LIST OF STORIES OF WOMEN IN THE BIBLE This is a partial list of stories about women in the Bible in chronological order, and a partial list of women’s characteristics, situations and life issues. Choose the best story for your listeners’ needs and life issues, considering also customs and traditions of the locality of your listeners, and time available to tell the story. Single M M Wi Remarried Prostitute Blended Family Dysfunctional Home Childless M Rebellious Children Crisis Natural Disasters Rape / Abuse Victim Abandoment/Rejection Impoverished Immigrant Grief / Loss Anger Impatience Self-Centered Wise Influence Others Leadership Role Divine Presence Forgiveness Godly Witness Second Chance Prayer arried other / Grandmother dow / Unwise
WOMEN DESCRIPTION TEXT / IN THE Bitterness any Years
BIBLE Decisions ; Selfish
1. OLD TESTAMENT STORIES # Eve # Adam’s wife Genesis x x x x x x x x x x # Created by God 2:15-25; # Disobeyed God (sin) 2:15-17; # Sons: Cain (murderer); 3:1-23; Abel (godly example; 4:1-15 victim); Seth (godly example) # Noah’s Wife # Noah’s wife Genesis x x x x x # Sons: Sham, Ham and 6:5-22; Japheth 7 and 8 # Flood # Sarah # Abraham’s wife Genesis x x x x x x x x x x x x x # Famines; Abraham told 12:1,10-19; x Pharaoh and a king that 16; Sarah was his sister 17:5,15; # Insisted Hagar bare 18:10-15; Abraham’s child 20; # Unkind to Hagar 21:1-21; # Childless until ninety 23:1-21 years old # Son: Isaac
List of Stories of Women in the Bible © Doris Day Page 1 Single M M Wi Remarried Prostitute Blended Family Dysfunctional Home Childless M Rebellious Children Crisis Natural Disasters Rape / Abuse Victim Abandoment/Rejection Impoverished Immigrant Grief / Loss Anger Impatience Self-Centered Wise Influence Others Leadership Role Divine Presence Forgiveness Godly Witness Second Chance Prayer arried other / Grandmother dow / Unwise
WOMEN DESCRIPTION TEXT / IN THE Bitterness any Years
BIBLE Decisions ; Selfish
# Hagar # Sarah’s servant Genesis x x x x x x x x x x x x x # Surrogate mother 16; x # Son: Ishmael 21:1-21 # Sent away by Abraham # Lot’s Wife # Lot’s wife Genesis x x x x x x x x x x x # Two daughters 19:12-29 # Punished for disobedience; turned into pillar of salt # Rebekah # Isaac’s wife Genesis x x x x x x x x x x x x x # Famine; Isaac told king 24; x Rebekah was his sister 25:21-34; # Sons: Esau and Jacob 26:1-17; # Favored Jacob 27 # Deceived husband # Rachel # Beloved wife of Jacob Genesis x x x x x x x x x # Sons: Joseph and 29:14-25; x Benjamin; died giving birth 30; to Benjamin 31:19,30-35; # Her servant Bilhak was 35:16-26 surrogate mother - sons: Dan, Naphtali # Leah # Jacob’s other wife Genesis x x x x x x x x # Sons: Reuben, Simeon, 29:14-25; Levi, Judah, Issachar, 30; Zebulun; daughter Dinah 31:19,30-35; # Her servant Zilpah was 35:16-26 surrogate mother - sons: Gad, Asher
List of Stories of Women in the Bible © Doris Day Page 2 Single M M Wi Remarried Prostitute Blended Family Dysfunctional Home Childless M Rebellious Children Crisis Natural Disasters Rape / Abuse Victim Abandoment/Rejection Impoverished Immigrant Grief / Loss Anger Impatience Self-Centered Wise Influence Others Leadership Role Divine Presence Forgiveness Godly Witness Second Chance Prayer arried other / Grandmother dow / Unwise
WOMEN DESCRIPTION TEXT / IN THE Bitterness any Years
BIBLE Decisions ; Selfish
