Bible scholars claim men are more important than women
Matthew 14:35
And when the people [Invisible women] of that place had knowledge of him they sent out into all that country round about and brought to him all that were diseased
Comments: Matthew 14:35 This verse is an example of the Greek word aner [G435-masculine noun], being translated as “men” when the context demands the word be translated as gender-neutral.
Bible commentators and translators such as Strong and Thayer, insist the word aner refers strictly to males, or if used of a mixed crowd, the word references only the males of the group, who they claim are “more important.”
Thayer defined the Greek word [Strong’s G435] aner, when used for a mixed crowd as following: “When persons of either sex are included but named after the more important.” and gives the example of Matthew 14:35, where the citizenship, composed of both women and men, are called aner, because the men are more important. He claims that for this reason entire populations referred to in biblical texts as aner, should always be translated as male.
Virtually all modern Bible translators follow Thayer’s lead in this, as is seen in the majority of Bible translations where mixed crowds and entire populations are called men. This blatant misogyny.
God’s true heart of equal status and autonomy for women and men is obscured by gender-biased scholars and Bible translators even up to the present day—check Matthew 14:35 in your Bible version. Does it call the people of “that place” men? It probably does, and Thayer explicitly said the reason for this is because men are more important.
It was Jesus who said the blind lead the blind and both fall into the ditch. It is time to stop blindly following Bible scholars who should be called into question on definitions of biblical words. It is time for an honest reassessment—without the filters of tradition—of the meanings of words translated into English from the biblical languages—especially words effecting relationships and status based on sex.
Jocelyn Andersen is author of, Woman this is WAR! Gender Slavery and the Evangelical Caste System.
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING: For those who take the pursuit of truth seriously: This book is well written, well researched, and a real eye opener. When one is changed by the spirit of God and comes into right relationship with Him, through Jesus, then the words of the Bible come alive, and He is revealed on every page. The honest student of scripture will look into the Greek, and Hebrew text, to know what is said to understand "apparent" contradictions. The scripture was not written in English. What is very clear in the text is that men and women in God's church (not the institutions) are equal in worth before God, and there is no such thing as "men rule and women submit". The false "teachers" in Christianity need to be exposed for their greed and lust for power over others. I believe that process will be ongoing. ~~ Elise (5-stars)