REFLECTIONS ON BIBLICAL WOMANHOOD: PART 3

Part 3 – The Prophetic Woman and Church

A.      The Prophetic Woman in the Old Testament

One issue that may help to clarify the definition of ‘Biblical Womanhood’ is that of the prophetic woman seen in the Bible. Old Testament references clearly outline women serving in the office of prophet throughout its pages.

The word in the Old Testament Hebrew was ‘Nbiyah’ (nbiyah, Strongs #5031) meaning ‘prophetess’ a feminine form of ‘prophet’. This also meant an ‘inspired woman’ inferring speaking or actions. A prophet appears to have functioned as one who calls people to their faithful responses, prods people to follow God and reminds people of the consequences of failing to rely on God and keep his commandments. Strong’s adds “by association a prophet’s wife": yet not all women were married to a prophet so this is questionable translation selection.

1.       Miriam, sister of Moses and Aaron (Exodus 15:20) is called a prophet (nbiyah, Strongs #5031). As Moses led the people in a song of praise for their salvation and “…Miriam the prophetess…took a timbrel in her hand: and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.” Later on scriptures state God sent Moses, Aaron and Miriam to 'lead' the people.

2.       Deborah, described as wife, judge and prophet (Judges 4:4). “Deborah, a prophetess,[ (nbiyah, Strongs #5031)] the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at this time. And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.” (v.4-5). She brought Barak from Kedeshnaphtali (some distance to the north) to her. She challenged him to fulfill the command of God with an army, Barak refused to go unless she accompanied him, but Deborah said she would go but it would not matter because God had already decided that the fate and the  opposing leader would fall by the hand of a woman (v.9).

3.       Huldah, prophetess (nbiyah, Strongs #5031) and wife of Shallum, keeper of the wardrobe.  King Josiah was rebuilding the temple. Hilkiah the priest, who was related to the prophet Jeremiah and to Huldah's husband,  took the book of the law discovered to the Scribe Shapan, who in turn brought it to the attention of the King.  When the King heard the words he immediately “rent his clothes” and commanded the priest to go “inquire of the Lord” brought the recovered book of the law She lived in the “College” or the “Second District.” Early maps of the temple region identify one gate as “Huldah’s Gate”….

4.       Noadiah (Neh.6:14) also utilizes the same term (nbiyah, Strongs #5031) in reference to this member of the prophetic order.

B.      The Prophetic Woman in the New Testament

Evidence of the continuing the tradition seen in the Old Testament are part of the New Testament are seen very early in the Gospels.

1.       Anna in Luke 2: 36, “And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanumel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; and she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day.” The word used in the Greek was Prophetis (#4398, Strong’s) and is used to describe one who is a ‘female prophet/foreteller’.

2.       The Seven daughters of Philip in Acts 21:9 are described as prophets (propheteuo, #4395) by a word meaning one  who ‘foretells events, ‘speaks under inspiration’, ‘ i.e. prophesy’, and to ‘exercise the prophetic office’.

3.       “Your Sons and Daughters will Prophecy” from Acts 2:17 (propheteuo, #4395) repeats the prophecy from Joel 2:28 with a word that means to “speak under inspiration.” Note too that Acts 2 understands the future prophecy of Joel to have come to pass :”but this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel” (v. 16).

4.       “Women Praying and Prophesying” in 1 Corinthians 11:4-5 see the same term used (propheteuo, #4395) to refer to those who are functioning as prophets regardless of gender: “Every man praying or prophesying…” (v.4) and “…every woman that prayeth or prophesieth…” (v.5).