# Dinah # Jacob and Leah’s Genesis x x x x x x x x daughter 30:21; # Raped by Shechem 34:1-31 # Revenged by brothers # Potiphar’s # Potiphar’s wife Genesis x x x x x x x x x Wife # Tempted Joseph 39:1-21 # Jochebed # Amram’s wife Exodus x x x x x x x x x x x (Moses’ # Daughter of Levi 1; Mother) # Slave in Egypt 2:1-10; # Sons: Moses and Aaron Numbers # Daughter: Miriam 26:59 # Protected her baby # Miriam # Daughter to Jochebed Exodus x x x x x x x x x x x x and Amram 2:1-10; x # Moses and Aaron’s sister 15:20-21; # Protected her baby Numbers brother Moses 12:1-15 # Prophetess # Opposed Moses; God punished her with leprosy # Given another chance to serve God # Rahab # Prostitute in Jericho Joshua x x x x x x x x x x x # Believed in God 2:1-21; # Hid two of Joshua’s spies 6:16-17, # Salmon’s wife 22-23; # Son: Boaz Ruth # Great-great-grandmother 4:20-21; to King David Matthew 1:5
List of Stories of Women in the Bible © Doris Day Page 3 Single M M Wi Remarried Prostitute Blended Family Dysfunctional Home Childless M Rebellious Children Crisis Natural Disasters Rape / Abuse Victim Abandoment/Rejection Impoverished Immigrant Grief / Loss Anger Impatience Self-Centered Wise Influence Others Leadership Role Divine Presence Forgiveness Godly Witness Second Chance Prayer arried other / Grandmother dow / Unwise
WOMEN DESCRIPTION TEXT / IN THE Bitterness any Years
BIBLE Decisions ; Selfish
# Naomi # Elimelek’s wife Ruth x x x x x x x x x x x x x # Famine; went to Moab 1; # Became a widow 4:13-22 # Sons: Mahlon and Kilion; both died # Bitter; grieved # Returned to Bethlehem with daughter-in-law Ruth who took care of her # Grandson: Obed # Ruth # Naomi’s daughter-in-law Book of Ruth x x x x x x x x x x x x # Became a widow # Believed in God # Left with Naomi and went to Bethlehem # Took care of Naomi # Married Boaz # Son: Obed # Great-grandmother to King David # Deborah # Lappidoth’s wife Judges x x x x x x # Prophetess 4 and 5 # Fifth judge of Israel # Went with Barak to battle # Jephthah’s # Prostitute Judges x x x x x x x x x x Mother # Gave birth to Gilead’s 11; illegitimate son Jephthah Hebrews who became the ninth 11:32-34 judge of Israel
List of Stories of Women in the Bible © Doris Day Page 4 Single M M Wi Remarried Prostitute Blended Family Dysfunctional Home Childless M Rebellious Children Crisis Natural Disasters Rape / Abuse Victim Abandoment/Rejection Impoverished Immigrant Grief / Loss Anger Impatience Self-Centered Wise Influence Others Leadership Role Divine Presence Forgiveness Godly Witness Second Chance Prayer arried other / Grandmother dow / Unwise
WOMEN DESCRIPTION TEXT / IN THE Bitterness any Years
BIBLE Decisions ; Selfish
# Samson’s # Manoah’s wife Judges x x x x x x x x x x x Mother # Godly parents 13; # Son: Samson who 14:1-9; became physically strong; 16:17-22 disobedient to God’s instructions; judge of Israel # Delilah # Samson’s lover Judges x x x x x x # Deceived Samson 16:4-22 # Hannah # Elkanah’s wife I Samuel x x x x x x x x x x x # Ridiculed by Peninnah 1; # Prayed for son; 2:1-11,18- dedicated him to the Lord 21,26 # Son: Samuel (prophet; last judge of Israel) # Peninnah # Elkanah’s other wife I Samuel x x x x x # Provoked Hannah 1:1-7 # Michal # Saul’s daughter 1 Samuel x x x x x x x x # David’s wife 18:17-30; x # Protected David from her 19:1-18; father’s pursuit 25:44; # Mocked King David for 2 Samuel dancing as the Ark entered 1:13-16; Jerusalem; consequently 6:12-23 she was childless # Abigail # Wife to wicked Nabal 1 Samuel x x x x x x x x x # Became a widow 25:2-42 # Peacemaker # Married David
List of Stories of Women in the Bible © Doris Day Page 5 Single M M Wi Remarried Prostitute Blended Family Dysfunctional Home Childless M Rebellious Children Crisis Natural Disasters Rape / Abuse Victim Abandoment/Rejection Impoverished Immigrant Grief / Loss Anger Impatience Self-Centered Wise Influence Others Leadership Role Divine Presence Forgiveness Godly Witness Second Chance Prayer arried other / Grandmother dow / Unwise
