Figures

Older brother of Moses and God's chosen spokesman to Pharaoh. Aaron was consecrated as Israel's first high priest, establishing the Levitica…

Wife of the foolish Nabal, she intercepted David as he rode to kill her household, delivered food and a speech of remarkable wisdom, and tur…

Father of the Hebrew people. Called from Ur to Canaan and given the covenant promise. Lived around 2000 BC.

David's third and most beautiful son. He killed his half-brother Amnon for raping Tamar, spent years stealing the hearts of Israel, declared…

The first man, formed by God from the dust of the ground and given the breath of life (Gen.2.7). With his wife Eve he was placed in Eden, gi…

Seventh king of Israel, son of Omri. Married Jezebel of Sidon and made Baal worship the state religion; Elijah's great antagonist. Died in b…

Eleventh king of Judah. Sacrificed his son in the fire, called Tiglath-pileser of Assyria for help against Rezin and Pekah, and refused Isai…

Eighth king of Israel, son of Ahab and Jezebel. Fell through a lattice in his upper chamber, sent to inquire of Baal-zebub of Ekron, and die…

Eighth king of Judah. Killed his father's assassins lawfully, reconquered Edom in the Valley of Salt, then provoked Israel into war and was …

Fourteenth king of Judah, son of Manasseh. Reigned two years sacrificing to his father's idols. Murdered by his own servants in the palace; …

Eighth-century shepherd and dresser of sycamore figs from Tekoa, sent to prophesy at Bethel against the prosperity and injustice of Jeroboam…

Simon Peter's brother and a former disciple of John the Baptist. He was among the first called by Jesus and immediately brought Peter to him…

A Jewish man from Alexandria, eloquent and competent in the scriptures, who knew only John's baptism. Priscilla and Aquila completed his ins…

A Jewish tentmaker from Pontus expelled from Rome by Claudius. He worked with Paul in Corinth and Ephesus, helped correct Apollos alongside …

Third king of Judah, great-grandson of Solomon. Smashed idols, removed his grandmother from queen-mother for her Asherah, but late in life t…

Daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, wife of Jehoram, the only queen regnant of Judah. Murdered all royal heirs to seize the throne; killed when Jo…

Called by the prophetess Deborah to lead Israel's army against Sisera. He agreed only if Deborah would come with him; she prophesied the hon…

Levite from Cyprus, born Joseph, renamed Barnabas — "son of encouragement." He sold land for the church (Act.4.36), vouched for Saul in Jeru…

Wife of Uriah the Hittite. David summoned her, and when she became pregnant arranged Uriah's death. Nathan confronted David; their first chi…

A wealthy and respected man of Bethlehem who showed kindness to the Moabite widow Ruth gleaning in his fields, acted as her kinsman-redeemer…

One of only two spies who gave a faithful report of Canaan. While a generation died in the wilderness, Caleb waited forty-five years and at …

A Roman centurion of the Italian Cohort in Caesarea. Devout and generous, he had a vision of an angel who told him to send for Peter. As Pet…

Judean noble taken to Babylon in the first deportation under Nebuchadnezzar in 605 BC. Trained for royal service, he rose to high office und…

Shepherd of Bethlehem, killer of Goliath, second king of Israel, writer of psalms. Lived around 1000 BC.

Prophetess and fourth judge of Israel, holding court under a palm in Ephraim. Summoned Barak to defeat Sisera’s chariots at Mount Tabor and …

A left-handed Benjaminite who delivered Israel from eighteen years of Moabite oppression by killing King Eglon with a concealed sword. He th…

High priest at Shiloh who raised the boy Samuel. Eli's sons Hophni and Phinehas were corrupt and God's judgment fell on his house. When the …

Tishbite prophet of the ninth century BC, active in the northern kingdom under Ahab and Jezebel. Confronted Baal worship on Mount Carmel (1K…

Disciple and successor of Elijah, son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah in the Jordan valley. Active in the northern kingdom for roughly fifty ye…

