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What does the Bible say about respecting women?

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The Bible teaches that women are to be honored, protected, and treated with the dignity belonging to those equally made in God’s image and redeemed in Christ. Genesis 1:27 grounds this dignity in creation, while Galatians 3:28 proclaims believers’ equal standing before God in Christ. Husbands are commanded to live considerately with their wives and show them honor in 1 Peter 3:7, loving them sacrificially as Christ loves the church in Ephesians 5:25; Colossians 3:19 forbids harshness. Scripture commends women’s wisdom, faithfulness, and partnership in gospel ministry, as seen in Proverbs 31:10-11 and Philippians 4:3. Christians should therefore relate to women as sisters in purity, respect, and love (1 Timothy 5:2).

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • 1 Peter 3:7 9 votes

    You husbands, in like manner, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman, as to the weaker vessel, as being also joint heirs of the grace of life; that your prayers may not be hindered.

  • 1 Timothy 3:1-7 6 votes

    [1] This is a faithful saying: if a man seeks the office of an overseer, he desires a good work. [2] The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching; [3] not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; [4] one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence; [5] (but if a man doesn't know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the assembly of God?) [6] not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. [7] Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.

  • Galatians 3:28 6 votes

    There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

  • 1 Timothy 5:2 5 votes

    the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity.

  • Proverbs 31:10-11 4 votes

    [10] Who can find a worthy woman? For her price is far above rubies. [11] The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.

  • Philippians 4:3 4 votes

    Yes, I beg you also, true yoke-fellow, help these women, for they labored with me in the Gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

  • Genesis 1:27 3 votes

    God created man in his own image. In God's image he created him; male and female he created them.

  • Colossians 3:19 3 votes

    Husbands, love your wives, and don't be bitter against them.

  • Ephesians 5:25 3 votes

    Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it;

  • 1 Corinthians 11:11 3 votes

    Nevertheless, neither is the woman independent of the man, nor the man independent of the woman, in the Lord.

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