Women in the Bible

Eve (Genesis 1-4)

The first woman, created by God as a companion for Adam (Genesis 2:18-25). She is the first to take the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3) and the mother of Cain, Abel, and Seth. Adam calls her Eve because she is the mother of all living (Genesis 3:20).

Sarah (Genesis 11-23)

Wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac (Genesis 21). Long barren, she becomes the mother of the promised line in old age. Her name is changed from Sarai to Sarah, meaning princess (Genesis 17:15). She is named in Hebrews 11 among the heroes of faith.

Rebekah (Genesis 24-27)

Wife of Isaac and mother of Esau and Jacob (Genesis 24-25). Her hospitality to Abraham's servant at the well led to her marriage. She and Jacob engineer the deception that secures Jacob's blessing (Genesis 27), one of the more morally complex episodes in Genesis.

Rachel and Leah (Genesis 29-35)

The wives of Jacob and the mothers of the twelve tribes of Israel (with Bilhah and Zilpah). Leah, less loved by Jacob, is the mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, and others. Rachel, much loved, is the mother of Joseph and Benjamin; she dies giving birth to Benjamin (Genesis 35:16-19).

Miriam (Exodus 2; Exodus 15:20-21; Numbers 12)

Sister of Moses and Aaron. As a girl she watches Moses in the bulrushes (Exodus 2). She is called a prophetess and leads Israel in song after the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 15). She is later disciplined for speaking against Moses (Numbers 12).

Deborah (Judges 4-5)

A prophetess and the only female judge of Israel named in the book of Judges. She leads Israel to victory over Sisera through the army commander Barak. The Song of Deborah (Judges 5) is one of the oldest pieces of Hebrew poetry in the Bible.

Ruth (Ruth 1-4)

A Moabite widow who follows her mother-in-law Naomi back to Bethlehem. Her famous declaration (Ruth 1:16) is a model of covenant loyalty. She marries Boaz and becomes the great-grandmother of King David, placing her in the line of Jesus (Matthew 1:5).

Hannah (1 Samuel 1-2)

The barren wife of Elkanah who prays in tears at the tabernacle and is given a son. She dedicates him to the Lord; he is the prophet Samuel. Her prayer of thanksgiving (1 Samuel 2:1-10) echoes throughout later biblical theology and is paralleled by Mary's Magnificat.

Esther (Esther 1-10)

A Jewish woman who became queen of Persia under King Ahasuerus and risked her life to save her people from Haman's plot (Esther 4-7). Her cousin Mordecai's words remain famous: 'who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this' (Esther 4:14).

Mary, the mother of Jesus (Luke 1-2; John 19)

A young woman of Nazareth who, by the power of the Holy Spirit, gave birth to Jesus (Luke 1:26-38). Her response of faith ('Be it unto me according to thy word', Luke 1:38) and her song the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) anchor the Gospel infancy narratives. She stands at the cross (John 19:25-27).

Elizabeth (Luke 1)

Cousin of Mary, wife of the priest Zechariah, and mother of John the Baptist (Luke 1:5-25, 57-66). Long barren, she conceived John in old age. When Mary visited her, the unborn John leaped in her womb and she blessed Mary as the mother of her Lord (Luke 1:39-45).

Mary Magdalene (Luke 8:2; John 20)

A follower of Jesus from whom seven demons had been cast out. She was present at the cross and the burial, and was the first to see the risen Jesus on Easter morning (John 20:11-18). The Bible never identifies her as a former prostitute; that association is a later tradition, not a biblical claim.

Martha and Mary of Bethany (Luke 10:38-42; John 11-12)

Sisters of Lazarus, friends of Jesus in Bethany. Martha is remembered for serving when Mary sat at Jesus's feet (Luke 10), and for her confession of faith at Lazarus's tomb (John 11:27). Mary anointed Jesus's feet with costly ointment before his death (John 12:1-8).

Priscilla (Acts 18; Romans 16; 1 Corinthians 16)

A Jewish Christian, wife of Aquila. She and her husband hosted a church in their home, taught Apollos more accurately about the gospel (Acts 18:26), and traveled with Paul. She is named ahead of her husband in most New Testament references, an unusual order in the ancient world.

Lydia (Acts 16:14-15, 40)

A businesswoman from Thyatira, a dealer in purple cloth (a luxury good), and the first recorded European convert. She heard Paul preach in Philippi, was baptized with her household, and opened her home to host the church.

Other notable women (Acts; Romans 16)

Phoebe (Romans 16:1-2) is commended by Paul as a servant of the church at Cenchrea. Dorcas (Acts 9:36-42) was a disciple in Joppa, full of good works, raised by Peter after her death. Eunice and Lois (2 Timothy 1:5) raised Timothy in sincere faith.