11:3, 8, 9; 1 Peter 3:7). Several women are mentioned in Scripture as
having been endowed with prophetic gifts, as Miriam (Exodus 15:20),
Deborah (Judges 4:4, 5), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14), Noadiah (Nehemiah
6:14), Anna (Luke 2:36, 37), and the daughters of Philip the evangelist
(Acts 21:8, 9). Women are forbidden to teach publicly (1 Corinthians
14:34, 35; 1 Timothy 2:11, 12). Among the Hebrews it devolved upon
women to prepare the meals for the household (Genesis 18:6; 2 Samuel
13:8), to attend to the work of spinning (Exodus 35:26; Proverbs 31:19),
and making clothes (1 Samuel 2:19; Proverbs 31:21), to bring water from
the well (Genesis 24:15; 1 Samuel 9:11), and to care for the flocks (Genesis
29:6; Exodus 2:16).
The word “woman,” as used in Matthew 15:28, John 2:4 and 20:13, 15,
implies tenderness and courtesy and not disrespect. Only where revelation
is known has woman her due place of honour assigned to her.
- WOOD See FOREST.
- WOOD-OFFERING (Nehemiah 10:34; 13:31). It would seem that in the
time of Nehemiah arrangements were made, probably on account of the
comparative scarcity of wood, by which certain districts were required, as
chosen by lot, to furnish wood to keep the altar fire perpetually burning
(Leviticus 6:13). - WOOL one of the first material used for making woven cloth (Leviticus
13:47, 48, 52, 59; 19:19). The first-fruit of wool was to be offered to the
priests (Deuteronomy 18:4). The law prohibiting the wearing of a garment
“of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen together” (Deuteronomy 22:11)
may, like some other laws of a similar character, have been intended to
express symbolically the separateness and simplicity of God’s covenant
people. The wool of Damascus, famous for its whiteness, was of great
repute in the Tyrian market (Ezekiel 27:18). - WORD OF GOD (Hebrews 4:12, etc.). The Bible so called because the
writers of its several books were God’s organs in communicating his will
to men. It is his “word,” because he speaks to us in its sacred pages.
Whatever the inspired writers here declare to be true and binding upon us,
God declares to be true and binding. This word is infallible, because
written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and therefore free from all
error of fact or doctrine or precept. (See INSPIRATION; BIBLE.) All
saving knowledge is obtained from the word of God. In the case of adults it