Unhiding vulnerable voices: Reading four parables in Luke as a response to gender-based violence in South Africa

Abstract

This article proposes an unhiding reading of the parables of Jesus, revealing the often-overlooked presence and agency of women in these narratives. Grounded in social-scientific and historical criticism, this methodology explores how first-century listeners would have imagined women as active participants in daily life, present in households, fields, roads and acts of hospitality, even when not explicitly mentioned in the text. Using four parables as case studies (the Prodigal Son, the Friend at Midnight, the Good Samaritan, and the Sower), the article argues that modern interpretations often perpetuate patriarchal silencing by failing to acknowledge these hidden women. It further connects this erasure to the ongoing crisis of gender-based violence, particularly in the South African context. By reading the parables through a lens that recognises women’s historical and theological significance, the article offers a transformative approach for biblical scholarship, churches and theological education to confront gender injustice and promote inclusive interpretation.
Contribution: This article contributes to the HTS Theological Studies special collection by proposing an unhiding reading of Jesus’ parables. Rooted in social-scientific criticism, it challenges patriarchal erasures of women in biblical interpretation. This hermeneutic offers a transformative tool for theological education and faith communities to address gender-based violence (GBV) in the South African context.