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Woman

Original Hebrew / Aramaic / Greek connected to this term

How to read this: there is rarely one magic “true meaning” hidden behind an English word. A lexicon records a word’s semantic range. The intended meaning is narrowed by grammar, sentence, author, historical usage and context.

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H802

אִשָּׁה

ish.shah — woman

: woman 1) woman, wife, female 1a) woman (opposite of man) 1b) wife (woman married to a man) 1c) female (of animals) 1d) each, every (pronoun)

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GREEK · G1135

γυνή

gunē — woman

γυνή, -αικός, ἡ, [in LXX for אִשָּׁה ;] 1. a woman, married or unmarried: Mat.11:11 14:21, al.; ὕπανδρος γ., Rom.7:2; γ. χήρα, Luk.4:26; in vocat., γύναι implies neither reproof nor severity, but is used frequently as a term of respect and endearment, Mat.15:28, Jhn.2:4, 4:21 19:26. 2. a wife: Mat.1:20, 1Co.7:3, 4 al.; γ. ἀπολύειν, Mrk.10:2, al.; γ. ἔχειν Mrk.6:18; γ. λαβεῖν, Mrk.12:19; γ. γαμεῖν, Luk.14:20. 3. a deaconess, 1Ti.3:11 (CGT, in l.). (AS)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H376

אִישׁ

ish — man

: man 1) man 1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female) 1b) husband 1c) human being, person (in contrast to God) 1d) servant 1e) mankind 1f) champion 1g) great man 2) whosoever 3) each (adjective)

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GREEK · G2192

ἔχω

echō — to have/be

ἔχω, [in LXX for אָצֵל (ἐχόμενος), יֵשׁ,בַּעַל, etc., 59 words in all ;] (on the Aktionsart of the various tenses, see M, Pr., 110, 145, 150, 183), to have, as in cl., in various senses and constructions. I. Trans.; 1. 1. to have, hold, hold fast, etc.; (a) to hold, as, in the hand: Rev.5:8 14:6, al.; ἐν τ. χειρί, Rev.1:16 10:2, al.; (b) of arms and clothing, = φέρω, φορέω, to bear, wear: Mat.3:4 22:12, al.; so frequently present ptcp. (LS, see word, A, I, 6; Bl., 74, 2), Mrk.11:13, Jhn.18:10, Rev.9:17, al.; (with) of a woman, ἐν γαστρὶ ἔ, to be with child: Mrk.13:17, Rom.9:10; (d) to hold fast, keep: Luk.19:20; metaphorically, of the mind and conduct, Mrk.16:8 (cf. Job.21:6, Isa.13:8; Deiss., BS, 293; Field, Notes, 44f.), Jhn.14:21, Rom.1:28, 1Ti.3:9, 2Ti.1:13, Rev.6:9, al.; (e) to involve: Heb.10:35 (LXX), Jas.1:4, 1Jn.4:18; (f) = Lat. habere (Bl., §34, 5; 73, 5), to hold, consider: with accusative and predic. ptcp., Luk.14:18; with accusative, before ὡς, Mat.14:5; εἰς (Hebraism), Mat.21:46; on (Bl., §70, 2), Mrk.11:32. 2. to have, possess; (a) in general, with accusative of thing(s): Mat.19:22, Mrk.10:22, Luk.12:19, Jhn.10:16, 1Co.11:22, al.; of wealth or poverty, absol., ἔχειν (neg. οὐκ, μή), Mat.13:12 25:29, 2Co.8:12; ἐκ τ. ἔχειν, according to your means, 2Co.8:11; (b) of relationship, association, and: πατέρα, Jhn.8:41; γυναῖκα (MM, xiv), 1Co.7:2; φίλον, Luk.11:5; βασιλέα, Jhn.19:15; ποιμένα, Mat.9:36; with dupl. accusative, Mat.3:9, al.; (with) of parts or members: ὦτα, Mat.19:15; μέλη, Rom.12:4; θεμελίους, (d) with accusative, as periphrasis of verb: μνεῖαν ἔ. (= μεμνῆσθαι), 1Th.3:6; ἀγάπην, Jhn.13:35; γνῶσιν, 1Co.8:1; πεποίθησιν, 2Co.3:4; θλίψιν, Jhn.16:33, etc. (Thayer, see word, I, 2, f., g.); (e) of duty, necessity, etc.: ἀνάγκην, 1Co.7:37; νόμον, Jhn.19:7; ἐπιταγήν, 1Co.7:25; ἀγῶνα, Php.1:30; κρίμα, 1Ti.5:12; (f) of complaints and disputes; κατά, with genitive of person(s), Mat.5:23, Mrk.11:25; id. before ὅτι, Rev.2:4, 20; with accusative before πρός, Act.24:19, al.; (g) with inf., (α) (cl.) to be able (Field, Notes, 14): Mat.18:25, Mrk.14:8 (sc. ποιῆσαι), Luk.12:4, Act.4:14, al; (β) of necessity (BL, §69, 4): Luk.12:50, Act.23:17-19 28:19. II. Intrans. (BL, §53, 1), to be in a certain condition: ἑτοίμως ἔ., with inf., Act.21:13, 2Co.12:14; ἐσχάτως (which see), Mrk.5:23; κακῶς, to be ill, Mat.4:24, al.; καλῶς, Mk 16:[18]; κομψότερον, Jhn.4:52; πῶς, Act.15:36; impers., ἄλλως εἴχει, it is otherwise, 1Ti.5:25; οὕτως, Act.7:1, al.; τὸ νῦν ἔχον, as things now are (Tob.7:11), Act.24:25. III. Mid., -ομαι, to hold oneself fast, hold on or cling to, be next to: with genitive, τ. ἐχόμενα σωτηρίας, Heb.6:9 (Rendall, in l.); ptcp., ὁ ἐχόμενος, near, next: of place, Mrk.1:38; of time, τ. ἐχομένη (ἡμέρα, expressed or understood), Luk.13:33, Act.20:15 21:26; (σαββάτῳ), Act.13:44. (Cf. ἀν-, προσ-αν-, ἀντ-, ἀπ-, ἐν-, ἐπ-, κατ-, μετ-, παρ-, περι-, προ-, προσ-, συν-, ὑπερ-, ὑπ-έχω.) (AS)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H8478

