The people of the Bible

The first human, made by God from the dust of the earth.

• God breathes the breath of life into him and places him in the garden.Genesis 2:7
• With Eve he eats from the forbidden tree and hides from God.Genesis 3:8

The first woman, ‘mother of all the living’.

• God builds her from Adam’s side, and Adam rejoices.Genesis 2:22
• The serpent deceives her; God promises that an offspring of the woman will crush the serpent’s head.Genesis 3:15

A righteous man who survives the flood with his family.

• Builds the ark, exactly as God says.Genesis 6:22
• God makes a covenant with him, with the rainbow as its sign.Genesis 9:13

King of Salem and priest of God Most High.

• Brings Abraham bread and wine and blesses him.Genesis 14:18

Forefather of Israel and ‘father of all who believe’.

• God calls him away from Haran: in you all the nations will be blessed.Genesis 12:3
• Is willing to offer Isaac; God himself provides a ram.Genesis 22:13

Wife of Abraham, mother of Isaac.

• Laughs in disbelief when she is promised a son in her old age.Genesis 18:12
• Gives birth to Isaac and says: God has made me laugh.Genesis 21:6

Egyptian slave of Sarah, mother of Ishmael.

• Flees into the desert; God sees her, and she calls Him ‘the God who sees me’.Genesis 16:13
• God opens her eyes to a well of water and saves her son.Genesis 21:19

The promised son of Abraham and Sarah.

• Carries the wood up the mountain himself, where he is almost offered.Genesis 22:6
• Marries Rebekah and loves her.Genesis 24:67

Wife of Isaac, mother of Esau and Jacob.

• Gives Abraham’s servant water, and his camels too.Genesis 24:18
• Hears from God that the older will serve the younger.Genesis 25:23

Father of the twelve tribes, later called Israel.

• Dreams of a ladder reaching up to heaven.Genesis 28:12
• Wrestles at night by the Jabbok and receives the name Israel.Genesis 32

Jacob’s first wife, mother of Levi and Judah, among others.

• Less loved than her sister, but God sees her; at Judah’s birth she says: this time I will praise the LORD.Genesis 29:35

Jacob’s beloved wife, mother of Joseph and Benjamin.

• Jacob works seven years for her, and they seem to him only a few days.Genesis 29:20
• Dies giving birth to Benjamin, on the way to Bethlehem.Genesis 35:19

Son of Jacob and Leah, forefather of David and of Jesus.

• Offers himself as a slave in place of his little brother Benjamin.Genesis 44:33
• Jacob blesses him: the scepter will not depart from Judah.Genesis 49:10

Daughter-in-law of Judah, mother of Perez.

• Wronged, she forces Judah to do his duty; he says: she is more righteous than I.Genesis 38:26

Son of Jacob and Rachel, second ruler of Egypt.

• Is given a splendid robe and is sold by his jealous brothers.Genesis 37:28
• Forgives his brothers: you meant evil, God meant it for good.Genesis 50:20

Leader who frees Israel from Egypt, prophet and lawgiver.

• God speaks to him from a burning bush.Exodus 3:4
• Receives the Ten Words on Mount Sinai.Exodus 20:1

Brother of Moses, the first high priest.

• Speaks for Moses before Pharaoh.Exodus 4:16
• Makes the golden calf when the people grow impatient.Exodus 32:4

Prophetess, sister of Moses and Aaron.

• A sister watches over little Moses’ basket in the Nile; she is usually taken to be Miriam.Exodus 2:4
• Sings and dances with the tambourine after the crossing of the sea.Exodus 15:20

Successor of Moses, leads Israel into the promised land.

• God says: be strong and courageous, I am with you.Joshua 1:9
• The walls of Jericho fall after seven days of marching around.Joshua 6:20

Spy who trusts God when hardly anyone else does.

• Says after spying out the land: we can certainly take it.Numbers 13:30
• At eighty-five he still asks for the hill country of Hebron.Joshua 14:12

Woman in Jericho who hides the spies.

• Hangs a scarlet cord from her window and is saved with her family.Joshua 2:18

The first judge, a relative of Caleb.

• The Spirit of the LORD comes upon him; he frees Israel and the land has rest for forty years.Judges 3:10

Left-handed judge from the tribe of Benjamin.

• Frees Israel from King Eglon of Moab with a hidden sword.Judges 3:21

Judge who strikes down six hundred Philistines with an ox goad.

