The Role and Portrayal of Women in the Old Testament Essay

The story of creation explains that both man and woman were created in the image and likeness of God. Genesis chapter 2:7 says, "The Lord God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being." The man so created was then placed in the garden of Aden which was delightful to look and was good for food. The man was supposed to cultivate and take care of the garden of Aden. As the man was cultivating and taking care of the garden, the Lord god realized that it was not good for man to be alone. Genesis chapter 2 from verse 15 notes, "The Lord God said, it is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him." God formed many animals and birds from the ground to be man's partner, but none proved suitable for a man. In the long run, God cast a deep sleep on the man. While the man was sleeping, "God took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. The Lord God built up into a woman the rib he had taken from the man." The man was delighted with what he saw. In fact, verse 23 says, the man said, "This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called a woman." This is a clear indication that man found a perfect helper.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

A woman was taken from the ribs of a man to be a suitable mate. The woman is called a helper to man. A helper is more than just an assistant. Adam and Eve settled in the garden of Aden cultivating and taking care of it. This outlines the initial role God had for women. That of a helper and that's why she was created from the man's rib.

On the other hand, a woman is portrayed as naive and cowardice. Eve was easily deceived by the serpent that if she eats the fruit of the middle tree, Adam and herself would be like God. Eve agreed with ease and also convinced Adam to consume the same fruit from the forbidden tree. It would have been expected that Eve being a helper to Adam, to heed to what God had instructed Adam, that if he eats the fruit of the tree at the middle in the garden, death would be inevitable (Sherkat & Darren).

In the prophets, an analysis of prophet Hosea will show how women were portrayed as well as the role they played. God spoke to Hosea his prophet to acquire a harlot wife and a harlot's children. In fact, it is a marriage of a prophet with an unfaithful wife. The land had turned away from God and resulted in harlotry. Hosea took Gomer who conceived and gave birth to a baby boy. The boy was named Jezreel. Gomez conceived again and bore Hosea, a baby girl. The girl was named Lo-ruhama. Later on, Gomez conceived one more time and gave birth to a baby abo who was named Lo-ammi.

This chapter in the book of Hosea shows the role of women as childbearing. Hosea took Gomez for the sole purpose of bearing him, children. This is a clear way of how God communicates and conveys his perception of the relationship between God and Israel. This is well portrayed in the metaphor of Hosea and his marriage.

On the other hand, Hosea took a harlot for a wife. Women in this society have been taken to be harlots. Promiscuity is an act that involves men and women. In this case, men are left out. Women have been perceived as harlots. Even the instructions given by God to Hosea say in Hosea chapter one say; "Go, take a harlot wife and harlot's children, for the land gives itself to harlotry, turning away from the Lord."

This, therefore, signifies that the society has portrayed women as harlots and their main role is childbearing. Gomez bore two sons and one girl to Hosea. In the instructions given by God to prophet Hosea, God tells Hosea to take himself a harlot wife. This chapter, therefore, underlines the role given to women in this society and the way this society perceives women at large (Connor & Alice).

When it comes to the writings, the role and portrayal of women are stated. The book of Proverbs looks at a woman as a sexual threat. In fact, many chapters in the proverbs are a warning against women as being seductive adulterous. Proverbs chapter five verse 20 says, "Why then, my son, should you go astray for another's wife and accept the embraces of an adulteress?" This is a wise counsel to a son to keep off an adulterous wife. This verse portrays women as adulterous and excludes men from acts of promiscuity. Proverbs chapter six is also a warning against adultery. The writer advises the son to observe his father's bidding and to observe keenly his mother's teachings. The son is warned against being involved sexually with the neighbor's wife. This brings the question as to whether the writer of this book portrays women. Does he regard women as promiscuous and threatening to the boy child more than the men in that society? This connotation of women is negative and degrades a woman especially the married who should be faithful to their husbands. Women are given the role of sexually satisfying men and childbearing. On the other hand, women are looked upon as being a threat to the young boys. That is why strict rules are imposed on the baby boy (Sugirtharajah & Rasiah).

From the three perspectives discussed above, that is from the Torah, the case of Adam and Eve, the prophets in the case of Hosea and the Proverbs, the role and portrayal of women stands out. In Genesis, Eve was created in the image and likeness of God from the rib of a man. Her principal role was to be a helper to Adam as well as assisting in procreation and filling the earth. This idea is also replicated in the prophets where prophet Hosea where he takes a harlot wife. He was instructed by God to take this wife to bear children with whom they had two sons and one daughter. In the three cases analyzed, women have been taken as naive, people who can be easily cheated or even pull men to temptations. Eve was tricked by a serpent to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree. This she did without question. She later gave the same fruit to Adam, and that brought about death. In a nutshell, women have been given the role of helpers and childbearing. On the other hand, women have been perceived to be naive, easily tricked and promiscuous.

References

Sherkat, Darren E. ""That they be keepers of the home": The effect of conservative religion on early and late transitions into housewifery." Maintaining our Differences. Routledge, 2017. 29-47.

Connor, Alice. Fierce: Women of the Bible and Their Stories of Violence, Mercy, Bravery, Wisdom, Sex, and Salvation. Fortress Press, 2017.

Sugirtharajah, Rasiah S., ed. Voices From the Margin: Interpreting the Bible in the Third World 25th Anniversary Edition. Orbis books, 2016.