Did You Know?

The Shunammite woman provided hospitality to the prophet Elisha and was later blessed with a son.

Her story is recorded in 2 Kings 4:8-17, and Elisha later miraculously restored her son to life after the child's sudden death (2 Kings 4:32-37). Her account highlights themes of hospitality, faith, and divine provision.

[Women of the Bible]

Athaliah is the only woman recorded as ruling as monarch over the Kingdom of Judah in her own right.

After the death of her son, King Ahaziah, Athaliah seized the throne and attempted to eliminate rival claimants, though one grandson, Joash, survived in hiding (2 Kings 11:1-3). She was eventually overthrown after a six-year reign (2 Kings 11:16, 20).

[Women of the Bible]

Mary, the mother of Jesus, is described as a young woman chosen by God to bear the Messiah.

The angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary is recorded in Luke 1:26-38, including her humble response, 'Behold the handmaid of the Lord' (Luke 1:38). Mary's song of praise, known as the Magnificat, appears in Luke 1:46-55.

[Women of the Bible]

Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist, was a relative of Mary and also conceived miraculously in her old age.

Her story is recorded alongside Mary's in Luke 1:5-25 and 1:39-45, with both pregnancies presented as significant, divinely orchestrated events. Elizabeth's greeting to Mary, recognizing her as 'the mother of my Lord,' occurs in Luke 1:43.

[Women of the Bible]

Mary Magdalene is recorded as the first person to see Jesus after his resurrection.

This significant encounter is described in John 20:11-18, with Jesus specifically speaking her name before she recognized him. She then reported the resurrection to the other disciples, sometimes leading to her being described in later tradition as the 'apostle to the apostles.'

[Women of the Bible]

Martha and Mary, sisters of Lazarus, are both mentioned in accounts involving hospitality and devotion to Jesus.

In one account, Martha is occupied with serving while Mary sits attentively listening to Jesus' teaching (Luke 10:38-42). Both sisters also appear prominently in the account of Lazarus's death and resurrection in John 11.

[Women of the Bible]

The Samaritan woman at the well had an extended theological conversation with Jesus about living water.

This encounter, recorded in John 4:7-26, is notable both for crossing significant social and ethnic boundaries between Jews and Samaritans, and for Jesus' direct revelation of his identity as the Messiah to her (John 4:25-26). She subsequently became an effective witness to her entire town (John 4:39).

[Women of the Bible]

The woman caught in adultery was brought before Jesus, who responded with the famous words, 'He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.'

This encounter is recorded in John 8:3-11, illustrating themes of mercy and non-condemnation. Jesus ultimately tells the woman, 'Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more' (John 8:11).

[Women of the Bible]

Lydia, a successful businesswoman dealing in purple cloth, became one of the first European converts to Christianity.

Her conversion, recorded in Acts 16:14-15, occurred through the ministry of Paul in the city of Philippi. Her household subsequently became an early center for Christian gathering in the region.

[Women of the Bible]

Priscilla, along with her husband Aquila, played a significant role in early Christian teaching and ministry.

The couple is mentioned working alongside Paul (Acts 18:2-3) and further instructing the eloquent preacher Apollos in more accurate doctrine (Acts 18:24-26). Priscilla's name is notably listed before her husband's in several passages, which some scholars suggest may reflect her prominent role.

[Women of the Bible]