woom ́an (אשּׁה, ‘ishshāh, “a woman” (feminine of אישׁ, ‘īsh, “a man”; γυνή, gunḗ, “a woman” “wife”):
The generic term “man” includes woman. In the narrative of the creation (Genesis 1:26-27) Adam is a collective term for mankind. It may signify human being, male or female, or humanity entire. “God said, Let us make man ... and let them” (Genesis 1:26), the latter word “them” defining “man” in the former clause. So in Genesis 1:27, “in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them,” “them” being synonymous with “him.” See also ADAM; ANTHROPOLOGY.
Whatever interpretation the latest scholarship may give to the story of woman’s formation from the rib of man (Genesis 2:21-24), the passage indicates, most profoundly, the inseparable unity and fellowship of her life with his. Far more than being a mere assistant, “helper” (עזר, ‛ēzer “help” “helper” Genesis 2:18), she is man’s complement, essential to the perfection of his being. Without her he is not man in the generic fullness of that term. Priority of creation may indicate headship, but not, as theologians have so uniformly affirmed, superiority. Dependence indicates difference of function, not inferiority. Human values are estimated in terms of the mental and spiritual. Man and woman are endowed for equality, and are mutually interdependent. Physical strength and prowess cannot be rated in the same category with moral courage and the capacity to endure ill-treatment, sorrow and pain; and in these latter qualities woman has always proved herself the superior. Man’s historic treatment of woman, due to his conceit, ignorance or moral perversion, has taken her inferiority for granted, and has thus necessitated it by her enslavement and degradation. The narrative of the Fall (Genesis 3) ascribes to woman supremacy of influence, for through her stronger personality man was led to disobedience of God’s command. Her penalty for such ill-fated leadership was that her husband should “rule over” her (Genesis 3:16), not because of any inherent superiority on his part, but because of her loss of prestige and power through sin. In that act she forfeited the respect and confidence which entitled her to equality of influence in family affairs. Her recovery from the curse of subjection was to come through the afflictive suffering of maternity, for, as Paul puts it, “she shall be saved (from the penalty of her transgression) through her child-bearing” (1 Timothy 2:15).
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Author: International Std. Bible Encyclopedia
Keywords: Woman, Female, Women, Isha, Role of women, Subordination of women, Equality of women, Gender equality, Feminism, Feminist, Helpmate, Help mate, deaconess, female deacon, Deborah, Judith, Ruth, Wife, Wives
Source: James Orr (editor), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 5 volume set.
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.