Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law. - Matthew 5:18

Every Jot and Tittle: All the Commandments in the Bible

11. Women

The Bible has a just a few general rules about women: reward and praise virtuous women, but stay away from strange and evil ones. And don't let any whores enter the house of the Lord or live in your community.

God's attitude toward menstruating women is similar to his attitude toward semen. It just grosses him out. But he seems even more bothered by menstruation. Semen-contaminated people are unclean until evening; menstruating women are "put apart" for a week. Many of the other commandments are similar, however. Whoever and whatever a menstruating woman touches is unclean; whoever touches anything that she sat on is unclean; and a man who has sex with her is unclean for a week. The basic commandment is this: Don't come near a menstruating woman.

God doesn't seem to like childbirth much either, but he especially dislikes those that result in baby girls. Women are unclean for a week after giving birth to a boy, but two weeks for a girl. The purification process is also twice as long for girls as for boys (66 verses 33 days).

There are three rape commandments: The rape of an unbetrothed virgin, in which the rapist must pay the virgin's father fifty shekels marry his victim; country rape, in which only the rapist is killed (the woman is not punished since there was no one to hear her scream); and city rape, in which both the rapist and his victim are stoned to death (the woman is punished since she didn't cry out loudly enough).

In the New Testament, wives are told to obey their husbands as though they were Christ. And if a wife wants to learn something, she should ask her husband at home.

On widows, the Bible says you should honor "widows indeed" (widows who are over 60 years old, had no children, only one husband, pray all the time, have washed the saints' feet, and are not living in pleasure.). But refuse young widows. (They will wax wanton against Christ and remarry; they are idle tattlers and busybodies; many have turned aside after Satan; and are damned because they cast off their first faith.) Old women should be holy, not false accusers, not drink too much wine, and teach good things.

Women are not allowed to speak in church. They must cover their heads when praying or have their heads shaved. They should be silent in all subjugation, and may not teach or have authority over men.

Strange, Evil, and Virtuous Women
Whores
Menstruation
Childbirth
Rape
Wives
Widows and Old Women
Women's Rights

(Numbered P and N links are to the positive and negative commandments on Maimonides's list.)

Strange, Evil, and Virtuous Women

Stay away from strange women.

For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them. ... Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house. Proverbs 5:3-8
Why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger? Proverbs 5:20
Keep thee ... from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adultress will hunt for the precious life. Proverbs 6:24-26
Keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words. Proverbs 7:5
Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death. Proverbs 7:25-27

Stay away from evil women.

Keep thee from the evil woman ... Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adultress will hunt for the precious life. Proverbs 6:24-26

Reward and praise virtuous women.

Give her [the virtuous woman] of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. Proverbs 31:31

Whores

Don't allow any whores to live in your community.

There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel. Deuteronomy 23:17

Don't bring the hire of a whore into the house of the Lord.

Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore ... into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for [this is an] abomination unto the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 23:18

Menstruation

A menstruating woman must be isolated for seven days.

And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days. Leviticus 15:19a

Maimonides: P99: The menstruant - Lev 15:19-24

Whoever touches her is unclean until the evening.

And whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even. Leviticus 15:19b

Everything that she touches is unclean, including whatever she sits upon.

And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean. Leviticus 15:20

If you touch her bed, you must wash your clothes, take a bath, and be unclean until the evening.

And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. Leviticus 15:21

If you touch anything that she has sat on, you must take a bath and be unclean until the evening.

And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. And if it be on her bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even. Leviticus 15:22-23

If a man has sex with a menstruating woman, he is unclean for seven days.

And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean. Leviticus 15:24

If a woman has vaginal bleeding outside of her regular menstrual period, she is unclean.

And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean. Leviticus 15:25

Maimonides: P106: Zavah (a woman suffering from a discharge outside her period) - Lev 15:25

Every bed, chair, or other object that she touches in such a condition is also unclean.

Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her separation: and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation. Leviticus 15:26

If you touch anything that she has touched, you must wash your clothes, take a bath, and be unclean until the evening.

And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. Leviticus 15:27

Don't approach a menstruating woman to uncover her nakedness.

Thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness. Leviticus 18:19

Maimonides: N346: Don't have intercourse with a menstruant - Lev 18:19; Punishment: Death

Don't come near a menstruating woman.

If a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, and ... neither hath come near to a menstruous woman. Ezekiel 18:5-6

Childbirth

A woman is unclean for seven days after delivering a male child.

If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days. Leviticus 12:2

Maimonides: P100: After childbirth - Lev 12:2-5; Punishment: Death

After this unclean period is over, she must be purified for another 33 days.

