People of the Bible: Who's Who

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• Moses

  Led Israel out of Egypt and received the Law at Sinai.

• David

  Shepherd, giant-slayer, king and psalm writer.

• Abraham

  The patriarch whose call begins the story of Israel.

• Mary

  The mother of Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.

• Paul

  Former persecutor who became the church's great missionary and letter writer.

• Peter

  Galilean fisherman who became a leading apostle of Jesus.

Old Testament: beginnings

• Noah

  Built the ark and came through the flood with his family.

• Abraham

  Left his homeland at God's call and received the promise of a great nation.

• Sarah

  Abraham's wife, who gave birth to Isaac in her old age.

• Jacob

  Twin of Esau, renamed Israel, father of the twelve tribes.

• Joseph

  Sold by his brothers into slavery, he rose to govern Egypt.

Exodus to the kings

• Moses

  Led the exodus from Egypt and gave Israel the Law.

• Ruth

  Moabite widow whose loyalty to Naomi made her an ancestor of David.

• David

  Defeated Goliath and became Israel's best-remembered king.

Prophets and exiles

• Elijah

  Prophet who confronted King Ahab and the prophets of Baal.

• Daniel

  Exile in Babylon who stayed faithful and survived the lions' den.

• Esther

  Queen of Persia who risked her life to save her people.

New Testament

• Jesus

  The central figure of the New Testament, whose life is told in the four Gospels.

• Mary

  Mother of Jesus, present from his birth to the cross and the early church.

• Peter

  Fisherman called by Jesus who became a leader of the first believers.

• Paul

  Apostle to the Gentiles whose letters fill much of the New Testament.

Collections

• Women of the Bible

  Key women of the Old and New Testaments and where to read about them.

• The twelve apostles

  The twelve men Jesus chose, with what the Bible says about each.

Stories

• Bible stories

  Well-known Bible stories retold simply, with passages and meaning.

Bible characters A–Z

A quick who’s who: one line per person and where their story starts. Names with a full profile are linked.

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• G
• H
• I
• J
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• R
• S
• T
• U
• Z

