# Um, where exactly in the Bible does it says that women are inferior to men? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 26, 2002, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-where-exactly-in-the-bible-does-it-says-that-women-are-inferior-to-men/116026 "2002-06-26T13:26:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![celestina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@celestina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/celestina)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-where-exactly-in-the-bible-does-it-says-that-women-are-inferior-to-men/116026/1 "2002-06-26T13:26:46Z")
I don’t mean to stir up a shitstorm or anything. I certainly respect folks’ right to believe what they want, but Christian or not, fundie or not, and whether or not there’s a passage in the Bible that actually says: “Women are inferior to men:rolleyes:,” how can anyone in their ever-Jesus-loving minds not see that for the logical fallacy that it is? 😕 I mean how can anyone make such blanket generalizations about half the human race, which is comprised of individuals, and/or worse claim that god would sanction such a logical fallacy? [sigh] ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-where-exactly-in-the-bible-does-it-says-that-women-are-inferior-to-men/116026/2 "2002-06-26T13:31:12Z")
You mean you need to be show where? Women can they do nothing for themselves? Hey put that down **celestina** I was only jok… yojimbo does a brave Sir Robin impersonation and runs away very very quickly. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-where-exactly-in-the-bible-does-it-says-that-women-are-inferior-to-men/116026/3 "2002-06-26T13:32:42Z")
Showing my superiority by not typing **shown** :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-where-exactly-in-the-bible-does-it-says-that-women-are-inferior-to-men/116026/4 "2002-06-26T13:35:09Z")
1 Corinthians 14:34? [sub]Does not necessarily reflect my own attitude - but you asked for it 😃 [/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-where-exactly-in-the-bible-does-it-says-that-women-are-inferior-to-men/116026/5 "2002-06-26T13:52:47Z")
1 Peter 3:7 > [@](#): > > 7Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect **as the weaker partner** and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. Glad we could clear that up for you. :: d&r :: ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-where-exactly-in-the-bible-does-it-says-that-women-are-inferior-to-men/116026/6 "2002-06-26T13:54:31Z")
I forgot this: 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-where-exactly-in-the-bible-does-it-says-that-women-are-inferior-to-men/116026/7 "2002-06-26T14:00:40Z")
There are numerous instances in the Bible of women being treated as inferior. (Of course, the same can be said of the Jewish nation as a whole.) It’s been a while since I read it, but the subtext of the entire book of Ruth in the Old Testament is a good example of the attitude toward women, I think. It’s things like this that make me wonder why people want to interpret the Bible literally, when portions of it are obviously reflections of the societal mores at the time. I’m a Christian, but I don’t understand the rationale for saying the Bible is the literal word of God. ---
**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-where-exactly-in-the-bible-does-it-says-that-women-are-inferior-to-men/116026/8 "2002-06-26T14:05:55Z")
Basically, Jesus never said it, so anyone else who did can go fuck themselves. Especially Paul. ---
**Author:** ![Chanteuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-where-exactly-in-the-bible-does-it-says-that-women-are-inferior-to-men/116026/9 "2002-06-26T14:13:50Z")
That scripture does not say that we as women are inferior at all. In fact it says to HONOR us the weaker vessel. A Ming vase may be weaker than a cast iron skillet, but it certainly isn’t inferior to it. Each has its own value and neither is more important or more valuable than the other. It is true that we in many cases are not as physically strong as men and I believe that in this scripture men are being told not to press any such advantage but to give honor to their wives instead. In other places he tells men to love their wives as much as they love themselves, being willing to give themselves for their wives in the same manner that Christ gave Himself for the Church. And that husbands and wives were heirs together to the Kingdom–on the same level. Also that in Christ, there is no differentiation of race or gender. I will have to look those scriptures up later so that I can give a cite, because I can’t remember exactly where they are (I know that one of them is in Galatians 5–don’t remember the verse exactly.). But the baby is screaming now so I will have to get out my concordance after I get her down for a nap! But I will list those as soon as I can get to it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ouisey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9fc29f/32.png) [@ouisey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouisey)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-where-exactly-in-the-bible-does-it-says-that-women-are-inferior-to-men/116026/10 "2002-06-26T14:54:27Z")
Try 1 Timothy Chapter 2 on for size: 11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submissiveness. 12 I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men; she is to keep silent. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 15 Yet woman will be saved through bearing children, if she continues in faith and love and holiness, with modesty. To me, it sounds like Paul is saying that a woman is good for only one thing: pregnant and barefoot in the kitchen. Ouisey ---
**Author:** ![Loopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loopus/32/15343_2.png) [@Loopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopus)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-where-exactly-in-the-bible-does-it-says-that-women-are-inferior-to-men/116026/11 "2002-06-26T15:03:12Z")
Genesis 3:16 (KJV) > [@](#): > > Unto the woman he [God] said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; **and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee**. (Bolding mine) Of course, just because the Bible says it at one point, doesn’t mean it doesn’t unsay it later. See [The Status of Women in the Gospels](http://www.religioustolerance.org/cfe_bibl.htm) at [ReligiousTolerance.org](http://ReligiousTolerance.org) for a bunch of stuff from the ministry of Jesus and the New Testement relating to the equal status of women. Not that I give a damn, since I’m an atheist. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-where-exactly-in-the-bible-does-it-says-that-women-are-inferior-to-men/116026/12 "2002-06-26T15:04:48Z")
