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Introduction
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* This article will have a profile of every character in the Bible.
* Character profiles will include: Short biography, and any historical context guesstimating such as a drawing.
* This article is still in Concept Phase. New, awaiting updates and more customization.
* Similar articles: Bible Story Outline.
* Characters are introduced in the order they occur when reading the Bible.
* If you like, submit your ideas on the Contact page.
* See Source Article at: http://christcenteredmall.com/profiles/alphabetized-list.htm
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“A” Names
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Abishai: Military Officer. Good Person.
* Oldest son of David's sister Zeruiah. Brother of Joab and Asahel (I Chronicles 2:16).
* Military officer under David; numbered among David's “mighty men” as an important warrior (I Chronicles 11:20-21). The impetuous warrior whom David had to restrain from killing sleeping Saul (I Samuel 26:6-9) and spiteful Shimei (II Samuel 16:9-11).
* The account of Abishai is entirely one of warfare; he assisted Joab in killing Abner (II Samuel 2:18, 24, 3:30); prevailed over the Ammonites and Edomites (II Samuel 10:9-14, I Chronicles 18:12-13); helped defeat the rebellious Absalom (II Samuel 18:5-8); and killed a giant who thought to extinguish David (II Samuel 21:15-17).
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Abraham: Shepherd. Good Person.
* An exalted father. Father of multitudes.
* Shepherd & Herdsman.
* The patriarch of ancient Israel and the one to whom and through whom God promised blessing to all nations. Lived in Ur of the Chaldeans; Haran; the land of Canaan; Egypt; Beersheba in the land of the Philistines.
* Wife Sarah, Son Isaac. Also had son named Ishmael born through Sarai's maid Hagar.
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Adam: First Human. Good Person. Husband of Eve. Born and lived in the Garden of Eden, was expelled after eating forbidden fruit from the one tree God told them not to. Tricked by a serpent to eat that fruit. See “Eve” the first woman. Adam and Eve had good genetics, no disease or ailments like todays mutated humans have.
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Ahaziah: King of Israel 853BC-852BC. Evil Person.
* Don't confuse with a king of Judah with the same name, who ruled one year in 841 BC.
* Lived in Samaria. Son of Ahab.
* Brother of Jehoram who succeeded him to the throne after he died without leaving an heir.
* King who died as a result of fall through his upper room lattice.
* Continued his father Ahab's wicked ways, to the point of consulting a Philistine idol after his injuries. For this he was condemned by prophet Elijah. He attempted to nullify this word by taking Elijah captive, but the prophesy was validated when Elijah called down fire from heaven to consume two military units sent to arrest him.
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Ahithophel: Unknown Occupation. Good Person.
* Lived at Giloh, near Hebron, in the hill country of Judah (II Samuel 15:12).
* Advisor to King David and later to his son Absalom (II Samuel 16:23).
* Father of Eliam, one of David's “mighty men” and numbered among the “thirty” (II Samuel 23:34); possibly the grandfather of Bathsheba (II Samuel 11:3); which might help explain his defection to Absalom.
* Was David's counselor who sided with Absalom in his ill-fated rebellion, then committed suicide when it became apparent that Absalom had decided to follow another man's bad advice (II Samuel 15:12, 17:23). One piece of Ahithophel's advice that Absalom did take was to lie with David's concubines (II Samuel 16:21), an act which fulfilled Nathan's prophecy (II Samuel 12:11-12) and in effect meant that Absalom was assuming the throne (II Samuel 3:7).
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Amos: Prophet. Good Person.
* Lived in Tekoa, a town about 10 miles south of Jerusalem.
* Was a Sheepbreeder, sycamore cultivator, and prophet during the reign of Jeroboam II.
* The prophet who denounced the northern kingdom of Israel for its idolatry, injustice, corruption, and oppression of the poor. Amos' nine warnings of the Lord's judgment came to pass when Assyria overran Israel a generation later.
* Issued nine warnings: 1. Flee from cruelty. 2. Don't forsake God's laws. 3. Don't worship wealth. 4. Heed God's chastisements. 5. Flee false religious practices. 6. Beware of false security. 7. Don't disdain God's spokesmen. 8. Don't revile God's holy days. 9. Don't flee from God.
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Ananias & Sapphira
* Don't confuse with Ananias, the disciple in Damascus who was the first believer to visit Saul after his dramatic conversion.
* Don't confuse with Ananias the high priest.
* Lied to Peter about donating money to the church and being struck dead by the Holy Spirit for their deception.
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Asahel: Military Commander . Good Person.
* Youngest son of Zeruiah; brother of Joab and Abishai.
* Commander in David's army.
