17 Great Women In the Bible And What They Inspire Us To Be and Do

Bibliaon Team

Created and reviewed by our editors

The Bible has many examples of God-fearing women who made a difference in their time. These famous women stood out in a world dominated by men and showed that God uses everyone to fulfill his purposes. Discover the characteristics and inspiring stories of thirteen outstanding female Bible heroes.

1. Sarah

Full of faith, respectful, beautiful, mother of the people of Israel

Sarah, already elderly, abandoned everything to live in tents for the rest of her life. She always stood by and supported Abraham, her husband and father of faith. Sarah believed in God and, at the age of 90, her dream came true: she had a son! God filled her heart with joy.

"Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.”"
- Genesis 21:6

Her main characteristics are:

Full of faith: because she believed that God could do the impossible.
Beautiful: she was able to attract the attention of the Egyptians and Pharaoh paid a high price for her.
Mother of the people of Israel: forever remembered as the woman chosen by God to bear his people.

Learn more about her: The story of Sarah (wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac).

2. Miriam

Miriam was born and raised as a slave in Egypt. She was responsible for looking after her little brother, Moses, who years later freed his people from slavery. As well as being a worship leader, Miriam was a prophetess and highly respected among the Hebrews.

"Miriam sang to them:

“Sing to the Lord,
for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver
he has hurled into the sea.”"

- Exodus 15:21

Her main characteristics are:

Moses' older sister:not only was she responsible for saving him from the genocide carried out by Pharaoh, but she was at his side throughout his leadership.
Intelligent: Miriam certainly acted as Moses' advisor. Although she was rebellious for a time (Numbers 12), she was faithful to God and obeyed his commands.
Prophetess: the biblical text itself calls her this (Ex. 15:20), but it doesn't go into depth about her role.
Worship leader: the episode in Exodus 15:20-21 shows that she not only played instruments in praise of the Lord, but led other women in the same action.

3. Rahab

Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho, but she saved the lives of two Hebrew spies. Because of this, her family was saved when the Hebrews attacked Jericho. Through her faith, a despised woman earned a place among the people of Israel, becoming Jesus' ancestor and earning a place among the heroes of the faith!

"By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient."
- Hebrews 11:31

Her main characteristics are:

Courageous: she lied to the king of Jericho, the nation where she and her family lived, in order to save the Hebrew spies.
Believer in God: Rahab had only heard about what the Lord had done for the Hebrews on their way out of Egypt, but that was enough to believe in God.
Saved her family: when the Hebrew spies entered her house, Rahab made a deal: she would help them if in return they spared her family's life in the invasion. Rahab protected what was most important to her, her parents and brothers.

Also see: The Story of Rahab in The Bible (And What We Learn From Her)

4. Deborah

Deborah was a prophetess and judge, chosen by God to lead Israel when there was no king. She summoned the army and encouraged the warriors, who defeated their oppressors. Under Deborah's leadership, Israel enjoyed peace for 40 years.

"Villagers in Israel would not fight;
they held back until I, Deborah, arose,
until I arose, a mother in Israel."
- Judges 5:7

Her main characteristics are:

Judge: when Israel was already in the promised land but had no king, God raised up judges to lead the people. These judges conducted military and civil activities, and this was Deborah's role.
Prophetess: she acted as God's mouthpiece and instructed the people on how to act.
War leader: when Barak, then war leader, was afraid to take up his post in the face of God's call, Deborah took his place and led ten thousand men into battle.

Learn more about her: The Story of Deborah (the Prophetess and Judge of Israel)

5. Ruth

Ruth was not an Israelite, but she earned a place among God's people because of her dedication to God and her love for her mother-in-law. She left her home and family to serve God. Hard-working and respectful, Ruth won the heart of Boaz and was the great-grandmother of King David.

"But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God."
- Ruth 1:16

Her main characteristics are:

Loyal:Ruth could have gone home to her parents, back to the land of her birth, when her husband died. But instead, she decided to stay with Naomi, her mother-in-law.
Dedicated and hard-working: seeing the opportunity to work in the fields and provide for herself and her mother-in-law, Ruth went to work under the sun without complaint.

You might also like: Christian Women's Conferences Themes And Scriptures

6. Hannah

Anna couldn't have children, but she trusted in God and prayed in faith for a son. When God gave her what she so desired, she dedicated him to the Lord in gratitude. Her son, Samuel, grew up in the temple and became a great prophet.

