T his alphabetical list contains the names of women in the Bible, many of whom we discuss in detail elsewhere in this book. Some are just barely mentioned in the Bible, with no other information, and others are described in more detail and in more verses. In some cases you’ll notice that more than one woman has the same name. This list includes the Bible verses that mention them so you know where to go to read about them.
Abigail: (1) Widow of Nabal, one of David’s wives, and mother of Chileab. 1 Samuel 25, 27:3, 30:5; 2 Samuel 2:2, 3:3. (2) Sister of David and mother of Amasa. 1 Chronicles 2:16–17; 2 Samuel 17:25.
Abijah: Mother of King Hezekiah of Judah. 2 Kings 18:2; 2 Chronicles 29:1.
Abishag: Concubine to King David. 1 Kings 1:1–4.
Abital: Wife of King David and mother of Shephatiah. 2 Samuel 3:4; 1 Chronicles 3:3.
Achsah: Daughter of Caleb and wife of Othniel. Joshua 15:16–17; Judges 1:12–14.
Adah: (1) Mother of Jabal; one of the wives of Noah’s father, Lamech. Genesis 4:19–20. (2) Wife of Esau. Genesis 36:2.
Ahinoam: ( 1) Wife of King Saul. 1 Samuel 14:50. (2) Wife of King David; mother of Amnon. 1 Samuel 25:43, 27:3, 30:5; 2 Samuel 3:2; 1 Chronicles 3:1.
Anna: ( 1) Wife of Tobit. Tobit 1:9, 20. (2) Prophetess in the temple at baby Jesus’ presentation. Luke 2:36–38.
Asenath: Wife of Joseph; mother of Manasseh and Ephraim. Genesis 41:45, 50, 46:20.
Athaliah: Daughter of King Omri of Israel. 2 Kings 8:26.
Basemath: Wife of Esau and mother of Reuel. Genesis 36:3, 17.
Bathsheba: Wife of Uriah, the Hittite; wife of King David; mother of King Solomon. 2 Samuel 11:2–5, 12:24; 1 Kings 1:11, 2:13.
Bathshua: Wife of Judah and mother of Er, Onan, and Shelah. Genesis 38:2–5; 1 Chronicles 2:3.
Bernice: Eldest daughter of Herod Agrippa I; heard Paul testify before Festus. Acts 25:13, 23, 26:30.
Bilhah: Maidservant to Rachel and mother of two of Jacob’s sons, Dan and Naphtali. Genesis 29:29 and 30:3–6.
Chloe: Woman who informed Paul of the divided state of the Corinthian church. 1 Corinthians 1:11.
Claudia: Female Christian mentioned by Paul. 2 Timothy 4:21.
Cleopatra: Daughter of Ptolemy VI Philometor and wife of King Alexander and King Demetrius. 1 Maccabees 10:57–58, 11:12.
Cozbi: Midianite woman killed by Phinehas. Numbers 25:6–15.
Damaris: One of the first Christian converts in Athens. Acts 17:34.
Deborah: (1) Prophetess, Judge, and wife of Lappidoth. Judges 4:4–9, 5:1–31. (2) Nurse of Rebekah. Genesis 35:8.
Delilah: Mistress of Samson who betrayed him to the Philistines. Judges 16:4–20.
Dinah: Daughter of Jacob and Leah; raped by Prince Shechem; her brothers Levi and Simeon retaliated by massacring Canaanites. Genesis 30:21, 34:1–27.
Dorcas: Greek for Tabitha; raised from the dead by Peter. Acts 9:36–41.
Drusilla: Third and youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa I; wife of Felix, Roman procurator. Acts 24:24.
Edna: Wife of Raguel, mother of Sarah. Tobit 7:2–8, 15.
Eglah: Wife of King David; mother of Ithream. 2 Samuel 3:5; 1 Chronicles 3:3.
Elisheba: Wife of Aaron; mother of Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar; daughter of Amminadab; sister of Nahshon. Exodus 6:23.
Elizabeth: Wife of Zechariah, mother of John the Baptist, and cousin to the Virgin Mary. Luke 1:1–57.
Esther: Queen of Persia; saved her Hebrew people from massacre. Book of Esther.
Eunice: Mother of Timothy; Jewish Christian. 2 Timothy 1:5; Acts 16:1.
Eve: First woman; wife of Adam; mother of Cain, Abel, and Seth. Genesis 3, 4.
Gomer: Harlot wife of Hosea. Hosea 1:2–3.
Hagar: Egyptian slave of Sarah and mother of Abraham’s first son, Ishmael. Genesis 16, 21:9–21; Galatians 4:24.
Haggith: Wife of King David and mother of Adonijah. 2 Samuel 3:4; 1 Kings 1:5, 11, 2:13; 1 Chronicles 3:2.
Hamutal: Mother of Kings Jehoahaz and Zedekiah. 2 Kings 23:31, 24:18; Jeremiah 52:1.
Hannah: Mother of prophet Samuel and wife of Elkanah the Levite. 1 Samuel 1:1–28.
Hephzibah: Mother of King Manasseh of Judah. 2 Kings 21:1.
