Women Aren’t Meant to Stay Quiet?
We were on our way home the other day and a song by Francesca Battistelli came on the radio called “He Knows My Name.” We definitely balked at some of the words. “I’m not meant to just stay quiet. I’m meant to be a lion. I’ll roar beyond a song…” Granted, there are some great lyrics in this song but these lyrics are just not biblical. In fact, they are unbiblical. God commands women to have meek and quiet spirits and there are times when women are commanded to stay quiet.
This doesn’t mean we can’t ever talk, of course, but God wants us to have a meek and quiet spirit. “Spirit” is the key word here. He doesn’t want us to be rattled easily. He doesn’t want us to be controlled by our emotions but by Truth instead. We don’t need to share all of our opinions, be contentious, or quarrelsome. You know all of the verses in Proverbs about quarrelsome and contentious wives? They’re aimed at women.
No, God doesn’t want us to be a lion and roar. Nowhere in God’s Word are we told to be a lion. In fact, God is called the Lion of Judah. Satan prowls around like a lion looking whom he may devour. We can’t come close to being compared with God, and we certainly don’t want to be compared with Satan!
When she wrote the lyrics that women are not being meant to quiet, do you think she was rebelling against this verse? “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection” (1 Timothy 2:11) or how about these verses: “Let your woman keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak…for it is a shame for women to speak in the church” (1 Corinthians 14:34,35). Wives are also commanded to win their husband without the word in 1 Peter 3:1,2. There’s nowhere else in our culture that women are commanded to be silent, so she must be referring to these verses in the Bible!
God has a lot to say about how and when we use our voice, women. But there are times that He has commanded that we do indeed be silent and He does want us to have quiet spirits. No, these aren’t popular in our day and age, but they are good. Women today are shouting for their voices to be heard as if they aren’t being heard. Ignore them. Concentrate on God’s Word and how He wants you to be.
And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.
1 Thessalonians 4:11
33 thoughts on “Women Aren’t Meant to Stay Quiet?”
I like the gist of the song saying “I don’t need my name in lights I’m famous in my Father’s eyes” but you’re right women in general are not commanded to be loud or to draw attention to themselves. But are told several times to be quiet, meek, and even be shamefaced. Its so unattractive to see a loud woman. Being quiet and meek is a beautiful thing.
“He made something out of nothing…He knows my name”. We are nothing without God, and with God, He transforms us into one of His children. We have a strength that we didnt have before. However, the devil does not want us to live life that way. The devil wants us to “be silent”. He wants to keep us down and living in the consequences of our past sin, scared to take any action or make any decisions due to fear. I dont think she was saying to not be quiet in the churches, but I do feel she was saying to not live in fear. When the devil tries to beat us down, we roar. We remind him exactly who he is, and who has won the battle. We dont cower and run away from life with our tail between our legs. We are now sons and daughters of the one true king. We have power in simply speaking the name of our Father. So much of our life is lived outside of the church walls where we face obstacles and people of all kinds. Sometimes it is necessary to not stay quiet. To speak up for those who cant speak for themselves.
I may be wrong in how I view this particular song, but I haven’t ever listened to it imagining that it is telling me to be rebellious before the Lord. I only hear that we are known, loved, and that we have power in the name of our Father.
This is really good. When my husband says something I don’t agree with, its certainly hard sometimes to submit quietly. Times when I just have to bite my tongue and repeat inwardly things like ‘be silent and submit’. Until I can feel that pride go back down.
Another super helpful thing I read once said that as a wife it is okay to bring a different opinion, point of view or option to your husband, but you should so so in a manner which a subject would approach a king. That is with great reverance, and the understanding that the husbands word is final. A subject wouldn’t protest, nag and complain. A subject after calmly laying out his or her assertions would gracefully accept the answer the king provides. Then it would be the end of discussion. I found that picture of how a wife is to bring grievances to her husband to be really humbling and a great goal whenever bringing up disagreements. I’ve not arrived there perfectly yet, as in I never stumble, but that sort of reverence is my goal.
I’ve heard that song a thousand times and missed those lyrics, haha. If I had to guess, I would think she was referring to more the gospel, that she is going to proclaim that Jesus is the Savior and we all need him. not saying I agree with the thought that women need to roar like lions, but I don’t necessarily think she’s being outright rebellious against those verses in the Bible you mentioned.