• Aaron — Older brother of Moses who spoke for him before Pharaoh and became Israel's first high priest. Exodus 4:14
• Abel — Second son of Adam and Eve, a shepherd whose offering God accepted; killed by his brother Cain. Genesis 4:2
• Abigail — Wise woman who prevented David from taking revenge on her husband Nabal, and later married David. 1 Samuel 25:3
• Abraham — Patriarch called by God to leave his homeland; father of Isaac and ancestor of Israel. Genesis 12:1
• Absalom — Son of King David who led a rebellion against his father and died in the battle that followed. 2 Samuel 15:1
• Adam — The first man in the Genesis creation account, formed from the dust and placed in Eden. Genesis 2:7
• Ahab — King of Israel who married Jezebel, promoted Baal worship and repeatedly clashed with the prophet Elijah. 1 Kings 16:29
• Amos — Shepherd from Tekoa who prophesied in Israel, calling for justice for the poor. Amos 1:1
• Ananias — Disciple in Damascus sent to lay hands on Saul (Paul) after his encounter on the road. Acts 9:10
• Andrew — Fisherman, one of the twelve apostles, who brought his brother Simon Peter to Jesus. John 1:40
• Anna — Elderly prophetess at the temple who spoke about the infant Jesus to those awaiting redemption. Luke 2:36
• Apollos — Eloquent teacher from Alexandria, instructed by Priscilla and Aquila, who served the church in Corinth. Acts 18:24
• Aquila — Tentmaker who, with his wife Priscilla, worked alongside Paul and taught in the early church. Acts 18:2
• Balaam — Prophet hired to curse Israel who ended up blessing it instead; known for his speaking donkey. Numbers 22:5
• Barabbas — Prisoner released by Pilate at the crowd's request instead of Jesus. Matthew 27:16
• Barnabas — Early church leader, nicknamed 'son of encouragement', who traveled with Paul on his first missionary journey. Acts 4:36
• Bartholomew — One of the twelve apostles, listed in the Gospels; often identified with Nathanael. Matthew 10:3
• Bathsheba — Wife of Uriah, later wife of King David and mother of Solomon. 2 Samuel 11:3
• Benjamin — Youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, ancestor of the tribe of Benjamin. Genesis 35:18
• Boaz — Landowner in Bethlehem who married Ruth; great-grandfather of King David. Ruth 2:1
• Caiaphas — High priest in Jerusalem who presided over the questioning of Jesus before his crucifixion. John 11:49
• Cain — Firstborn son of Adam and Eve, a farmer who killed his brother Abel. Genesis 4:1
• Caleb — One of the twelve spies who trusted God would give Israel the land of Canaan. Numbers 13:30
• Cornelius — Roman centurion in Caesarea whose household was baptized after Peter's visit. Acts 10:1
• Cyrus — King of Persia who allowed the exiled Jews to return and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Ezra 1:1
• Daniel — Young exile in Babylon who served kings, interpreted dreams and survived the lions' den. Daniel 1:6
• David — Shepherd who defeated Goliath and became Israel's king; many psalms are attributed to him. 1 Samuel 16:13
• Deborah — Prophetess and judge of Israel who led alongside Barak in victory over Sisera's army. Judges 4:4
• Delilah — Woman who discovered the secret of Samson's strength and betrayed him to the Philistines. Judges 16:4
• Dorcas — Disciple in Joppa, also called Tabitha, known for good works; Peter raised her from the dead. Acts 9:36
• Eli — Priest at Shiloh who blessed Hannah and helped raise the young Samuel. 1 Samuel 1:9
• Elijah — Prophet who challenged Ahab and the prophets of Baal, and was taken up in a whirlwind. 1 Kings 17:1
• Elisha — Successor of Elijah, a prophet known for many miracles, including the healing of Naaman. 1 Kings 19:19
• Elizabeth — Wife of Zechariah, relative of Mary and mother of John the Baptist in her old age. Luke 1:5
• Enoch — Descendant of Adam who 'walked with God' and was taken by God without dying. Genesis 5:21–24
• Esau — Elder twin of Jacob who sold his birthright for a meal; ancestor of the Edomites. Genesis 25:25
• Esther — Jewish woman who became queen of Persia and risked her life to save her people. Esther 2:7
• Eve — The first woman in Genesis, wife of Adam, called 'mother of all the living'. Genesis 3:20
• Ezekiel — Priest and prophet among the exiles in Babylon, known for his visions. Ezekiel 1:3
• Ezra — Priest and scribe who led a group of exiles back to Jerusalem and taught the Law. Ezra 7:6
• Gideon — Judge of Israel who defeated the Midianites with a small band of 300 men. Judges 6:11
• Goliath — Philistine champion from Gath who was defeated by the young David. 1 Samuel 17:4