"Then Hannah prayed and said:

“My heart rejoices in the Lord;
in the Lord my horn is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in your deliverance."
- 1 Samuel 2:1

Her main characteristics are:

A woman of prayer: faced with the greatest pain of her life, infertility, Anna prayed, trusting that God would intervene.
Faithful: even though she had a rival in the house, her husband's other wife, Hannah remained faithful to her husband, honoring their marriage.
Worshipful:Hannah worshipped the Lord with everything she had. As soon as God gave her a son, she consecrated the child to the Lord, leaving him in the temple to serve God.
Mother of Samuel: one of the greatest characters in the Bible, Samuel inaugurated a prophetic era in Israel. He also acted as a priest and royal advisor.

Learn more about Hannah (Mother of the Prophet Samuel).

7. Esther

Esther was a young Israelite girl who won the greatest beauty contest of her time and became queen of Persia. She was very brave and risked her life to save her people from a terrible massacre. God gave Esther beauty, grace and intelligence so that she could protect her people.

"Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti."
- Esther 2:17

Her main characteristics are:

Beautiful: when King Xerxes was looking for a new queen, his advisors told him to choose the most beautiful from a large group of girls. Esther was among them and won the king's eye without difficulty.
Intelligent and sensible: faced with danger to her people, the Jews, Esther was able to convince the king that she was being threatened and a solution was found.

Find out more about the story of Esther.

8. Mary

Mary was a simple young girl who was chosen for a great mission: to be the mother of Jesus. She didn't reject this mission, but accepted it with faith. Mary raised Jesus and, years later, saw him resurrected in glory!

"“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her."
- Luke 1:38

Her main characteristics are:

Faithful to God: the Lord chose a believing and faithful couple to parent Jesus. When the angel came to bring her the good news of her pregnancy, Mary replied that she was the Lord's servant, she was ready to follow God's will.
Humble: after visiting her relative Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, Mary sang her song. In it, she says "for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant." (Lk 1:48), this was the explanation she could give for being so blessed, God was blessing her humility.

9. Priscilla

Priscilla worked with her husband Aquila to spread the Word of God. Together they were a great example of teamwork.They were friends of Paul and founded a church in his house. Priscilla and Aquila also taught and prepared a man called Apollos for God's work.

"³Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus.⁴They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them."
- Romans 16:3-4

Her main characteristics are:

Teacher: Priscilla knew the Scriptures well enough to be able to teach Apollos, a learned man, the ways of the Lord.
Co-worker: the apostle Paul calls her this, and she is the first mentioned in the long list of greetings in Romans 16. This shows her importance in the apostle's ministry.
Courageous: as the highlighted verse shows, she risked her life for Paul. She certainly had a lot of courage and faith to risk it.

10. Abigail

Abigail was the wife of Nabal, a rude and mean man. Nabal's ignorance almost led to the destruction of his family by insulting King David. Abigail tried to pacify the situation by blaming herself. David forgave her and his house was preserved. Nabal - after realizing what he had done - had a stroke and died ten days later. After becoming a widow, Abigail became David's wife and had a son called Cheilah.

"³²David said to Abigail, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. ³³May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands."
- 1 Samuel 25:32-33

Her main characteristics are:

Wise and intelligent:the biblical text presents Abigail as an intelligent woman (1 Sam 25:3) and this quick-thinking was seen in practice. David was ready to kill her husband and servants, when she promptly got down on her knees and gave him several reasons why he shouldn't go on a killing spree.
Peacemaker: Abigail prevented a slaughter from taking place in her home, she cherished peace. And to tell her husband what she had done, she waited until he was sober to understand her.

Learn more about her: The Story of Abigail: A Woman of Wisdom, Courage, and Faith

11. Dorcas (Tabitha)

Tabitha - or Dorcas in Greek - was a servant of God who dedicated herself to doing good works and giving alms. In the days of the early church, she fell ill and died. Upon hearing of Peter's presence in the city, some of Christ's disciples called him. Alone in his room, Peter prayed and Dorcas came back to life to the honor and glory of the Lord!

"Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up."
- Acts 9:40b

Her main characteristics are:

Kind and altruistic: Tabitha was not attached to money, but gave alms to the needy, and became known as a woman who did good works.
Loved by many: when she died, Jesus' disciples were in the city and they asked the apostle Peter himself to go and intercede. When he got there, Peter found many widows around her. Tabitha was certainly liked and loved by the people around her.

12. Lydia

Lydia was a merchant of purple cloth, a very valuable item. Despite her success in business, this didn't stop her from serving God. Confident that her faith in Christ was firm, she opened her home to Paul until the church in Philippi was established. Lydia played an important role in building up the church there.

