Jesus called Mary and others "Woman"

[coco2]

I have heard at many Bible studies that at the Wedding at Cana when Jesus speaks to his mother calling her “Woman” it refers to her being the “new Eve”. My problem with this explanation is that she isn’t the only person He called “Woman”. The woman at the well, he called “woman” when speaking to her ( John 4:21) He also calls Mary Magdalene “Woman” after the Resurrection ( JOHN 20:13). Does anyone know what the explanation is for this? They can’t all mean the “New Eve”!

 

[Trishie]

We read and hear that in a modern context. The Jewish community and culture was unlike ours,
however, I’ll see if I can find the answer for you. I have read an explanation in the distant past but have forgotten the specifics…but it is cultural, not to be understood in our modern sense

As Jesus addressed Mary as “Woman” when in loving concern, He was providing for her future as he hung dying in agony on the Cross, you can see it is not a cold or unloving word. Remember also that the word is a translation.

 

[Trishie]

Surprisingly, perhaps, it was a Protestant source that so far was most helpful:

Pastor Doug: Keep in mind, that’s the King James translation of that phrase ‘woman’; in our language it sounds almost derogatory—it sounds like a motorcycle biker talking to his motorcycle mama—hey, woman, come here. But we don’t understand that that word in Hebrew means ‘madam’. It was a term of respect. You know, Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery, ‘Woman, where are your accusers?’ Well, He wasn’t talking down to her.

He was actually addressing her with respect. So when Jesus said to his mother, while He hung on the cross, ‘Woman, behold your son’, ‘Son, behold your mother’, it was a term of respect. In our language—you know how terms change with every generation? Like, you know, fifty years ago you tell someone you’re happy and gay—it had a whole different meaning than it has now. So back in 1611 Woman was a term of respect.

amazingfacts.org/radio/bible-answers-live-question-archive/ctl/playmedia/mid/731/mdid/2420.aspx

Here is another valuable source.

The Protestant commentator William Barclay writes:

"The word Woman (gynai) is also misleading. It sounds to us very rough and abrupt. But it is the same word as Jesus used on the Cross to address Mary as he left her to the care of John (John 19:26). In Homer it is the title by which Odysseus addresses Penelope, his well-loved wife. It is the title by which Augustus, the Roman Emperor, addressed Cleopatra, the famous Egyptian queen. So far from being a rough and discourteous way of address, it was a title of respect. We have no way of speaking in English which exactly renders it; but it is better to translate it Lady which gives at least the courtesy in it" (The Gospel of John, revised edition, vol. 1, p. 98).

Further comments available at this site:

cin.org/users/james/questions/q087.htm

 

[Jaypeeto4]

All good points above !! Very informative, imo.

Even more significant is that, in Scripture as in known ancient Hebrew practice,
you did not refer to your mother as Woman.
You treated her with respect, and referred to her as your mother, not as Woman.

Used in reference to Mary it is a term of very great respect, greater than that shown
the other ladies to whom he addressed the word. Mary was THE “Woman” predicted in
the Protoevangelium of Genesis chapter 3 verse 15. The Woman whose seed would crush the head of the serpent. Interestingly, with regard to THAT future Woman, God told the serpent that He, God, would PUT Enmity between the Serpent (ha satan) and
that Woman. GOD would put the Enmity between them, irreconcilable hostility.
Many theologians of great renown see that as a prophecy of that future Woman’s freedom from innate sin/lack of sanctifying grace in her soul. Thus a prediction of her Immaculate Conception. So, in this context, although the SEED of the woman is the one who directly crushes the serpents’ head, the Woman too, somehow shares in the crushing of the serpent’s head, thru the foreseen merits of her divine Son. Thus, on the Miraculous Medal, is a depiction of Mary with a serpent under her own foot.

Jaypeeto4
+JMJ+
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY

 

[coco2]

All good points above !! Very informative, imo.

Even more significant is that, in Scripture as in known ancient Hebrew practice,
you did not refer to your mother as Woman.
You treated her with respect, and referred to her as your mother, not as Woman.

Used in reference to Mary it is a term of very great respect, greater than that shown
the other ladies to whom he addressed the word. Mary was THE “Woman” predicted in
the Protoevangelium of Genesis chapter 3 verse 15. The Woman whose seed would crush the head of the serpent. Interestingly, with regard to THAT future Woman, God told the serpent that He, God, would PUT Enmity between the Serpent (ha satan) and
that Woman. GOD would put the Enmity between them, irreconcilable hostility.
Many theologians of great renown see that as a prophecy of that future Woman’s freedom from innate sin/lack of sanctifying grace in her soul. Thus a prediction of her Immaculate Conception. So, in this context, although the SEED of the woman is the one who directly crushes the serpents’ head, the Woman too, somehow shares in the crushing of the serpent’s head, thru the foreseen merits of her divine Son. Thus, on the Miraculous Medal, is a depiction of Mary with a serpent under her own foot.

Jaypeeto4
+JMJ+
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY

Jaypeeto4, I know that this is an explanation for calling Mary “Woman”, but I am wondering if Jesus actually used the same word when addressing all of these women. Because if he did, then it kind of puts some holes in your explanation. That is what I can’t figure out. And when I have protestants who know what the actual words are, I have to be able to explain why Christ would call all of the other women by the same name.

 

[coco2]

Surprisingly, perhaps, it was a Protestant source that so far was most helpful:

Pastor Doug: Keep in mind, that’s the King James translation of that phrase ‘woman’; in our language it sounds almost derogatory—it sounds like a motorcycle biker talking to his motorcycle mama—hey, woman, come here. But we don’t understand that that word in Hebrew means ‘madam’. It was a term of respect. You know, Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery, ‘Woman, where are your accusers?’ Well, He wasn’t talking down to her.

He was actually addressing her with respect. So when Jesus said to his mother, while He hung on the cross, ‘Woman, behold your son’, ‘Son, behold your mother’, it was a term of respect. In our language—you know how terms change with every generation? Like, you know, fifty years ago you tell someone you’re happy and gay—it had a whole different meaning than it has now. So back in 1611 Woman was a term of respect.

amazingfacts.org/radio/bible-answers-live-question-archive/ctl/playmedia/mid/731/mdid/2420.aspx

Here is another valuable source.

The Protestant commentator William Barclay writes:

"The word Woman (gynai) is also misleading. It sounds to us very rough and abrupt. But it is the same word as Jesus used on the Cross to address Mary as he left her to the care of John (John 19:26). In Homer it is the title by which Odysseus addresses Penelope, his well-loved wife. It is the title by which Augustus, the Roman Emperor, addressed Cleopatra, the famous Egyptian queen. So far from being a rough and discourteous way of address, it was a title of respect. We have no way of speaking in English which exactly renders it; but it is better to translate it Lady which gives at least the courtesy in it" (The Gospel of John, revised edition, vol. 1, p. 98).

Further comments available at this site:

cin.org/users/james/questions/q087.htm

Thanks for the sites, Trishie!

 

[Paul_Saltzman]

The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible says in the footnote to John 2:4 that woman “was a title of respect and endearment in antiquity. There is, however, no ancient example of a son addressing his mother in this way. Genesis 3 is the reverse image of the Cana episode (John 2:1-5). As Eve prompted Adam to defy the Lord and drag the human family into sin, so Mary prompts Jesus, the new Adam, to initiate his mission of salvation. The description of Mary even alludes to Genesis 3:15, where Yahweh speaks of a “woman” whose son will trample the devil underfoot (CCC 489, 494).”