--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Woman does not possess the image of God…" description: "\"Woman does not possess the image of God in herself but only when taken together with the male who is her head, so that the whole substance is one image..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f9/saint-augustine-328_christian-women_woman-does-not-possess-the-image-of-god_370923.png" --- # Woman does not possess the image of God in herself but… ![“Woman does not possess the image of God in herself but only when taken together with the male who is her head, so that the whole substance is one image. But when she is assigned the role as helpmate, a function that pertains to her alone, then she is not the image of God. But as far as the man is…” quote by Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f9/saint-augustine-328_christian-women_woman-does-not-possess-the-image-of-god_370923.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f9/saint-augustine-328_christian-women_woman-does-not-possess-the-image-of-god_370923.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f9/saint-augustine-328_christian-women_woman-does-not-possess-the-image-of-god_370923.png) > “Woman does not possess the image of God in herself but only when taken together with the male who is her head, so that the whole substance is one image. But when she is assigned the role as helpmate, a function that pertains to her alone, then she is not the image of God. But as far as the man is concerned, he is by himself alone the image of God just as fully and completely as when he and the woman are joined together into one.” [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Augustine argues that humanity reflects the divine image only in the complementary union of man and woman, not in isolated gender roles. **In simple terms:** Divine image requires male‑female unity. Key Takeaway Seek relational harmony. Themes theity gender divine image union Mood reflective serious Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - marriage counseling - interfaith dialogue - gender studies - spiritual formation Key Concepts Theology anthropology marriage Questions to Reflect On - How does partnership shape spiritual identity? - Can divine image be seen in individuals alone? A Different Perspective Critics argue this view marginalizes women’s independent spiritual worth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-women/) [Completely Woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/completely-woman-981693/) [Concerned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concerned/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Function](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/function/) [God image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-image/) [God Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-taken-576659/) [He man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he-man/) [Image God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/image-god/) [Male](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/male/) [Males](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/males/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Pertains Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pertains-image-3385028/) [Possess Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possess-image-3385027/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) [Substance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/substance/) [Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [Woman was merely man's helpmate, a function which pertains to her alone. She is not the image of God but as far as man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/woman-was-merely-man-s-helpmate-a-function-which-pertains-to-her/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [A real man wants a woman who'll love him completely, a woman he can die for whole heartedly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/a-real-man-wants-a-woman-who-ll-love-him-completely-a-woman-he-can/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [To be completely woman you need a master, and in him a compass for your life. 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It can no longer be carried by a god. It must be taken up by all of you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/you-must-carry-on-my-spirit-it-can-no-longer-be-carried-by-a-god-it/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [We should never think that once we have given some money and time to the Lord that the rest is ours to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-epp/we-should-never-think-that-once-we-have-given-some-money-and-time-to/) [Theodore Epp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-epp/) > [“God has taken you from something in order to you to something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-burkmenn/god-has-taken-you-from-something-in-order-to-you-to-something/) [Chris Burkmenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-burkmenn/) > [The God has taken away the right of motherhood, The saying to sterile could not hail his heart wants to become a mother are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-god-has-taken-away-the-right-of-motherhood-the-saying-to-sterile/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) ## More by Saint Augustine > [Lust indulged became habit, and habit unresisted became necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/lust-indulged-became-habit-and-habit-unresisted-became-necessity/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [The playthings of our elders are called business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/the-playthings-of-our-elders-are-called-business/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Do what you can and pray for what you cannot yet do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/do-what-you-can-and-pray-for-what-you-cannot-yet-do/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [For I did not know that the soul needs to be enlightened by light from outside itself, so that it can participate in truth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/for-i-did-not-know-that-the-soul-needs-to-be-enlightened-by-light/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [My mother spoke of Christ to my father, by her feminine and childlike virtues, and, after having borne his violence without a murmur or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/my-mother-spoke-of-christ-to-my-father-by-her-feminine-and-childlike/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Wicked sons do not have the Holy Ghost in the same way as do beloved sons, and yet they do have Baptism. 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You give it to the poor, and God receives it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/god-has-no-need-of-your-money-but-the-poor-have-you-give-it-to-the/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Nothing conquers except truth and the victory of truth is love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/nothing-conquers-except-truth-and-the-victory-of-truth-is-love/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [“O God, who is ever at work and ever at rest. May I be ever at work and ever at rest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/o-god-who-is-ever-at-work-and-ever-at-rest-may-i-be-ever-at-work-and/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Our Lord reserved to Himself certain things which He would do in due time in a manner outside the course and order of nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/our-lord-reserved-to-himself-certain-things-which-he-would-do-in-due/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Give me chastity and continence, but not yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/give-me-chastity-and-continence-but-not-yet/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Nothing, therefore, happens unless the Omnipotent wills it to happen. 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