Gender Wars

(Proverbs 28:7 KJV)  Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.

One way you can know if the translators of your Bible are concerned about being faithful to the actual words of the original Hebrew is in how they translate this verse.  Look at the Good News Bible.

(Proverbs 28:7 GNB)  Young people who obey the law are intelligent. Those who make friends with good-for-nothings are a disgrace to their parents.

Compare that with the KJV or NASB and you see how popular modern culture is effecting the clarity of the word of God.  The words in the Hebrew are “son” (1121) [ben] and “father” (1) [ab]. 

The religion of the Bible is patriarchal.  The culture of the Bible was patriarchal.  There was an established order to things.  For that reason some churches will not allow women to preach or serve in the ruling bodies.  Whether you agree with that understanding or not it is clear that God is referred to as “father” not “parent”.  Notice that the Hebrew for “father” is [ab], the root for the term of “Abba, Father” used by Jesus.

“Son” of course is masculine in translation but in understanding we need to know that it refers to everyone.  The masculine aspect simply points out that we are special and important.  It is not meant to exclude.

So?  If you want to be special in God’s eyes, don’t worry about becoming male, work on being “wise” (discerning NASB) (995).  That is the measuring stick.