תַּחַת

ta.chat — underneath: under

: under/below 1) the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas n m 1a) the under part adv accus 1b) beneath prep 1c) under, beneath 1c1) at the foot of (idiom) 1c2) sweetness, subjection, woman, being burdened or oppressed (fig) 1c3) of subjection or conquest 1d) what is under one, the place in which one stands 1d1) in one's place, the place in which one stands (idiom with reflexive pronoun) 1d2) in place of, instead of (in transferred sense) 1d3) in place of, in exchange or return for (of things mutually interchanged) conj 1e) instead of, instead of that 1f) in return for that, because that in compounds 1g) in, under, into the place of (after verbs of motion) 1h) from under, from beneath, from under the hand of, from his place, under, beneath

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GREEK · G435

ἀνήρ

anēr — man

ἀνήρ, ἀνδρός, ὁ, [in LXX chiefly for אִישׁ, frequently אֱנוֹשׁ, also אָדָם, etc. ;] a man, Lat. vir. 1. As opposite to a woman, Act.8:12, 1Ti.2:12; as a husband, Mat.1:16, Jhn.4:16, Rom.7:2, Tit.1:6. 2. As opposite to a boy or infant, 1Co.13:11, Eph.4:13, Jas.3:2. 3. In appos. with a noun or adj., as ἀ. ἁμαρτωλός, Luk.5:8; ἀ. προφήτης, 24:19; frequently in terms of address, as ἀ. ἀδελφοί, Act.1:16; and esp. with gentilic names, as ἀ. Ἰουδαῖος, Act.22:3; ἀ. Ἐφέσιοι, 19:35. 4. In general, a man, a male person: = τις, Luk.8:41, Act.6:11. SYN.: ἄνθρωπος, which see (cf. MM, VGT, see word). (AS)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H2114

זוּר

zur — be a stranger

1) to be strange, be a stranger 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to become estranged 1a2) strange, another, stranger, foreigner, an enemy (participle) 1a3) strange woman, prostitute, harlot (meton) 1b) (Niphal) to be estranged 1c) (Hophal) to be a stranger, be one alienated

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H5291

נַעֲרָה

na.a.rah — maiden

1) girl, damsel, female servant 1a) girl, damsel, little girl 1a1) of young woman, marriageable young woman, concubine, prostitute 1b) maid, female attendant, female servant

