All the Women in the Bible

Quick—name three well-known women from the early days of American history and three from the modern era. Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, and Betsy Ross might come to mind from America’s early days. (Can you name more? See the book Ladies of Liberty: The Women Who Shaped Our Nation by Cokie Roberts.) From the modern era, let’s list Madeleine Albright, Oprah Winfrey, and Hillary Clinton. Here’s my guess: You could probably name more influential men than women from both periods of history. (Why is that?) And I’m guessing the same would be true if I asked you to name influential people from the Bible. You would probably come up with more male than female names.

Here’s my guess: You could probably name more influential men than women from both periods of history. (Why is that?) And I’m guessing the same would be true if I asked you to name a short list of influential people from the Bible. You would probably come up with more male than female names.

When it comes to women in the Bible, our minds run immediately to some favorites. Eve, Sarah, Leah, Rachel, Rebekah, Miriam, Esther, Ruth, several Marys, Elizabeth, Martha, and a few others may come to mind. But what if I told you Scripture mentions nearly 150 women by name? If you saw a list of their names, how many do you think you could identify?

Let’s take a needed step toward recognizing the women God included in His story of redemption. Like the men in the Bible, not every woman played a role we would choose to imitate. (For instance, Jezebel killed God’s prophets, and Sapphira died after she and her husband lied to the Holy Spirit.) But it is past time that we become more familiar with the women of the Bible. For thousands of years, God has kept the machinery of life and His Kingdom moving forward through the efforts of women He has gifted to serve and lead.

Women in the Bible Chart

From Abigail to Zipporah, here they are in alphabetical order. Pick out a few names and look them up in your Bible’s concordance to meet some of the women in the Bible.

