Dictionary of Bible Themes: 5695 girls

5695 girls

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5650 Human relationships » 5695 girls

Scripture provides insights into, and examples of, the way in which girls have a place in the purposes of God. Although the OT tends to portray girls mainly as potential wives or sexual partners, Jesus Christ's raising of Jairus' daughter can be seen as a symbol of the positive value placed on them.

The portrayal of girls in the OT

As potential wives

Judges 21:21-25 See also Genesis 24:12-51; Judges 11:29-40; 1 Samuel 18:17-27

As sexual partners

Judges 19:24 This way of treating girls as mere sexual objects illustrates the moral corruption of the men of Gibeah. Though not condemned in this passage, such behaviour was totally contrary to OT law. See also Genesis 19:1-8; Genesis 34:1-4

Chaste girls were to be protected but promiscuous girls were to be punished

Deuteronomy 22:13-21

Girls undertaking various kinds of work

As slaves or servants

Exodus 21:7-9 See also Ruth 2:8-9; 1 Kings 1:1-4; Acts 12:13-14

Drawing water and tending animals

Exodus 2:16 See also Genesis 24:15-20; 1 Samuel 9:11

Repairing the walls of Jerusalem

Nehemiah 3:12

In domestic service

1 Samuel 8:13

The place of girls in serving the purposes of God

Girls receive ministry from Jesus Christ and the apostles

Mark 5:35-43 pp Matthew 9:23-25 pp Luke 8:49-56 See also Matthew 15:21-28 pp Mark 7:24-30; Acts 16:16-18

Girls receive and use spiritual gifts

Acts 2:16-17 See also Joel 2:28; Acts 21:8-9

Examples of girls serving the purposes of God

2 Kings 5:2-6 The example of this servant girl, instrumental in Naaman's healing, shows that girls have a value and a status before God not generally acknowledged in OT culture; Esther 2:1-18 Having become queen under the providence of God, Esther, chosen while a young virgin, is later able to use her influence to save the Jews from fierce persecution; Luke 1:26-33 Mary should be regarded as a girl, as she is a virgin betrothed and not a woman married.