"Blessed of Women..."

[roadrunner570]

We were going over this in class tonight and I thought it was interesting. The phrase “Blessed of women” or “Blessed among women” appear only twice in the Bible, once in the NT referring to Mary, and once in the OT referring to Jael, who drove a tent peg through the head of Sisera. Anyone have thoughts or opinions on this?

Jdg 5:24 "Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of tent-dwelling women

Lk 1:42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!

I thought it would be interesting to hear a Catholic point of view on this.

 

[Genesis315]

Could it be in relation to this:

Gen. 3:15 I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel.

Jael might be a type for Mary.

Another type of Mary, Judith, also crushes a bad guy’s head

 

[Genesis315]

Most translation put “he shall crush” but the Hebrew pronoun is actually ambiguous. The sense is the same in that the woman, Mary, achieves victory through her seed, Jesus Christ.

 

[RyanL]

In Judges, it was a statement describing her status. In Luke, it was a title by which the Messenger of God called Mary. Like all biblical name changes, this title described the bearer of the title and revealed part of God’s plan in a name. Think Abram->Abraham, Jacob->Israel, etc. When a name is changed, you pay attention.

Some may protest, “She’s never called that again!” Well, Jesus is only called “Immanuel” once - doesn’t mean it’s not his title.

For a further study on Mary’s title “Full of Grace”, see this link.

God Bless,
RyanL

It becomes you to be mindful of us, as you stand near Him who granted you all graces, for you are the Mother of God and our Queen. Help us for the sake of the King, the Lord God Master Who was born of you. For this reason you are called ‘full of Grace’…" (373 A.D., St. Athanasius)

Blessed Virgin, immaculate and pure you are the sinless Mother of your Son, the mighty Lord of the universe. You are holy and inviolate, the hope of the hopeless and sinful; we sing your praises. We praise you as full of every grace, for you bore the God-Man. We all venerate you; we invoke you and implore your aid…Holy and immaculate Virgin…be our intercessor and advocate at the hour of death and judgment…you are holy in the sight of God, to Whom be honor and glory, majesty, and power forever (373 A.D., St. Ephrem of Edessa)

You alone and your Mother are more beautiful than the others; for here is no blemish in you, nor any stains upon your Mother. (St. Ephraim, Nisibene Hymns, 27:8, 370)

 

[roadrunner570]

Genesis315:

Could it be in relation to this:

Gen. 3:15 I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel.

Jael might be a type for Mary.

Another type of Mary, Judith, also crushes a bad guy’s head

I was thinking of that passage earlier, like some foreshadowing perhaps.