“Give Me Children or Else I Die” (Gen 30:1): A Biblical Exploration of Culturally Induced Lost Womanhood in Involuntarily Childless Women

Abstract

In pronatalist societies, involuntary childlessness is a culturally deplorable thing. Married women feel incomplete when they do not have a child. There is a sense of lost womanhood as they compare themselves with others in the society. In this paper, the experiences of biblical characters are discussed. Rachel’s reproachful protest “Give me children or else I die” (Gen 30:1) is examined against the backdrop of the Hebraic cultural impact on the womanhood of childless women. The stories of Sarah, Hannah, and Elizabeth are also briefly studied to amplify the Jewish worldview in their time. The contribution of the patriarchal status in infertility on the intensity of the loss is explored. The article seeks to clarify through biblical lenses how culture impacts the perception of the status of womanhood when someone is battling with childlessness.