Herodias: Daughter of Aristobulus and Bernice, wife first of Herod Philip I and then his brother Herod Antipas, and mother of Salome. Matthew 14:3–11; Mark 6:17–25.
Hoglah: Daughter of Zelophehad the Gileadite; responsible for allowing heritage to pass on to daughters if no son was born. Numbers 26:33, 27:1-8, 36:11; Joshua 17:3–4.
Huldah: Prophetess; discovered by the high priest Hilkiah. 2 Kings 22:14–17; 2 Chronicles 34:22–24.
Jael: Wife of Heber the Kenite; killed Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army. Judges 4:17–22, 5:24.
Jecholiah: Mother of King Azariah of Judah. 2 Kings 15:2; 2 Chronicles 26:3.
Jedidah: Mother of King Josiah of Judah. 2 Kings 22:1.
Jehosheba: Daughter of King Jehoram (Israel); saved King Joash of Judah as an infant. 2 Kings 11:2; 2 Chronicles 22:11.
Jemimah: First of three daughters born to Job after his prosperity had been restored. Job 42:14.
Jezebel: Daughter of King Ethbaal of Sidon; wife of King Ahab of Israel; notorious evil queen. 1 Kings 16:31, 18:4, 19:1–2, 21:5, 23; 2 Kings 9:30–37.
Joanna: Wife of Chuza, steward of Herod the Tetrarch; among the women who discovered Jesus’ empty tomb. Luke 8:3, 24:10.
Jochebed: Wife of Amram; mother of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. Exodus 6:20; Numbers 26:59.
Judith: (1) Widow from Bethulia who beheaded the Assyrian general Holofernes. Book of Judith. (2) Wife of Esau. Genesis 26:34.
Julia: Probably wife of Andronicus; sister of Nereus. Romans 16:15.
Keturah: Second wife of Abraham after death of Sarah. Genesis 25:1–4; 1 Chronicles 1:32.
Leah: Daughter of Laban; wife of Jacob; mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah. Genesis 29:16–35, 46:15, 49:31.
Lois: Maternal grandmother of Timothy. 2 Timothy 1:5.
Lo-ruhama: Daughter of Hosea and Gomer. Hosea 1:6, 2:23.
Lydia: Dealer in purple; Gentile woman who converted by preaching of Paul in Philippi. Acts 16:14, 15, 40.
Maacah: (1) The concubine of Caleb. 1 Chronicles 2:48. (2) Princess of Geshur; wife of King David; mother of Absalom and Tamar. 2 Samuel 3:3. (3) Daughter of Absalom. 1 Kings 15:2; 2 Chronicles 11:20–22.
Mahalath: (1) Granddaughter of Abraham; daughter of Ishmael; one of the wives of Esau. Genesis 28:9. (2) Wife of King Rehoboam of Judah. 2 Chronicles 11:18.
Martha: Sister of Lazarus and Mary; friend of Jesus. Luke 10:38–41; John 11:1–39, 12:2.
Mary of Nazareth: Mother of Jesus; wife of Joseph; cousin of Elizabeth. Matthew 1:18–25, 2:11, 14, 20, 21, 12:46–48, 13:55; Mark 3:31–32, 6:3; Luke 1:26–56, 2:5–19, 34, 48, 51, 8:19–20; John 2:1–5, 12, 6:42, 19:25–27; Acts 1:14.
Mary Magdalene: Woman from whom Jesus had expelled seven demons; follower of Jesus; went to Jesus’ empty tomb on Easter. Matthew 27:56, 61, 28:1; Mark 15:40, 47, 16:1, 9–10; Luke 8:2, 24:10; John 19:25, 20:1–18.
Mary of Bethany: Sister of Lazarus and Martha; friend of Jesus. Luke 10:39–42; John 11:1–45, 12:3.
Mary, wife of Cleopas: Relative of the Virgin Mary; mother of James the Less and Joses; was at the foot of the cross with the mother of Jesus. Mark 15:40, 47, 16:1; Luke 24:10; John 19:25.
Mary, mother of John Mark: Provided room for Christian worship. Acts 12:12.
Merab: Elder daughter of King Saul. 1 Samuel 14:49, 18:17–19.
Mehetabel: Wife of King Hadar of Edom. Genesis 36:39; 1 Chronicles 1:50.
Meshullemeth: Mother of King Amon of Judah. 2 Kings 21:19.
Michal: Daughter of King Saul; wife of King David. 1 Samuel 14:49, 18:20, 28, 19:11–17, 25:44; 2 Samuel 3:13–14, 6:16–23.
Milcah: (1) Daughter of Haran; wife of Abraham’s brother, Nahor; mother of Bethuel, father of Rebekah. Genesis 11:29, 22:20–23, 24:15. (2) Daughter of Zelophehad. Numbers 26:33.
Miriam: Prophetess; daughter of Amram and Jochebed; sister of Moses and Aaron. Exodus 2:4, 6:20, 15:20; Numbers 12:1–15, 20:1, 26:59; 1 Chronicles 6:3; Deuteromy 24:9.
Naamah: Wife of King Solomon; mother of King Rehoboam. 1 Kings 14:21.
