Jewish rabbis used similar 'no male and female' language without implying role obliteration

Ben Witherington (1981) cites Madeleine Boucher's observation that Jewish rabbis made statements about women's equality with men before God without any implication that social distinctions or role differences were obliterated. Three examples: (1) Seder Eliahu Rabbah 7: 'Whether gentile or Israelite, man or woman, slave or handmaid reads this verse, the Holy One remembers the binding of Isaac.' (2) Rabbi Judah bin Shalom in Exodus Rabbah Beshallach 21:4: 'Before God all are equal — women, slaves, poor and rich.' (3) Yalkut Lekach, section 76: 'Whether Israelite or gentile, man or woman, slave or handmaid, whoever does a good deed shall find the reward.' These rabbis held strong role distinctions for women while using the same egalitarian-sounding language.