WOMEN DESCRIPTION TEXT / IN THE Bitterness any Years
BIBLE Decisions ; Selfish
# Bathsheba # Uriah’s wife 2 Samuel x x x x x x x x x x x x x x # Pregnant by King David 11; x # Became a widow 12:13-24; # Married King David 1 Kings # Death of their first child 1:11-31 # Son: Solomon given (or entire wisdom by God and chapter 1) became king of Israel # Tamar # David’s daughter 2 Samuel x x x x x x x # Raped by half brother 13:1-33 Amnon # Disgraced # Lived with brother Absalom # Jezebel # King Ahab’s wife 1 Kings16:29- x x x x x x x # Persecuted prophets of 33; 18:4,13; God 19:1-2; # Arrogant; vengeful and 21:1-24; very angry 2 Kings 9:22,30-37 # Widow at # Widow at Zarephath 1 Kings x x x x x x x x x x Zarephath # Prepared food for Elijah 17:7-24 # Son’s life restored by Elijah # Widow of a # Prophet’s widow 2 Kings x x x x x x x x x Prophet # Two sons 4:1-7 # Impoverished; large debt # Advice from Elisha # Oil multiplies to pay debt
List of Stories of Women in the Bible © Doris Day Page 6 Single M M Wi Remarried Prostitute Blended Family Dysfunctional Home Childless M Rebellious Children Crisis Natural Disasters Rape / Abuse Victim Abandoment/Rejection Impoverished Immigrant Grief / Loss Anger Impatience Self-Centered Wise Influence Others Leadership Role Divine Presence Forgiveness Godly Witness Second Chance Prayer arried other / Grandmother dow / Unwise
WOMEN DESCRIPTION TEXT / IN THE Bitterness any Years
BIBLE Decisions ; Selfish
# Shunam- # Wealthy woman 2 Kings x x x x x x x mite Woman # Fixed guest room for 4:8-37 prophet Elisha # Son’s life restored by Elisha # Huldah # Shallum’s wife 2 Chronicles x x x x # Prophetess 34:22-33 # Found lost Book of Law and read to king # Esther # Jewish orphan Book of x x x x x x x x x x x x # Mordecai’s cousin Esther # Became a queen # Saved Jewish people
2. NEW TESTAMENT STORIES # Elizabeth # Zechariah’s wife Luke x x x x x x x x # Childless until old 1:5-25,57-80 # Son: John (the Baptist) # Mary # Found favor with God Luke x x x x x x x x x x # Mother to Jesus, God’s 1:26-56; son (consummated by Holy 2; 3; Spirit) Matthew # Afterwards, Joseph’s wife 1:18-25; # Bore Joseph’s children 2; # Follower of Jesus John 2:1-12; # Suffered agony seeing Luke 8:19-21; Jesus on cross; afterwards John 19:25-27 cared for by apostle John
List of Stories of Women in the Bible © Doris Day Page 7 Single M M Wi Remarried Prostitute Blended Family Dysfunctional Home Childless M Rebellious Children Crisis Natural Disasters Rape / Abuse Victim Abandoment/Rejection Impoverished Immigrant Grief / Loss Anger Impatience Self-Centered Wise Influence Others Leadership Role Divine Presence Forgiveness Godly Witness Second Chance Prayer arried other / Grandmother dow / Unwise
WOMEN DESCRIPTION TEXT / IN THE Bitterness any Years
BIBLE Decisions ; Selfish
# Anna # Married seven years Luke x x x x x x # Became a widow 2:22,36-38 # Worshiped at Temple day and night # Saw baby Jesus at Temple when she was very old # Prophetess # Samaritan # Samaritan woman John x x x x x x x x x x x Woman # Married multiple times; 4:4-42 x living with man not married to # Encountered Jesus at well # Told about Jesus to ones in her town # Herodias # Philip’s wife Mark x x x x x x x x x x x # Daughter Salome 6:14-29; x # Left husband to marry Matthew brother-in-law Herod 14:3-12 (Antipas) # Grudge against John the Baptist because he disapproved her marriage to Herod (Antipas) # Requested daughter Salome to ask for head of John the Baptist
List of Stories of Women in the Bible © Doris Day Page 8 Single M M Wi Remarried Prostitute Blended Family Dysfunctional Home Childless M Rebellious Children Crisis Natural Disasters Rape / Abuse Victim Abandoment/Rejection Impoverished Immigrant Grief / Loss Anger Impatience Self-Centered Wise Influence Others Leadership Role Divine Presence Forgiveness Godly Witness Second Chance Prayer arried other / Grandmother dow / Unwise
