25 Bible Verses About Women

In numerous key narratives, women in the Bible fulfill critical roles, despite being a marginalized minority in a patriarchal, male-oriented society. Scripture unquestionably places women on equal status with men in their relationship to God. These Bible verses about women reveal the unique character strengths and dramatic impact women had on biblical history.

What Does the Bible Say About Women?

Societies of the ancient world were, for the most part, male-controlled. Their recorded histories, including the Bible, are primarily presented from a male point of view, emphasizing the interests and concerns of the men who wrote them.

Nevertheless, Scripture in no way suggests that women are inferior to men, nor does it imply that females must submit to male dominance. Both women and men are made “in the image of God” as equal representatives of their Creator.

Especially in the Old Testament, women are frequently linked with (and find their sense of worth in) childbearing. Yet, these same passages reveal many other aspects to the nature and character of these individual women, their identity in the community, in society, in the church, and in relationship with the Lord.

Women in the Bible teach us lessons about motherhood, play critical roles in the coming of Jesus Christ, show us strong faith in God, serve as Christ’s disciples in the New Testament, and receive honor in the lineage of the Messiah (Ruth, Tamar, Rahab, Bathsheba, and Mary).    

Women are Equally Created in God’s Image

Genesis 1:26–27
Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (NLT)

Galatians 3:28
There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. (NLT)

1 Corinthians 11:11–12
Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. (NIV)

Women in Leadership

Exodus 15:20-21
Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing. Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea.” (NIV)

Judges 4:4
Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. (NIV)

Luke 2:36
There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage. (NIV)

Romans 16:1–4
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon, of the church in Cenchreae. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me. Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. (NIV)

Women Disciples of Jesus

Acts 1:14
They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus. (NLT)

Acts 9:36
There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor. (NLT)

Luke 8:1–3
Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means. (ESV)

Acts 16:13–15
(Lydia’s Conversion in Philippi) On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us. (NIV)

Jesus Treated Women With Dignity and Respect

John 4:1–42
(Verse 7,8,25-30, 39) A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) … The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman … So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the town and were coming to him. … Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” (ESV)

Luke 10:38–39
(At the Home of Martha and Mary) As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. (NIV)

Matthew 9:20–22
Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”  Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. (NIV)

Luke 7:37–50
When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!” ... Then he [Jesus] turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. ... Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” ...  And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (NLT)

John 8:3–11
As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” ... Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” (NLT)

First to See the Resurrected Christ

Matthew 28:1–10
Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.  But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” (ESV)

A Woman of Noble Character

Proverbs 11:16
A gracious woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth. (NLT)

Proverbs 11:22
Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without discretion. (ESV)

Proverbs 31:10–12
Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. (NLT)

Proverbs 31:29
“There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” (NLT)

Proverbs 31:30–31
Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise. (NLT)

1 Timothy 2:10
For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do. (NLT)

1 Peter 3:3–4
Don’t let your beauty consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes, but rather what is inside the heart,—the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. (CSB)

Titus 2:3–5
Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. (ESV)