θῆλυς

female

Definition

The adjective θῆλυς (thēlys) fundamentally means 'female' or 'of the female sex.' In the New Testament, it is used to denote biological sex, specifically in contrast to the male (ἄρσην, arsēn). This primary meaning is clear in Jesus's teaching on marriage, where he references the creation of humanity as 'male and female' (Matthew 19:4, Mark 10:6). In Paul's writings, the word takes on a broader anthropological and relational dimension. In Romans 1:26-27, it is used to describe same-sex relations between females, contrasting with male relations. In Galatians 3:28, the phrase 'neither male nor female' uses θῆλυς to signify the breaking down of social and spiritual divisions in Christ, pointing to a unity that transcends biological distinctions.

Biblical Usage

θῆλυς is used five times in the New Testament, appearing in the Gospels, Pauline epistles, and always in direct contrast with 'male' (ἄρσην). In the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 19:4, Mark 10:6), it is used in Jesus's citation of Genesis 1:27 to affirm the created order of humanity. Paul uses it twice in Romans 1:26-27 within a discussion of unnatural relations, and once in Galatians 3:28 within a famous declaration of unity in Christ that lists several fundamental human divisions (Jew/Greek, slave/free, male/female). The pattern shows its use in foundational teachings about creation, human relationships, and new creation in Christ.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek noun θηλή (thēlē), meaning 'nipple' or 'teat,' the word θῆλυς originally carried the sense of 'suckling' or 'nursing,' which naturally extended to mean 'female' as the sex that nurses offspring. This etymological root highlights a biological and functional aspect of the term's original conception. It is the direct counterpart to ἄρσην (arsēn, 'male').

Semantic Range

θῆλυς is theologically significant in several key passages. In the Gospels, it grounds Jesus's teaching on marriage in the created order (Matthew 19:4-6). In Romans 1, it is part of Paul's argument about humanity's rebellion against the natural order established by God. Most profoundly, in Galatians 3:28, the phrase 'neither male nor female' declares that biological distinctions, while part of creation, do not determine one's standing or value in the body of Christ. This points to the transformative, unifying power of the gospel, where identity in Christ supersedes all human categories without erasing them.

In the first-century Greco-Roman world, the distinction between male and female was a fundamental, hierarchical social division. Women generally had limited legal rights and social agency. Paul's inclusion of 'male and female' in Galatians 3:28 alongside 'Jew/Greek' and 'slave/free' would have been startling, as it directly challenged the prevailing social order by proclaiming their equal spiritual status 'in Christ Jesus.' Understanding this context highlights the radical nature of the early Christian community's vision.

γυνή (gynē, G1135) — The primary word for 'woman' or 'wife,' focusing on the person; θῆλυς is the adjectival form specifying the female sex.

Word Details

Scripture References