• Gomer — Wife of the prophet Hosea; their marriage became a picture of God's faithfulness to Israel. Hosea 1:3
• Habakkuk — Prophet who questioned God about injustice and ended in trust; author of the book of Habakkuk. Habakkuk 1:1
• Hagar — Egyptian servant of Sarah and mother of Ishmael; she named God 'the One who sees me'. Genesis 16:1
• Haman — Official of the Persian king who plotted to destroy the Jews, foiled by Esther and Mordecai. Esther 3:1
• Hannah — Woman who prayed for a son at Shiloh; mother of the prophet Samuel. 1 Samuel 1:2
• Herod the Great — King of Judea at the time of Jesus' birth, who ordered the killing of Bethlehem's boys. Matthew 2:1
• Hezekiah — King of Judah who reformed worship and trusted God when Assyria besieged Jerusalem. 2 Kings 18:1
• Hosea — Prophet to Israel whose marriage to Gomer pictured God's steadfast love for an unfaithful people. Hosea 1:1
• Isaac — Son of Abraham and Sarah born in their old age; father of Jacob and Esau. Genesis 21:3
• Isaiah — Prophet in Jerusalem during the reigns of four kings of Judah; author of the book of Isaiah. Isaiah 1:1
• Ishmael — Son of Abraham and Hagar; God promised to make him a great nation. Genesis 16:11
• Jacob — Son of Isaac, renamed Israel; his twelve sons became the twelve tribes of Israel. Genesis 25:26
• James — Fisherman, son of Zebedee and brother of John; one of the twelve apostles. Matthew 4:21
• Jeremiah — Prophet who warned Judah before the Babylonian exile; often called the weeping prophet. Jeremiah 1:1
• Jeroboam — First king of the northern kingdom of Israel after the united kingdom split. 1 Kings 11:26
• Jesus — Jesus of Nazareth, whose life, death and resurrection are told in the four Gospels. Matthew 1:1
• Jethro — Priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses, who advised him to share leadership. Exodus 3:1
• Jezebel — Phoenician princess, wife of King Ahab, who promoted Baal worship and opposed Elijah. 1 Kings 16:31
• Job — Upright man from Uz who lost nearly everything and wrestled with God over his suffering. Job 1:1
• Jochebed — Mother of Moses, Aaron and Miriam, who hid baby Moses in a basket on the Nile. Exodus 6:20
• Joel — Prophet who spoke of a locust plague and of God pouring out his Spirit. Joel 1:1
• John the apostle — Fisherman, son of Zebedee and brother of James; one of the twelve apostles. Matthew 4:21
• John the Baptist — Prophet who preached repentance in the wilderness and baptized Jesus in the Jordan. Matthew 3:1
• Jonah — Prophet who fled God's call to Nineveh, was swallowed by a great fish, then preached there. Jonah 1:1
• Jonathan — Son of King Saul and close friend of David, loyal to him despite his father's hostility. 1 Samuel 18:1
• Joseph — Favorite son of Jacob, sold into slavery, who rose to govern Egypt and saved his family. Genesis 37:3
• Joseph of Nazareth — Carpenter engaged to Mary who took her as his wife and raised Jesus. Matthew 1:18–25
• Joshua — Moses' successor who led Israel across the Jordan into the land of Canaan. Joshua 1:1
• Josiah — King of Judah who became king at eight and renewed the covenant after the Law was found. 2 Kings 22:1
• Judah — Fourth son of Jacob and Leah; ancestor of the tribe of Judah and of King David. Genesis 29:35
• Judas Iscariot — One of the twelve apostles, who betrayed Jesus to the chief priests. Matthew 10:4
• Laban — Brother of Rebekah and father of Leah and Rachel, for whom Jacob worked many years. Genesis 24:29
• Lazarus — Brother of Martha and Mary of Bethany, whom Jesus raised from the dead. John 11:1
• Leah — Elder daughter of Laban and first wife of Jacob; mother of six of his sons. Genesis 29:16
• Lot — Nephew of Abraham who settled near Sodom and escaped before its destruction. Genesis 11:27
• Luke — Physician and companion of Paul; traditionally regarded as the author of Luke and Acts. Colossians 4:14
• Lydia — Seller of purple cloth in Philippi who believed Paul's message and hosted him. Acts 16:14
• Malachi — Prophet after the exile whose book is the last in the Old Testament. Malachi 1:1
• Mark — John Mark, companion of Paul and Barnabas; traditionally regarded as the author of Mark's Gospel. Acts 12:12
• Martha — Sister of Mary and Lazarus who welcomed Jesus into her home in Bethany. Luke 10:38
• Mary — Young woman of Nazareth, the mother of Jesus, told of his birth by the angel Gabriel. Luke 1:26–38
• Mary Magdalene — Follower of Jesus who witnessed his crucifixion and, in John's Gospel, was first to see him risen. Luke 8:2
