The People of the Bible

Aaron

The brother of Moses and Israel’s first high priest, who spoke for Moses before Pharaoh and ministered at the tabernacle.

Abdon

A judge of Pirathon, the last of the minor judges before Samson, noted for his forty sons and thirty grandsons.

Abednego

One of Daniel’s three Hebrew companions (Azariah), delivered with Shadrach and Meshach from Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace.

Abel

The second son of Adam and Eve, a keeper of sheep whose offering pleased God. He was murdered by his brother Cain and is honored as the first martyr.

Abiathar

The lone priest of Nob to escape Doeg’s massacre, who served as David’s high priest and faithful friend, but was deposed by Solomon for backing Adonijah.

Abigail

A wise and beautiful woman who averted David’s vengeance against her foolish husband Nabal and later became David’s wife.

Abihu

The second son of Aaron, a priest who died with his brother Nadab for offering unauthorized fire before the LORD.

Abimelech

A son of Gideon who murdered his seventy brothers to make himself king, and died when a woman dropped a millstone on his head.

Abimelech

The Philistine king of Gerar who took Sarah into his house, was warned by God in a dream, and later made a covenant with Abraham at Beersheba.

Abinadab

The second son of Jesse and a brother of David, who served in Saul’s army.

Abiram

A Reubenite, brother of Dathan, who joined Korah’s revolt against Moses and perished when the ground swallowed the rebels.

Abishag

A beautiful young woman of Shunem who cared for the aged King David; the request for her hand later exposed Adonijah’s bid for the throne.

Abishai

A nephew of David and brother of Joab, a fearless warrior who chief among the mighty men, who once saved David’s life from a giant.

Abner

Saul’s cousin and army commander who made Ishbosheth king after Saul’s death, then defected to David and was treacherously killed by Joab.

Abraham

Abraham was the founding patriarch of Israel whom God called out of Ur to become the father of many nations. He is remembered for his faith, obedience, and covenant relationship with God.

Absalom

The handsome and ambitious son of David who avenged his sister, led a rebellion against his father, and died caught in the branches of an oak.

Achan

The man whose secret theft of devoted spoil from Jericho brought defeat at Ai and judgment on himself and his household.

Achsah

The daughter of Caleb, given in marriage to Othniel for capturing Kirjath-sepher; she boldly asked her father for springs of water.

Adam

The first human being, formed by God from the dust of the ground and made in His image. Through his disobedience sin and death entered the world.

Adonijah

David’s fourth son who attempted to seize the throne in his father’s old age, was thwarted in favor of Solomon, and later executed for a second bid.

Adonizedek

The Amorite king of Jerusalem who led a five-king coalition against Gibeon and was defeated by Joshua in the day the sun stood still.

Ahab

A king of Israel who, with his wife Jezebel, led the nation deep into Baal worship and clashed repeatedly with the prophet Elijah; he died in battle as prophesied.

Ahasuerus

The Persian king of the book of Esther, who deposed Vashti, made Esther queen, and—after Haman’s plot—allowed the Jews to defend themselves.

Ahaz

A faithless king of Judah who sacrificed to idols and even his own son, refused God’s sign through Isaiah, and stripped the temple to buy Assyrian help.

Ahijah

The prophet of Shiloh who foretold the division of Solomon’s kingdom and later pronounced doom on the dynasty of Jeroboam.

Ahimelech

The priest of Nob who unknowingly aided the fugitive David with holy bread and Goliath’s sword, and was killed with the priests of Nob by Doeg.

Ahithophel

David’s brilliant counselor whose advice was esteemed "as if a man had inquired of God"; he betrayed David for Absalom and, when spurned, hanged himself.

Aholiab

The skilled craftsman of the tribe of Dan appointed to assist Bezaleel in building the tabernacle, gifted in engraving, weaving, and embroidery.

Aholibamah

One of the wives of Esau, a Hivite/Horite woman through whom several chiefs of Edom descended.

Amasa

David’s nephew who commanded Absalom’s rebel army, was pardoned and made David’s commander, then treacherously murdered by Joab.

