Who's who
People of the Bible
Who was Ruth? What did Moses actually do? Short, honest portraits of the people in the Bible: who they were, the moments that defined them, and where to read their story for yourself.
12 people
Old Testament
The age of the patriarchs, traditionally placed around 2000 BC, though scholars date him differently
Abraham
Patriarch of Israel, husband of Sarah, father of Isaac and Ishmael, called the friend of God
The man God called out of Mesopotamia with a promise of land, descendants and blessing for all nations, whose trust in that promise made him the father of all who believe.
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The united monarchy of Israel, around 1010–970 BC
David
Shepherd, psalmist, second king of Israel and ancestor of Jesus
The shepherd boy from Bethlehem who killed Goliath, became Israel's greatest king and wrote many of the psalms, and whose failures and repentance are told as honestly as his victories.
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The northern kingdom of Israel under Ahab and Jezebel, around 870–850 BC
Elijah
Prophet of Israel who called the nation back from Baal and was taken up without dying
The fiery prophet who confronted King Ahab and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, collapsed in despair under a desert bush, and was carried to heaven in a whirlwind.
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The Persian Empire under Xerxes, around 480 BC
Esther
Jewish orphan raised by her cousin, queen of Persia, deliverer of her people
A Jewish orphan who became queen of Persia and risked her life to stop a decree that would have wiped out her people, in a book where God is never named yet always at work.
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The exodus from Egypt, dated by different reckonings between roughly 1450 and 1250 BC
Moses
Deliverer and lawgiver of Israel, prophet, leader of the exodus and the wilderness years
The Hebrew raised in Pharaoh's palace whom God sent back to lead Israel out of slavery, part the sea, receive the law at Sinai and guide the people for forty years in the wilderness.
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The time of the judges, around 1100 BC
Ruth
Moabite widow, wife of Boaz, great-grandmother of King David
A Moabite widow whose loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi carried her into Israel, into marriage with Boaz, and into the family line of David and Jesus.
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The age of the patriarchs, traditionally placed around 2000 BC, though scholars date her differently
Sarah
Wife of Abraham, mother of Isaac, matriarch of Israel
Abraham's wife, barren into old age, who laughed at God's promise of a son and then bore Isaac at ninety, becoming the mother of Israel and a model of faith.
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New Testament
Judea, born shortly before Jesus; preaching at the Jordan around AD 27–29
John the Baptist
Prophet and forerunner of Jesus, son of the priest Zechariah and Elizabeth, baptized Jesus in the Jordan
The prophet who called Israel to repentance at the Jordan, baptized Jesus, pointed his own followers to him, and died for confronting Herod.
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Galilee and Jerusalem during the ministry of Jesus, around AD 30
Mary Magdalene
Disciple of Jesus from Magdala, witness of the cross and the empty tomb, first to see the risen Jesus
A woman from Magdala whom Jesus freed from seven demons, who followed him to the cross and the tomb and was the first person to see him risen.
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First century, from Nazareth in Galilee; born around 20 BC, alive after the resurrection
Mary, the mother of Jesus
Young woman of Nazareth, wife of Joseph, mother of Jesus
A young woman from Nazareth who said yes to God's message, gave birth to Jesus in Bethlehem, stood by his cross and prayed with the first church.
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First century, from Tarsus to Rome; born around AD 5, died in Rome in the mid-60s
Paul
Pharisee turned apostle to the Gentiles, missionary, writer of thirteen New Testament letters
A Pharisee who persecuted the church until Jesus met him on the road to Damascus, then spent his life planting churches and writing the letters that shaped Christian faith.
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First century, from Bethsaida and Capernaum in Galilee; died in Rome in the mid-60s AD
Peter
Galilean fisherman, leader of the twelve apostles, author of two New Testament letters
A Galilean fisherman whom Jesus renamed the rock: impulsive, devoted, the disciple who denied him and was restored to lead the first church.
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