Unhiding in plain sight : reimagining the parable of the persistent widow

Abstract

This article reinterprets the parable of the persistent widow, moving beyond its traditional focus on prayer to highlight the widow’s strategic agency. Using social-scientific and historical methodologies, the study argues that 1st-century Jewish audiences would likely have viewed the widow not as a passive victim but as a resourceful and resilient figure. Drawing on Jewish texts, rabbinic literature, and the Babatha archive, the analysis shows how the widow navigates patriarchal systems to protect her legal rights. The concept of “unhiding” is used to challenge androcentric readings, revealing the active role of women in biblical narratives. This reinterpretation reimagines the widow as an active protagonist, whose persistence showcases her ingenuity and dignity within a male-dominated society.