Amnon

David’s firstborn son, whose violent crime against his half-sister Tamar set in motion the tragedies of David’s house.

Amos

A herdsman of Tekoa called to prophesy against the northern kingdom’s injustice and complacency, famous for "let judgment run down as waters."

Amoz

The father of the prophet Isaiah (not to be confused with the prophet Amos).

Amram

A Levite, the father of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

Amraphel

The king of Shinar, one of the four-king coalition led by Chedorlaomer against the cities of the plain in the days of Abraham.

Ananias

A member of the early church who, with his wife Sapphira, lied about the price of land they sold and fell dead at Peter’s rebuke.

Ananias

A disciple at Damascus whom the Lord sent, despite his fear, to lay hands on the newly blinded Saul — restoring his sight and baptizing him.

Andrew

A fisherman and apostle, the brother of Peter, who first followed John the Baptist and then brought Peter to Jesus.

Anna

An aged prophetess who served God night and day in the temple and, on seeing the infant Jesus, gave thanks and proclaimed Him to all awaiting redemption.

Apollos

An eloquent, scripture-mighty Jew of Alexandria whom Priscilla and Aquila instructed more perfectly; a powerful preacher who watered what Paul had planted.

Aquila

A Jewish tentmaker who, with his wife Priscilla, hosted Paul, taught Apollos, and risked his life for the apostle — a church meeting in their home.

Arioch

The king of Ellasar, one of the four allied kings who fought the cities of the plain in Genesis 14.

Arphaxad

A son of Shem born two years after the flood, an ancestor of Abraham in the line that leads from Noah to Christ.

Asa

A reforming king of Judah who removed idols and trusted God for a great victory over an enormous army, though he faltered in his later years.

Asahel

The youngest of Zeruiah’s three sons, "light of foot as a wild roe," one of David’s mighty men, killed by Abner in flight.

Asenath

The Egyptian wife of Joseph, daughter of the priest of On, and mother of Manasseh and Ephraim — two of the tribes of Israel.

Asher

The eighth son of Jacob, born to Zilpah; his name means "happy," and his tribe was blessed with rich, fertile land producing "royal dainties."

Athaliah

The daughter of Ahab and Jezebel who seized the throne of Judah, massacred the royal heirs, and reigned six years until she was overthrown for the rescued boy-king Joash.

Balaam

A pagan diviner hired by Moab to curse Israel, whose donkey rebuked him and whose mouth God turned to blessing; he later led Israel into sin and died by the sword.

Balak

The king of Moab who, fearing Israel, hired the diviner Balaam to curse them — only for God to turn every curse into blessing.

Barak

The commander summoned by Deborah to lead Israel against Sisera; he won the victory but the glory of the kill went to a woman.

Barnabas

A generous Levite of Cyprus, "the son of consolation," who vouched for the newly converted Paul and partnered with him on the first missionary journey.

Bartholomew

One of the twelve apostles, generally identified with Nathanael, of whom Jesus said, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!"

Baruch

The faithful scribe and companion of the prophet Jeremiah, who recorded his prophecies and re-wrote the scroll King Jehoiakim burned.

Bathsheba

The wife of Uriah, taken by David in adultery, who later became his wife and the mother of Solomon, securing his succession to the throne.

Belshazzar

The Babylonian ruler who desecrated the temple vessels at a feast and saw the mysterious handwriting on the wall; he was slain that very night as Babylon fell.

Benjamin

The youngest of Jacob’s twelve sons and the only full brother of Joseph; his safety became the test that broke open the family’s reconciliation in Egypt.

Bera

The king of Sodom whose city was plundered by Chedorlaomer; after Abraham’s rescue he offered Abraham the recovered goods, which Abraham refused.

Bethuel

The son of Nahor and Milcah and the father of Rebekah and Laban, who consented to Rebekah’s marriage to Isaac.

Bezaleel

The master craftsman, filled with the Spirit of God, whom the LORD called by name to build the tabernacle and its furnishings.