Hold On

Phenomenal Women Leaders in Scripture

DEBORAH THE JUDGE (דְּבוֹרָה, devorah; “honeybee”).

Deborah is one of the most influential women in the Bible. She is mainly known as a prophetess and a judge in Israel.

The fourth Judge of Israel, a Prophetess & Wife Married to Lappidoth Meaning Torches

Her story is primarily found in the Book of Judges, specifically in Judges 4 and 5. As a prophet, Deborah was said to hear

God's voice and share God’s Word with others.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 4

At the time that Deborah was Judge, Israel had been oppressed by King Jabin of Canaan for 20 years

She judges Israel while sitting “under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim,”

which is north of Jerusalem (Soggins, Judges, 64). As a Judge Deborah arbitrating disputes,

Deborah in Battle Read Judges 4:4-9

Deborah was exercising her authority Judg 4:6–7, when she summons Barak and informs him that he has been commanded by God to do battle with Jabin’s army and his general, Sisera.

Judges 4:8 “And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.”

Judg 4:9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.

Key Verses

Jdg 5:3 Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel

.Jdg 5:7 The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, Until that I Deborah arose, That I arose a mother in Israel.

******of Deborah's relationship to the people (fig.) a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively [like father])

2. EXODUS a LEADER, prophetess Miriam = "Rebellion"

I see her as a influencer!

When the children of Israel miraculously crossed the Red Sea, ....

Exodus 15:20 “And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.” .

But this wasn’t her only ministry role.

Micah 6:4 “For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, And redeemed thee out of the house of servants; And I sent before

thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.”

Define: Prophetess

Old Testament: Hebrew nᵉbîyʼâh, neb-ee-yaw

a prophetess or (generally) inspired woman; by implication, a poetess; by association a prophet's wife:—prophetess.

Ancient type endowed with gift of song (Miriam)

New Testament    prophētis (Key) prof-ay'-tis

I.a prophetess

II.a woman to whom future events or things hidden from others are at times revealed, either by inspiration or by dreams and visions

III.a female who declares or interprets oracles

προφῆτις prophētis, prof-ay'-tis; feminine of G4396; a female foreteller or an inspired woman:—prophetess.

STRONGS G4398:

a prophetess (Vulg., Tertullianprophetissa, prophetis), a woman to whom future events or things hidden from others are at times revealed, either by inspiration or by dreams and visions:

Luke 2:36 “And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;”

Revelation 2:20 “Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.”

In Greek usage, a female who declares or interprets oracles (Euripides, Plato, Plutarch): ἡ προφῆτις τῆς ἀληθείας ἱστορία, Diodorus 1,

Side Note: She was a prophetess, yet she had her opinions. Be careful not to mix up your personal opinions and call it a prophetic word! Read Numbers 11:35-12:15

Numbers 11:35–12:15 KJV 1900

And the people journeyed from Kibroth-hattaavah unto Hazeroth; and abode at Hazeroth. And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the Lord heard it. (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) And the Lord spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. And the Lord came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them; and he departed. And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous. And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned. Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother’s womb. And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee. And the Lord said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again. And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.

3. REFORMER HULDAH - meaning weasel

Huldah lived during the time of the prophets Jeremiah and Zephaniah

(2 Kings 22:14 “So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her.”

Huldah is introduced as the wife of Shallum, the wardrobe keeper in King Josiah’s court

 The College: SECOND QUARTER (מִשְׁנֶה, mishneh). A residential area of Jerusalem mentioned three times in the Old Testament that likely extended west of the City of David and the Temple Mount. Biblical Relevance …

Huldah resided in Jerusalem, indicating she had access to the center of Jewish religious and political life.

READ 2 Chron 34:22-28

While Josiah was having the temple restored, the high priest Hilkiah discovered a “Book of the Law,” which was the Torah or Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament). When Josiah heard the words of the Book of the Law read aloud, he tore his clothes in grief over Judah’s lack of obedience to God’s laws.

He then sent a delegation to inquire of the Lord what should be done, so they sought out the counsel of the prophetess Huldah. The group that consulted her included Hilkiah the high priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the court secretary, and Asaiah the king’s attendant.

She/ Huldah was sought out by King Josiah’s advisors for her wisdom and gift of prophecy. The officials clearly had great respect for her, calling her “the prophetess Huldah,” suggesting she was already well-known and established as a true prophet of Yahweh at that time.

4. QUEEN ESTHER

A whole book of the Bible tells the story of this phenomal leader. Esther risked her own life to save the lives of the Jewish people. And each year at Purim, Jews everywhere still reflect on Esther’s story.

