Characters
The people the story turns on, in the words of the King James. Open a chapter and anyone from this shelf who is named there is listed under the title. A genealogy holds many more names than this.
Adam
The first man. He is made in God's image, he disobeys, and the ground is cursed because of him. Paul calls him the figure of the one who was to come.
- Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
- Genesis 3:17
And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
- Romans 5:14
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
Eve
She is called the mother of all living. She is deceived, she eats, and she is promised that her seed will bruise the serpent's head.
- Genesis 3:20
And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
- Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
- 1 Timothy 2:14
And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
Cain
He brings an offering the Lord does not respect, and he kills his brother. He goes out from the presence of the Lord.
- Genesis 4:5
But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
- Genesis 4:8
And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
Abel
His offering is respected. He is killed for it, and he is still spoken of as righteous.
- Genesis 4:4
And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
- Hebrews 11:4
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Seth
Born after Abel is killed. From him the line runs to Noah.
- Genesis 4:25
And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.
Noah
He finds grace in a violent generation. He does what God commands, and his house is kept through the flood.
- Genesis 6:8
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
- Genesis 6:22
Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.
- Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Abraham
He leaves his country because God speaks. He believes the promise, and it is counted to him for righteousness. He is willing to offer Isaac.
- Genesis 12:1
Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
- Genesis 15:6
And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
- Genesis 22:12
And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
Sarah
She laughs at the promise of a son in her old age. God keeps the promise anyway.
- Genesis 18:12
Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
- Genesis 21:1
And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
Hagar
Sarah's handmaid. She is sent away, and God hears the boy and sees her.
- Genesis 16:13
And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?
- Genesis 21:17
And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
Ishmael
Abraham's son by Hagar. God hears him in the wilderness and makes a nation of him, but the covenant line is Isaac.
- Genesis 16:11
And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction.
- Genesis 21:20
And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
Isaac
The son of promise. He is laid on the altar, spared, and becomes the father of Jacob and Esau.
- Genesis 22:2
And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
- Genesis 22:12
And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
Rebekah
She leaves her family to marry Isaac. God tells her that two nations are in her womb, and the elder will serve the younger.
- Genesis 24:58
And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.
- Genesis 25:23
And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
Jacob
He grasps the heel and later the blessing. At the ford he is renamed Israel, and he dies blessing his sons.
- Genesis 25:26
And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.
- Genesis 32:28
And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
Esau
He sells his birthright for a meal. The New Testament calls him a profane person.
- Genesis 25:33
And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
- Hebrews 12:16
Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
Leah
The unloved wife. The Lord opens her womb, and the line of Judah, and later David, comes through her.
- Genesis 29:31
And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
- Genesis 29:35
And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.
Rachel
Jacob serves fourteen years for her. She dies on the road, naming her son Ben-oni, the son of my sorrow.
- Genesis 29:20
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
- Genesis 35:18
And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.
Joseph, son of Jacob
He refuses his master's wife, is sold and imprisoned, and later tells his brothers that they meant evil but God meant it for good.
- Genesis 39:9
There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
- Genesis 50:20
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Judah
He is the brother who says sell Joseph, and later the brother who offers himself in Benjamin's place. The scepter is promised to his line.
- Genesis 37:26
And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?
- Genesis 44:33
Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.
- Genesis 49:10
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
Moses
Drawn out of the river, sent back to Pharaoh, and meek above the men of his day. He sees the land and dies outside it.
- Exodus 3:10
Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
- Numbers 12:3
(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
- Deuteronomy 34:4
And the Lord said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.
Aaron
Moses' brother and the first high priest. He also makes the calf, and Moses calls him to account.
- Exodus 4:14
And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.
- Exodus 32:21
And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?
Miriam
She leads the song after the sea, and later speaks against Moses and is struck with leprosy.
- Exodus 15:20
And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
- Numbers 12:1
And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
Joshua
Moses' servant who becomes the leader. He is told to be strong, and he chooses, with his house, to serve the Lord.
- Joshua 1:5
There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
- Joshua 24:15
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Caleb
He and Joshua bring back a good report. He follows the Lord fully, and he is still strong when the land is divided.
- Numbers 14:24
But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.
- Joshua 14:11
As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.
