I read a book called With God in Solitary Confinement, by Richard Wurmbrand. There is a part about his thoughts on the female principle in the Deity. He uses Genesis 1:26-27 to explain that the image of God is both male and female. He states, "The Kabbala calls it [the female principle in the Deity] 'the Matrona.' " I have searched many places for this and have found Matrona to represent a cave in some places and a person in others. Do you have any light to shed on what he might be referring to?—Katie Indarawis (Gainesville, Florida)
In Genesis 1, I would say no more than that male and female both express God's image. God is genderless, if my theology is right; although in relation to us, and analogically, he is masculine. That is, all of us (collective, as the bride of Christ), stand in a feminine position vis-à-vis God.
As for the Cabbala, this is Medieval mystic Judaism. Do not be surprised at the worship of the divine feminine. (Was this not one of the sub-themes of The Da Vinci Code?) I put no stock in it.
Matrona is supposedly the heavenly bride of Yahweh. If you really want to go deeper, I can refer you to someone who can direct you. But, sorry, this is not an area in which I have much knowledge.
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