Women of the Bible
57 women, who they were, and where to find their stories in Scripture.
Scripture is full of women whose names get mentioned once and then disappear - and others whose decisions changed the direction of a nation. This page gathers them in order, from Genesis to the early church, with a short summary and the chapters to read for yourself.
Use it as a starting point. Read the summary, then open your Bible to the reference beside it. Any translation works.
Genesis and the beginning
The first families of Scripture, where promise, jealousy, and faith all appear side by side.
Eve Genesis 2-4
The first woman, formed as a partner for Adam. Her choice in the garden opens the story of sin and God's first promise of a rescuer.
Sarah Genesis 12-23
Abraham's wife, who laughed at the promise of a child and still bore Isaac in old age.
Hagar Genesis 16, 21
Sarah's servant and mother of Ishmael. Sent into the desert, she met God and named Him 'the God who sees me.'
Lot's wife Genesis 19
Fled Sodom but looked back, becoming a warning Jesus later repeats.
Rebekah Genesis 24-27
Met Abraham's servant at a well and became Isaac's wife, mother of Jacob and Esau.
Leah Genesis 29-30
Jacob's first wife, unloved yet mother of six sons, including Judah.
Rachel Genesis 29-35
Jacob's beloved wife, mother of Joseph and Benjamin, who died in childbirth.
Dinah Genesis 34
Jacob's daughter, whose assault triggers one of Genesis' darkest chapters.
Tamar Genesis 38
Judah's daughter-in-law who risked everything for justice and is named in Jesus' family line.
Potiphar's wife Genesis 39
Falsely accused Joseph after he refused her, sending him to prison.
Exodus and the wilderness
Women who protected a nation's children, led its worship, and questioned its leaders.
Jochebed Exodus 2
Moses' mother, who hid her baby in a basket and nursed him under Pharaoh's nose.
Miriam Exodus 2, 15; Numbers 12
Moses' sister, prophet and worship leader - and later disciplined for opposing him.
Shiphrah and Puah Exodus 1
Hebrew midwives who feared God more than Pharaoh and refused to kill newborn boys.
Zipporah Exodus 2, 4, 18
Moses' wife, a Midianite shepherd's daughter.
Pharaoh's daughter Exodus 2
Drew Moses from the Nile and raised him in the palace.
Zelophehad's daughters Numbers 27, 36
Five sisters who asked Moses for their father's inheritance - and changed the law.
Rahab Joshua 2, 6
A Canaanite woman in Jericho who hid Israel's spies and joined God's people.
Judges and the early kingdom
A turbulent era where God repeatedly used unexpected women to save and shape Israel.
Deborah Judges 4-5
Prophet and judge who led Israel into victory and sang one of Scripture's oldest songs.
Jael Judges 4-5
Ended the commander Sisera's pursuit with a tent peg.
Delilah Judges 16
Coaxed Samson's secret from him and handed him to the Philistines.
Naomi Ruth 1-4
A widow who returned home bitter and ended the story holding a grandson.
Ruth Ruth 1-4
A Moabite widow whose loyalty to Naomi placed her in the line of David and Jesus.
Hannah 1 Samuel 1-2
Prayed through years of childlessness, then gave her son Samuel back to God.
Michal 1 Samuel 18-19; 2 Samuel 6
Saul's daughter and David's first wife, who saved his life and later despised him.
Abigail 1 Samuel 25
Intervened wisely to stop David from bloodshed, and became his wife.
The medium of Endor 1 Samuel 28
Consulted by a desperate Saul on the night before his death.
Bathsheba 2 Samuel 11-12; 1 Kings 1
Taken by David, bereaved of her first child, and later mother of Solomon.
Tamar, David's daughter 2 Samuel 13
Assaulted by her half-brother Amnon - a grief that fractured David's house.
The wise woman of Abel 2 Samuel 20
Negotiated with Joab and saved her whole city.
Kings, prophets, and exile
Queens, widows, and ordinary hosts whose choices steered nations.
The queen of Sheba 1 Kings 10
Travelled far to test Solomon's wisdom and left astonished.
The widow of Zarephath 1 Kings 17
Fed Elijah with her last flour and saw her jar never run empty.
Jezebel 1 Kings 16-21; 2 Kings 9
Queen who pushed Baal worship on Israel and became a byword for corrupt power.
The Shunammite woman 2 Kings 4
Built a room for Elisha and received - then nearly lost - a son.
Athaliah 2 Kings 11
Seized Judah's throne and ruled six years before being overthrown.
Huldah 2 Kings 22
Prophet consulted when the lost book of the law was rediscovered.
Esther Esther 1-10
A Jewish orphan made queen of Persia who risked her life to stop a genocide.
Vashti Esther 1
Refused the king's summons and lost her crown.
Gomer Hosea 1-3
Hosea's unfaithful wife, whose marriage pictured Israel's wandering heart.
The wife of Noble Character Proverbs 31
Not one woman but a poem of praise for strength, work, wisdom, and fear of the Lord.
The Gospels
The women who followed Jesus, funded His ministry, and first announced the resurrection.
Mary, mother of Jesus Luke 1-2; John 19
A young woman from Nazareth who said yes to God and stood at the cross.
Elizabeth Luke 1
Mary's relative, mother of John the Baptist after years of childlessness.
Anna Luke 2
An elderly prophet in the temple who recognised the infant Messiah.
Mary Magdalene Luke 8; John 20
Delivered by Jesus, present at the cross, and first to see Him risen.
Martha Luke 10; John 11
Hosted Jesus, was gently corrected, and confessed Him as the Christ.
Mary of Bethany Luke 10; John 12
Sat at Jesus' feet to learn and poured costly perfume over Him.
The Samaritan woman John 4
Met Jesus at a well at noon and brought her whole town to hear Him.
The woman with the issue of blood Mark 5
Twelve years ill, healed by reaching for the edge of His cloak.
The Syrophoenician woman Mark 7
Her persistent faith won healing for her daughter.
The widow with two coins Mark 12
Gave everything she had, and Jesus called it the largest gift.
Joanna and Susanna Luke 8
Supported Jesus' ministry out of their own resources.
Herodias and Salome Mark 6
Their scheme at a banquet cost John the Baptist his life.
The early church
Business owners, teachers, and hosts who carried the gospel across the Roman world.
Tabitha (Dorcas) Acts 9
Known for sewing for the poor; raised to life through Peter.
Lydia Acts 16
A cloth merchant in Philippi and the first recorded European convert.
Priscilla Acts 18; Romans 16
With her husband Aquila, taught Apollos and hosted a church.
Phoebe Romans 16
A deacon and patron whom Paul trusted to carry his letter to Rome.
Sapphira Acts 5
Conspired with Ananias to lie about a gift to the church.
Eunice and Lois 2 Timothy 1
Timothy's mother and grandmother, who passed on sincere faith.
Want to study them one at a time?
The Ultimate Bible Study Bundle includes 50 printable Women of the Bible summary pages - one per woman, with her story, her context, and space for your own notes - alongside 66 book summaries, 74 character summaries, themes, topics, events, journaling pages, and reading trackers.