Rahab
A harlot in Jericho who hides the spies and is spared. She is named in the line of Jesus.
- Joshua 2:11
And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
- Hebrews 11:31
By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
Deborah
A prophetess and judge. She calls Barak to the battle, and she goes with him when he will not go alone.
- Judges 4:4
And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
- Judges 4:8
And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.
Gideon
He is hiding when the angel calls him a mighty man of valour. God cuts his army down so Israel cannot say their own hand saved them.
- Judges 6:12
And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
- Judges 7:2
And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.
Samson
A Nazirite from the womb, strong, and careless with his vow. He dies pulling down the house of the Philistines, and he is still listed among the faithful.
- Judges 16:17
That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.
- Judges 16:30
And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.
- Hebrews 11:32
And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
Ruth
A Moabite who will not leave Naomi. She takes refuge under the God of Israel, and she is set in the line of David.
- Ruth 1:16
And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
- Ruth 4:17
And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Naomi
She goes out full and comes home bitter, and she tells them to call her Mara. The child born to Ruth is laid in her lap.
Boaz
A kinsman who does not ignore Ruth. He redeems the inheritance and takes her as his wife.
- Ruth 2:20
And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.
- Ruth 4:13
So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bare a son.
Hannah
She asks for a son and gives him back to the Lord. Samuel is the answer to that prayer.
- 1 Samuel 1:11
And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
- 1 Samuel 1:27
For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
Eli
The priest who blesses Hannah, and the father who does not restrain his sons. The word of the Lord is rare in his day until Samuel hears it.
- 1 Samuel 2:29
Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?
- 1 Samuel 3:1
And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
Samuel
He says, Speak, for thy servant heareth. He judges Israel, and he anoints both Saul and David.
- 1 Samuel 3:10
And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
- 1 Samuel 16:13
Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
Saul, king of Israel
He is chosen and anointed, then he spares what God told him to destroy. Samuel tells him that to obey is better than sacrifice.
- 1 Samuel 15:22
And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
- 1 Samuel 15:23
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
David
A man after God's own heart, and a man who takes another man's wife and is told, Thou art the man. He repents. The promise of a son on his throne outlives his sin.
- 1 Samuel 13:14
But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.
- 2 Samuel 12:7
And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
- Psalm 51:1
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Jonathan
Saul's son, and David's friend. He loves David as his own soul and gives him the throne he might have claimed.
- 1 Samuel 18:1
And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
- 1 Samuel 23:17
And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.
Abigail
Nabal's wife, and wiser than her husband. She keeps David from bloodguilt, and after Nabal dies David takes her as his wife.
- 1 Samuel 25:33
And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.
Bathsheba
Uriah's wife. David takes her, the child dies, and Solomon is born to her afterward.
- 2 Samuel 11:3
And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
- 2 Samuel 12:24
And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the Lord loved him.
Nathan
The prophet who tells David a story about a stolen lamb, and then says, Thou art the man.
- 2 Samuel 12:7
And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
Absalom
David's son. He steals the hearts of Israel, rebels, and dies hanging in an oak. David weeps for him.
- 2 Samuel 15:6
And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
- 2 Samuel 18:33
And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
Solomon
He asks for an understanding heart, and he is given wisdom and riches. In his old age his wives turn his heart after other gods.
- 1 Kings 3:9
Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
- 1 Kings 11:4
For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.
Elijah
He stands alone on Carmel and asks the people how long they will halt between two opinions. Later he asks God to take his life, and God is not done with him.
- 1 Kings 18:21
And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
- 1 Kings 19:4
But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
Elisha
He asks for a double portion of Elijah's spirit and will not leave him. His ministry is full of mercy to ordinary people.
- 2 Kings 2:9
And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
- 2 Kings 4:1
Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
Ahab
He does evil above the kings before him, and he lets Jezebel take Naboth's vineyard. When he humbles himself, the judgment is delayed.
- 1 Kings 16:30
And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him.
- 1 Kings 21:27
And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
Jezebel
She feeds the prophets of Baal and writes the letters that kill Naboth. Her name is later used for a woman who teaches the church to commit fornication.
- 1 Kings 21:25
But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.