You may be right, Isadora, but I like to align what I sing with Scripture and there’s no where in the Bible that tells women that they weren’t meant to be quiet and roar like a lion. It sounds more like a feminist saying it rather than a godly woman who wants to make sure she is scripturally accurate in her songs for the public.
Like I said in the post, Brittany, there were some great lyrics in it but this line that I mentioned is NOT in the Bible anywhere or even close to it. I prefer singing songs that are clearly biblically accurate instead of trying to decipher what the author of the song may mean.
Good analogy! Seems like you have a blessed marriage God bless sister.
My wife and I have discussed “Christian” songs that end up in church with bad lyrics. One for example compares God as being “greater” etc than other gods! What?! There IS no other God! Why are God’s children suggesting through song, IN church worship, that there ARE other gods?
Hi Laurie,
I have a question. My parents divorced when I was in middle school and I am now 28. They are both remarried. I really don’t like either of their new spouses. This really makes me not want to get divorced in the future because being forced to blend families has always been awkward, uncomfortable, and messy. I’m very jealous of people who’s parents are still together. Anyway regarding my moms husband, I don’t like how he treats her, his temper, his rudeness, and the decisions he makes. I’ve been reading this blog and your old one and it’s helped me a lot! I have a hard time not lashing out when I get mad about something but I’m working on it every day. My mom is a believer but doesn’t read the Bible or go to church and her husband isn’t a believer as far as I know. My extended family doesn’t like some things about him either, they’ve been married for about 10 years.
I have only come to Christianity in the last year and a half so I used to complain about him to her a lot when I was younger. Now I know women are supposed to let their husbands lead, and am working on this with my own, but I have a hard time with this situation and keeping my mouth shut. If I feel that something isn’t right or fair should I just keep it to myself? It’s so hard to have restraint and I’m not good at hiding when I’m angry about something. Honestly it’s hard to have respect for both of my parents marriages.
÷That’s a good way to put it. It’s easy to learn and practical. With practice comes habit and improvement. I too will and must learn this; it’s regretful that I wasn’t learned this much, much sooner. Better late than never.
I am grateful for this much needed character nutrition.
It’s really difficult when a wife and mother forgets Gods design for her.
When she decides she can call the shots in the marriage, without any legitimate sinful conduct on the part of the man to necessitate that, it is extraordinarily hard to persuade and convince her that her feelings are deceiving her into disobeying God.
Have come across some wives that swear they owe allegiance to their feelings, with their feelings being entirely related to them getting their way. When they get what they desire, and their desires are never righteous, they are “happy”, and when they don’t, they pitch a temper tantrum, and explain why they feel “abused”. They can take up entire days listing the grievances they carefully recite and memorize to justify their rebellion. When you remind them no Godly woman in the entire Bible ever acted the way they are, they impudently dismiss this, and will try to end the conversation, representing you as “insensitive”, not “compassionate”, and not “caring”.
In the verse 1 Thessalonians 4:11 that you quote at the bottom it says to “study to be quiet”. Any thoughts on how to study to be quiet? I study the Scriptures but I wish I could figure out how to study to think first and speak maybe. It all happens so fast.
It’s very hard being a woman in this environment.
You see all these pretty beautiful women on tv and the internet. A normal girl will want to be one of those women!
Granted, logically, we all know that these women are nothing more than Advertising for Big Corporations. They may as well be computer generated.
And if you’re not pretty? If your past the ‘Corporate Advertising’ age? What do you do?
Aha! You become political! That’s what the Corporate Media tells you to do if you’re not good enough to be one of their spokespeople.
It’s hard because when you delay childbirth or decide to only have a few children…women get bored…
And when women get bored…They Cause Trouble 🙂
There are many songs that are labeled “Christian” that leave one’s soul still hungering for truth. A lot of times the song writers and performers are trying to create an emotional response rather than to glorify Jesus Christ. It is very lukewarm in my opinion.
But when I read the line that you are citing, I thought of a Psalm. “For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.” Psalms 95:3
It is true that the creator God is the ONLY God. The small “g” gods are only that in the minds of those who are blinded by their unbelief and foolishness.
Perhaps the song you are referring to is based upon this verse?