Naomi: Wife of Elimelech of Bethlehem; mother of Mahlon and Chilion; mother-in-law of Ruth and Orpah. Book of Ruth.
Nehushta: Mother of King Jehoiachin of Judah. 2 Kings 24:8–15.
Oholibamah: Wife of Esau. Genesis 36:2.
Orpah: Wife of Chilion; daughter-in-law of Naomi. Ruth 1:4, 14.
Peninnah: Wife of Elkanah. 1 Samuel 1:2, 4.
Persis: Christian woman in Rome to whom Paul sent greetings. Romans 16:12.
Phoebe: Deaconess; Christian woman of the church at Cenchrea. Romans 16:1.
Priscilla: Wife of Aquila; Paul was a guest in her home. Acts 18:2–3, 26; Romans 16:3–4; 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19.
Puah: Egyptian midwife who refused to kill Hebrew male newborns. Exodus 1:15.
Rachel: Wife of Jacob; mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Genesis 29:6–31, 30:1–25, 31:4–35, 33:1–7, 35:16–24, 48:7; 1 Samuel 10:2; Jeremiah 31:15.
Rahab: (1) Prostitute in Jericho who hid Joshua’s spies in her house. Joshua 2:1–21, 6:17–25; Matthew 1:5; Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25. (2) Wife of Salmon; mother of Boaz. Matthew 1:5.
Rebekah: Daughter of Bethuel; wife of Isaac; mother of Esau and Jacob. Genesis 22:23, 24:15–67, 25:20–28, 26:7, 35, 27:42, 35:8, 49:31.
Reumah: Concubine of Nahor, Abraham’s brother. Genesis 22:24.
Rhoda: Maid in the home of Mary, mother of John Mark. Acts 12:13.
Rizpah: Daughter of Aiah, concubine of King Saul, mother of Armoni and Mephibosheth. 2 Samuel 3:7, 21:8, 10.
Ruth: Widow of Mahlon; daughter-in-law of Naomi; wife of Boaz; mother of Obed, grandfather of King David. Book of Ruth.
Salome: (1) Follower of Jesus; witnessed Crucifixion; at the empty tomb. Mark 15:40, 16:1. (2) Daughter of Herodias and Herod Philip; asked for head of John the Baptist. Matthew 14:6; Mark 6:22.
Sapphira: Wife of Ananias; she and her husband withheld money and lied to Peter about it. Acts 5:1–11.
Sarah: (1) Originally called Sarai, wife of Abraham, mother of Isaac. Genesis 11:29, 12:5–20, 16:1–8, 17:15-21, 18:6–15, 20:1–18, 21:1–12, 23:1–20, 25:10, 49:31; Romans 4:19, 9:9; Hebrews 11:11; 1 Peter 3:6. (2). Daughter of Raguel, had seven husbands before becoming wife of Tobiah. Tobit 3:7, 17.
Shelomith: Daughter of Dibri and mother of Shelomith who blasphemed the Lord’s name and was stoned to death. Leviticus 24:10–14.
Shiphrah: Egyptian midwife who refused to kill Hebrew male newborns. Exodus 1:15.
Susanna: (1) Heroine of Chapter 13 of the Book of Daniel; falsely accused of adultery. Susanna 1:1–63. (2) Benefactor and supporter of Jesus and the apostles. Luke 8:3.
Tabitha: Aramaic for Dorcas, raised from the dead by Peter. Acts 9:36–41.
Tamar: (1) Wife of Er; mother of Perez and Zerah through her father-in-law, Judah. Genesis 38:6–24; 1 Chronicles 2:4; Ruth 4:12; Matthew 1:3. (2) Daughter of David raped by her half brother. 2 Samuel 13:1–32. (3) Sister of Absalom; daughter of King David. 2 Samuel 14:27.
Taphath: Daughter of King Solomon; wife of Ben-abinadab. 1 Kings 4:11.
Timna: Concubine of Esau’s son, Eliphaz; mother of Amalek. Genesis 36:12.
Tryphaena: Christian woman of Rome greeted by Paul. Romans 16:12.
Tryphosa: Christian woman of Rome; traveled with Tryphaena. Romans 16:12.
Vashti: Deposed Persian Queen; replaced by Esther. Esther 1:9–19, 2:1–4.
Zebidah: Mother of King Jehoiakim of Judah. 2 Kings 23:36.
Zeresh: Wife of Haman the Agagite. Esther 5:10,14, 6:13.
Zeruah: Mother of King Jeroboam I of Israel. 1 Kings 11:26.
Zeruiah: Daughter of Nahash; sister of King David; mother of Joab, Abishal, and Abishel. 2 Samuel 2:18; 1 Chronicles 2:15–16.
Zibiah: Mother of King Joash of Judah. 2 Kings 12:1.
Zillah: Wife of Lamech; mother of Tubalcain and Naamah. Genesis 4:19–23.
Zilpah: Maidservant of Leah; concubine to Jacob; mother of Gad and Asher. Genesis 29:24, 30:9–12, 35: 26, 46:16–18.
Zipporah: Wife of Moses; daughter of Jethro; mother of Gershom and Eliezer. Exodus 2:21–22, 4:25, 18:1–6.