Virtuous Women

One purpose of women in The Bible is to show through stories what a good woman is like. For women, it gives evidence of a number of qualities which can be cultivated by individuals. Such characteristics can also be nurtured and appreciated in others. Honesty is one trait normally approved of in women in The Bible. Another ideal is chastity. The virtuous woman, however, does not appear to be expected to be celibate, but rather to be married and to have some healthy kind of sexual life with her husband. Motherhood is another of the virtues of womanhood. Here, the responsible and tender nurturing of young is part and parcel of the needed character of woman.

There is another virtue of women. This is their spiritual function. Women are encouraged to be a good influence upon their husbands and are warned that they will often have the...