* Fleet-footed individual who pursued Abner as he fled following his defeat in Gibeon. Unable to dissuade Asahel from pursuing him, Abner slew him; an act which led to the murder of Abner by Asahel's brother Joab.
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“B” Names
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Balaam: Soothsayer. Evil Person.
* Lived at Pethor, several miles of Carchemish on the Euphrates River.
* Son of Beor.
* Soothsayer who used magical arts in attempts to discover information about the future.
* When Balaam received cattle and sheep from Balak, king of Moab, the intention may have been to use their livers in the occult practice of divining the future. This art, which is one of its several varieties involved studying the color and configuration of animal livers, was commonly practiced by Babylonian sorcerers. However, Balaam abandoned the ritual when he realized that God was determined to bless Israel.
* His donkey was enabled by God to speak, leading to Balaam's submission to communicating only the Lord's message to Balak.
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Belshazzar: King. Evil Person.
* Also known as Baltasar.
* Lived in Babylon.
* Son of Nabonidus; possibly a grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, though the terms “father” and “son” may indicate royal succession.
* Ruled Babylon under Nabonidus, who left his son in control while he campaigned for ten years in Arabia.
* The king who hosted a banquet during which a hand appeared and wrote his doom on the wall.
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“C” Names
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Cornelius: Centurion. Good Person.
* Lived/Stationed in Caesarea, Rome's administrative center in Palestine.
* Centurion. A Roman officer was designated a centurion if he oversaw at least 100 soldiers. As head of the Italian Regiment, he probably had about 600 men under his command.
* God-fearing, prayerful, and generous. Drawn to Jewish monotheism as opposed to the pagan idolatry and immorality common among Romans of the day.
* Second recorded Gentile convert to Christianity (an Ethiopian treasurer was first). He sent men to fetch Simon Peter, 36 miles away, in response to a vision from God.
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“D” Names
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Daniel: Prophet/Advisor. Good Person.
* Also known as Belteshazzar.
* Probably lived in Jerusalem, until he was deported to Babylon in 605 BC.
* Prophet & adviser to Babylonian and Median rulers.
* Source of one of the four major (larger) prophetic books in the Old Testament (the other three being Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel).
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David: Shepherd/King. Good Person.
*Lived in Bethlehem during youth. Probably lived in Gibeah while he served Saul. Lived in Ziklag during much of the time while Saul pursued him. Lived in Hebron during the first 7 years of his reign. Lived in Jerusalem during the rest of his reign.
* A son of Jesse. Descendant of Judah. 7 brothers and 2 sisters. Married to numerous wives and concubines, including Saul's daughter Michal, Abigail, and Bathsheba. Father of numerous sons and daughters, including Absalom and David's successor, Solomon; ancestor of Jesus.
* Was a shepherd, court musician, military commander under King Saul, and king of Israel.
* The king under whom the Israelite monarchy was firmly established; most significant ancestor was Jesus Christ.
* Killed Goliath, the Philistine giant of Gath, using a stone from his slingshot.
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Deborah: Prophetess/Judge. Good Person.
* Lived between Bethel and Ramah, in the hill country of Ephraim.
* Wife of Lapidoth.
* Prophetess and judge.
* Lead the people of Israel to victory over the armies of the Canaanite general Sisera, after which she and her general, Barak, sang a victory song, and the nation experienced 40 years of peace.
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“E” Names
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Elisha: Prophet. Good Person. Name means “God is salvation”. Don't confuse Elisha with ELIJAH, his predecessor in 1Kings17:1.
* Home was Abel Meholah (I Kings 19:16), a city in the Jordan River valley, halfway between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea.
* Was the son of Shaphat.
* Occupation: Prophet in Israel between about 850 and 800 B.C.
* Successor to Elijah the prophet and the benefactor of a “double portion” of Elijah's spirit (II Kings 2:9).
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Enoch: Prophet. Good Person. Name means “Dedicated”.
* Was the son of Jared, a descendant of Seth; father of Methuselah.
* After the Babylonian exile, legends began to circulate claiming that Enoch was the father of writing, and that he had received divine revelations.
* Was walking with God until “God took him,” meaning that he was translated into God's presence without dying, as was the prophet Elijah. The New Testament honors Enoch as an example of outstanding faith.
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Esther: Queen. Good Person. Name means “Star”.
* Home was the palace at Shushan (capital of Persia).
* Family: Was the orphan daughter of Abihail and an unnamed mother; adopted by her cousin Mordecai of the tribe of Benjamin; became part of a royal harem and eventually married Ahasuerus, the king of Persia.
* Occupation: Queen of Persia.