- Revelation 2:20
Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
Hezekiah
He trusts the Lord more than the kings of Judah around him. When he is told he will die, he prays, and God adds years.
- 2 Kings 18:5
He trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.
- 2 Kings 20:5
Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord.
Josiah
He begins to seek the Lord young. When the book of the law is read to him, he tears his clothes.
- 2 Kings 22:2
And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.
- 2 Kings 22:11
And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.
Job
A perfect and upright man who loses his children, his wealth, and his health, and will not curse God. He also speaks without knowledge, and then he repents.
Isaiah
He sees the Lord high and lifted up, says he is undone, and then says, Here am I; send me.
- Isaiah 6:5
Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.
- Isaiah 6:8
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
Jeremiah
Called before he is born. He weeps over a people who will not hear, and he is told not to be afraid of their faces.
- Jeremiah 1:5
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
- Jeremiah 1:8
Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.
Ezekiel
A priest by the river Chebar. He is sent to a rebellious house, whether they will hear or forbear.
- Ezekiel 2:3
And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.
- Ezekiel 2:5
And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.
Daniel
He purposes in his heart not to defile himself, and he prays with his windows open even when the law forbids it.
- Daniel 1:8
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
- Daniel 6:10
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
Esther
A Jewish woman in a Persian court. She is told that she may have come to the kingdom for such a time as this, and she says, If I perish, I perish.
- Esther 4:14
For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
- Esther 4:16
Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
Mordecai
He will not bow to Haman. He raises Esther, and he is later set over the house of Haman.
- Esther 3:2
And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.
- Esther 10:3
For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.
Ezra
A scribe of the law of Moses. He prepares his heart to seek the law, to do it, and to teach it.
- Ezra 7:10
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
Nehemiah
He weeps over the broken wall of Jerusalem, prays, and then asks the king for leave to go and build.
- Nehemiah 1:4
And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
- Nehemiah 2:5
And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.
Hosea
God tells him to take a wife of whoredoms. His house becomes a picture of Israel's unfaithfulness and of God's refusal to let her go.
- Hosea 1:2
The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea. And the Lord said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the Lord.
- Hosea 3:1
Then said the Lord unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the Lord toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.
Amos
Not a prophet's son, but a herdman. God takes him from the flock and sends him to speak against Israel.
Jonah
A prophet who runs from the presence of the Lord, is heard from the fish, and then is angry when God spares Nineveh.
- Jonah 1:3
But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.
- Jonah 2:1
Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly,
- Jonah 4:1
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.
Jesus
The son promised to save his people from their sins. He is the Word made flesh. He humbles himself, and becomes obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
- Matthew 1:21
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.
- John 1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
- Philippians 2:8
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Mary
The King James uses this name for more than one woman. The mother of Jesus calls herself the handmaid of the Lord. Mary Magdalene is the one who meets him at the tomb. Mary of Bethany sits at his feet.
- Luke 1:38
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
- John 20:16
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
- Luke 10:39
And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
Joseph, husband of Mary
A just man who is told in a dream not to fear to take Mary as his wife. He obeys the angel and protects the child.
- Matthew 1:19
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
- Matthew 1:24
Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
John the Baptist
The voice in the wilderness. He says he is not the Christ, and that Jesus must increase while he decreases.
Peter
He confesses that Jesus is the Christ, and the same night he denies him. The risen Lord tells him, Feed my sheep.
- Matthew 16:16
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
- Matthew 26:75
And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
- John 21:17
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Andrew
Peter's brother. He hears John, follows Jesus, and first finds his own brother.
James
Two men bear this name in the story. James the son of Zebedee is with Jesus on the mount and in the garden, and Herod kills him with the sword. James the Lord's brother speaks in the council at Jerusalem.
- Mark 3:17
And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:
- Acts 12:2
And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
- Acts 15:13
And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
John
The Baptist is one John. The disciple Jesus loves is another. That disciple is at the cross, he outruns Peter to the tomb, and he writes what he has seen.
- John 19:26
When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
- John 20:4
So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
- undefined 1:1
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
Matthew
A publican at the receipt of custom. Jesus says, Follow me, and he rises up and follows.
- Matthew 9:9
And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
- Luke 5:27
And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.
Thomas
He will not believe unless he sees the wounds. A week later he says, My Lord and my God.