If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child ... she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days. Leviticus 12:4a

While a woman is being purified after childbirth, she may not come into the sanctuary or touch any holy thing.

She shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. Leviticus 12:4b

Maimonides: N129: An unclean person may not eat hallowed food - Lev 12:4; (Lev 12:4 says nothing about eating hallowed food.); Punishment: Death

A woman is unclean for two weeks after delivering a female child.

But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks. Leviticus 12:5a

After this unlcean period is over, she must be purified for another 66 days.

She shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. Leviticus 12:5b

Rape

If a betrothed virgin is raped in the city, stone her and the rapist to death.

If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour's wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you. Deuteronomy 22:23-24

Maimonides: P229: Stone to death the transgressors of certain commandments - Dt 22:24

If a man rapes a betrothed damsel outside of the city, then kill the man but do nothing to the damsel.

But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die. But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter: For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her. Deuteronomy 22:25-27

Maimonides: N294: Don't punish a person for a sin committed under duress - Dt 22:26

If a man rapes an unbetrothed virgin, the rapist must pay her father fifty shekels of silver, marry his victim, and never divorce her.

If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found; Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days. Deuteronomy 22:28-29

Maimonides: P218: A violator must marry the maiden he has violated - Dt 22:29; N358: Don't divorce a woman you have raped and been compelled to marry - Dt 22:29; Punishment: Whipping

Wives

Wives, obey your husbands.

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. Ephesians 5:22
As the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Ephesians 5:24
Let ... the wife see that she reverence her husband. Ephesians 5:33
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Colossians 3:18
Ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands. 1 Peter 3:1

If a woman wants to learn something, she should ask her husband at home.

If they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home. 1 Corinthians 14:35

Widows and Old Women

Honor widows that are widows indeed.

Honour widows that are widows indeed. But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless. But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man. Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. 1 Timothy 5:3-10

Refuse young widows.

The younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. For some are already turned aside after Satan. 1 Timothy 5:11-15

If you have any widows, take care of them yourself. The church will only deal with widows indeed.

If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed. 1 Timothy 5:16

Old women should be holy, not false accusers, not drink too much wine, and teach good things.

The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Titus 2:3-5

Women's Rights

A woman who lives in her father's house doesn't have to keep her promise, unless her father agrees with it.

If a woman also vow a vow unto the Lord, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father's house in her youth; And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her; then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand. But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth; not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand: and the Lord shall forgive her, because her father disallowed her. Numbers 30:3-5

Maimonides: P95: Revocation of vows - Num 30:3

A married woman desn't have to keep her promise, unless her husband agrees with it.

And if she had at all an husband, when she vowed, or uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul; And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it: then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand. But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it; then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of none effect: and the Lord shall forgive her. Numbers 30:6-8
And if she vowed in her husband's house, or bound her soul by a bond with an oath; And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her, and disallowed her not: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she bound her soul shall stand. But if her husband hath utterly made them void on the day he heard them; then whatsoever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, shall not stand: her husband hath made them void; and the Lord shall forgive her. Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void. But if her husband altogether hold his peace at her from day to day; then he establisheth all her vows, or all her bonds, which are upon her: he confirmeth them, because he held his peace at her in the day that he heard them. But if he shall any ways make them void after that he hath heard them; then he shall bear her iniquity. Numbers 30:10-15

Widows and divorced women must keep their promises.

But every vow of a widow, and of her that is divorced, wherewith they have bound their souls, shall stand against her. Numbers 30:9

A woman who receives an inheritance must not marry outside of her father's tribe.

Every daughter, that possesseth an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel, shall be wife unto one of the family of the tribe of her father, that the children of Israel may enjoy every man the inheritance of his fathers. Numbers 36:8

Don't give your strength to women.

Give not thy strength unto women. Proverbs 31:3

Women must cover their heads while praying or prophesying.

Every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head. 1 Corinthians 11:5

If a woman refuses to cover her head while praying or prophesying, shave her head.

Every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn. 1 Corinthians 11:5-6

Women should have power on their heads. (Men should rule over them.)

Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. 1 Corinthians 11:9-10

Women are not allowed to speak in church.

Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law ... for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.1 Corinthians 14:34-35

Women should do good works.

But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 1 Timothy 2:10

Women should be silent.

Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection ... to be in silence. 1 Timothy 2:11-12

Women may not teach.

I suffer not a woman to teach. 1 Timothy 2:12a

Or have authority over men.

I suffer not a woman ... to usurp authority over the man. 1 Timothy 2:12b