Seventh patriarch from Adam, father of Methuselah. Enoch walked with God for 300 years (Gen.5.22) and was taken by God at 365, never dying —…

Son of Seth, grandson of Adam. In his day “men began to call upon the name of the LORD” (Gen.4.26). Fourth in the antediluvian line, he live…

Firstborn twin of Jacob, a skilled hunter and his father's favorite. He sold his birthright for a bowl of stew and lost his blessing to dece…

Jewish orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai in Susa, chosen queen of the Persian king Ahasuerus (commonly identified with Xerxes I, r. 486–4…

Priest and prophet of the Babylonian exile, son of Buzi. By the river Chebar he saw the chariot-throne of the LORD (Eze.1) and prophesied Je…

A priest and scribe "skilled in the Law of Moses," Ezra led the second return of exiles in 458 BC and devoted himself to studying, doing, an…

Elisha's personal servant who witnessed some of the prophet's greatest miracles. He ran after Naaman to take the payment Elisha had refused,…

Fifth judge, called from threshing wheat in a winepress. Tested God with the fleece, then with 300 men routed the Midianites by torches and …

Late seventh-century Judean prophet who questioned the LORD about violence and was told that the just shall live by faith (Hab.2.4). His boo…

Post-exilic prophet who, with Zechariah, roused the returned community in 520 BC to finish the rebuilding of the temple under Zerubbabel and…

Son of Noah and survivor of the flood, Ham is the ancestor of Cush, Egypt, Canaan, and Put — peoples whose lands intersect with Israel's his…

Twelfth king of Judah. Smashed Ahaz's altars, cleansed the temple, kept the great Passover. Sennacherib's army withdrew after his prayer; th…

Eighth-century prophet to the northern kingdom, son of Beeri. Commanded to marry the unfaithful Gomer as a living parable of the LORD’s love…

The nineteenth and last king of Israel. Assassinated Pekah to take the throne, withheld tribute from Assyria, was imprisoned, and Samaria fe…

Son of promise born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age (Gen.21). Bound on Mount Moriah, husband of Rebekah, father of Esau and Jacob, and…

Eighth-century Jerusalem prophet, son of Amoz. Called by a throne-room vision (Isa.6), he ministered to Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah a…

Firstborn son of Abraham and Hagar, named "God hears" by an angel. Though not the child of the covenant promise, God pledged to make him a g…

Younger son of Isaac and Rebekah, renamed Israel after wrestling at Peniel (Gen.32.28). Father of the twelve tribes, third of the patriarchs…

Galilean fisherman, son of Zebedee, elder brother of John the apostle; one of the inner three with Peter and John. The first of the Twelve t…

Son of Noah, blessed by his father with enlargement and the promise of dwelling in the tents of Shem. His descendants in Genesis 10 are link…

Eighteenth king of Judah. Originally Eliakim; renamed by Pharaoh Necho. Burned Jeremiah's scroll column by column. Died under siege as Nebuc…

Fifth king of Judah. Married Ahab's daughter Athaliah, killed all his brothers, lost Edom and Libnah. Died of an incurable bowel disease wit…

Fourth king of Judah. Sent Levites with the book of the law to teach the people; allied unwisely with Ahab. Won a stunning victory by sendin…

Tenth king of Israel. Anointed by Elisha's emissary to destroy the house of Ahab. Killed Joram, Jezebel, and the Baal priests; founded a fou…

Son of a prostitute, driven out by his brothers, he became a mighty warrior. When Israel needed a deliverer from Ammon, they begged him to r…

Priest of Anathoth called to prophesy from the thirteenth year of Josiah through Jerusalem’s fall in 586 BC. Author of Jeremiah and Lamentat…

First king of the northern kingdom of Israel after the split with Judah. Set up golden calves at Bethel and Dan, became the pattern of apost…

Thirteenth king of Israel, great-grandson of Jehu. Longest northern reign. Restored Israel's borders from Lebo-hamath to the Dead Sea, but A…

Priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses, also called Reuel. He rejoiced at the Exodus, blessed the LORD, and advised Moses to delegate h…

Seventh king of Judah, hidden in the temple as an infant from Athaliah's purge. Crowned at seven by Jehoiada the priest. Repaired the temple…

Prophet of Judah, son of Pethuel. Used a devastating locust plague to summon the people to repentance and to announce a future outpouring of…

Son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, forerunner of Jesus. John lived in the wilderness, preached repentance, and baptized in the Jordan. Jesus de…

Galilean fisherman, son of Zebedee, brother of James the Greater; one of the inner three apostles, with Peter and James, who saw the transfi…

Eighth-century prophet from Gath-hepher in Galilee, son of Amittai. Fled the LORD’s call to Nineveh, was swallowed by a great fish, and then…

Son of King Saul and a brilliant warrior who gave David his robe, armor, and oath of covenant friendship. He repeatedly risked his life to p…

Ninth king of Israel, brother of Ahaziah. Removed Baal's pillar but kept Jeroboam's calves. Allied with Jehoshaphat against Moab; killed by …

Eleventh son of Jacob, sold by his brothers into Egypt, rising from slavery and prison to be second only to Pharaoh. Saved his family and th…

Son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim, attendant to Moses and commander at Rephidim (Exo.17). After Moses he led Israel across the Jordan, took…

Sixteenth king of Judah. Last great reformer. The Book of the Law was found in the temple during his repairs; he kept the greatest Passover …

Tenth king of Judah. Co-regent during Uzziah's leprosy. Built the upper gate of the temple, subdued the Ammonites, walked rightly though the…

Brother of Mary and Martha in Bethany, and a close friend of Jesus. He died and lay in the tomb four days before Jesus called him out. The r…

First wife of Jacob, given to him by deception on his wedding night. Unloved but fruitful, she bore six sons including Judah and Levi — thro…

Nephew of Abraham who traveled with him from Ur to Canaan. Lot chose the fertile Jordan plain at Bethel and settled in Sodom. Rescued by Abr…

A seller of purple cloth from Thyatira who was worshipping by a river in Philippi when Paul arrived. The Lord opened her heart to respond; s…

Last of the writing prophets, c. 430 BC, contemporary with Nehemiah’s second visit. Rebuked priestly corruption and broken marriages, and pr…

Thirteenth king of Judah. Longest reign of any Hebrew king. Filled Jerusalem with bloodshed and idols, but in Assyrian captivity humbled him…

Young Galilean woman, betrothed to Joseph the carpenter, who was visited by the angel Gabriel and bore Jesus Christ.

Follower of Jesus from Magdala on the Sea of Galilee, from whom Jesus cast seven demons (Luk.8.2). She stood at the cross, went to the tomb …

A tax collector at Capernaum whom Jesus called with two words: "Follow me." He left immediately, hosted a banquet for Jesus with fellow tax …

Son of Enoch, grandfather of Noah, and the longest-lived person in scripture at 969 years (Gen.5.27). He died the year the flood came.

Eighth-century prophet of Moresheth in the Shephelah, contemporary of Isaiah. Foretold Samaria’s ruin, Bethlehem’s shepherd-king (Mic.5.2), …

Prophetess and elder sister of Moses and Aaron. Miriam watched the infant Moses on the Nile and led the women in song after the Red Sea cros…

A Benjaminite exile in Susa who raised his orphaned cousin Esther and refused to bow to Haman. When Haman's decree threatened all Jews, Mord…

Hebrew prophet who led Israel out of Egypt and received the Law on Mount Sinai. Lived around 1300 BC.