- John 20:25
The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
- John 20:28
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Judas Iscariot
One of the twelve. He keeps the bag, he betrays Jesus with a kiss, and he goes out and hangs himself. Not every man named Judas in the New Testament is this man.
- John 12:6
This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
- Matthew 26:49
And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
- Matthew 27:5
And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
Mary Magdalene
Jesus casts seven devils out of her. She is at the cross, and she is the first to see him risen, and she is sent to tell the others.
- Luke 8:2
And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
- John 20:18
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
Martha
She serves, and she is cumbered about much serving. She also confesses, before Lazarus is called out, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
- Luke 10:41
And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
- John 11:27
She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
Lazarus
The brother of Mary and Martha. Jesus loves him, weeps at his grave, and calls him out of it.
- John 11:35
Jesus wept.
- John 11:43
And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
Nicodemus
A ruler who comes to Jesus by night. He is told he must be born again. Later he brings spices for the burial.
- John 3:3
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
- John 19:39
And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
Zacchaeus
A rich publican who climbs a tree to see Jesus. He comes down, and he says he will restore what he took by false accusation.
- Luke 19:2
And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
- Luke 19:8
And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
Pilate
The governor who finds no fault in Jesus and still delivers him to be crucified. He washes his hands. The stain is not in the basin.
- John 19:4
Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.
- Matthew 27:24
When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
Herod
The name covers more than one ruler. One kills the children of Bethlehem. One beheads John. One mocks Jesus and sends him back to Pilate.
- Matthew 2:16
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.
- Matthew 14:10
And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
- Luke 23:11
And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
Paul
In Acts he is also called Saul. He persecutes the church, he is stopped on the road, and he spends the rest of his life telling that Christ died for our sins and rose again.
- Acts 9:4
And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
- 1 Corinthians 15:3
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
- Philippians 3:8
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Saul of Tarsus
The name Paul carries before he is called Paul. He consents to Stephen's death, and he breathes out threatenings, until Jesus speaks his name.
Barnabas
The son of consolation. He sells a field, he brings Saul to the apostles when the others are afraid, and he contends with Paul over John Mark.
- Acts 4:36
And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
- Acts 9:27
But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
- Acts 15:37
And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
Stephen
Full of faith and of the Holy Ghost. He sees Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he dies asking that this sin not be laid to their charge.
- Acts 6:5
And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
- Acts 7:60
And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Philip
An apostle, and also the evangelist in Acts who preaches Christ in Samaria and explains Isaiah to the Ethiopian. The chapter will tell you which Philip is speaking.
Cornelius
A devout centurion. His prayers and his alms come up before God, and Peter is sent to his house with the word.
Lydia
A seller of purple. The Lord opens her heart, she is baptized, and she constrains the missionaries to stay in her house.
- Acts 16:14
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
- Acts 16:15
And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
Silas
Paul's companion in the jail at Philippi. At midnight the two of them pray and sing, and the prisoners hear them.
- Acts 16:25
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
Timothy
Paul's son in the faith. He is told not to let any man despise his youth, and to stir up the gift of God that is in him.
- 1 Timothy 4:12
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
- 2 Timothy 1:6
Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
Titus
Left in Crete to set in order the things that are wanting, and to ordain elders.
- Titus 1:5
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
Aquila
A tentmaker. With his wife Priscilla he takes Apollos aside and expounds the way of God more perfectly.
- Acts 18:2
And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.
- Acts 18:26
And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
Priscilla
She and Aquila lay down their own necks for Paul's life. She helps teach Apollos.
- Romans 16:3
Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
- Acts 18:26
And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
Apollos
Eloquent and mighty in the scriptures, but he knows only the baptism of John until Priscilla and Aquila teach him. Paul plants, Apollos waters, God gives the increase.
- Acts 18:24
And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
- 1 Corinthians 3:6
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
Philemon
A brother in whose house the church meets. Paul asks him to receive Onesimus back, not as a servant, but as a brother.
- Philemon 1:10
I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
- Philemon 1:16
Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
Onesimus
A runaway who becomes profitable. Paul sends him home and says, Receive him as myself.
- Philemon 1:11
Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
- Philemon 1:17
If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.