Bible Characters

Created by God as the first man and woman, placed in the Garden of Eden. Their disobedience in eating the forbidden fruit introduced sin into the world, but God promised a future redeemer through their offspring.

A righteous man in a corrupt generation, Noah obeyed God's command to build an enormous ark. He saved his family and pairs of every animal from the great flood, and God established a covenant with him symbolized by the rainbow.

Called by God to leave his homeland and journey to an unknown land. God made a covenant with him promising countless descendants and that all nations would be blessed through him. His willingness to sacrifice Isaac demonstrated extraordinary faith.

Abraham's wife who waited decades for God's promise of a son. She laughed when told she would bear a child in old age, but gave birth to Isaac at age 90. Her story demonstrates that God keeps His promises even when they seem impossible.

The long-awaited son of Abraham and Sarah, born when his parents were elderly. Isaac was the child through whom God's covenant promises continued. He married Rebekah and fathered twin sons, Jacob and Esau, continuing the line that would become the nation of Israel.

Chosen as Isaac's wife through a providential encounter at a well, Rebekah left her family to marry a man she had never met. She was barren for twenty years before God answered Isaac's prayer with twins. She later orchestrated the deception that secured Jacob's blessing over Esau.

A cunning man who tricked his brother Esau out of his birthright and blessing. After fleeing home, he wrestled with God and was renamed Israel. His twelve sons became the twelve tribes of Israel, making him the father of God's chosen nation.

The elder twin of Isaac's sons, Esau was a skillful hunter and his father's favorite. He famously sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew and later lost his father's blessing through Jacob's deception. Despite his anger, Esau eventually reconciled with Jacob in a tearful reunion.

Sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, Joseph rose from prisoner to second-in-command of Egypt through his God-given ability to interpret dreams. He saved his family and all of Egypt from famine, choosing forgiveness over revenge.

Born during a time when Hebrew baby boys were being killed, Moses was rescued by Pharaoh's daughter. God called him through a burning bush to lead Israel out of Egyptian slavery. He received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai and led Israel for 40 years in the wilderness.

Moses' older brother and Israel's first high priest. Aaron served as Moses' spokesman before Pharaoh and led Israel's worship in the tabernacle. He also failed gravely by making the golden calf while Moses was on Mount Sinai, showing that even leaders can stumble.

The older sister of Moses and Aaron, Miriam watched over baby Moses in his basket on the Nile and helped arrange for their mother to nurse him. After the Red Sea crossing, she led the women of Israel in a song of victory. She was also a prophetess.

Moses' faithful assistant who took over leadership of Israel and led them into the Promised Land. He commanded the famous battle of Jericho where the walls fell, and divided the land among the twelve tribes. His farewell challenge remains iconic.

One of twelve spies sent to scout the Promised Land, Caleb and Joshua alone gave a positive report, trusting God's power over the giants. For his faith, Caleb was promised an inheritance in Canaan. At age 85, he boldly claimed his mountain, still full of vigor.

A prostitute in Jericho who hid the Israelite spies and helped them escape because she believed in Israel's God. When Jericho fell, she and her family were spared. She married into Israel and became an ancestor of King David and Jesus Christ.

The only female judge of Israel, Deborah was a prophetess and military leader who guided the nation during a time of oppression. She directed Barak to lead the army against the Canaanite general Sisera and celebrated the victory with a famous song.

An unlikely hero whom God called to save Israel from the Midianites. Gideon tested God with a fleece and was given a tiny army of 300 men to defeat a vast enemy host. Using torches, jars, and trumpets instead of swords, God won the victory through him.

A Nazirite judge with supernatural strength given by God. Samson performed incredible feats — killing a lion, slaying a thousand Philistines with a donkey's jawbone — but his weakness for women led to his downfall. Delilah betrayed him, but in his death he destroyed more enemies than in his life.

A Moabite woman who chose to stay with her Israelite mother-in-law Naomi after both their husbands died. Her famous declaration of loyalty led her to Bethlehem where she married Boaz. She became the great-grandmother of King David and an ancestor of Jesus.

An Israelite woman who lost her husband and both sons while living in Moab. She returned to Bethlehem bitter and empty, but through her daughter-in-law Ruth's devotion and marriage to Boaz, she found restoration and became grandmother to Obed, grandfather of King David.

A wealthy and honorable landowner in Bethlehem who showed extraordinary kindness to Ruth, a foreign widow gleaning in his fields. As a kinsman-redeemer, he married Ruth according to Israelite law, redeeming Naomi's family line. He is a picture of Christ redeeming His people.

A barren woman who poured out her heart to God in desperate prayer at the tabernacle, vowing to dedicate her child to the Lord's service. God answered with a son, Samuel, whom she faithfully brought to serve in the tabernacle. Her prayer of praise foreshadows Mary's Magnificat.

Dedicated to God's service from birth, Samuel grew up in the tabernacle under Eli the priest. He became Israel's last judge and a great prophet who anointed both Saul and David as kings. He bridged the era of judges and the monarchy, always calling Israel back to faithfulness.

Israel's first king, chosen for his impressive stature. Saul started well but became jealous of David and disobeyed God repeatedly. His reign was marked by increasing paranoia and spiritual decline. He consulted a medium at Endor and died in battle against the Philistines on Mount Gilboa.

A shepherd boy who killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stone, David became Israel's greatest king. He was a warrior, poet, and musician who wrote many of the Psalms. Though he sinned gravely, he was called 'a man after God's own heart' because of his deep repentance.

The wife of Uriah the Hittite, Bathsheba was drawn into an affair with King David, who then arranged her husband's death. Their first child died, but their second son was Solomon, who became king. Bathsheba later wielded significant influence as queen mother in Solomon's court.