* Best known for: Saving her people the Jews from genocide by boldly speaking up before King Ahasuerus and exploiting Haman's plot to destroy them.
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Eve: Helpmate to Adam. Good Person. Name means “Life-Giving”. Also known as “Woman”. Birth place and first home was Garden of Eden, where she and the first man Adam lived. They were the first man and wife. Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden after disobeying God's one simple command to not eat from a specific tree. Was the 1st person to eat the forbidden fruit from the tree of Knoweledge of Good and Evil.
* Had 3 sons: Cain, Abel, Seth. Later had many unnamed sons and daughters.
* Occupation was to tend the Garden of Eden with Adam.
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Ezekiel: Prophet. Good Person. Name means “God Strengthens”.
* Also called “Son of man,” a term used 93 times in the Book of Ezekiel.
* Home: Tel Abib, near the Chebar River in Babylon.
* Family: Was the son of Buzi, probably a priest in the line of Zadok; married to an unnamed woman whose death coincided with the beginning of the final siege of Jerusalem around 588 B.C.
* Occupation: Priest and prophet.
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“F” Names: There are no F names.
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“G” Names:
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Gad: Prophet. Good Person.
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Gideon: Farmer/Judge. Good Person.
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Goliath: Warrior. Evil Person.
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Gomer: Harlot. Evil Person.
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God: Creator of existence. Father of Jesus Christ. Part of the Trinity.
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“H” Names
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Habakkuk: Musician/Prophet. Good Person.
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Haman: Prince. Evil Person.
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Hannah: Homemaker. Good Person.
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Holy Spirit: Part of the Trinity.
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Hosea: Prophet. Good Person.
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Huldah: Prophetess. Good Person.
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Hushai: Advisor. Good Person.
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“I” Names
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Isaiah: Prophet. Good Person. His name means “The Lord has Saved”. His home was likely Jerusalem. His occupation is Official of King Uzziah of Judah; later called by God to be a prophet.
He's best known as an Old Testament prophet who vividly predicted the coming of the Messiah.
His special interest may have been executed by the wicked King Manasseh by being placed in a log that was then sawed in two.
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“J” Names. There are many!
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Jael: Unknown Occupation. Good Person. Name Means “Mountain goat.” Family was the wife of Heber the Kenite (Judges 4:17). Best known for receiving the Canaanite leader Sisera as he fled following his defeat by the Israelites under Deborah and Barak. Jael assassinated Sisera. Her action is celebrated in the Song of Deborah (Judges 5:24-27).
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James: Unknown Occupation. Good Person. There are many James's, so don't confuse them, some are James-the-son-of-Zebedee and James-the-son-of-Alphaeus. Two of the 12 disciples are James: James the Less was the son of Mary and brother of Joses; and also James the father of Judas. James's home was probably Nazareth. His father was probably Joseph; his mother was Mary; his older brother was Jesus; younger brothers were Joses, Judas, and Simon; he had sisters whom Scripture does not name. Occupation is unknown, but since his father and Jesus were carpenters, he may have been a carpenter also. Best known for leading the church at Jerusalem and writing the book of James.
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Jeremiah: Prophet. Good Person. Name means “The Lord exalts.” Home was Anathoth, a Levitical city a few miles northeast of Jerusalem. Family was the son of Hilkiah the priest. Occupation was Prophet to the southern kingdom of Judah in the late 7th and 6th centuries B.C. Best known as The “weeping prophet” whose tearful confessions and anguish of soul sometimes called for redress against personal enemies, giving rise to the term 'jeremiad.' Jeremiah's message of Jerusalem's impending fall made many enemies and few friends. He was often imprisoned. Some traditions hold that he died in Egypt, where he was taken against his protests by the survivors of the siege of Jerusalem. Others suggest that he was removed from Egypt to Babylon after the Babylonian invasion in 583 B.C.
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Jesus Christ: Son of God. Savior of humanity. Was beaten and tortured by humans, hung on a cross to pay for the bad things humanity has done against God. The only way to God. Was likely a carpenter in early life. Was highly wise even as a child. Healed many. Taught many. Died and defeated death on the third day, rose to Heaven.
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Jezebel: Queen. Evil Person. Don't confuse with a prophetess of Thyatira who enticed Christians in that church to commit sexual sins and idolatry (Revelation 2:20).
Home was originally from Tyre and Sidon; lived in Samaria (I Kings 16:24) after marrying Ahab. Family was the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians and priest of Melqart, the local name for Baal; married Ahab of Israel (I Kings 16:31) in what was probably a political marriage by Ahah's father Omri. Occupation was Queen of Israel.
