Topical Bible: Children: Mostly Nursed by the Mothers

◄ Children: Mostly Nursed by the Mothers ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical times, the nurturing and care of children, particularly through nursing, was predominantly the responsibility of mothers. This practice is evident throughout the Scriptures, reflecting the cultural and familial norms of ancient Israelite society.

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament provides several instances where mothers are depicted as the primary caregivers, especially in the early years of a child's life. Nursing was not only a biological function but also a deeply relational and spiritual act, symbolizing the bond between mother and child. In Genesis 21:7, Sarah expresses amazement at nursing Isaac in her old age, highlighting the natural expectation for mothers to nurse their children: "Who would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age."

Hannah, the mother of Samuel, is another example. After praying earnestly for a child, she dedicates Samuel to the Lord but first ensures he is weaned before taking him to the temple (1 Samuel 1:22-24). This indicates that nursing was a significant period in a child's early development, during which the mother played a crucial role.

New Testament Insights

The New Testament, while less explicit about the specifics of nursing, continues to reflect the cultural norm of mothers as primary caregivers. In Luke 11:27, a woman in the crowd calls out to Jesus, saying, "Blessed is the womb that bore You, and blessed are the breasts that nursed You!" This exclamation underscores the honor and blessing associated with motherhood and nursing.

The Apostle Paul, in his letters, uses the metaphor of nursing to describe his gentle care for the Thessalonian church, likening his approach to that of a nursing mother caring for her children (1 Thessalonians 2:7). This metaphor not only emphasizes the nurturing aspect of nursing but also the deep affection and commitment involved.

Cultural and Theological Significance

In the biblical worldview, the act of nursing was more than a mere physical necessity; it was imbued with theological significance. It represented the provision and sustenance that God provides for His people. Isaiah 49:15 uses the imagery of a nursing mother to convey God's unfailing compassion: "Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you."

The role of mothers in nursing their children also reflects the broader biblical theme of family and community. Children were seen as a blessing from the Lord (Psalm 127:3), and the nurturing role of the mother was integral to the child's physical, emotional, and spiritual development.

Conclusion

The biblical portrayal of mothers nursing their children highlights the importance of maternal care in the early stages of life. This practice, deeply rooted in the cultural and religious fabric of biblical times, underscores the value placed on the mother-child relationship and the nurturing role that mothers played in the upbringing of their children.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Samuel 1:22
But Hannah went not up; for she said to her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Kings 3:21
And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 22:9
But you are he that took me out of the womb: you did make me hope when I was on my mother's breasts.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Songs 8:1
O that you were as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find you without, I would kiss you; yes, I should not be despised.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Home as a Nursery.
... because in the former its members are nursed and propagated for ... to which many parents
send their children to rid ... at the very age in which they mostly need the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/philips/the christian home/chapter xiii home as a.htm

A Plea Regarding Christians by Athenagoras, the Athenian
... Homer mostly follows him, especially in his references to the ... For he had children
from his mother, Rhea, and his ... who are older as we would fathers and mothers. ...
/.../richardson/early christian fathers/a plea regarding christians by.htm