Abigail #1 Wife of Nabal who became a wife of David after Nabal’s death. 1 Samuel	Abigail #2 Mother of Amasa; sister of David. 1 Chronicles
Abihail #2 Wife of Abishur and mother of Ahban and Molid. 1 Chronicles	Abishag Concubine of aged King David. 1 Kings	Abital One of King David’s wives. 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles
Achsah Daughter of Caleb. Joshua, Judges, 1 Chronicles	Adah #1 Wife of Lamech. Genesis	Adah #2 Daughter of Elon, the Hittite; one of the wives of Esau. Genesis
Ahinoam #1 Wife of King Saul and mother of Michal (wife of King David). 1 Samuel	Ahinoam #2 A wife of King David and mother of Amnon. 1 and 2 Samuel; 1 Chronicles	Ahlai #1 Daughter of Sheshan. 1 Chronicles
Ahlai #2 Mother of Zabad (in David’s guard). 1 Chronicles	Aholibamah (aka Judith) Daughter of Anah; one of Esau’s wives. Genesis	Anna Aged Jewish prophetess who prophesied about Jesus at the Temple. Luke
Asenath Egyptian wife of Joseph. Genesis	Atarah Second wife of Jerahmeel. 1 Chronicles	Athaliah Queen of Judah with King Jehoram, then sole ruler of Judah. 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles
Azubah #1 Caleb’s wife. 1 Chronicles	Azubah #2 Wife of King Asa of Judah, mother of Jehoshaphat. 1 Kings, 2 Chronicles	Baara A Moabitess, wife of Shaharaim. 1 Chronicles
Basemeth #1 Daughter of Elon, the Hittite; a wife of Esau. Genesis	Basemeth #2 Daughter of Ishmael; third wife of Esau. Genesis	Basemeth #3 Daughter of Solomon; wife of Ahimaaz. 1 Kings
Bathsheba Wife of Uriah the Hittite and later of David; mother of Solomon. 2 Samuel	Bilhah Rachel’s handmaid, concubine of Jacob who bore him two sons. Genesis	Bithiah Daughter of Pharaoh, wife of Mered; a descendant of Judah. 1 Chronicles
Candace Ethiopian queen. Acts	Cozbi A Midianite princess who was killed by Aaron’s grandson. Numbers	Damaris Athenian woman converted to Christ. Acts
Deborah #1 Nursemaid to Rebekah and later to Jacob and Esau. Genesis	Deborah #2 Prophetess and only female judge in pre-monarchy Israel. Judges	Delilah Philistine woman who brought about Samson’s downfall. Judges
Dinah Daughter of Jacob and Leah. Genesis	Dorcas (aka Tabitha) Known for her charity in Joppa. Acts	Eglah One of King David’s wives. 2 Samuel
Elizabeth Wife of Zacharias; mother of John the Baptist. Luke	Elisheba Wife of Aaron. Exodus	Ephah A concubine of Caleb of Judah. 1 Chronicles
Ephrath Second wife of Caleb, the faithful spy. 1 Chronicles	Esther (aka Hadassah) Persian queen of Ahasuerus. Esther	Eunice Mother of Timothy. 2 Timothy
Euodia Member of the church in Philippi. Philippians	Eve First woman; wife of Adam. Genesis	Gomer Wife of Hosea. Hosea
Hagar Handmaiden of Sarah; mother of Abraham’s son, Ishmael. Genesis	Haggith Wife of King David; mother of Adonijah. 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 1 Chronicles	Hammoleketh Noted member of tribe of Manasseh. 1 Chronicles
Hamutal Wife of Josiah and mother of “ungodly” sons. 2 Kings, Jeremiah	Hannah Prophetess and citizen of Jerusalem and mother of Samuel. 1 Samuel	Hazelelponi Daughter of Etam, tribe of Judah. 1 Chronicles
Helah Daughter-in-law of Tekoa of Judah. 1 Chronicles	Hephzibah Wife of King Hezekiah; mother of Manasseh. 2 Kings	Hodesh A wife of Shaharaim. 1 Chronicles
Hogla One of five daughters of Zelophehad who fought for property rights. Joshua	Huldah Prophetess. 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles	Hushim A wife of Shaharaim. 1 Chronicles
Iscah Daughter of Abraham’s younger brother Haran. Genesis	Jael Heroine who killed Sisera to deliver Israel from enemies. Judges	Jecholiah Wife of Amaziah and mother of Uzziah. 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles
Jedidah Wife of wicked King Manasseh; and mother of Josiah. 2 Kings	Jehoaddan Mother of King Amaziah of Judah. 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles	Jehosheba Daughter of Jehoram; saved her nephew Jehoash from massacre. 2 Kings
Jemima One of Job’s daughters. Job	Jerioth Wife of Caleb (son of Hezron). 1 Chronicles	Jerusha Wife of King Uzziah and mother of Jotham. 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles
Jezebel Queen and wife of King Ahab of Israel. 1, 2 Kings	Joanna Helped to prepare Jesus’ body for burial. Luke	Jochebed Mother of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. Exodus, Numbers
Judith Hittite wife of Esau. Genesis	Julia Member of church in Rome. Romans	Keren-Happuch One of Job’s daughters. Job
Keturah Wife of Abraham after Sarah’s death. Genesis	Keziah Second daughter of Job. Job	Leah First wife of Jacob. Genesis
Lois Grandmother of Timothy. 2 Timothy	Lo-ruhamah Daughter of Hosea and Gomer. Hosea	Lydia One of the first converts in Philippi. Acts
Maachah #1 Second wife of King Rehoboam. 2 Chronicles	Maachah #2 Wife of David; mother of Absalom. 2 Samuel	Mahalath #1 Daughter of Ishmael and third wife of Esau. Genesis
Mahalath #2 Granddaughter of David; first wife of King Rehoboam. 2 Chronicles	Mahlah #1 A daughter of Zelophehad who fought for property rights. Numbers	Mahlah #2 Daughter of Hammoleketh; sister of Machir, son of Manasseh. 1 Chronicles
Martha Sister of Lazarus and Mary. Luke, John	Mary #1 Mother of Jesus. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Galatians	Mary #2 Mother of James and Joses. Matthew
Mary #3 Sister of Martha and Lazarus. Luke, John	Mary #4 Labored in the church in Rome. Romans	Mary #5 Mother of John Mark. Acts
Mary Magdalene Disciple of Jesus. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John	Matred Mother of Mehetabel, wife of King Hadar. Genesis	Mehetabel Daughter of Matred. Genesis
Merab King Saul’s oldest daughter. 1 Samuel	Michal Daughter of Saul; wife of David. 1, 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles	Milcah #1 Wife of Nahor, daughter of Haran. Genesis
Milcah #2 A daughter of Zelophehad. Numbers, Joshua	Miriam #1 Moses’ sister. Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Micah	Miriam #2 Woman of Judah. 1 Chronicles
Naamah #1 Sister of Tubal-Cain. Genesis	Naamah #2 Mother of King Rehoboam. 2 Chronicles	Naarah Wife of Asher; tribe of Judah. 1 Chronicles
Naomi Mother-in-law to Ruth. Ruth	Noah Daughter of Zelophehad. Numbers	Orpah Sister-in-law to Ruth. Ruth
Peninnah Wife of Elkanah. 1 Samuel	Phoebe Served in the church at Rome. Romans	Priscilla Wife of Aquila; missionary partner to Paul. Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians
Puah One of two midwives who saved Hebrew newborn boys. Exodus	Rachel Second wife of Jacob; sister of Leah. Genesis	Rahab Prostitute in Jericho. Joshua, Matthew, Hebrews, James
Rebekah Wife of Isaac; mother of Jacob and Esau. Genesis	Reumah Concubine of Abraham’s brother, Nahor. Genesis	Rhoda Servant in home of Mark’s mother, Mary. Acts
Rizpah Daughter of Aiah; a concubine of King Saul. 2 Samuel	Ruth Moabitess, daughter-in-law of Naomi; wife of Boaz. Ruth	Salome Daughter of Herodias. Matthew, Mark
Sapphira Wife of Ananias; member of Jerusalem church. Acts	Sarah Wife of Abraham; mother of Isaac. Genesis	Sheerah Founded three towns; descendant of Ephraim. 1 Chronicles
Shelomith #1 Mother of blasphemer of tribe of Dan. Leviticus	Shelomith #2 Daughter of Zerubbabel. 1 Chronicles	Shiphrah One of two midwives who saved Hebrew newborn boys. Exodus
Susanna Financial supporter of Jesus’ ministry. Luke	Syntyche Christian of the church in Philippi. Philippians	Tabitha (See Dorcas.)
Tamar #1 The daughter-in-law of Judah. Genesis	Tamar #2 The daughter of King David; sister of Absalom. 2 Samuel	Tamar #3 Daughter of David’s son Absalom. 2 Samuel
Timnah Concubine of Eliphaz; mother of Amalek. Genesis	Tirzah A daughter of Zelophehad. Numbers	Vashti Persian queen and wife of King Ahasuerus. Esther
Zeresh Wife of Haman. Esther	Zeruiah Older sister of King David. 2 Samuel	Zillah Wife of Lamech; mother of Tubal-Cain and Naamah. Genesis
Zilpah Leah’s handmaid who became a wife of Jacob. Genesis	Zipporah Wife of Moses; daughter of Jethro. Exodus