Thēlys (θῆλυς) means female — of the female sex. It appears in creation, marriage, and anthropological texts. Related to thēlazō (to nurse), reflecting nurture.
Jesus quotes Genesis 1:27 in Matthew 19:4: 'at the beginning the Creator made them male and female' — arsen kai thēly — establishing sexual differentiation as God's design, not cultural accident. Galatians 3:28 declares 'neither male nor female... in Christ' — not erasing distinction but affirming that both equally bear God's image and receive salvation. The creation of humanity as male and female reflects the relational nature of God Himself.