Biblical people
People of the Bible
Follow a person through Scripture: every event in their story, the passages that record it, the people around them, and the later books that remember them. The Bible text is shown in the version you choose.
100 people
- AaronBrother of Moses, his spokesman before Pharaoh, and Israel's first high priest.
- AbelSon of Adam and Eve, a keeper of sheep whose offering God accepted; killed by his brother Cain.
- AbrahamPatriarch called by God to leave his homeland, to whom God promised a land, descendants and blessing for all nations.
- AdamThe first man, formed by God from the dust and placed in the garden of Eden.
- AhabKing of Israel who, with Jezebel, promoted the worship of Baal and opposed Elijah.
- AmosShepherd from Tekoa sent to prophesy against injustice in the northern kingdom of Israel.
- AndrewBrother of Simon Peter, first a disciple of John the Baptist, who brought others to Jesus.
- ApollosEloquent Jewish believer from Alexandria who taught in Ephesus and Corinth.
- AquilaJewish tentmaker from Pontus, husband of Priscilla and co-worker of Paul.
- BarnabasLevite from Cyprus, called the son of encouragement, who brought Paul to the apostles and travelled with him.
- BartholomewOne of the twelve apostles, named in each list of the twelve.
- BathshebaWife of Uriah, then of King David, and mother of Solomon.
- BoazLandowner of Bethlehem who redeemed Naomi's family land and married Ruth.
- CainFirstborn son of Adam and Eve, who killed his brother Abel.
- CalebOne of the twelve spies who, with Joshua, trusted the LORD and later received Hebron.
- CorneliusRoman centurion in Caesarea whose household received the Holy Spirit when Peter preached.
- DanielYoung exile in Babylon who stayed faithful to God, interpreted dreams and was delivered from the lions.
- DavidShepherd anointed king of Israel, a man after God's own heart, to whom God promised an everlasting dynasty.
- DeborahProphetess and judge of Israel who summoned Barak to battle against Sisera.
- ElijahProphet who confronted King Ahab and the prophets of Baal and was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind.
- ElishaProphet who succeeded Elijah and performed many signs in Israel.
- ElizabethWife of the priest Zechariah and mother of John the Baptist; relative of Mary.
- EsauElder twin of Jacob, who sold his birthright; ancestor of the Edomites.
- EstherJewish queen of Persia who risked her life to save her people from Haman's plot.
- EveThe first woman, made by God as a partner for the man and called the mother of all the living.
- EzekielPriest and prophet among the exiles in Babylon who saw visions of God's glory.
- EzraPriest and scribe who led returning exiles to Jerusalem and taught the Law of Moses.
- GideonJudge whom the LORD called to deliver Israel from Midian with only three hundred men.
- HabakkukProphet who questioned God about injustice and resolved to rejoice in the LORD.
- HagarEgyptian servant of Sarah and mother of Ishmael, to whom the angel of the LORD appeared in the wilderness.
- HannahMother of Samuel, who prayed for a son and dedicated him to the LORD.
- Herod Antipas Herod the tetrarch. Not Herod the Great or Herod Agrippa.Tetrarch of Galilee who had John the Baptist beheaded and questioned Jesus.
- Herod the Great King at Jesus' birth. Not Herod Antipas or Herod Agrippa.King of Judea when Jesus was born, who ordered the killing of the boys of Bethlehem.
- HezekiahKing of Judah who trusted the LORD, reformed worship and saw Jerusalem delivered from Assyria.
- HoseaProphet to Israel whose marriage to Gomer pictured the LORD's faithful love for unfaithful Israel.
- IsaacSon of Abraham and Sarah, born according to God's promise; father of Esau and Jacob.
- IsaiahProphet in Jerusalem during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah.
- JacobSon of Isaac, renamed Israel; father of the twelve sons from whom the tribes of Israel came.
- James, son of Alphaeus Not James son of Zebedee or James the brother of Jesus.One of the twelve apostles, named in each list of the twelve.
- James, son of Zebedee Brother of John. Not James son of Alphaeus or James the brother of Jesus.Fisherman and apostle, brother of John, one of the three closest to Jesus; the first apostle martyred.
- JeremiahProphet called as a youth who warned Judah of judgment before Babylon destroyed Jerusalem, and spoke of a new covenant.
- JesusJesus of Nazareth, whose birth, ministry, death and resurrection are told in the four Gospels.
- JethroPriest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses, who advised him to share the work of judging.
- JezebelQueen of Israel, wife of Ahab, who promoted Baal worship and persecuted the LORD's prophets.
- JobUpright man of Uz who lost everything, wrestled with God in his suffering, and was restored.
- John Mark Also called Mark. Not John the apostle.Believer from Jerusalem who travelled with Barnabas and Paul and later with Peter; traditionally the author of Mark's Gospel.
- John the apostle Son of Zebedee. Not John the Baptist or John Mark.Fisherman and apostle, son of Zebedee and brother of James, a leader of the early church in Jerusalem.
- John the Baptist The Baptist, son of Zechariah. Not John the apostle.Prophet who prepared the way for Jesus, preached repentance, baptized in the Jordan and was beheaded by Herod Antipas.
- JonahProphet who fled from God's call to Nineveh, was swallowed by a great fish, and saw Nineveh repent.
- Jonathan Son of King Saul.Son of King Saul and faithful friend of David.
- Joseph Son of Jacob (Genesis). Not Joseph the husband of Mary.Son of Jacob, sold into slavery by his brothers, who rose to rule Egypt and saved his family in famine.