Paul was a dom! ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-where-exactly-in-the-bible-does-it-says-that-women-are-inferior-to-men/116026/13 "2002-06-26T15:09:22Z")
**Loopus** , Genesis in no way states that a woman has to be subordinate to her husband. It merely states (and it has worked out that way for thousands of years) that he shall rule over her. That doesn’t mean she can’t try to strive to undo that. By the same token, as a computer programmer, I don’t exactly work “by the sweat of my brow” (unless the air conditioning breaks). Just because a curse/punishment is laid upon a person in the Bible, that doesn’t mean the person (or society as a whole) cannot work and strive to overcome it. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![cleosia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@cleosia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cleosia)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-where-exactly-in-the-bible-does-it-says-that-women-are-inferior-to-men/116026/14 "2002-06-26T15:33:38Z")
> [@](#): > > 14 and Adam was not deceived… Not necessarily true. Adam was deceived…by Eve. He \*\*did[/] eat the apple. I guess that means that even in Biblical times, men could do the stupidest things if the woman was pretty enough! ---
**Author:** ![dalovindj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dalovindj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalovindj)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-where-exactly-in-the-bible-does-it-says-that-women-are-inferior-to-men/116026/15 "2002-06-26T15:43:02Z")
It’s a bunch of primitive mythology written by a bunch of primitive primates. Hell, relatively, women just recently got the right to vote. I’ve not seen one word of text in my life that convinced me the writer had absolute knowledge of specific future events or attitudes. I agree. To act like they did is foolish, especially given the nature of the text in this case. I look at the bible the same way **Cecil** looks at the Don Juan books: > [@](#): > > Castaneda’s apologists say it doesn’t matter, the books contain deep truths. Fine, they contain deep truths. Nonetheless, after you review the evidence, the only reasonable conclusion is that Castaneda was a con man and his books are a hoax. DaLovin’ Dj ---
**Author:** ![Chanteuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-where-exactly-in-the-bible-does-it-says-that-women-are-inferior-to-men/116026/16 "2002-06-26T15:45:48Z")
Galatians _3_–that scripture is in Galatians 3:28. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are ALL one in Christ (emphasis mine).” Ephesians 5:25,28-29 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her…So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes it and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the Church.” Ephesians 5:33 “Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” And to continue I Peter 3:7 “Husbands, likewise dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs TOGETHER of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered (emphasis mine, NKJV throughout.).” Sorry about the blunder earlier–but I did say that the baby was screaming–surprised that there weren’t more mistakes in the post! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-where-exactly-in-the-bible-does-it-says-that-women-are-inferior-to-men/116026/17 "2002-06-26T16:28:01Z")
I think the Bible reflects the attitude of the times, and seeing as women are _still_ fighting for equality in many areas, it’s hardly surprising that, in many instances (such as the ones already quoted) it does indeed treat women as inferiors. Now, if the OPer would like to defend the scriptures by twisting them to read as she wishes, well, that’s nothing new. Up is down and down is up in the mind of most Bible scholars anyway. \:::off to untie my lovely slave, she needs to cook lunch:::\ ---
**Author:** ![bwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@bwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bwk)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-where-exactly-in-the-bible-does-it-says-that-women-are-inferior-to-men/116026/18 "2002-06-26T17:27:53Z")
Well, if you want to get really into it… women’s place being submissive, silent and weak is many a church dude’s favorite hobby-horse. But if you look at ALL the scriptures, and you want to take them ALL super literally, women shouldn’t cut their hair – it is their glory, men shouldn’t have long hair – it dishonors their head, and wives are commanded to only “respect”, not love, their husbands. Now husbands are told to love wives, but one scripture just says respect for the woman’s part of things. That’s extra bad for me, because I am more likely to love someone than I am to respect them! 😃 I won’t get into any man-bashing, even though these ‘submissive’ and ‘weak’ scripture things sorely tempt me to do so… no offense to any male dopers, it is just these things have flown in my face and pissed me off for years and years. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-where-exactly-in-the-bible-does-it-says-that-women-are-inferior-to-men/116026/19 "2002-06-26T17:31:39Z")
When people start to realize that maybe, just maybe, that a book written several thousands years ago on another continent _may_ not apply to their lives here and today, the world will be a better place. ---
**Author:** ![Estilicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Estilicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Estilicon)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-where-exactly-in-the-bible-does-it-says-that-women-are-inferior-to-men/116026/20 "2002-06-26T19:16:30Z")
I don’t know about the bible but Jesus told me so, recently, in case someone is interested he also told me who was going to win the next argentinian football championship… No one is interested?.. ok… I’d better be going. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-where-exactly-in-the-bible-does-it-says-that-women-are-inferior-to-men/116026.md?page=2)