Female Archetypes in the Bible
I’ve previously written about the different forms of femininity, illustrated by the goddesses of ancient mythology. I thought it would be interesting to also explore the female archetypes found in the Bible, in a departure from Jungian scholars’ focus on Greek deities.
These psychic images represent various forces governing women’s souls. They help guide our decisions and are brought to life in our human interactions. They’re present in different combinations in the unique characters of individual women. Some are easier to recognise than others, but they’re all important in their own ways.
The Great Mother
The Great Mother is the very first archetype every human being encounters. She’s the one who brings us into the world and nourishes us with her love. She may also possess a darker, devouring aspect if she’s overprotective of her children.
The figure of the Virgin Mary is the epitome of the selfless, nurturing mother. She exemplifies the type of woman whose primary purpose in life is to bear children and care for them.
An example of the Great Mother from the Old Testament is the matriarch Sarah, wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac. Like in the case of Mary, Sarah’s pregnancy was facilitated by God, who promised she would be a “mother of nations”. (Genesis 17:16)
Rebekah, mother of Jacob and Esau, represents a darker maternal demeanour. Instead of fostering brotherly affection between her two sons, she conspires with one against the other. (Genesis 27:5-29)
The Lady of Sorrows
In his book ‘Marriage: Dead Or Alive’, analytical psychologist Adolf Guggenbühl-Craig lists Mater Dolorosa, translated as ‘Sorrowful Mother’ or ‘Lady of Sorrows’, as a separate archetype. This is understandable if we consider that throughout most of human history, it was common for mothers to have to mourn their children, due to high child mortality rates and frequent wars.
For many of us, the image of the Pietà is the first to come to mind when thinking of a mother’s sorrow for her child. In Catholicism, the ‘Seven Sorrows of Mary’ is an important devotional theme.
In the Old Testament, Rachel’s weeping for her children signifies the grief of all the mothers of Bethlehem whose sons were slaughtered on King Herod's request. (Jeremiah 31:15) Rachel’s anguish prefigures that of Mary.
The Wife
The archetype of the wife plays a dominant role in the souls of women who feel incomplete without belonging to a man. As seen clearly in the goddess Hera of Greek mythology, her definitive emotion is jealousy. On a more positive note, this archetype is essential for pair-bonding, as a foundation for a strong marriage.
In the Bible, Eve and Mary are two obvious examples. Another one is Sarah, Abraham’s devoted wife.
The Warrior
The Greek goddess Athena is the epitome of the female warrior archetype. Her primary characteristic is her virginity, signifying her independence from men. She’s wise, energetic, self-sufficient and non-sexual. She’s often achievement-oriented.
Deborah is the best biblical example of this archetype. She’s the only female judge (i.e. tribal leader) mentioned in the Book of Judges and is also recognised as a prophetess. She helped defeat the Canaanite army, resulting in 40 years of peace for Israel. (Judges 4:4-24)
The Courtesan
Guggenbühl-Craig describes this archetype as “the uninhibited companion of men in sexual pleasure, in wit, and in learning”. She’s intellectual, independent and enjoys male company.
The Book of Joshua describes Rahab as a prostitute. She hid two Israelite spies in her home in Jericho, so the soldiers looking for them couldn’t find them. She’s therefore credited with helping the Israelites capture the city. (Joshua 2:1-7) She’s also one of five women mentioned in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus. (Matthew 1:5)
The Lover
Unlike the courtesan, the archetype of the lover is conducive to monogamy. In the Song of Songs, she appears as a desired and beloved bride.
In Proverbs, we find another unnamed representation of the wife who ignites passion in her husband. This is another example of the Bible celebrating sexual intimacy and love between a couple. (Proverbs 5:15-20)