Widowhood in the Bible is a significant theme that reflects the social, economic, and spiritual challenges faced by women who have lost their husbands. The Scriptures provide guidance on the treatment of widows, emphasizing compassion, justice, and provision for their needs.

Old Testament Context

In ancient Israel, widows were among the most vulnerable members of society. Without a husband, a widow often lacked financial support and protection. The Mosaic Law includes specific commandments to ensure the welfare of widows. For instance, Deuteronomy 10:18 states, "He executes justice for the fatherless and widow, and loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing." This verse highlights God's concern for widows and His expectation that His people would care for them.

The law also provided for widows through gleaning rights, as seen in the account of Ruth. Leviticus 19:9-10 instructs landowners not to harvest the edges of their fields or gather the gleanings, leaving them for the poor and the widow. Ruth, a Moabite widow, benefits from this provision when she gleans in the fields of Boaz (Ruth 2:2-3).

Prophetic Warnings

The prophets frequently condemned the mistreatment of widows, associating it with societal injustice. Isaiah 1:17 exhorts, "Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow." Similarly, Malachi 3:5 warns against those who "oppress the widow and the fatherless," indicating that such actions provoke God's judgment.

New Testament Teachings

In the New Testament, the care for widows continues to be a priority for the early church. Acts 6:1-6 describes the appointment of deacons to ensure that the daily distribution of food was not neglected, particularly for the Hellenistic widows. This passage underscores the church's responsibility to provide for widows' needs.

The Apostle Paul provides specific instructions regarding widows in 1 Timothy 5:3-16. He advises the church to "honor widows who are truly widows" (1 Timothy 5:3) and outlines criteria for enrolling widows in church support. Paul emphasizes the importance of family responsibility, stating, "But if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own household and to repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God" (1 Timothy 5:4).

Spiritual Significance

Widowhood in the Bible also carries a spiritual dimension. Widows are often depicted as models of faith and devotion. The widow of Zarephath, who provided for Elijah during a famine, exemplifies trust in God's provision (1 Kings 17:8-16). In the New Testament, Jesus commends the poor widow who gave two small coins at the temple, saying, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all the others" (Luke 21:3). Her sacrificial giving is a testament to her faith and devotion.

Conclusion

Widowhood in the Bible is a multifaceted topic that reveals God's heart for justice and compassion. The Scriptures consistently call for the protection and provision of widows, reflecting a divine mandate for the community to uphold the dignity and welfare of those who are vulnerable. Through the examples of faithful widows, the Bible also highlights the spiritual strength and resilience that can accompany widowhood.1. (n.) The state of being a widow; the time during which a woman is widow; also, rarely, the state of being a widower.

2. (n.) Estate settled on a widow.

491. almanuth -- widowhood
... 490, 491. almanuth. 492 . widowhood. Transliteration: almanuth Phonetic Spelling:
(al-maw-nooth') Short Definition: widow's. Word Origin fem. ... widow, widowhood ...
/hebrew/491.htm - 6k

489. almon -- widow- hood
... 488, 489. almon. 490 . widow- hood. Transliteration: almon Phonetic
Spelling: (al-mone') Short Definition: widowhood. ... widowhood. ...
/hebrew/489.htm - 6k

On the Good of Widowhood.
On the Good of Widowhood. . On the Good of Widowhood. St. Augustine. Rev. CL
Cornish, MA Table of Contents. Title Page. On the Good of Widowhood. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/on the good of widowhood /

On the Good of Widowhood.
On the Good of Widowhood. . ... On the Good of Widowhood. [De Bono Viduitatis.]
Translated by Rev. CL Cornish, MA, of Exeter College, Oxford. ...
/.../augustine/on the good of widowhood /on the good of widowhood.htm

Examples of Heathens Urged as Commendatory of Widowhood and ...
... Book I. Chapter VI."Examples of Heathens Urged as Commendatory of Widowhood
and Celibacy. But if they who have (wives) are (thus ...
/.../tertullian/to his wife/chapter vi examples of heathens urged.htm

To an Objection that the State of Widowhood Might Indeed be ...
... Concerning Widows. Chapter IX. To an objection that the state of widowhood
might indeed be endurable if circumstances were? To ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter ix to an objection.htm

On the Good of Widowhood.
On the Good of Widowhood. . ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/on the good of widowhood /title page.htm

Application of the Subject. Advantages of Widowhood.
... Chapter X."Application of the Subject. Advantages of Widowhood. Renounce we
things carnal, that we may at length bear fruits spiritual. ...
/.../tertullian/on exhortation to chastity/chapter x application of the subject.htm

Though a Widow May have Received no Commandment, yet She Has ...
... lay any snare for her, seeing that the field of the Church grows richer as a result
of wedlock, but it is absolutely impossible to deny that widowhood, which St ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xiv though a widow.htm

Letter to a Young Widow.
... circumstances indeed the female sex is the more apt to be sensitive to suffering;
but when in addition there is youth, and untimely widowhood, and inexperience ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/chrysostom/on the priesthood/letter to a young widow.htm

Further Objections from St. Paul Answered.
... 669] He is (here) directing (his speech) to such as he denotes above""very young
widows," who, after being, "apprehended" in widowhood, and (subsequently ...
/.../tertullian/on monogamy/chapter xiii further objections from st.htm

Whether Three Fruits are Fittingly Assigned to the Three Parts of ...
... three aforesaid. Objection 3: Further, just as widowhood surpasses conjugal
continence, so does virginity surpass widowhood. But ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether three fruits are fittingly.htm

Widowhood (5 Occurrences)
...Widowhood (5 Occurrences). ... Genesis 38:19 She arose, and went away, and put off
her veil from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood. ...
/w/widowhood.htm - 8k

Widow-hood (1 Occurrence)
Widow-hood. Widowhood, Widow-hood. Widows . Multi-Version Concordance
Widow-hood (1 Occurrence). ... (See JPS). Widowhood, Widow-hood. Widows . Reference
/w/widow-hood.htm - 6k

Widowed (5 Occurrences)

/w/widowed.htm - 8k

Garments (232 Occurrences)
... Genesis 38:14 She took off of her the garments of her widowhood, and covered herself
with her veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gate of Enaim, which is ...
/g/garments.htm - 37k

Veil (67 Occurrences)
... Genesis 38:14 She took off of her the garments of her widowhood, and covered herself
with her veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gate of Enaim, which is ...
/v/veil.htm - 35k

Lone (1 Occurrence)
... companionship; lonely; as, a lone traveler or watcher. 3. (a.) Single; unmarried,
or in widowhood. 4. (a.) Being apart from other things of ...
/l/lone.htm - 7k

Wrapped (40 Occurrences)
... Genesis 38:14 She took off of her the garments of her widowhood, and covered herself
with her veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gate of Enaim, which is ...
/w/wrapped.htm - 18k

Women-concubines (1 Occurrence)
... putteth them in a house of ward, and sustaineth them, and unto them he hath not
gone in, and they are shut up unto the day of their death, in widowhood living. ...
/w/women-concubines.htm - 6k

Forgettest (6 Occurrences)
... not, for thou art not ashamed, Nor blush, for thou art not confounded, For the shame
of thy youth thou forgettest, And the reproach of thy widowhood Thou dost ...
/f/forgettest.htm - 8k

Timnah (12 Occurrences)
... Genesis 38:14 She took off of her the garments of her widowhood, and covered herself
with her veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gate of Enaim, which is ...
/t/timnah.htm - 13k

What is biblical homemaking? | GotQuestions.org

Widowhood: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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