This year the Women of Exodus are using two themes from the book of Esther

WOMEN’S DAY SUNDAY MAY 4TH 10:30AM” Chosen for such a time as this” Esther 4:14 “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Speaker: Evang. Elzabeth Shelby from Columbus,OH Colors: Royal Blue & Silver

THE KEPT WOMEN OF GOD CONFERENCE JULY 17TH-19TH “ Anointed for Such a Time as This” 7pm Thursday Elder Marea Hodges, Hamilton, OH Friday Night Elect Lady Tonya Ringer, House of Restoration Cleveland, OH

MARY MAGDALENE WAS THE FIRST PERSON JESUS SENT WITH THE MESSAGE OF HOPE.

Mark 16:9 “Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.”

(Mark 16:4, Luke 24:2, John 20:1). She and the other women were disturbed and went back to Simon Peter and John, informing them that the stone had been moved and someone had taken the body of Jesus (John 20:2).

After they had seen the empty tomb and had returned to their place, Mary remained there at the tomb, weeping (John 20:3-11). She looked into the tomb and saw two angels asking why she wept (John 20:12-13; cf. Matthew 28:2-5, Mark 16:5-6, Luke 24:4-7).

She was not weeping for joy; she wept because someone had taken the body of her Lord, and she did not know where the body was (John 20:13b). Then, all of a sudden, a man stood near her. He wanted to know why she wept. She presumed him to be the gardener, and asked him where he had taken the body of Jesus so that she could take it away and properly prepare it (John 20:14-15). He then called to her by name: "Mary." Then she knew. "Rabboni!" she exclaimed; it was Jesus! He was no longer dead, but alive! Jesus then sent her to inform the disciples how He had risen from the dead.

(John 20:16–18 “Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.”

cf. Matthew 28:6-8, Mark 16:7-11, Luke 24:8-10).

5. DISCIPLE / MARY OF BETHANY / POURED HER OIL

While the twelve male disciples of Jesus are more familiar to most, Mary of Bethany was one of many women who followed Jesus (Luke 8:1-3).

Sitting at the feet of a teacher, or rabbi, was a privilege normally reserved only for men.

Yet in Luke 10:39 “And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard hi word.”

Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, assuming the posture of a student of the Lord.

READ JOHN 12:1-11

6. BUSINESSWOMAN/ ENTREPRENUER

Upon arriving in Philippi, Paul first went to the Jews. He found no synagogue, but he did find women praying at the river. Lydia, a merchant, responded to the message of Christ and offered hospitality to Paul and Silas (Acts 16:14-15). The believers later gathered at the home of this businesswoman and Early Church leader (Acts 16:40).

7. DEACONESS

Romans 16:1–2 “I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.”

A notable woman in the church of Cenchreae, she was trusted by Paul to deliver his letter to the Romans.[1] Paul refers to her both as a "servant" or "deacon" (Greek diakonos, which means "servant") and as a helper or many (Greek prostatis).

This is the only place in the New Testament where a woman is specifically referred to with these two distinctions. Paul introduces Phoebe as his REPRESENTATIVE to the church in Rome and, because they are not acquainted with her, Paul provides them with her credentials.

Romans 16:2 KJV 1900

That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.

9. TEACHER

Acts 18:26 “And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.”

Priscilla is often regarded as a significant leader and teacher in the early Christian church. Alongside her husband, Aquila, she played a pivotal role in mentoring others and fostering the spread of Christianity.

One notable example of her leadership is found in Acts 18:24–26

“And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.”

While Apollos was passionate and knowledgeable about the Scriptures, his understanding of Jesus' teachings was incomplete. Priscilla and Aquila invited him into their home and privately explained "the way of God more accurately."

This act highlights Priscilla's role not only as a mentor but also as someone who actively taught and clarified important theological truths. Interestingly, in the biblical references to the couple, Priscilla's name often appears before Aquila's, which some scholars interpret as a recognition of her prominence or leadership.

Priscilla is seen as a model for women in ministry and leadership, demonstrating the powerful influence of wisdom, teaching, and hospitality in advancing faith.

10. PROPHETS

This last one is actually more than one. And in fact, their story continues. Joel 2 foretold a time when God would pour out his Spirit on all flesh: “Your sons and daughters will prophesy” (verse 28). On the Day of Pentecost, Peter confirmed that time had come. And it is still true today! Any daughter of God has the full rights and privilege to declare His Word, testify to His salvation, and prophesy by His Spirit.