- Joseph of Arimathea Not Joseph son of Jacob or Joseph the husband of Mary.Council member and secret disciple who asked Pilate for Jesus' body and laid it in a tomb.
- Joseph of Nazareth Husband of Mary. Not Joseph son of Jacob or Joseph of Arimathea.Carpenter of Nazareth, descendant of David, husband of Mary, who raised Jesus.
- JoshuaMoses' assistant and successor, who led Israel across the Jordan into the promised land.
- JosiahKing of Judah who found the Book of the Law and led a great reform.
- Judas Iscariot The betrayer. Not Judas son of James or Judas the brother of Jesus.One of the twelve, who betrayed Jesus to the chief priests.
- Judas, son of James Not Judas Iscariot.One of the twelve apostles, not Iscariot.
- Lazarus Lazarus of Bethany. Not the poor man named Lazarus in Jesus' parable (Luke 16).Friend of Jesus from Bethany, brother of Martha and Mary, whom Jesus raised from the dead.
- LotAbraham's nephew, who settled near Sodom and was rescued before its destruction.
- LukePhysician and companion of Paul, traditionally regarded as the author of the Gospel of Luke and Acts.
- LydiaSeller of purple cloth from Thyatira, the first believer in Philippi, who opened her home to Paul.
- MarthaSister of Mary and Lazarus of Bethany, who welcomed Jesus into her home and confessed him as the Christ.
- Mary Magdalene Mary of Magdala. Not Mary the mother of Jesus or Mary of Bethany. Scripture does not identify her with the sinful woman of Luke 7; that is a later tradition.Follower of Jesus from whom seven demons had gone out, witness of his crucifixion and burial, and the first to see him risen in John's Gospel.
- Mary, mother of Jesus The mother of Jesus. Not Mary Magdalene, Mary of Bethany or the other Marys of the Gospels.Young woman of Nazareth who bore Jesus and followed him to the cross.
- Mary of Bethany Sister of Martha and Lazarus. Not Mary Magdalene or the mother of Jesus.Sister of Martha and Lazarus, who sat at Jesus' feet and anointed him before his death.
- MatthewTax collector called by Jesus to follow him, one of the twelve apostles.
- MatthiasDisciple chosen by lot to replace Judas among the twelve apostles.
- MelchizedekKing of Salem and priest of God Most High who blessed Abram.
- MicahProphet from Moresheth who spoke against injustice and foretold a ruler from Bethlehem.
- MiriamProphetess, sister of Moses and Aaron, who led Israel's women in song after the crossing of the sea.
- MordecaiJew in Susa who raised his cousin Esther and was later honoured by the Persian king.
- MosesProphet who led Israel out of Egypt, received the Law at Sinai and guided the people through the wilderness.
- NaomiWidow of Bethlehem, mother-in-law of Ruth.
- Nathan Nathan the prophet. Not Nathan the son of David.Prophet in David's court who brought God's covenant promise and rebuked David's sin.
- NehemiahCupbearer to the Persian king who returned to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
- NicodemusPharisee and ruler of the Jews who came to Jesus at night and later helped bury him.
- NoahRighteous man who built the ark at God's command and survived the flood with his family.
- PaulPharisee who persecuted the church, met the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, and became the apostle to the Gentiles.
- Philip the apostle One of the twelve. Not Philip the evangelist of Acts.Apostle from Bethsaida who brought Nathanael to Jesus.
- Philip the evangelist One of the seven of Acts 6. Not Philip the apostle.One of the seven, who preached in Samaria and explained the gospel to an Ethiopian official.
- PhoebeServant of the church at Cenchreae whom Paul commended to the church in Rome.
- Pontius PilateRoman governor of Judea who sentenced Jesus to be crucified.
- PriscillaTentmaker who with her husband Aquila worked with Paul, taught Apollos and hosted a church in their home.
- RahabWoman of Jericho who hid Israel's spies, was spared when the city fell, and is remembered for her faith.
- RebekahWife of Isaac and mother of Esau and Jacob.
- RuthMoabite widow who stayed with her mother-in-law Naomi, married Boaz, and became the great-grandmother of David.
- SamsonNazirite judge of great strength who fought the Philistines.
- SamuelProphet and last judge of Israel, who anointed Saul and David as kings.
- SarahWife of Abraham who, in old age, bore Isaac, the son God had promised.
- Saul King Saul of Israel. For Saul of Tarsus see Paul.First king of Israel, anointed by Samuel and later rejected by the LORD.
- SilasLeader and prophet in the Jerusalem church who travelled with Paul; also called Silvanus.
- Simon PeterFisherman called by Jesus, leader among the twelve apostles, who denied Jesus, was restored, and preached at Pentecost.
- Simon the Zealot Not Simon Peter.One of the twelve apostles, called the Zealot.
- SolomonSon of David and Bathsheba, king of Israel known for wisdom, who built the temple in Jerusalem.
- StephenOne of the seven chosen to serve the Jerusalem church, full of faith and the Holy Spirit; the first Christian martyr.
- ThomasApostle called Didymus, the twin, who doubted the resurrection until he saw the risen Jesus.
- TimothyYoung co-worker of Paul from Lystra, to whom two New Testament letters are addressed.
- TitusGentile co-worker of Paul, sent to Corinth and left in Crete; the letter to Titus is addressed to him.
- Zechariah Father of John the Baptist. Not the Old Testament prophet Zechariah.Priest, husband of Elizabeth and father of John the Baptist.
- ZipporahDaughter of Jethro and wife of Moses.