David's third son, known for his striking appearance and long hair. After his sister Tamar was assaulted by their half-brother Amnon, Absalom took revenge by killing Amnon. He later led a full-scale rebellion against David, seizing the throne briefly before dying in battle when his hair caught in a tree.

David's son who asked God for wisdom instead of wealth or power. He built the first Temple in Jerusalem and became the wisest and wealthiest king in Israel's history. He authored Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon, but his many foreign wives eventually led his heart astray.

A courageous prophet who served in David's court. Nathan delivered God's covenant promise that David's throne would last forever, but also boldly confronted David over his sin with Bathsheba using a powerful parable about a stolen lamb. David's repentance followed Nathan's famous words: 'You are the man!'

One of the most dramatic prophets in Scripture, Elijah challenged 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and called down fire from heaven. He fled into the wilderness after Jezebel's threat, where God met him not in earthquake or fire but in a gentle whisper. He was taken to heaven in a chariot of fire.

Elijah's successor who received a double portion of his spirit. Elisha performed twice as many miracles as Elijah, including healing Naaman's leprosy, multiplying a widow's oil, raising a boy from the dead, and making an axehead float. He served as prophet through the reigns of several kings.

Often called the 'prince of prophets,' Isaiah had a dramatic vision of God on His throne and responded, 'Here am I. Send me!' He prophesied during a turbulent period in Judah's history and wrote extensively about the coming Messiah, including the Suffering Servant passages that Jesus fulfilled.

Called by God before he was born, Jeremiah prophesied for 40 years warning Judah of coming judgment. He wept over Jerusalem's destruction and was persecuted, imprisoned, and thrown into a cistern for his message. He also prophesied the new covenant that Jesus would establish.

A priest and prophet exiled to Babylon, Ezekiel received extraordinary visions from God, including living creatures with four faces, a valley of dry bones coming to life, and a future temple. His dramatic symbolic acts — lying on his side for over a year, cooking over dung — made him unforgettable.

Taken captive to Babylon as a teenager, Daniel served in the courts of multiple kings while remaining faithful to God. He survived the lion's den, interpreted dreams and visions, and received prophecies about future kingdoms and the coming Messiah.

God commanded Hosea to marry Gomer, an unfaithful woman, as a living picture of God's relentless love for unfaithful Israel. Even after Gomer left him for other lovers, Hosea bought her back — illustrating how God pursues and redeems His wayward people.

Joel prophesied about a devastating locust plague as a foreshadowing of the Day of the Lord. He called the people to repentance and promised that God would pour out His Spirit on all people — a prophecy Peter quoted at Pentecost as being fulfilled in the coming of the Holy Spirit.

A shepherd and fig farmer from Tekoa, Amos was no professional prophet. God called him from his flocks to confront the wealthy northern kingdom of Israel for their injustice, oppression of the poor, and empty religious rituals. His message of social justice still echoes today.

God told Jonah to preach repentance to Nineveh, Israel's enemy. Instead, Jonah fled on a ship in the opposite direction. Swallowed by a great fish for three days, he eventually obeyed and the entire city repented — which made Jonah angry, revealing his struggle with God's mercy toward enemies.

A contemporary of Isaiah, Micah prophesied against the corruption of Judah's leaders and called for genuine righteousness. He delivered one of Scripture's most beloved summaries of what God requires. He also prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.

Habakkuk boldly questioned God about why evil went unpunished and why God would use the wicked Babylonians to judge His own people. God's answer taught Habakkuk — and all who read his book — to trust God's sovereignty even when circumstances seem unjust. His final chapter is a hymn of faith.

A Jewish cupbearer to the Persian king who wept when he heard Jerusalem's walls were in ruins. Nehemiah received permission to return and rebuild. Despite fierce opposition, threats, and sabotage, he led the people to complete the walls in just 52 days through prayer and perseverance.

A priest and expert in the Law of Moses who led a group of exiles back to Jerusalem from Babylon. Ezra devoted himself to studying, practicing, and teaching God's Word. He led a great spiritual revival when he read the Law publicly and the people wept in repentance.

A Jewish orphan who became queen of Persia, Esther risked her life to save her people from genocide. When her cousin Mordecai told her about a plot to destroy all Jews, she approached the king uninvited — a crime punishable by death — and exposed the villain Haman.

A wealthy, righteous man who lost everything — children, health, possessions — in a test of faith. His friends insisted he must have sinned, but Job maintained his innocence. God finally spoke from a whirlwind, revealing His sovereignty, and restored Job's fortunes double.

One of Judah's most godly kings, Hezekiah tore down the high places and restored Temple worship. When the Assyrian army surrounded Jerusalem, he spread the threatening letter before God in prayer. God miraculously destroyed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night. He was also granted 15 extra years of life.

Crowned king of Judah at age eight, Josiah became one of the greatest reformers in Israel's history. When the Book of the Law was rediscovered in the neglected Temple, Josiah tore his robes in grief and launched sweeping religious reforms, tearing down altars and idols throughout the land.

King Ahab and his Phoenician wife Jezebel were the most notorious rulers in Israel's history. Jezebel promoted Baal worship and killed God's prophets, while Ahab was weak and easily led. They stole Naboth's vineyard through murder and false charges. Both met violent ends as prophesied.

A powerful Syrian military commander afflicted with leprosy. A young Israelite slave girl told his wife about the prophet Elisha. Naaman traveled to Israel, and Elisha told him to wash seven times in the Jordan River. After initial outrage at the simple instruction, he obeyed and was completely healed.

A non-Israelite prophet hired by King Balak of Moab to curse Israel. God intervened, and Balaam could only speak blessings instead of curses. His donkey famously saw an angel and spoke to him. Though he blessed Israel, he later advised Moab to use immorality to corrupt them.