• Matthew — Tax collector called by Jesus to be an apostle; traditionally linked to Matthew's Gospel. Matthew 9:9
• Matthias — Disciple chosen by lot to replace Judas Iscariot among the twelve apostles. Acts 1:26
• Melchizedek — King of Salem and priest of God Most High who blessed Abraham. Genesis 14:18
• Mephibosheth — Son of Jonathan, lame in both feet, to whom David showed kindness. 2 Samuel 9:6
• Methuselah — Grandfather of Noah, the longest-lived person listed in the Bible. Genesis 5:27
• Micah — Prophet from Moresheth who called Israel and Judah to justice, mercy and humility. Micah 1:1
• Miriam — Prophetess, sister of Moses and Aaron, who led the women in song after the Red Sea. Exodus 15:20
• Mordecai — Jewish official in Persia who raised his cousin Esther and helped save his people. Esther 2:5
• Moses — Leader who brought Israel out of Egypt and received the Law at Mount Sinai. Exodus 2:10
• Naaman — Syrian army commander healed of a skin disease after washing in the Jordan at Elisha's word. 2 Kings 5:1
• Naomi — Widow from Bethlehem who returned home with her loyal daughter-in-law Ruth. Ruth 1:2
• Nathan — Prophet who confronted King David over his sin with Bathsheba using a parable. 2 Samuel 12:1
• Nebuchadnezzar — King of Babylon who captured Jerusalem and took Daniel and others into exile. Daniel 1:1
• Nehemiah — Cupbearer to the Persian king who led the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. Nehemiah 1:1
• Nicodemus — Pharisee who visited Jesus at night and later helped bury him. John 3:1
• Noah — Righteous man who built the ark and survived the flood with his family and the animals. Genesis 6:9
• Obadiah — Prophet whose short book, the shortest in the Old Testament, speaks against Edom. Obadiah 1:1
• Onesimus — Runaway slave who became a Christian; Paul's letter to Philemon pleads on his behalf. Philemon 1:10
• Paul — Pharisee once named Saul who became an apostle to the Gentiles and wrote many letters. Acts 9:1–19
• Peter — Fisherman named Simon, called Peter by Jesus; a leading apostle and early church figure. Matthew 4:18
• Philip — Apostle from Bethsaida, called by Jesus, who brought Nathanael to meet him. John 1:43
• Phoebe — Servant of the church in Cenchreae whom Paul commended to the believers in Rome. Romans 16:1
• Pontius Pilate — Roman governor of Judea who sentenced Jesus to be crucified. Matthew 27:2
• Priscilla — Co-worker of Paul who, with her husband Aquila, taught Apollos and hosted a church. Acts 18:2
• Rachel — Younger daughter of Laban, beloved wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Genesis 29:6
• Rahab — Woman of Jericho who hid the Israelite spies and was spared when the city fell. Joshua 2:1
• Rebekah — Wife of Isaac and mother of the twins Esau and Jacob. Genesis 24:15
• Rehoboam — Son of Solomon whose harsh policy led the northern tribes to break away. 1 Kings 12:1
• Ruth — Moabite widow who stayed with Naomi, married Boaz and became an ancestor of David. Ruth 1:4
• Samson — Judge of Israel known for great strength, which he lost after Delilah's betrayal. Judges 13:24
• Samuel — Prophet and last of the judges, who anointed both Saul and David as king. 1 Samuel 1:20
• Sarah — Wife of Abraham who gave birth to Isaac in old age; first called Sarai. Genesis 17:15
• Saul — First king of Israel, anointed by Samuel, whose reign ended in conflict with David. 1 Samuel 10:1
• Seth — Third son of Adam and Eve, born after the death of Abel. Genesis 4:25
• Silas — Leader in the Jerusalem church who traveled with Paul and was jailed with him in Philippi. Acts 15:22
• Simeon — Devout man in Jerusalem who held the infant Jesus in the temple and blessed God. Luke 2:25
• Solomon — Son of David, king of Israel famed for wisdom, who built the first temple. 1 Kings 3:5
• Stephen — One of seven chosen to serve the early church; the first Christian martyr in Acts. Acts 6:5
• Tamar — Daughter-in-law of Judah, mother of Perez and Zerah, named in Jesus' genealogy. Genesis 38:6
• Thomas — Apostle who doubted the resurrection until he saw the risen Jesus himself. John 20:24
• Timothy — Young co-worker of Paul from Lystra; two New Testament letters are addressed to him. Acts 16:1
• Uriah — Hittite soldier in David's army, husband of Bathsheba, whose death David arranged. 2 Samuel 11:3
• Zacchaeus — Chief tax collector in Jericho who climbed a tree to see Jesus and changed his ways. Luke 19:2
• Zechariah — Prophet after the exile who encouraged the rebuilding of the temple; author of Zechariah. Zechariah 1:1
• Zipporah — Daughter of Jethro and wife of Moses. Exodus 2:21