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H5237

נׇכְרִי

nokh.ri — foreign

1) foreign, alien 1a) foreign 1b) foreigner (subst) 1c) foreign woman, harlot 1d) unknown, unfamiliar (fig.)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H635

אֶסְתֵּר

es.ter — Esther

A woman living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Est.2.7; daughter of: Abihail (H0032K); also called Hadassah at Est.2.7; Also named: ha.das.sah (הֲדַסָּה "Hadassah" H1919) § Esther = "star" the queen of Persia, heroine of the book of Esther-daughter of Abihail, cousin and adopted daughter of Mordecai, of the tribe of Benjamin, made queen by king Ahasuerus to replace divorced queen, Vashti.

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H7354

רָחֵל

ra.chel — Rachel

A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.6; daughter of: Laban (H3837A); sister of: Leah (H3812); married to Israel (H3478); mother of: Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144) Also named: Rhachēl (Ῥαχήλ "Rachel" G4478) § Rachel = "ewe" daughter of Laban, wife of Jacob, and mother of Joseph and Benjamin

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H2100

זוּב

zuv — to flow: flowing

: flowing 1) to flow, gush, issue, discharge 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to flow, gush 1a2) to die, pine away (fig.) 1a3) to flow (of issue from woman), have an issue, flux 1a4) flowing (participle)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H8095

שִׁמְעוֹן

shim.on — Simeon

A man of the tribe of Simeon living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.33; son of: Israel (H3478) and Leah (H3812); brother of: Reuben (H7205), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783); half-brother of: Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); married to Canaanite_woman (H3669); father of: Jemuel (H3223), Jamin (H3226), Ohad (H0161), Jachin (H3199), Zerah (H2226L) and Shaul (H7586H) § Simeon or Shimeon = "heard" 1) the 2nd son of Jacob by his wife Leah and progenitor of the tribe of Simeon 2) an Israelite of the sons of Bani who had a foreign wife in the time of Ezra

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H160

אַהֲבָה

a.ha.vah — love

1) love 1a) human love for human object 1a1) of man toward man 1a2) of man toward himself 1a3) between man and woman 1a4) sexual desire 2) God's love to His people

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H3812

לֵאָה

le.ah — Leah

A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.16; daughter of: Laban (H3837A); sister of: Rachel (H7354); married to Israel (H3478); mother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783) § Leah = "weary" daughter of Laban, first wife of Jacob, and mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H8283

שָׂרָה

sa.rah — Sarah

A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.11.29; daughter of: Terah (H8646); sister of: Abraham (H0085), Nahor (H5152H) and Haran (H2039); married to Abraham (H0085); mother of: Isaac (H3327); also called Sarai at Gen.11.29,30,31; 12.5,11,17; 16.1,2,3,5,6,8; 17.15; § Sarah = "noblewoman" wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H3243

יָנַק

ya.naq — to suckle

1) to suckle, nurse, suck 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to suck 1a2) suckling, babe (subst) 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to give suck to, nurse 1b2) nursing, nursing woman, nurse (participle)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H7259

רִבְקָה

riv.qah — Rebekah

A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.22.23; daughter of: Bethuel (H1328A); sister of: Laban (H3837A); married to Isaac (H3327); mother of: Esau (H6215) and Israel (H3478) Also named: Rhebekka (Ῥεβέκκα "Rebekah" G4479) § Rebekah = "ensnarer" daughter of Bethuel, sister of Laban, wife of Isaac, and mother of Esau and Jacob

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GREEK · G1060

γαμέω

gameō — to marry

γαμέω, -ῶ, [in LXX: Est.10:3, 2Ma.14:25, 4Ma.16:9 * ;] to marry; 1. of the man, to marry, take to wife (ducere): absol., Mat.19:10 22:25, 30 24:38, Mrk.12:25, Luk.17:27, 20:34, 35, 1Co.7:28, 33; with accusative: Mat.5:32 19:9, Mrk.6:17 10:11, Luk.14:20 16:18. 2. Of the woman, (a) mid. (and in late writers, pass.), to give oneself in marriage, marry (nubere): 1Co.7:39; (b) in Hellenistic (M, Pr., 159), act. (as of the man), to marry: absol., 1Co.7:28, 34 1Ti.5:11, 14. with accusative, Mrk.10:12. 3. Of both sexes: absol., 1Ti.4:3, 1Co.7:9, 10 36. † (AS)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H6870