• Just one verse about him, and he too saves Israel.Judges 3:31

Prophetess and judge who settles disputes under a palm tree.

• Calls Barak to fight Sisera’s army, and goes along herself.Judges 4:9
• Sings a song with Barak about God’s victory.Judges 5:1

Army commander who defeats Sisera with Deborah.

• Goes down Mount Tabor with ten thousand men.Judges 4:14
• Hebrews names him among the heroes of faith.Hebrews 11:32

Woman in a tent who kills the fleeing army commander Sisera.

• Deborah’s song praises her: most blessed of women in the tents.Judges 5:24

Fearful farmer called by God to be a judge.

• The angel calls him ‘mighty man of valor’ while he is hiding in a winepress.Judges 6:12
• Defeats Midian with three hundred men, jars and torches.Judges 7:20

Judge from the tribe of Issachar, for twenty-three years.

• Rises to save Israel after the time of Abimelech.Judges 10:1

Judge from Gilead, for twenty-two years.

• Has thirty sons who ride on thirty donkeys.Judges 10:4

Rejected son who is brought back to be judge.

• Defeats the Ammonites.Judges 11:29
• Makes a rash vow, with a tragic end for his daughter.Judges 11:35

Judge from Bethlehem, for seven years.

• Has thirty sons and thirty daughters.Judges 12:8

Judge from the tribe of Zebulun, for ten years.

• Is buried in Aijalon, in the land of Zebulun.Judges 12:11

Judge from Ephraim, for eight years.

• His sons and grandsons ride on seventy donkeys.Judges 12:14

Nazirite of great strength, judge against the Philistines.

• Tears a young lion apart with his bare hands.Judges 14:6
• Prays for strength one last time and brings down the temple of Dagon.Judges 16:28

Priest in Shiloh, judge for forty years.

• Thinks the praying Hannah is drunk, and then blesses her.1 Samuel 1:17
• Teaches young Samuel to answer: speak, LORD, your servant is listening.1 Samuel 3:9

c. 1070–1010 BC

The last judge, the prophet who anoints Saul and David.

• As a boy he hears God’s voice at night.1 Samuel 3:10
• Anoints the young shepherd David as king.1 Samuel 16:13

Read the book of Ruth

Moabite woman who goes with her mother-in-law to Bethlehem.

• Says to Naomi: your people will be my people, and your God my God.Ruth 1:16
• Gleans grain in the field of Boaz.Ruth 2:3

Widow who returns to Bethlehem empty-handed.

• Wants to be called ‘Mara’ from now on: bitter.Ruth 1:20
• Takes her grandson Obed on her lap.Ruth 4:16

Farmer in Bethlehem, Ruth’s ‘redeemer’.

• Lets Ruth glean extra grain on purpose.Ruth 2:15
• As redeemer he buys back the land and marries Ruth.Ruth 4:10

Mother of Samuel, who prays to God for a child.

• Prays in silence; only her lips move.1 Samuel 1:13
• Sings: the LORD makes poor and makes rich, He brings low and lifts up.1 Samuel 2:7

Wife of Uriah, later of David; mother of Solomon.

• David takes her and has her husband killed; God sends the prophet Nathan.2 Samuel 11:27
• Makes sure her son Solomon becomes king.1 Kings 1:30

Wise woman who keeps David from taking revenge.

• David thanks God that she stopped him.1 Samuel 25:32

c. 1000–970 BC

Prophet at David’s court.

• Brings God’s promise: your kingdom will stand forever.2 Samuel 7:16
• Tells David the story of the little ewe lamb: you are the man!2 Samuel 12:7

c. 1015–970 BC

Seer who gives David advice all his life.

• Tells David, on the run, to go back to Judah.1 Samuel 22:5
• Has David build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah, where the temple later stands.2 Samuel 24:18

c. 935–910 BC

Prophet from Shiloh.

• Tears his new cloak into twelve pieces and gives Jeroboam ten.1 Kings 11:31
• Already blind, he announces the end of Jeroboam’s house.1 Kings 14:10

c. 870–850 BC

Prophet in Israel against the Baal worship of Ahab and Jezebel.

• Fire from the LORD falls on the altar on Mount Carmel.1 Kings 18:38
• Hears God in the stillness, in a gentle whisper.1 Kings 19:12

c. 853 BC

Prophet who alone tells King Ahab the truth.

• Says: what the LORD tells me, that is what I will speak.1 Kings 22:14

c. 850–795 BC

Disciple and successor of Elijah.

