Prophet · Women of the Bible · Old Testament
The Story of Miriam
Also: Miriamu (Kiswahili)
Prophetess, sister of Moses and Aaron, who led Israel's women in song after the crossing of the sea.
Editorial text in English. Scripture is quoted from the version you choose; references stay the same in every version.
Introduction
Miriam was the daughter of Amram and Jochebed and the sister of Aaron and Moses. Numbers 26:59
Called a prophetess, she led the women with tambourines and song after Israel crossed the sea. Exodus 15:20–21
She spoke against Moses with Aaron and was struck with a skin disease for seven days. She died at Kadesh. Numbers 12:1–15Numbers 20:1
Life at a glance
- Family
- Daughter of Amram and Jochebed; sister of Aaron and Moses Numbers 26:591 Chronicles 6:3
- Role
- Prophetess Exodus 15:20
- Death
- Died and was buried at Kadesh Numbers 20:1
Only what Scripture records. Where the Bible is silent, nothing is filled in.
Follow the life of Miriam
Events in the order Scripture presents them. Expand an event to read its passage here, or open the chapter in the reader.
Watching over the baby Moses
Moses' sister watches the basket on the Nile and offers to find a Hebrew nurse for Pharaoh's daughter, bringing Moses' own mother. The passage does not name her; later passages name Moses' sister as Miriam.
Exodus 2 calls her 'his sister' without a name; Numbers 26:59 names Miriam as Moses' sister.
More about this event
People: Moses
The song at the sea
After the crossing, Miriam the prophetess takes a tambourine and leads the women in dancing and singing to the LORD.
Speaking against Moses
Miriam and Aaron speak against Moses because of his Cushite wife and claim that the LORD speaks through them too. The LORD rebukes them and Miriam becomes leprous; after Moses prays, she is shut out of the camp seven days.
Death at Kadesh
Miriam dies at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin and is buried there.
More about this event
Places named: Kadesh
Mentioned across the Bible
Later passages that recall, mention or interpret Miriam. These are not new events in the person’s lifetime.
Later recollections of these events
- Deuteronomy 24:9 recalls “Speaking against Moses”
Later recollection
- Micah 6:4 — God sent Moses, Aaron and Miriam before Israel.
Family and relationships
- MosesBrotherNumbers 26:59
- AaronBrotherExodus 15:20
Books associated with Miriam
A book named after someone is not necessarily written by them. Authorship traditions are shown as traditions.
Themes and study
Study prompts written by BibleKenya editors. They are not Scripture.
Worship
- What does Miriam's song (Exodus 15:21) celebrate?
- What does Numbers 12 teach about how God regarded Moses?
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