What Does The Bible Say About Masculinity And Femininity

Man and Woman. Boy and Girl. Husband and Wife. Masculine and Feminine. These words and more, tossed around flippantly and frequently, mean almost nothing in our culture today. What is the true definition of masculinity and femininity, researched from an unchanging standard of truth? God created man and woman in the creation of the world and established guidelines for the roles of each. What does the Bible say about masculinity and femininity? The beginning is a good place to start. Genesis 1:27 reads, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Obviously this verse describes humans as made in the image of God. Both are unique among all the other creations of God, and yet they

Clearly, God has established the male to be both a leader and head of the family, but where does that leave the women? Several strong Old Testament women shine as examples of strength and virtue such as Deborah, Rahab, Ruth, and Ester. These women take their future into their own hands with the power of God. This tells me that God blesses strong women who stand up in faith and do what they believe is right even when faced with possible death. Along side these women are strong, godly men; the kings and heroes of the Old Testament. One unusual trait that sets them apart is the clear depiction of their faults and shortcomings, as well as their strengths. The male ideal as shown in these leaders is humble and focused on God. The idea of feminism is less defined. Woman are to be helpers to men, yet they are blessed if they stand up and fight for what they believe

The first section describes the role of the male. “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:8-9). A true man thinks not of himself but of outsiders and the oppressed. He is their voice. These verses rather abruptly switch into the famous passage of the wife of noble character. She is described as “clothed in strength and dignity,” “worth far more than rubies,” and “strong for her tasks” (Proverbs 31:25, 10, and 17). The woman portrayed in this passage is resourceful, in control of her situation, smart, and trustworthy. She is not worried about outward beauty or political correctness because she knows the truth and teaches the