Widow-hood in the Bible is a significant social and spiritual condition that is addressed with compassion and care throughout the Scriptures. The status of widows is frequently mentioned, reflecting the vulnerability and challenges faced by women who have lost their husbands. The Bible provides guidance on the treatment of widows, emphasizing justice, provision, and protection.

Old Testament Context

In ancient Israel, widows were often left without financial support or social standing, making them particularly vulnerable. The Mosaic Law includes specific provisions to protect 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 command to care for them.

The law also instructed the Israelites to leave gleanings in the fields for widows, orphans, and foreigners (Deuteronomy 24:19-21). This provision allowed widows to gather food and sustain themselves. The account of Ruth, a Moabite widow, illustrates this practice as she gleaned in the fields of Boaz (Ruth 2:2-3).

Widows were also included in the triennial tithe, which was collected to support the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows (Deuteronomy 14:28-29). This ensured that widows received a portion of the community's resources.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the care for widows continues to be a priority. Jesus Himself showed compassion towards widows, as seen in the account of the widow of Nain. In Luke 7:12-15, Jesus raises her only son from the dead, demonstrating His deep compassion and power over death.

The early church took the responsibility of caring for widows seriously. Acts 6:1-6 describes how the apostles appointed deacons to ensure that the daily distribution of food was not neglected, particularly for the Hellenistic Jewish widows. This reflects the church's commitment to social justice and care for the vulnerable.

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 members providing for their widowed relatives, stating, "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Timothy 5:8).

Spiritual Significance

Widow-hood in the Bible is not only a social issue but also carries spiritual significance. Widows are often depicted as recipients of God's special care and attention. Psalm 68:5 describes God as "a father of the fatherless and a defender of the widows," underscoring His protective nature.

The plight of widows serves as a reminder of the need for justice and mercy in society. The prophets frequently condemned Israel for neglecting widows and other vulnerable groups, equating such neglect with a lack of true worship (Isaiah 1:17, Jeremiah 7:6).

Widow-hood also symbolizes the church's call to care for those in need, reflecting God's heart for justice and compassion. James 1:27 encapsulates this call: "Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world" .

In summary, widow-hood in the Bible is addressed with a deep sense of compassion and responsibility. The Scriptures provide a framework for understanding the social and spiritual dimensions of widow-hood, emphasizing God's care and the community's duty to support and protect widows.489. almon -- widow- hood
... Word Origin from alam Definition widow- hood NASB Word Usage widowhood (1). widowhood.
From 'alam as in 'alman; bereavement -- widowhood. see HEBREW 'alam. ...
/hebrew/489.htm - 6k

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

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

Widows (33 Occurrences)

/w/widows.htm - 17k

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

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