Prophet of Elkosh in seventh-century Judah, sent to announce the fall of Nineveh — a century after Jonah’s preaching. The Assyrian capital f…

An Israelite woman who lost her husband and both sons in Moab and returned to Bethlehem empty. She said "call me Mara — bitter." Through Rut…

Court prophet to David and Solomon. He delivered the Davidic covenant — "your throne shall be established forever" — and the parable that co…

Cupbearer to the Persian king who wept at news of Jerusalem's broken walls, prayed, asked permission to rebuild, and organized the project u…

A Pharisee and ruler of the Jews who came to Jesus by night, heard the discourse on new birth, later defended Jesus before the Sanhedrin, an…

Tenth of the pre-flood patriarchs, son of Lamech, builder of the ark. The only righteous man of his generation (Gen.6.9), Noah was warned of…

Author of the shortest book in the Old Testament (21 verses), a vision of judgment against Edom for its violence toward Jerusalem on the day…

Caleb's nephew and the first judge of Israel. Othniel captured Debir and married Caleb's daughter Achsah. When Israel was oppressed by Cusha…

Pharisee from Tarsus who persecuted the early church, then encountered the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus and became the apostle to the…

Simon son of Jonah, fisherman of Bethsaida and Capernaum, called by Jesus at the lake of Galilee and renamed Cephas / Petros (“rock”). First…

A Jewish tentmaker expelled from Rome with her husband Aquila. She worked alongside Paul in Corinth and Ephesus, and with Aquila took Apollo…

Beloved wife of Jacob, for whom he worked fourteen years. She was initially barren, then bore Joseph and died giving birth to Benjamin. Jere…

An innkeeper in Jericho who hid Joshua's two spies under stalks of flax and confessed, "The LORD your God is God in heaven above and earth b…

Chosen as Isaac's wife through a remarkable sign at a well, Rebekah left her family for Canaan and became the mother of Jacob and Esau. She …

First king of Judah after the split. Refused the elders' counsel, threatened scorpions instead of whips, and lost the ten northern tribes to…

Moabite widow who returned with her Israelite mother-in-law Naomi from Moab to Bethlehem in the days of the judges, married the kinsman-rede…

Nazirite judge of Dan, gifted with extraordinary strength while his hair remained uncut. Fought the Philistines for twenty years; betrayed b…

Last judge of Israel and first of the great prophets after Moses. Born to Hannah at Ramah, raised at Shiloh under Eli, he anointed both Saul…

First king of all Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin. Anointed by Samuel, victorious early but rejected for disobedience. Died with his sons o…

Third named son of Adam and Eve, born after Abel’s murder (Gen.4.25). Through Seth runs the godly line that leads to Noah and ultimately to …

Eldest son of Noah, ancestor of the Semitic peoples and of Abraham. Through Shem’s line God’s redemptive promise advances after the flood (G…

A prophet in the Jerusalem church chosen to accompany Paul after the split with Barnabas. Imprisoned with Paul in Philippi, he sang hymns at…

Son of David and Bathsheba, third king of the united Israelite monarchy, builder of the first temple in Jerusalem. Reigned c. 970–931 BC at …

Greek-speaking Jewish believer, one of Jerusalem's seven deacons (Act.6.5). Stephen performed signs, was arrested for blasphemy, and gave a …

Daughter-in-law of Judah, twice widowed and denied her rights. She took matters into her own hands; Judah said "she is more righteous than I…

One of the twelve apostles, also called Didymus ("Twin"). He refused to believe the resurrection without touching the wounds, then when Jesu…

Born in Lystra to a Jewish mother and Greek father. Paul circumcised him and took him on the second missionary journey. He became Paul's mos…

Ninth king of Judah (also called Azariah). Fifty-two-year reign of great prosperity; struck with leprosy for usurping the priest's role. Isa…

Chief tax collector of Jericho, wealthy and short. He climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus; Jesus called him down and invited himself to sta…

Priest-prophet of the post-exilic restoration, son of Berechiah. Began with eight night visions in 520 BC (Zec.1) and prophesied of the king…

Twentieth and last king of Judah. Originally Mattaniah; installed by Nebuchadnezzar. Rebelled, watched his sons killed at Riblah, was blinde…

Prophet in the reign of Josiah, great-great-grandson of King Hezekiah. Announced a sweeping Day of the LORD against Judah and the nations an…