• Asks for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit and sees him taken up in a whirlwind.2 Kings 2:11
• Naaman the Syrian is healed after dipping seven times in the Jordan.2 Kings 5:14

High priest who hides little Joash and crowns him.

• Puts seven-year-old Joash on the throne.2 Kings 11:12
• Is buried among the kings, because he had done good in Israel.2 Chronicles 24:16

c. 622 BC

Prophetess in Jerusalem who explains the rediscovered book of the law.

• King Josiah sends his men to her; she tells them what God says.2 Kings 22:14

c. 790–760 BCRead the book of Jonah

Prophet who runs away from God’s command to go to Nineveh.

• Is swallowed by a great fish and prays in the belly of the fish.Jonah 2
• Is angry when God spares Nineveh; God teaches him about his mercy.Jonah 4:11

c. 765–755 BCRead the book of Amos

Shepherd and fig grower from Judah, sent to wealthy Israel.

• Cries out: let justice roll on like water.Amos 5:24
• Says: I am no prophet, I am a shepherd; the LORD took me from following the flock.Amos 7:15

c. 755–715 BCRead the book of Hosea

Prophet in Israel whose marriage shows God’s faithful love.

• Marries Gomer and stays faithful to her, even when she is unfaithful to him.Hosea 3:1
• God says: when Israel was a child, I loved him; out of Egypt I called my son.Hosea 11:1

c. 740–681 BCRead the book of Isaiah

Prophet in Jerusalem, often called ‘the evangelist of the Old Testament’.

• Sees the LORD on a high throne and says: here I am, send me.Isaiah 6:8
• Speaks of the suffering servant who bears our sins.Isaiah 53:5

Good to know: Many biblical scholars think Isaiah 40–66 was written later, during or after the exile; others see the whole book as the work of Isaiah himself.

c. 735–700 BCRead the book of Micah

Prophet from the countryside of Judah, a contemporary of Isaiah.

• Says what God asks: to do justice, to love faithfulness and to walk humbly with your God.Micah 6:8
• Foretells that a ruler will come from little Bethlehem.Micah 5

Read the book of Joel

Prophet of the locust plague and the day of the LORD.

• After a locust plague he calls out: tear your heart, not your clothes.Joel 2:13
• God promises to pour out his Spirit on all people.Joel 2

Good to know: When Joel lived is uncertain: estimates range from the ninth to the fourth century BC.

c. 660–612 BCRead the book of Nahum

Prophet of the fall of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria.

• The LORD is good, a safe place in the day of trouble.Nahum 1:7

c. 635–620 BCRead the book of Zephaniah

Prophet from the royal family, in the time of Josiah.

• Promises: God will rejoice over you and sing for joy.Zephaniah 3:17

c. 627–580 BCRead the book of Jeremiah

The ‘weeping prophet’, in the last years of Judah.

• God calls him as a young man: do not say ‘I am too young’.Jeremiah 1:7
• Promises a new covenant, written on the heart.Jeremiah 31:33

c. 609–598 BCRead the book of Habakkuk

Prophet who argues with God about evil.

• Asks: how long, LORD, must I cry for help?Habakkuk 1:2
• Sings: though the fig tree does not blossom, yet I will rejoice in the LORD.Habakkuk 3:17

Read the book of Obadiah

Writer of the shortest book of the Old Testament, about Edom.

• The day of the LORD is near: as you have done, so it will be done to you.Obadiah 1:15

Good to know: Probably shortly after the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC; some think of an earlier time.

c. 593–571 BCRead the book of Ezekiel

Priest and prophet among the exiles in Babylon.

• Sees the glory of God by the river Kebar.Ezekiel 1:28
• Sees a valley full of dry bones come back to life.Ezekiel 37:10

c. 605–536 BCRead the book of Daniel

Young exile at the court of Babylon and Persia.

• Keeps praying and is thrown into the lions’ den; God shuts the lions’ mouths.Daniel 6
• Sees in a vision ‘one like a son of man’ who receives everlasting dominion.Daniel 7:13

Good to know: Opinions differ on whether the book took its shape in the sixth century or only around 165 BC.

c. 520 BCRead the book of Haggai

Prophet who urges the returned exiles to rebuild the temple.

• You live in fine houses, while God’s house lies in ruins?Haggai 1:4
• Promises that the glory of this house will be greater than that of the first.Haggai 2:9

c. 520–518 BCRead the book of Zechariah

Prophet of the return, with visions in the night.