WOMEN DESCRIPTION TEXT / IN THE Bitterness any Years
BIBLE Decisions ; Selfish
# Sinful # Sinful life Luke x x x x Woman # At Pharisees house: 7:36-50 x kissed Jesus’ feet; poured perfume on his feet; wiped his feet with her hair # Sins forgiven by Jesus # Sick Woman # Prolonged sickness with Mark 5:24-34 x x x x blood issue # Touched Jesus’ garment and was healed because of her faith # Adulterous # Caught in adultery John x x x x Woman # Not condemned by 8:2-11 Jesus; told not to do it again # Martha of # Mary and Lazarus’ sister Luke x x x x x x x x x x Bethany # Prepared meal for Jesus 10:38-42; x in her home John # Upset because her sister 11:1-45 did not help # Grieved death of Lazarus # Lazarus resurrected by Jesus # Family close friends to Jesus
List of Stories of Women in the Bible © Doris Day Page 9 Single M M Wi Remarried Prostitute Blended Family Dysfunctional Home Childless M Rebellious Children Crisis Natural Disasters Rape / Abuse Victim Abandoment/Rejection Impoverished Immigrant Grief / Loss Anger Impatience Self-Centered Wise Influence Others Leadership Role Divine Presence Forgiveness Godly Witness Second Chance Prayer arried other / Grandmother dow / Unwise
WOMEN DESCRIPTION TEXT / IN THE Bitterness any Years
BIBLE Decisions ; Selfish
# Mary of # Martha and Lazarus’ Luke x x x x x x Bethany sister 10:38-42; # Sat at Jesus’ feet, John contemplating his words as 11:1-45; Martha prepared meal 12:1-8 # Grieved death of Lazarus # Poured perfume on Jesus’ feet to express gratitude for resurrecting Lazarus and for preparation of his burial # Widow with # Was a widow Luke 21:1-4; x x x x Two Coins # Gave all - two coins - as Mark an offering to God 12:41-44 # Mary # Possessed with demons; Luke 8:1:3; x x x x x Magdalene healed 24:1-10; # Followed Jesus John 19:25; 20:11-18; Matthew 27:55-61; 28:1; Mark 15:40-41; 16:1-11 # Sapphira # Ananias’ wife Acts 5:1-11 x x x x x # Lied about price of land to apostles # Punished for lying
List of Stories of Women in the Bible © Doris Day Page 10 Single M M Wi Remarried Prostitute Blended Family Dysfunctional Home Childless M Rebellious Children Crisis Natural Disasters Rape / Abuse Victim Abandoment/Rejection Impoverished Immigrant Grief / Loss Anger Impatience Self-Centered Wise Influence Others Leadership Role Divine Presence Forgiveness Godly Witness Second Chance Prayer arried other / Grandmother dow / Unwise
WOMEN DESCRIPTION TEXT / IN THE Bitterness any Years
BIBLE Decisions ; Selfish
# Dorcas # Disciple Acts 9:36-42 x x x x x x # Greek name for Tabitha # Helped others # Died; restored to life by Peter # Lydia # Businesswoman; seller of Acts x x x x purple cloth 16:11-15,40 # Became believer in Jesus at Philippi by Paul # Gave hospitality to Paul # Priscilla # Aquila’s wife Acts x x x x x # Jewish Christian 18:1-3,18-26; Priscilla and Aquila: Romans # Tent makers with Paul 16:3-4; # Mentors to Apollos in his 1 Corinthians Christian faith 16:19 # Church in their home # Eunice # Husband was a Greek 2 Timothy 1:5; x x x x x and a non-believer Acts 16:1 # Was a Jewish Christian # Son: Timothy # Taught her son Timothy about God # Lois # Was a Jewish Christian 2 Timothy 1:5 x x ? x x x # Grandson: Timothy # Taught her grandson Timothy about God
List of Stories of Women in the Bible © Doris Day Page 11