Notorious for her devotion to Baal (or Melqart), as evidenced by the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah that she employed (I Kings 18:19); and for her influence over Ahab, as evidenced by the idols which she influenced him to set up (I Kings 16:32-33) and the murder of Naboth that she persuaded him to commit (I Kings 21:1-29). Best known for her determination to kill the prophet Elijah, which caused him to flee for his life to Mount Horeb (I Kings 19:1-8).
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Joab: Military Commander . Good Person. Name means “Yahweh is Father.” Home was Egypt. Family was the eldest son of Zeruiah, David's sister or half sister, making him David's nephew; brother of Abishai and Asahel. Occupation was Commander of David's army, a position he held for many years. Best known as David's cunning military strategist and ruthless field marshal.
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Jochebed: Homemaker . Good Person.
Name means “The Lord is our glory.” Home was Egypt. Family was from the tribe of Levi; wife of her nephew Amram; mother of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. Occupation was homemaker; later a servant to Pharoah's daughter. Best Known for finding a way to save her son from Pharoah's command to kill all Hebrew newborn boys, and then becoming his nanny under Pharoah's daughter.
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John Mark: Evangelist/Writer. Good Person. Often confused with John, one of the Twelve and a close friend of Jesus.
Family; he was the son of Mary, who owned a house in Jerusalem where the church often prayed; cousin to Barnabas. Peter referred to Mark as his “son.” His family was wealthy enough to own a large home with at least one servant. They frequently hosted gatherings of believers. Best Known for leaving Paul and Barnabas on their first gospel tour after visiting Cyprus; later writing the Gospel that bears his name, Mark.
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John the Baptist: Prophet. Good Person. Name means “Yahweh has been gracious.” Often confused with the Old Testament prophet Elijah.\
Born and raised in a town of Judah, but lived most of his adult life in the Judean wilderness, near the Jordan River. Was the son of Zacharias and Elizabeth. Occupation was Preacher and prophet. Best known for preparing the way for Jesus the Messiah.
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Jonah: Prophet. Good Person. Name means “Dove.” Home was Gath Hepher, a city about 15 miles west of the Sea of Galilee, in the territory of Zebulun. Was the son of Amittai. Occupation was Prophet in Israel during the reign of Jeroboam II. The prophet who survived being swallowed by a fish before preaching repentance to Nineveh.
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Jonathan: Military Commander. Good Person. Name means “The Lord has given.” Home was Gibeah, in the territory of Benjamin.
Was the son of King Saul and presumably of his wife, Ahinoam; had two brothers named Jishui and Malchishua, and two sisters named Merab and Michal; father of Mephibosheth. Occupation was Saul's heir, a commander in the military. Best known for his devoted friendship with and loyalty to David.
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Joshua: Military Commander. Good Person. Name means “The Lord is salvation.” Home was Timnath Serah located in the mountains of Ephraim. Was the son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim. Occupation was Military commander. The successor to Moses.
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Joshua the Priest: High Priest. Good Person. Name Means “The Lord is salvation.” Occupation was High Priest of Israel during the return from the Babylonian captivity. The high priest who stood before the Lord and was given a clean turban and garments to replace his filthy clothes thus symbolizing the removal of iniquity from his life (Zechariah 3:1-5).
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K. THERE ARE NO K NAMES.
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“L” Names
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Luke: Apostle. Good Person. His name means “The Beloved Physician”. His home was possibly Antioch of Syria; later Philippi and other cities where Christian communities were started.
Luke was born into cultured, educated Gentile family.
Luke's occupation was primarily a physician, though he became a historian and author, and even did some evangelism.
Luke was best known for Writing about one fourth of the New Testament (Luke and Acts)! His works emphasize the impact of the gospel on people considered to be 'second class' in Jewish culture at the time – Gentiles, women, the poor – as well as the topics of prayer and the work of the Holy Spirit.
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“M” Names
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Malachi: Prophet. Good Person.
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Mary: Homemaker. Good Person.
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Mary Magdalene: Follower. Good Person.
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Michal: Homemaker. Good Person.
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Miriam: Dancer. Good Person.
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Moses: Shepherd/Prophet. Good Person.
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“N” Names
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Nathan: Prophet. Good Person.
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Nebuchadnezzar: King. Evil Person.
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Nehemiah: Cupbearer/Governor. Good Person.
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“O” Names
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Othniel: Judge. Good Person.
* Was the son of Kenaz; nephew as well as son-in-law of Caleb; husband of Achsah.
* His job was “Judge” or deliverer of Israel.
* Best known for being the first of Israel's judges. He served for 40 years after overthrowing the oppressive Cushan-Rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia.
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“P” Names
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Paul: Apostle/Tentmaker. Eventually a Good Person.
