Eve
The first woman according to the biblical creation story in Genesis 2–3
best-known female figure in the Hebrew Bible
the first matriarch of the whole human race
created from her husband Adam's rib to be his helper
was put in the presence of God and lived in the garden of Eden with her husband Adam, who was deceived by Satan in serpent form
had two sons Cain and Abel
Sarah
had a name changed
was 89 years old and barren (childless), and her husband Abraham was 99
laughed when Abraham told her she would have a child
had a son named Isaac, meaning laughter
Rebekah
one of the matriarchs
married Isaac
had twins: Esau and Jacob, her favorite being Jacob
helped Jacob deceive her Isaac into blessing Jacob instead of Esau
Leah
her father Laban deceived Jacob into marrying her after working for seven years to marry her sister
gave Jacob many sons but still was not loved as much as her sister
Rachel
married Jacob seven years after he married her sister
known as the “beautiful sister”
was in great grief and despair because she could not give her husband Jacob children for a long time
mother of Joseph and Benjamin
Rahab
the mother of Boaz, and a part of Jesus’s bloodline
being a Canaanite made her a hated enemy of Israel
helped Joshua’s spies from Israel to destroy Jericho by not telling the king she was hiding the spies in her home
her family and life were spared the life
God saw past her rough history and used her to pass on a legacy
Deborah
was said to hear God's voice as a prophet and share God’s Word with others (was only one of five women described as a prophet in the Old Testament)
as a priestess, she did not offer sacrifices as the men did, but she did lead worship services and preach
the only female judge mentioned in the book of Judges
wrote a song describing the battle she and Barak fought against Sisera and his army
Delilah
was the central figure of Samson's last love story (Judges 16)
was a Philistine who was bribed to convince Sampson to reveal that the secret of his strength was his long hair
took advantage of his trust and betrayed him to his enemies
Ruth
has her own book in the Bible
a woman whose husband has died but she chose to stay with her husband’s mother Naomi
was a Moabite woman and leaving her homeland to be with Naomi was not ideal for her
married a man named Boaz
Bathsheba
as she bathed on her roof, she caught the attention of King David
becomes pregnant with King David’s child
her husband is killed so that he won’t ever know what King David did
Miriam
best known for helping to deliver Moses at the Nile River and leading the Hebrew women in singing, dancing, and playing drums after crossing the Red Sea.
one of the 7 prophetesses of the Bible
was struck with leprosy
Jezebel
a prostitute, a deceiver, a killer
the wife of Ahab, king of Israel: a good, God worshiping man
turned her husband towards worshipping Baal: the so-called god of nature
wanted to kill God’s prophet, Elijah
died by falling out her window and was eaten by dogs
Esther
born with the name Hadassah
at an early age, her cousin Mordecai (a God-fearing man) adopted her
chosen by King Xerxes to replace his former wife
prevented the first Holocaust of her people, the Hebrews
Mary of Bethany
opened her home to Jesus
sat at the Lord's feet listening to what He said
Martha
opened her home to Jesus
was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made
Mary, mother of Jesus
a virgin who became the wife of Joseph
supported and displayed her faith in her son throughout His ministry
Mary Magdalene
Jesus cleansed her of seven demons
financially aided Jesus in Galilee
one of the witnesses of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus and
was the first person to see Jesus after the resurrection
Woman at the well
Jesus went out of His way to talk to her, even though she was a Samaritan woman (typically despised by the Jewish people)
Jesus asked her to get Him a drink of water
was shocked by Jesus’s behavior with her
Jesus told her He could give her "living water" as a gift from God so that she would never thirst again (spiritually)
Woman with the issue of blood
dealt with a medical problem for 12 years
her presence made people nervous
touched the hem of Jesus’s garment and was healed
Namaan’s servant
was taken captive by a king to be a servant for his wife
was far away from her family and her true home, yet she kept her faith
when the king became sick with leprosy, she saved his life by suggesting he talk to a prophet of God to be healed
Lot’s wife
turned to salt was the punishment for disobeying the angel’s warning
by looking back at the “evil cities,” she betrayed her secret longing for that way of life