Is God/the Bible sexist?

TL;DR:

The Bible is not sexist simply because it describes many events from the patriarchal societies of the time periods it covers. God values men and women equally; God and the Bible are not sexist.

Sexism is generally defined as one gender having dominance over another and is usually applied to men dominating women. It’s unfair to judge Scripture according to modern-day standards by calling it “sexist” since the Bible was written during various time periods to vastly different cultures than ours. The patriarchal nature of biblical times does not mean that God Himself values women less. Scripture affirms that God considers women to be of equal worth to men. He created both in His image (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:18-25). Many of the Mosaic Laws protected vulnerable populations, including women (Exodus 21:26, 28, 29, 31, 32). Additionally, the Bible includes many examples of heroic and commendatory women, such as Ruth, Esther, Deborah (Judges 4–5), midwives Shiphrah and Puah, Mary (the mother of Jesus), and many more. Women were the first witnesses to Jesus’ empty tomb; this is important since women were not considered valid witnesses in that culture (Matthew 28:1, 9-10). We shouldn’t assume because the culture during biblical times was patriarchal that God values women less than men. God gives men and women distinct roles (1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 5:22-25), but that doesn’t mean He loves one less than the other. God loves all of us, men and women (John 3:16).

from the old testament

The creation narrative in Genesis provides a good foundation for understanding how God views men and women. Both male and female were made in God's image (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:18-25), so they had equal value in God’s eyes.
Mosaic Law also illustrates God’s view of men and women. In the Ten Commandments, God tells people to honor both their father and their mother. In the Sabbath command, God specifies that no one—including daughters and female servants—is to labor. In the Book of the Covenant, God puts the lives of men and women on par with one another when the same sentence was to be carried out for harming either a man or woman (Exodus 21:26, 28, 29, 31, 32). All this points to God viewing women as of equal worth to men.
God protected women within the economic structures of the culture (Exodus 21:1-11; 22:16-17, 22-24). God in no way condones oppression of women, and He makes special provision for the vulnerable of society, which often would have included women.
In the Old Testament, women are seen in many influential roles. Besides Eve, the mother of all people, Deborah who served as a judge (Judges 4—5), Shiphrah and Puah the midwives who refused to kill the Israelite baby boys (Exodus 1:15-22), Jochebed the mother of Moses (Exodus 2:1-10), Ruth the Moabite who was loyal to her mother-in-law, Hannah the mother of the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 1—2), and Esther who saved the Jewish people, as well as the accounts of other faithful women who followed God.

from the new testament

In the New Testament, women served in prominent roles as well. Mary the mother of Jesus is presented as an ideal servant of God. Four women are mentioned by name in the family lineage of Jesus (Matthew 1:3, 5, 6). Mary's relative Elizabeth obediently raised John the Baptist. Elizabeth spoke a blessing on Mary, and Mary sang a song of praise to the Lord (Luke 1:39-56). Anna the prophetess is upheld as a faithful follower of God. She recognized the baby Jesus as the Messiah and spoke of Him "to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem" (Luke 2:36-38).
Many women also served Jesus during His ministry and even financed it (Luke 8:1-3).
Several women were included in the 120 first followers of Jesus in the upper room when the church began (Acts 1:14).
Women were also vital in the early church. Lydia hosted Paul in her home (Acts 16:14). Priscilla along with her husband Aquila taught Apollos the complete gospel (Acts 18:26). Paul mentions many women in his personal greetings and among his fellow workers (e.g., Romans 16:3, 6, 13, 15; Philippians 4:2-3; Colossians 4:15). He credits Timothy's grandmother and mother with faithfully teaching Timothy the Scripture (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15). Acts 21:8-9 talks about four women who prophesied. Women were certainly valued in the early church.
Jesus treated women with dignity and respect. Since He is God incarnate, His actions certainly show us God's attitude toward women. For example, Jesus publicly spoke with a Samaritan woman at a well, something that even she noted as uncommon (John 4:9). After His resurrection, He appeared to women first (Matthew 28:1, 9-10); in that society women would not have been considered reliable witnesses, and yet they are whom Jesus chose to share the news with His disciples.
Jesus' attitude toward women is also manifested in the New Testament epistles. Paul spoke of both husband and wife having marital rights that were to be upheld (1 Corinthians 7:1-5). He spoke of women submitting to their husbands and husbands loving their wives (Colossians 3:18-19; Ephesians 5:25). He also spoke of treating "older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity" (1 Timothy 5:2) and caring for widows (1 Timothy 5:3).
James 1:27 also speaks of caring for widows.
Peter counseled husbands to live with their wives "in an understanding way" and linked their treatment of their wives to their prayers (1 Peter 3:7).

implications for today

The entirety of the Bible is "God-breathed" and is useful for us (2 Timothy 3:16-17). But to interpret it rightly, we must take cultural context into account. Many books of the Bible were written in patriarchal societies. Many references in the Bible that appear sexist are simply stating actions that took place without reference to whether they were right or wrong. For example, in Judges 11 Jephthah may have sacrificed his own daughter to keep a vow he made to the Lord. Scripture does not state that God approved this action; it only records it as a fact of history. Also, many references to women that appear sexist based on contemporary standards were appropriate or even better than the norm of the original cultural setting. For example, when Exodus 22:16-17 talks about a man marrying a woman with whom he's had premarital sex or paying the bride price for her, that is protection for the woman. A non-virgin woman would not have been marriageable; this law protects her from becoming destitute.

Throughout Scripture, when we read with cultural awareness, we discover that women are deeply valued by God. From the beginning, both men and women were created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), and women play pivotal roles in God’s redemptive story. God used women like Deborah to lead a nation (Judges 4-5), Esther to save her people (Esther 4:14), and Mary to bear the Messiah (Luke 1:30-31). Jesus Himself consistently uplifted and dignified women, speaking to them directly, defending them in public and including them among His followers (John 4:7-27; Luke 8:1-3). The early church honored women as co-workers in the gospel, like Phoebe, Priscilla, and Lydia (Romans 16:1-3; Acts 16:14-15).

Far from being sexist, the Bible upholds the value of both women and men. Both are equally made in God’s image, and the way of salvation is the same for both (Galatians 3:25-29; 1 Peter 3:7) as are its benefits (1 Peter 1:3-12). When we understand the Bible in its historical and redemptive context, we see a God who lifts up the lowly, honors the faithful, and sees both men and women as vital to His mission and deeply loved in His eyes.

understand

Men and women are equally created in God's image and share the same salvation and worth.
Many biblical commands elevated and protected women despite the patriarchal cultural context of the time.
God consistently honored and used women in key roles throughout Scripture.

reflect

How have your assumptions about gender and the Bible been challenged or affirmed by seeing how God values women throughout Scripture?
How do you reflect God's view of women in how you treat, speak about, or think of them?
How can you grow in interpreting difficult Bible passages with cultural context and God's character in mind?

engage

What examples from Scripture show how God upholds the dignity and worth of women, even in patriarchal societies?
How should the historical context of biblical laws shape the way we apply and discuss them today?
How can the church better reflect God’s heart for both men and women as equal partners in His mission?