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Does the Bible say that men and women are equal?

    Is there a verse in Genesis that explicitly says that men and women are equal? I was reading Genesis some time ago and I think I came upon it, but I can't find it now.

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  The word equal is not found in the Book of Genesis. The first time that the word equal is used in the Bible is in Job 28:17. The word is used 21 times in the Bible.

    The only time that the word equal is used in talking about men and women being equal, is not in comparison to each other, but in comparison to the angels, after man and woman are resurrected. Luke 20:34-36 says, "And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are EQUAL UNTO THE ANGELS; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection."

    This is an important point in the Scripture, and we are told why in II Corinthians 10:12, "For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and COMPARING THEMSELVES AMONG THEMSELVES, ARE NOT WISE."

    It is foolish to compare ourselves with anyone else upon earth. Whether we are comparing ourselves to another man and how well he has done in his occupation; or whether a woman is comparing herself to another woman and her children; or whether a man and woman are comparing themselves to each other — all such comparisons are foolish. Such comparisons either fill us with pride (if we think that we have done better than the person to which we are comparing ourselves), or such comparisons depress us (if we think that we have miserably failed in comparison with the person in mind).

    I Corinthians 11:7-12 gives the whole picture, "For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as HE IS THE IMAGE AND GLORY OF GOD: BUT THE WOMAN IS THE GLORY OF THE MAN. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For AS THE WOMAN IS OF THE MAN, EVEN SO IS THE MAN ALSO BY THE WOMAN; BUT ALL THINGS OF GOD."

    So end up, once again, not with man comparing himself to woman, or vice-versa, but both man and woman considering themselves in God’s eyes. That is the scriptural comparison. Romans 3:23 says, "For ALL have sinned, and COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD." It is our comparison to God’s holiness that should concern us. Matthew 5:48 says, "Be ye therefore perfect, EVEN AS YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN, is perfect."

    God made Eve from one of Adam’s ribs. Genesis 2:21,22 says, "And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man." God did not make Eve from one of Adam’s foot bones, for Adam to trample over; nor did He make Eve from a bone of Adam’s head, for her to rule over the man. God made Eve from a bone right out of man’s side — a help meet at his side. Genesis 2:18 says, "And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I WILL MAKE HIM AN HELP MEET for him."

    Have you seen yourself as a sinner in God’s sight? Have you repented of your sin and placed your faith in Jesus Christ to save you? After that, we have some roles ordained of God that we are to fulfill. It does not matter how we may appear to measure up to other men, or to women. What matters is how we measure up to fulfilling God’s will for our lives. II Timothy 4:6-8 says, "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

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