Leadership comes in many forms, and the Bible includes examples of strong women in leadership. Today, we’ll look at these stories and what they teach us about female roles in God’s plan.
Also Read: What Does The Bible Say About Respecting Others
What Does The Bible Say About Female Leadership
Exodus 15:20
Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing.
This verse portrays Miriam, a woman, as a leader and prophet in the Israelite community. It highlights the importance and significance of female leadership in the spiritual realm.
In a society where male leadership was more prevalent, Miriam’s role challenges traditional gender roles and empowers women to step into positions of influence and guidance.
Deuteronomy 17:15
Be sure to appoint over you a king the LORD your God chooses. He must be from among your fellow Israelites. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not an Israelite.
Although this verse does not specifically address female leadership, it implies that any qualified leader chosen by God should be in a position of authority.
Therefore, the Bible does not restrict the possibility of women being appointed as leaders if they meet the qualifications and are chosen by God.
Judges 4:4
Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time.
Deborah stands out as an exceptional leader and prophet in the Old Testament. This verse highlights her role as a leading figure in Israel, dispelling the notion that women cannot hold positions of authority.
Deborah’s example serves as a testament to the capability and importance of female leadership in society.
Ruth 1:16
But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.”
Ruth’s loyalty and commitment to her mother-in-law, Naomi, portrays her as a courageous and dedicated woman. Her actions demonstrate the potential for influential and powerful leadership through loyalty and selflessness.
Ruth’s story encourages women to embrace their role as leaders through acts of devotion and commitment to God and others.
1 Samuel 25:32-33
David said to Abigail, “Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands.
Abigail’s wise and discerning actions saved David from making a disastrous decision. Her intervention and counsel played a crucial role in preventing violence and further conflict.
This passage emphasizes the importance of female leadership in guiding and influencing important decisions with wisdom and insight.
2 Kings 22:14
Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Akbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king’s attendant went to speak to the prophet Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe.
Huldah, a female prophet, was approached by several influential men seeking guidance and insight. This verse demonstrates the respect and recognition given to Huldah’s spiritual authority and leadership.
Huldah’s involvement in matters of great importance affirms the value placed on female leadership in the realm of prophecy and divine revelation.
Esther 4:14
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
Esther, through the urging of Mordecai, is reminded of the critical role she can play in saving her people, the Jews, from destruction.
This verse highlights the strength and influence of women in positions of power, when strategically placed by God to bring about deliverance and change.
Proverbs 31:26
She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
The virtuous woman described in Proverbs 31 is portrayed as a woman of wisdom and her words carry weight and influence.
This verse recognizes the potential for women to speak with wisdom and bring forth faithful instruction, indicating their ability to lead and guide others.
Luke 2:36-38
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, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
Anna, an elderly prophetess, played a significant role in recognizing and proclaiming the fulfillment of the Messiah’s arrival.
Her faithful devotion and commitment to God’s presence in the temple allowed her to speak about Jesus to those eagerly awaiting redemption.
John 4:39
Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”
The Samaritan woman’s encounter with Jesus led to her transformation and subsequently influenced the belief of others through her testimony.
This verse exemplifies the power of a woman’s testimony and how it can impact and draw others closer to Christ.
Acts 9:36
In Joppa, there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor.
Tabitha (Dorcas) is recognized for her acts of kindness, serving the needs of the poor and demonstrating a compassionate heart.
This verse showcases the influential role women can have in serving and making a positive impact in their communities through acts of goodness and benevolence.
Romans 16:1-2
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.
Phoebe is described as a deacon and a benefactor, highlighting her leadership role and significant contributions to the early church.
This passage recognizes and affirms the value of women in positions of authority and their ability to serve and support others spiritually and materially.
1 Corinthians 11:5
But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head–it is the same as having her head shaved.
This verse acknowledges the involvement of women in active prayer and prophetic ministry within the early Christian community.
While the context addresses head coverings, it underscores the participation and presence of women in spiritual leadership and ministries, debunking any notion of exclusion.
Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
This verse emphasizes equality in Christ, removing any social and cultural barriers that may hinder the roles and leadership of women within the body of believers.
It declares that all believers, regardless of gender, possess equal worth and value in the eyes of God.
Philippians 4:2-3
I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Euodia and Syntyche are commended for their work and partnership in spreading the gospel and contending alongside Paul.
This passage acknowledges the vital role these women played in ministry and highlights their significance as leaders and fellow laborers in the work of the Lord.
1 Timothy 2:12
I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.
This verse has been subject to various interpretations and debates. It is important to consider the cultural and historical context, as well as the overall teachings of Scripture, when interpreting this verse.
Scholars hold differing views on its application, with some suggesting it pertains to a specific local situation rather than a universal prohibition against women in leadership roles.
Titus 2:3-5
Teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
This passage instructs older women to provide guidance and mentorship to younger women, teaching them valuable lessons about character, relationships, and godliness.
Although it does not explicitly address leadership, it emphasizes the significance of women’s wisdom and influence in nurturing the next generation.
Philemon 1:2-3
to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Apphia is acknowledged as a sister and fellow participant in the early church community.
The inclusion of her name alongside other significant leaders in the greeting suggests her involvement and importance within the local church.
Hebrews 11:11
By faith, even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.
Sarah, the wife of Abraham, is commended for her faith and trust in God’s promises, which ultimately led to the miracle of conceiving a child in her old age.
This verse highlights the faith and leadership role of women in fulfilling God’s plans and purposes.
1 Peter 3:1-2
Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.
While this verse primarily addresses the relationship between wives and husbands, it underscores the influential role women can have through their actions and conduct.
Women can lead by example, demonstrating a godly character that can draw others, including husbands, closer to faith in Christ.
1 John 4:19-20
We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.
This verse emphasizes the importance of love and unity within the body of believers.
Women, as equal members in Christ, are called to show love and grace towards one another, fostering an environment of acceptance and encouragement.
Revelation 2:20
Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching, she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.
While this verse portrays a negative example of a woman’s leadership, it serves as a reminder of the potential influence and impact, both positive and negative, that women can have in leadership roles.
It highlights the importance of discernment and adherence to biblical principles in evaluating any form of leadership, whether male or female.
Revelation 12:1
A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.
This verse symbolizes the woman in Revelation as a representation of the people of God, the church, adorned with celestial imagery of authority and divine favor.
It signifies the significance and importance of women in the spiritual realm and their role in the fulfillment of God’s redemption plan.
Judith 8:33
And she said unto them, that she was the daughter of Merari, and that she was about to go before the face of the Lord to pray for them.
In the book of Judith, the brave and resourceful heroine reveals her plan to intercede with God on behalf of her people.
This verse captures her commitment to spiritual leadership, showcasing the power and potential of women in prayer and spiritual warfare.
Song of Solomon 6:9
But my dove, my perfect one, is unique: she is the only daughter of her mother, the favorite of the one who bore her. The young women saw her and called her blessed; the queens and concubines praised her.
In the Song of Solomon, the bride is described as unique, adored, and praised by others.
This verse affirms the value and worth of women and acknowledges their ability to garner respect, admiration, and influence.
Lamentations 1:18
The Lord is righteous, yet I rebelled against his command. Listen, all you peoples; look on my suffering. My young men and young women have gone into exile.
Here, the prophet mourns the suffering and exile of young men and women, highlighting their importance and presence within the community.
This verse recognizes the role and potential of young women as active participants in shaping societal outcomes and influencing spiritual and social conditions.