"When she and the members of her household were baptized,she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us."
- Acts 16:15

Her main characteristics are:

Entrepreneurial: the biblical text tells us that Lydia was a seller of purple cloth. Rather than just doing her homework, this woman ran her own business.
God-fearing: the Lord opened Lydia's heart to the gospel message. Confident of her faith and salvation, she invited Paul and his companions to stay at her house.

13. Mary of Bethany

Mary of Bethany was not a woman of good repute until she followed Jesus. When she anointed the Master's head with pure nard, she was criticized by the disciples for 'wasting' something of great value. She kept quiet, but Jesus defended her. Mary leaves us a great example: she recognized Christ with everything she had and didn't stop worshipping God because of the criticism.

"Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.".
- Matthew 26:13

Her main characteristics are:

She loved Jesus: Mary loved Jesus with all her might. When she anointed Jesus with expensive perfume, it was clear that she cared more about praising the Savior than about her material possessions.
She was humble: Mary didn't care about money, but preferred to be by the great Master's side, listening to his precious teachings. She found her wealth in the Kingdom of Heaven.

14. Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene is known as one of the women who followed Jesus and witnessed His resurrection. She was deeply grateful to Jesus for delivering her from seven demons. Mary Magdalene was present at crucial moments in Jesus’ life, including His death and resurrection, being the first person to see Him after He rose.

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
- John 20:18

Her main characteristics are:

Devoted: Mary Magdalene followed Jesus with great devotion, faithfully serving Him and supporting His ministry with her own resources. She was one of the few who remained at the crucifixion, alongside Mary, the mother of Jesus, and other women.
Transformed: Before meeting Jesus, Mary Magdalene suffered from spiritual oppression, but He healed and transformed her. Her life changed completely, and she became a devoted follower, demonstrating the power of transformation in Christ.
Faithful Witness: After Jesus’ resurrection, Mary Magdalene was given the privilege of seeing Him first. She then ran to share the good news with the disciples, becoming the first to proclaim Christ’s resurrection.

Learn more about her: The story of Mary Magdalene.

15. Eve

Eve was the first woman created by God, formed from Adam’s rib to be his companion. She lived in the Garden of Eden and was the first to be tempted by the serpent, leading to original sin. Despite her fall, Eve is remembered as the “mother of all the living,” being the origin of humanity.

Adam named his wife Eve,because she would become the mother of all the living.
- Genesis 3:20

Her main characteristics are:

Companion: Eve was created to be Adam’s helper, and together they were given the mission to rule and care for the garden. She was the first wife and mother of humanity, laying the foundation for the human family.
Life-giver: Even after sin, Eve maintained the vital role of continuing life. As a mother, she brought the first children of humanity into the world, fulfilling the promise that her descendants would be numerous.

16. Hagar

Hagar, Sarah’s servant, was humiliated and mistreated by her mistress, so she fled. There, in the wilderness, she had an encounter with the angel of the LORD. She received the promise that her descendants would be numerous through her son, Ishmael. Feeling insignificant and unseen until that moment, she gave God a name—El Roi (The God Who Sees Me). God had visited her, and now she knew she was valuable to Him.

She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seenthe One who sees me.”
(Genesis 16:13)

Her main characteristics are:

Submissive servant: When Sarah decided to give her to Abraham to bear children through her, Hagar obeyed.
Loving and protective mother: She shielded her son from Sarah’s anger and cared for him in the wilderness.

17. Elizabeth

Elizabeth, who had been barren, became the mother of John the Baptist, the one who prepared the way for Jesus’ ministry. During her pregnancy, Elizabeth received a visit from her relative Mary, who was also expecting a child. As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s voice, she was filled with the Holy Spirit and blessed Mary and her baby, Jesus. She recognized that Jesus was a child like no other!

⁴¹When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴²In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!
- Luke 1:41-42

Her main characteristics are:

Righteous woman before God: Luke 1:5-6 describes her as righteous and blameless, walking in the Lord’s commandments.
Barren and elderly: She was unable to have children and was advanced in age, just like her husband.
A heart of worship and gratitude: She praised God for granting her the blessing of having a child in her old age.

Be inspired by the example of these great women of God and check out some more verses to bless and strengthen women:

And you might also like to read: 10 Great Men of The Bible And What We Can Learn From Them

Also see: Biblical Characters: Their Story, Characteristics, and Importance

Bibliaon Team

Bibliaon's Editorial Team consists of mature Christians with several years of experience in Bible teaching and in writing, all with a genuine commitment to Jesus and the Word of God.