1. Gina Belmonte Taylor Chaput Katrina Gould Lindsay Smith
Women in the Scriptures The Hebrew Bible, The New Testament, and The Qur’an
Gina Belmonte
Taylor Chaput
Katrina Gould
Lindsay Smith

2. Women in the Hebrew Bible
Ruth 1:16-18; 2:11-13; 4:13-17
Esther 2:16-17; 3:5-6; 4:7-9; 4:22-30; 8:3-12
Judges 4--5
Numbers 26:59
Exodus 15:20-21

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Prophetesses 7 of the 55 prophets of the Bible were women :
Sarah (Gen 11: :20)
Miriam (Ex. 15:20-21; Num. 12:1-12:15, 20:1)
Deborah (Judges 4:1 - 5:31)
Hannah (1 Sam 1:1 - 2:21)
Abigail (1 Sam 25:1 - 25:42)
Huldah (2 Kings 22:14-20)
Esther (The book of Esther)

7. Sirach 25:12-25 discusses women and portrays them as wicked 26:1-18
Summarizes the virtues of women, and how they should support their families

8. Women in the New Testament
Luke 1:39-66; 7:36-50; 10:38-42
John 4:4-26

9. 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 8:1-3)
Often excluded from religious discussion until the arrival of Jesus (John 4:27)
Husbands and wives worked as missionary teams (Romans 16:1-15)
Teachings were directed towards “Brothers and Sisters”

10. Influential Women in the NT
Elizabeth: Zechariah’s 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 4:4-42, Luke 10:38-42, John 11:1-44)

11. Luke 1:26-38 The announcement of the conception of Jesus. 7:36-50
Forgiveness of the adulterous woman.
21:1-4
Contribution of the poor widow.
23:26-31
Jesus talks to women on the way to his crucifixion.

12. Women in the Qur'an 3:35-37, 42-51 19:16-29 21:91 6:12 33:28-34, 50-55
33:35

13. 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 33:35)
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 9:71, 4:124)
Valued as mothers and wives
The Qur'an makes provisions for the physical and financial well-being of women (Surah 2:236, 2:240)

14. 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 pharaoh’s wife, faithful women and the wives of the prophet

15. Surah 4 19-25:The treatment of wives, and proper courtship
32: Fair treatment of women
34: Roles of husbands in regard to wives and their loyalty

16. Major Women Characters in the Hebrew Bible, New Testament and Qur’an

17. 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 2:1, 15:20-21, Numbers 12:1-15, 20:1

18. 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 1:16)
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.

19. 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

20. Qur’an: Maryam (Mary mother of Jesus)
Mary, mother of Christ (3:35-37, 42-47, 19: 16-29)
Mary is the only woman named in the Qur’an
Virgin conception and role as mother of the “Messiah” recognized in the Qur’an
Chosen by and obedient to Allah
There are some references to Elizabeth, cousin of Mary, wife of Zachariah, though she is never named (3:37-41, 19:1-15)
Numerous ayahs mention the “wives of the prophet” and how they should behave (33:28-34) more on wives. . .

21. 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 Qur’an.
“Mary”= “Miriam”=“Maryam” , HB, OT, Qur’an
Angel Gabriel’s Appearances
Purim and Esther
Female Saints and Apparitions of the Virgin Mary
Rosh Codesh, the first day of each month, is a minor festival. There is a custom that women do not work on Rosh Codesh. Because of the sin of the Golden Calf, the holiday was taken away from the men and given to women, as a reward for the women's refusal to participate in the construction of the Golden Calf. (Exodus 32)
The name “Mary” in the New Testament is derived from “Miriam” in the Hebrew Bible and “Maryam” is the Arabic translation of “Mary.”
Gabriel appears in new testament to Mary, and also to prophet Muhammad.
The Jewish holiday, Purim, celebrates when Esther saved the Jewish people from genocide.
In Christianity there are days dedicated to female saints and the apparitions of the Virgin Mary. Ex: December 12 commemorates the apparition of Mary in Mexico (virgin de Guadalupe)

22. 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).