankind, both male and female, reflecting His image. Women are equally bearers of God’s image as men.
An Orthodox couple share a moment together to enjoy God’s creation.
The Ten Commandments require honoring both father and mother:
“Honor [kaved] your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.” (Exodus 20:12)
In other words, we are to consider both our parents as being equally worthy of respect.
The concept of kaved (honor) is central to Judaism. This word relates to “weight” or “heavy,” as well as “glory” (kavod).
Judaism teaches that we should treat one another with respect, considering people as having equal weight or importance as ourselves.
An Israeli grandmother and granddaughter share time together at the beach.
Many assume this respect applies only to parents and leaders, not necessarily to women or wives.
Nevertheless, it is impossible to fulfill God’s commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves (including the women in our lives), without honoring them and giving them this kind of respect.
We encourage you to honor these biblical women by meditating on their lessons and reaching out with love and respect to the women in your lives.
A mother and father clasp hands with their daughter on the occasion of her Bat Mitzvah (daughter of the Law), a coming of age ceremony when young women accept responsibility for their actions.