* Also Known as Saul, his Jewish name, perhaps given in memory of Israel's first king, a member of the tribe of Benjamin, to which Paul's family belonged; but following his conversion he was known as Paul.
* Home: Born at Tarsus; brought up in Jerusalem. Later settled in Antioch of Syria, but traveled throughout the Roman Empire, with extended stays in Corinth and Ephesus.
* Family: Saul was a Jew but was born a Roman citizen, which means his father, who was a Pharisee must have been a Roman citizen before him. Luke mentions that Paul had a sister and a nephew in Acts 23:16.
* Occupation was Tentmaker by trade; trained as a Pharisee under Rabbi Gamaliel, he became the Jewish council's chief agent of anti-Christian activity before his conversion on the road to Damascus.
* Paul became a leader in the church, its most well-known and widely traveled spokesperson, and a major New Testament writer.
* Life-Changing Experience: A vision of Christ on the Damascus road, which led to his conversion and call as an apostle.
* Best Known as the apostle to the Gentiles.
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Peter: Apostle/Prophet. Good Person.
* Also Known as Simon (his given name); renamed Cephas (Aramaic), or Peter (Greek), or “The Rock” or “Rocky” (English) by Jesus.
* Home: Bethsaida and Capernaum on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee.
* Family: Was the son of Jonah; his younger brother was Andrew; he was married, and his wife traveled with him as he spread the message about Jesus.
* Occupation: Commercial fisherman; later one of Jesus' first representatives.
* Best known for his declaration that Jesus was the Christ, and his denial of Christ.
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Pharaoh was a King, and an Evil Person.
* Name Means “Great house.”
* Home is Egypt.
* Occupation is Ruler.
* Best known as the hardened-hearted pharaoh under whose reign occurred two major events: 7 catastrophic plagues and the exodus across the Red Sea by the Israelites.
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Phil's Daughters: Prophetesses. Good Person. Philip had 4 daughters. Their home is Caeserea. Best known for breaking the cultural norm of being wives and mothers, perhaps choosing to remain single in order to carry out their prophetic work.
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“R” Names (There's two of them).
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Rebekah: Homemaker. Good Person. Name Means “To tie fast.” Home was originally Haran (“the city of Nahor”); then Beer Lahai Roi (“the well of the Living One”), Gerar, and other locations in Canaan after marrying Isaac. Family was the daughter of Bethuel, Abraham's nephew; wife of Isaac; mother of Esau and Jacob. Occupation was Homemaker. Best known for masterminding the deception by which Jacob obtained Isaac's blessing.
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Ruth: Maidservant. Good Person. Name Means “Friendship” or “Refreshment.” Home was Born in Moab, but relocated with her mother-in-law Naomi to Bethlehem in Judah after the death of her husband. Family was the wife and widow of Mahlon; remarried Boaz by an extension of levirate marriage; gave birth to a son, Obed, who figuratively was called the son of Naomi; was an ancestor of David and Jesus Christ. Occupation was originally a homemaker, later a maidservant of Boaz; and finally a homemaker again. Best known for insisting that her mother-in-law Naomi allow her to come to Bethlehem, in order that Naomi's people, the Israelites, could become Ruth's people, and Naomi's God could become Ruth's God.
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“S” Names
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Samson: Judge. Good Person.
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Samuel: Judge. Prophet. Good Person.
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Sapphira: Land Owner. Evil Person.
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Sarah: Unknown Occupation. Good Person.
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Saul: King. Evil Person.
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Simeon: Good Person.
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There's no names for T, U, V, W, X, or Y.
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“Z” Names (There's only one).
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Zephaniah: Prophet. Name Means “The Lord has hidden,” perhaps reflecting the likelihood that Zephaniah was born during the evil days of King Manasseh.
* Home was probably Jerusalem.
* Family was a descendent of Hezekiah, probably the king of Judah; was the son of Cushi; probably a cousin and contemporary of King Josiah.
* Occupation was Prophet in Judah during the early reign of King Josiah, probably before the spiritual reforms of 621 B.C.
* Best Known as a prophet from the royal family in Judah who warned that the nation's immorality and idolatry made judgment inevitable. However, he also predicted that a penitent remnant would survive the coming judgment and enjoy blessings.
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Additional Information
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* There are two books I'll list later, “The men of the Bible”, and “The women of the Bible”. They are a great resource. Zondervan's Compact Bible Dictionary is an amazing resource.
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Internet Resources
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Sources Cited: The text body of this article was originally found at christcenteredmall.com/profiles/alphabetized-list.htm and since then has been undergoing a shortening process, to make quick summaries of the info. Still being processed.
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