• Sees your king coming, righteous and humble, riding on a donkey.Zechariah 9:9
• They will look on him whom they have pierced.Zechariah 12:10

Good to know: Many interpreters think Zechariah 9–14 comes from a later time than the first eight chapters.

c. 450–430 BCRead the book of Malachi

The last prophet of the Old Testament.

• I send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me.Malachi 3:1
• Promises that Elijah will come before the great day of the LORD.Malachi 4

Read the book of Esther

Jewish queen of Persia who saves her people.

• Mordecai: who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.Esther 4:14
• Goes to the king uninvited: if I perish, I perish.Esther 4:16

Cousin and foster father of Esther.

• Uncovers a plot against the king.Esther 2:22
• Becomes second only to the king and seeks the good of his people.Esther 10:3

c. 538–515 BC

Leader from David’s family at the return from Babylon.

• Lays the foundation of the new temple.Ezra 3:8
• Hears: not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit.Zechariah 4:6

c. 458 BCRead the book of Ezra

Priest and scribe who teaches the law.

• Had set his heart to study the law, to do it and to teach it.Ezra 7:10
• Reads the law aloud in the square; the people weep and celebrate.Nehemiah 8:6

c. 445–432 BCRead the book of Nehemiah

Cupbearer to the Persian king who rebuilds the walls of Jerusalem.

• Prays briefly in silence before he answers the king.Nehemiah 2:4
• Says: the joy of the LORD is your strength.Nehemiah 8:10

Mother of John the Baptist, a relative of Mary.

• Her baby leaps when Mary comes in; filled with the Spirit, she blesses Mary.Luke 1:42

Priest, father of John the Baptist.

• Does not believe the angel and cannot speak until the birth.Luke 1:20
• Sings his song of praise: blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel.Luke 1:68

Mother of Jesus.

• Says to the angel: I am the servant of the Lord.Luke 1:38
• Stands by the cross of her Son.John 19:25

Carpenter, husband of Mary, who cares for Jesus like a father.

• Takes Mary as his wife after all, following a dream.Matthew 1:24
• Flees with Mary and the child to Egypt.Matthew 2:14

Prophet in the wilderness, who prepares the way for Jesus.

• Points to Jesus: look, the Lamb of God.John 1:29
• Says: He must become greater, I must become less.John 3:30

Old man in the temple, waiting for the consolation of Israel.

• Takes the baby Jesus in his arms: now I can go in peace.Luke 2:29

Old prophetess who prays in the temple day and night.

• Sees the child Jesus and tells everyone about Him.Luke 2:38

Pharisee and council member who comes to Jesus at night.

• Hears about being born again.John 3:3
• Brings myrrh and aloes for the burial of Jesus.John 19:39

Chief tax collector in Jericho.

• Climbs a tree to see Jesus; Jesus invites himself to his house.Luke 19:5
• Gives half of his possessions to the poor.Luke 19:8

Friend of Jesus from Bethany, brother of Martha and Mary.

• Jesus calls him out of the tomb alive.John 11:43

Sister of Mary and Lazarus in Bethany.

• Busy with the meal; Jesus says: Martha, you are worried about so many things.Luke 10:41
• Confesses: You are the Messiah, the Son of God.John 11:27

Sister of Martha and Lazarus, who listens at Jesus’ feet.

• Chooses the good part.Luke 10:42
• Anoints Jesus’ feet with costly nard.John 12:3

Follower of Jesus, the first witness of the resurrection.

• Jesus had set her free; she supports Him with what she has.Luke 8:2
• Hears her name and recognizes the risen Lord: I have seen the Lord!John 20:18

Good to know: That she was a prostitute is not in the Bible: that idea comes from a sermon centuries later.

Rich council member who buries Jesus in his own tomb.

• Boldly asks Pilate for the body of Jesus.John 19:38

One of the seven helpers of the church, the first martyr.

• Sees heaven opened and Jesus standing at God’s right hand.Acts 7:56
• Prays for those who are stoning him.Acts 7:60

One of the seven helpers and an evangelist; not the apostle Philip.

• Explains Isaiah 53 to an Ethiopian court official and baptizes him.Acts 8:38

Encourager who gives the newly converted Paul a chance.

• Brings Saul to the apostles when everyone is afraid of him.Acts 9:27
• Goes with Paul on the first missionary journey.Acts 13:2

Roman officer, one of the first non-Jews to be baptized.

• While Peter is speaking, the Spirit comes on all who are listening.Acts 10:44