Number DOI: http://doi.org/10.33209/2519-4348-2707-9627-2025-13-170

Volynskyi Blahovisnyk. № 13. 2025. P. 89-99.

Summary

The creation of woman in the Old Testament is one of the most important theological and anthropological themes in the biblical tradition. At the beginning of creation, man is alone, and as the Genesis narrative demonstrates, this solitude is not good according to God’s will. Man needs a companion, a helper, and so woman is created from Adam’s side.

In the Old Testament, the theme of the woman as a “helper” highlights the importance of the relationship between man and woman, as well as their complementarity in humanity. Though woman is created after man, she is an equal and essential companion to him, and this relationship embodies the foundation of the family and the couple, which form the core of society.

In the second part of the text, in the section on the virtuous woman in the Proverbs of Solomon, the focus is on the type of woman considered virtuous and the type seen as a source of misfortune for the family. The wise wife is described as a “crown” for her husband, while the bad wife is a source of shame, corrupting her husband’s life. Through this contrast, the Old Testament emphasizes the significance of virtue and wisdom in personal and family life, presenting the moral value attributed to the woman as a central element in the community and society. The proverb highlights the power of making the right choice of a partner, as the presence of a virtuous woman strengthens the social position of her husband and family, while a bad woman can destroy the personal and social life of her husband.

Key words: woman, man, wise woman, Proverbs of Solomon, bones, inner world, delight.

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