A Woman's Place Is in the Story
Seeing Women in the Biblical Narrative
- Biblical Studies & Commentaries
- Women
- Publisher: IVP Academic (InterVarsity Press)
- Published: 2026
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Publisher's Description
We Misread the Bible When Women Are Left Out Ignore them, marginalize them, or dismiss them as brief cameos—these have long been common approaches to Christian teaching on the women of the Bible. The result? We miss their significance in the biblical story and, in turn, misunderstand Scripture itself. Scholar Sandra Glahn challenges this pattern, calling readers to recognize how biblical narrative actually works. When we do, we see that women are not incidental to thestory but essential to it. In A Woman's Place Is in the Story, Glahn models how we can better read stories in their literary context and understand why the original authors included what they did. She reexamines both well-known and neglected passages, such as Tamar and Judah, the Hebrew midwives, Abigail, and the Samaritan woman at the well. Even when they appear briefly, women in Scripture move the plot forward and reveal profound truths about who God is. In thisbook, you'll explore how leaving women out of the biblical story changes the plot and meaning that was intended, how distorting women as they appear in the biblical story affects the way we view women in general, and how misunderstanding how women appear in the story affects the way we view God. Women have always been part of the whole story of God. With A Woman's Place Is in the Story, discover how rightly seeing women in the biblical narrative leads to more faithful interpretation and application for the benefit of all God’s people. It’s time to tell the whole story.
Endorsements (7)
“Preaching often centers the male experience—Bible stories about men, illustrations about men, practical applications for men. As a result, many women wonder whether they have a place in God's story. Sandra Glahn introduces us to many forgotten women who are central to the plot of the Bible and whose stories are essential reading if we want to understand God's purposes. She teaches us to read more carefully, to reconsider negative stereotypes, and to reenter God's story as full-fledged participants. A compelling book with a crucial message!”
“Sandra Glahn has written an illuminating work that puts the spotlight on the women of the Bible who normally remain in the shadows. In many ways it is a rehabilitation of women in the biblical story; otherwise, Glahn is simply pointing to the women who were always there if anyone had taken the time to look. A fascinating investigation into biblical narratives, the role of women in sacred stories, and a call for responsible reading of the Bible.”
“Some have said women should be seen and not heard; others think women shouldn't be seen or heard. But Scripture includes and affirms the presence, voices, and actions of numerous women. Sandra Glahn proves herself a master teacher by highlighting some of the many ways in which women are not just present in the Bible but, in fact, play crucial roles in the grand story of the gospel. You will not just learn about the women of the Bible; you will also learn how to read the Bible well.”
“Sandra Glahn reignites our curiosity about how God is inviting us to pay attention through the women in Scripture. She guides the reader to see a more robust picture, revealing treasures that are so often left out of preaching and teaching. Perhaps sometimes, like with God himself, the hiddenness is the beckoning to look and listen.”
“Sandra Glahn, a consummate storyteller, presents an expert summary of the elements of stories (story, narrative, plot, characters, setting), and then shows how to read stories about women in the context of the big story of the Bible. We are treated to surprising insights, some of them rightfully unnerving to some, about Tamar, Shiphrah and Puah, unnamed women, Abigail, five named daughters of Zelophehad, the woman of Shunem and Job's daughters, Jezebel, and my favorite, the woman of Samaria. Glahn illustrates the power of stories while showing how to think in story terms about these women. The reality is that many in the church, both women and men, do not know the stories of women in the Bible, and so Glahn offers a conclusion on what the church's leaders can do to reconfigure the place of women in the Bible's story.”
“Sandra Glahn beautifully presents biblical accounts of women that have been ignored or minimized, but she doesn't stop there—she teaches us how to read the whole story of Scripture. This book is for preachers, Sunday school teachers, and anyone interested in reading the Bible more fully and faithfully.”
“Sandra Glahn's book is an exquisite and exciting contribution to the (neglected) role that women play in the biblical story. Taking a narrative approach to interpretation, she alerts the reader to subtle yet vibrant female characters in the Bible and also corrects some modern assumptions. Women aren't mentioned as often as men in Scripture, but when they are, they play pivotal roles in God's story of redemption.”
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