Does the Bible teach that women should never work outside the home?

Question

I have a good friend that is applaed at my 18 year old daughter taking a job part time at a local store. He claims tjhat the Bible teaches that women are to be under their father's authority until they are married (any time after age 12) then they are under their husband's authority, but they are really never to work outside of the home.

Answer 1

Well, at 18, man's law says she is an adult and more than able to leave and do as she sees fit. The Bible culture women were more of a possession and a commodity. So, in one aspect the friend is right. But, women working outside the home is seen in Priscilla and Aquila. Also Proverbs 31:10-31 shows a woman doing many things outside the home, for the betterment of her family.

The caution I would raise is be a helpmate and wife first. Women are best suited to stay home and raise children. I believe they find their fulfillment in this, but they are more than cooks, nanny's, maids. The family that works together in all ways will be successful.

Personally, my wife works as a nurse as it is her calling. Right now with two children she works one day a week or more if the bills stack up. I am not suited to be a stay home Dad and my job does not cover all the bills. Rather than get a second, third, and fourth job and rob my children of me entirely and show them that wealth is more important than them, my wife goes out and provides the extra. Because of this we have more time as a family and the children get to have both a Mom and a Dad. We have a babysitter to allow my wife time to sleep and get other things taken care of, but they are not being raised by the schools and others.

In short your good friend should read the Bible more carefully and keep his opinions to himself and raise his own as he sees fit. What magic time happens for the young man to make him an adult and no longer under the father's authority?

Answer 2

No, the bible definitely does not teach that. The ideal woman/wife, as is written about at the end of the Proverbs, was very industrious.

If I may quote Proverbs 31:16
She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard

She was apparently a business woman!

You also have to realize that people working outside of the home is relatively new, it only happened after the industrial revolution. Many christian women work. We are called to do what is best for our family situation.

(And it is a good thing to teach your 18 year old daughter about responsibility, the value of money, and give her a sense of accomplishment)

Answer 3

I have not seen anything in the Bible that would forbid women from working outside the home. Yes, the woman is under the father's authority, and protection until the time she is married.
THe father should know where and approve of the place that his daughter is working- he should have a say so in where she works but as long as she is not married (with children) and she is discerning- there is no problem with her working and contributing financially to the household. If her father were not there, she would have to have the skills to support herself financially and no doubt work outside the home in order to do so.

Answer 4

The Old Testament and the New Testament have examples of women who worked in the market place and also provided for their family. In fact it likens Wisdom to a woman who not only manages the household (taking care of children and meals) but goes out and knows how to work with her hands and such.

There is under the Old Testament law precedent for an underage girl to be under her father's watchful eye, and no contract to be binding without the father's approval. But you know, our U.S., laws are the same way - an under aged child can not work or enter contract unless the parent signs.

If the girl is 18, she is of legal age to work or whatever. The bible also states we are to honor the laws of the land - until they conflict with our relationship with God.

Under the laws of the land - 18 is legal age, So.., there's not much that can be done about the matter. The friend is living under the old levitical law and should still be sacrificing sheep - LOL.

Jesus came not to destroy the law - but to fulfill its obligation. The Old Testament (or Will) is a contract. And as a Will it requires a death before that will can be completed. Jesus satisfied it.

We live under the spirit of the law, meaning.., Sin is still sin (as outlined and identified in the Old Law) but the ceremonial requirements are nullified. Rape, murder, lust, sexual immorality and all those things are still sinful - but Jesus provided the last sacrifice for those old laws.

The law has not been destroyed - just modified to the point of canceling the ceremonial requirements of old. Our ceremonial tasks in breaking that law is to ask for forgiveness and mean it - then not deliberately break that law regarding sin, again.

Answer 5

Well, this is a prime example of man manipulating the word of God. Why would women, who are half of the human race, be so controlled and designated to have to lead their lives under such strict conditions? Are all the professionals in the world who are women, considered sinners? Like women doctors, lawyers, journalists, writers, artists, etc. Who are those people then? This is where religion becomes more of a sickness than any promoter of a good and honest life.

Answer 6

Yes, women should be protected by their fathers and then husbands, but there is no Biblical prohibition against working outside the home. And where did he find that marriage could take place at 12? Either he confuses betrothal with marriage, or he mistook the koran for the Bible.

Answer 7

Proverbs 31:11, In her the heart of her owner has put trust, and there is no gain lacking.
:14 She has roved to be like the shops of a merchant. From far away she bring in her food.
:16 She has considered a field and proceeded to obtain it from the fruitage of her hands she has planted a vineyard.
This last scripture shows that she worked, earned her money bought land and planted a vineyard.
But parents are responsible for their children and have the right to say what they can and can not do.

Answer 8

"If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as menservants do. If she does not please the master who has selected her for himself, he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, because he has broken faith with her. (From the NIV Bible, Exodus 21:7-8)"

"Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a MALE child: then she shall be unclean SEVEN DAYS; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying THIRTY THREE days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. But if she bear a FEMALE child, then she shall be unclean TWO WEEKS, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying SIXTY SIX days. (From the NIV Bible, Leviticus 12:2-5)"

Answer 9

That is not true. I have read the Bible and it says nothing about women not working outside of their home. However, it does say that girls or women should be under their husband if he speaks the Lord's truth. She can contradict her husband if he is being ungodly and unreasonable.

Answer 10

considering back then the only job for women was whore, it probably does frown on them taking that profession--how does "under someone's authority" translate into "no working"? If her father is okay with it, then his authority is not in question