Reading a book on having a meek and quiet spirit is a great place to begin. Matthew Henry has written books on this topic that are great.
Yes, keep it to yourself, Jess. It sounds like you have made your views known so now simply pray about it and be kind and loving to them.
As usual, you are spot on, Christine.
The media’s narrative on what women should be is the same as Satan’s, and both hate God and women.
It is true, that in today’s “Christian ” music industry, you don’t find many songs that are biblically sound. There’s been some debate on specific, popular songs that use words like “evolving” and “reckless”.
Some people listen to certain music cause they like the sound. But there’s nothing like a good, doctrinally sound song that glorifies the name of Jesus!
“I don’t need my name in lights I’m famous in my Father’s eyes”
This from a woman who is a world-famous artist and who got that way by singing churchian “praise songs.”
The irony …
I thought the same exact thing.
In colossians 3: 12-15 it appeared the word meekness and patience and I know woman should be meek and patience but in Colossians 3: 12-15 is addressed to all believers so my question what would be the difference for meekness and patience in woman and meekness and patience in believers. May God bless you Ms. Lori
That’s a great point Lindsey! But what does a Christian wife do when her husband is also a believer but has ingested a lot of the culture’s feminist teaching? My husband is always asking for my thoughts and opinions, and often asking me what I think he should do. He seems to want me to be on par with him in our marriage, whereas I was always taught that the wife is to submit to her husband and be subservient to him. If I don’t speak up, he’ll ask me what I think he/we should do, and then he’ll often follow whatever course of action I suggest. It makes me feel like I’m overstepping my bounds as his wife, since my ideas and wishes are often the direction we take. My ego loves it, but my soul knows it’s not right. I feel like he’s not taking on the responsibilities he needs to as the leader of our household, and is instead trying to shirk some of that responsibility on to me.
Yeah keep it to yourself, its not your place to interfere with their marriage. Your mom is under his authority now and they are one flesh. I would just pray about it and be supportive to them.
True but its just like submission we are all called to submit to one another (Eph 5:21) but wives are called to a deeper submission in marriage. Same goes for meekness and being quiet. In the church men should be leading and the women should be learning in quietness. Or in marriage the husband should be leading and the wife needs to follow with reverence and humility.
Obey your husband and do as he asks.
Obeying my husband is easy since it’s usually the same thing I want to do anyway. I just can’t budge the feeling that me getting what I want isn’t right, though. I never expected to get into a marriage where the shots being called were 9.9/10 exactly what I would’ve wanted anyway. I always thought I’d have to compromise a lot more and submit to my husband, not me “obeying” him by fulfilling his request that essentially he submit to me.
N, you are right that your husband is supposed to lead. That being said, there is nothing wrong with a husband asking for advice from his wife. Proverbs 31:26 says, “She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” A wise woman should be able to give wise counsel WHEN ASKED. That is the key phrase here. We do not need to give our opinion 24-7 (which is a good reminder for me as well). Only when asked. Submission doesn’t mean our husbands can never ask our advice. It means that we obey their leadership, however they choose to do so. Hope this helps!
Wonderful, wise comment, Sarah.
It seems like you were expecting a command man for a husband. I would advise you to study the 3 types of men in Created to be his helpmeet. Submission looks different in every marriage. Your role as a wife is to submit to how your husband sees fit, if its by him agreeing with your advice most of the time then so be it.
Humble and meek. Gentle in spirit. Quiet in the church as it pertains to church order. Busy at home. Not meddlesome or engaged in gossip. But at the same time we should be prepared to proclaim the gospel as God has called all believers to do. Simply living out your life in front of others is not sufficient. It must be explained. I think when it comes to calling others to repentance and proclaiming the gospel we can, and should roar like a lion. But with gentleness and patience but also boldness and without fear
I believe it’s best to be soft-spoken even when sharing the Gospel but other than this, I agree with you. Men are the ones who are called to preach and “roar” at times.
The Quest For Meekness And Quietness of Spirit by Matthew Henry addresses the question for all believers.
Be careful you are not treating your husband as a father or a parent. He is a husband. You are a wife. It is not a parent child relationship. Be very careful not to turn your marriage into that kind of relationship. It is easy for women to go from a parental household into a marriage without making the difference. This sounds like what has happened here in these comments.
That is not biblical, but happens too often.