What Is a Grape?

Like a vineyard full of grapes, the Bible has many, many passages about women that do not fit with the message of the lemon passages.

These “grape passages” are descriptive, meaning that their message about God’s view of women is observable rather than mandated or prescribed.

Women of Chayil During the Old Testament Time

The women who lived during the Old Testament period are described in many grape passages. Even though these women were in the state of being ruled over by men because of the Fall, they were undaunted by their difficult situations. When it became necessary, they bravely and boldly spoke what was true according to God, or they demonstrated truth by their courageous actions.

Eve
“A New Perspective on Adam and Eve” by Jane
“Another Look at Eve” by Jane McNally
“Ezer Kenegdo Does Not Mean ‘A Helper Subordinate to Him’” by Marg Mowczko

Sarah
“Sarah” by Jane
“Sarah—Speaking for God” by John Anderson

Zipporah
“Zipporah” by Jane
“Zipporah—Bible Woman” by Elizabeth Fletcher

Miriam
“Miriam—Bible Woman” by Elizabeth Fletcher

Deborah and Jael
“Grape Snippets from A Woman of Chayil” by Jane
“Bible Women with Spiritual Authority” by Marg Mowczko
“Judging Deborah” by Allison Quient

Naomi and Ruth
“Grape Snippets from A Woman of Chayil” by Jane
“The Courage of Ruth” at Inspired Moms Club
“Buckle up Buckaroos” by Carolyn Custis James

Hannah
“Grape Snippets from A Woman of Chayil” by Jane
“5 Things You Didn’t Know about Hannah in the Bible” by Kristine Brown

Abigail
“Abigail” by Jane
“Was Abigail Right to Go Behind Nabal’s Back?” by Sandra Glahn

Bathsheba
“Bathsheba” by Jane
“Bible Women with Spiritual Authority” by Marg Mowczko

Mother in Israel
“Grape Snippets from A Woman of Chayil” by Jane
“The Wise Woman of Abel” by Julie Herrera-Maxwell

Esther
“Grape Snippets from A Woman of Chayil” by Jane
“What Esther Teaches Me About Courage” by Tracey Brewer
“Esther: When God Calls For Disobedience” by Allison Quient

Other Women
“Grape Snippets from A Woman of Chayil” by Jane
“Bible Women with Spiritual Authority” by Marg Mowczko

Women of Chayil During Jesus’ Time

When Jesus came, he set free the Jewish women who had been bowed down by the oppressive teachings of their rabbis that had developed over the 400 year period between the Old and New Testament eras. We can see clearly God’s estimation of woman by Christ’s treatment of them.
First of all, Jesus was born of a woman and God announced His birth through two women. Throughout all of His life, Jesus’ treatment of women exposed the darkness of the Jewish teachings and showed people the truth about how God saw and felt about women. His living demonstrated to his male disciples how they should treat women. Through the involvement of women at every stage of His life, including his death and resurrection, God gave clear testament to His high regard for women.

Elizabeth and Mary, the Mother of Jesus
“Grape Snippets from A Woman of Chayil” by Jane
“Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist” by John Foster
“Jesus and His Mother” by John Anderson

Anna
“Grape Snippets from A Woman of Chayil” by Jane
“Anna—The Woman Who Became the First Christian Missionary” in Bible Gateway
“Anna: Proclaimer of God’s Grace” by Allison Quient

Woman at a Well
“Grape Snippets from A Woman of Chayil” by Jane
“Woman of Samaria—The Woman Who Left Her Waterpot” in Bible Gateway

Mary Magdalene
“Grape Snippets from A Woman of Chayil” by Jane
“Bible Women with Spiritual Authority” by Marg Mowczko

Gentile Woman
“Grape Snippets from A Woman of Chayil” by Jane
“The Canaanite Woman” by Oisín Feuer

Mary of Bethany
“Grape Snippets from A Woman of Chayil” by Jane
“Who’s Who Among Biblical Women Leaders” by Rachel Held Evans
“5 Lessons Women Can Learn from Mary and Martha” by Janna Wright

Woman Brought Forward in the Synagogue
“Grape Snippets from A Woman of Chayil” by Jane
“Afflicted Daughter of Abraham—The Woman Who Was Made Straight” in Bible Gateway

Women in Parables
“Grape Snippets from A Woman of Chayil” by Jane
“The Woman in the Parable of the Lost Coin” by Barry York

Women of Chayil During the Early Church Period

The fact that New Testament women had been set free by Jesus was evident in the descriptive text of the Bible concerning the early church period.

Women on the Day of Pentecost
“Women on the Day of Pentecost” by Jane
“Women—In On the Big Day” by John Anderson

Junia
“Junia: Outstanding Among the Apostles” by Allison Quient

Lydia
“Lydia” by Jane
“Lydia—God’s Focus” by John Anderson

Priscilla
“Grape Snippets from A Woman of Chayil” by Jane
“Priscilla-Prisca, Christian Woman” by Elizabeth Fletcher

Phoebe
From the “Foreword” by Ray Munson in God’s Word to Women
“Working Women in the New Testament: Priscilla, Lydia & Phoebe” by Marg Mowczko
“Phoebe: “Helper” or Leader?” by Allison Quient

Philip’s Daughters
“Grape Snippets from A Woman of Chayil” by Jane
“Philip’s Prophesying Daughters” by Marg Mowczko

Lois and Eunice
“Grape Snippets from A Woman of Chayil” by Jane
“Lois and Eunice—Passing Down a Godly Heritage” by Patricia Chadwick