צְרוּיָה

tse.ru.yah — Zeruiah

A woman living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.26.6; daughter of: Jesse (H3448) and Nahash (H5176I); sister of: David (H1732), Eliab (H0446I), Abinadab (H0041I), Nethanel (H5417H), Raddai (H7288), Ozem (H0684), Abigail (H0026H)(?) and Elihu (H0453J), Shimeah (H8093) § Zeruiah = "balsam" sister of David and mother of the 3 leading heroes of David's army-Abishai, Joab, and Asahel

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GREEK · G4632

σκεῦος

skeuos — vessel

σκεῦος, -ους, τό [in LXX chiefly for כְּלִי ;] a vessel, implement (for exx. in various senses, see MM, xxii): Mrk.11:16, Luk.8:16, Jhn.19:29, Act.10:11, 16 11:5, Rom.9:21, Rev.18:12; pl., 2Ti.2:20, Rev.2:27; τὰ σ. τῆς λειτουργίας, Heb.9:21; pl., τὰ σ., utensils, goods, Mat.12:29, Mrk.3:27, Luk.17:31; id. of the tackle or gear of a ship (Xen., Polyb., al.); so in sing., τὸ σ., Act.27:17. Metaphorical, of persons: σ. ἐκλογῆς, Act.9:15; ὀργῆς, Rom.9:22; ἐλέους, Rom.9:23; σ. εἰς τιμήν (cf. Rom.9:21), 2Ti.2:21; of woman, ἀσθενέστερον σ., 1Pe.3:7; so perh. τ. ἑαυτοῦ σ., 1Th.4:4 (but see infr.); of the body, 2Co.4:7; so perh. 1Th.4:4 (but see supr., and see: κτάομαι).† κτάομαι, -ῶμαι [in LXX chiefly for קָנָה ;] in pres., impf., fut. and aor., to procure for oneself, get, gain, acquire (the pf. and plpf., to have acquired, hence to possess, do not occur in NT): with accusative of thing(s), Mat.10:9, Luk.18:12, Act.8:20; with genitive pret., Act.22:28; ἐκ with genitive pret., Act.1:18; τ,ψυχὰς ὑμῶν (MM, xvi), Luk.21:19; τ. ἑαυτοῦ σκεῦος κτᾶσθαι, 1Th.4:4 (where if σ. = body, κ. must = pf., κέκτημαι; see MM, xvi; M, Th., in l; Field, Notes, 72 f. But σ. is most frequently taken as = wife; see Thayer, see word; Lft., Notes, 53 ff.; ICC, in l).† (AS)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H5145

נֵ֫זֶר

ne.zer — consecration: Nazirite vow

1) consecration, crown, separation, Nazariteship 1a) crown (as sign of consecration), earring 1a1) stones of a crown, diadem, stones of charming 1b) woman's hair 1c) consecration 1c1) of high priest 1c2) of Nazarite

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Historical dictionary entry

Was “taken out of man” (Gen. 2:23), and therefore the man has the preeminence. “The head of the woman is the man;” but yet honour is to be shown to the wife, “as unto the weaker vessel” (1 Cor. 11:3, 8, 9; 1 Pet. 3:7). Several women are mentioned in Scripture as having been endowed with prophetic gifts, as Miriam (Ex. 15:20), Deborah (Judg. 4:4, 5), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14), Noadiah (Neh. 6:14), Anna (Luke 2:36, 37), and the daughters of Philip the evangelist (Acts 21:8, 9). Women are forbidden to teach publicly (1 Cor. 14:34, 35; 1 Tim. 2:11, 12). Among the Hebrews it devolved upon women to prepare the meals for the household (Gen. 18:6; 2 Sam. 13:8), to attend to the work of spinning (Ex. 35:26; Prov. 31:19), and making clothes (1 Sam. 2:19; Prov. 31:21), to bring water from the well (Gen. 24:15; 1 Sam. 9:11), and to care for the flocks (Gen. 29:6; Ex. 2:16). The word “woman,” as used in Matt. 15:28, John 2:4 and 20:13, 15, implies tenderness and courtesy and not disrespect. Only where revelation is known has woman her due place of honour assigned to her.

Scripture references

Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.

Compare other reference traditions

Look up Woman in Smith’s Bible Dictionary and ISBE →