List of Bible Heroes

Old Testament

Aaron
Abraham / Abram
Daniel
David
Deborah
Elijah
Enoch
Esther
Gideon
Isaac
Isaiah
Jacob
Jephtha
Job
Joseph
Joshua
Miriam
Moses
Nehemiah
Noah
Samson
Samuel
Shadrach,Meshack,Abednego

New Testament

Jesus
Mary (Jesus' mother)
Mary Magdalene
Stephen, Saint
The 12 Apostles / Disciples

  1. Simon (called Peter)
  2. Andrew
  3. James (the greater)
  4. John (the Baptist)
  5. Philip
  6. Bartholomew (Nathanael)
  7. Thomas
  8. James (the less)
  9. Matthew
  10. Simon (the Zealot)
  11. Judas Iscariot
  12. Jude

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Disclaimer

All information and reference material provided in support of this list is provided by Wikipedia. For more infor-mation on each Hero/Heroin, click the wikipedia link below each section. This refernece material does not necessarily reflect the beliefs and opinions of the providers of this site. Thank You!

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Old Testiment Bible Heroes

Aaron

or Aaron the Levite, was, according to biblical accounts, one of two brothers who play a unique part in the history of the Hebrew people. He was the elder son (and second child) of Amram and Jochebed of the tribe of Levi. Moses, the other son, was three years younger, and Miriam, their sister, was several years older. Aaron was the great-grandson of Levi and represented the priestly functions of his tribe, becoming the first High Priest of the Hebrews. While Moses was receiving his education at the Egyptian court and during his exile among the Midianites, Aaron and his sister remained with their kinsmen in the eastern border-land of Egypt. Here he gained a name for eloquent and persuasive speech; so that when the time came for the demand upon the Pharaoh to release Israel from captivity, Aaron became his brother’s nabi , or spokesman, to his own people and, after their unwillingness to hear, to the Pharaoh himself.

Aaron. (2007, October 23). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 21:58, October 23, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aaron&oldid=166518729


Abraham / Abram

Abraham is a figure in the Torah, Bible, and Quran whom Jewish, Christian and Muslim believers regard as the founding patriarch of the Israelites, Arabs and Edomite peoples. In what is thus called Abrahamic religious tradition, Abraham is the forefather of these peoples.

Abraham. (2007, October 11). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 23:34, October 11, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Abraham&oldid=163709809


Daniel

Daniel is a figure appearing in the Hebrew Bible and the central protagonist of the Book of Daniel. The name "Daniel" means "God is my judge". "Dan" = judge, "i" = my (roughly), and "el" = God.

Daniel. (2007, October 11). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 01:10, October 12, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Daniel&oldid=163878437


David

David (c.1005–970 BC) was the second king of the united Kingdom of Israel. He is depicted as a righteous king—although not without fault—as well as an acclaimed warrior, musician and poet (he is traditionally credited with the authorship of many of the Psalms). His life and reign, as recorded in the Hebrew Bible's books of Samuel (from I Samuel 16 onwards) and Chronicles, have been of central importance to Jewish and Western culture.

David. (2007, October 11). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 23:58, October 11, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=David&oldid=163846044


Deborah

Deborah or Dvora was a prophetess and the fourth Judge and only female Judge of pre-monarchic Israel in the Old Testament (Tanakh). Her story is told twice in chapters 4 and 5 of Judges. The first account is prose, relating the victory of Israelite forces led by General Barak, whom Deborah called forth but prophesied would not achieve the final victory over the Canaanite general Sisera himself. That honor went to Jael, the wife of Heber, a Kenite tentmaker. Jael killed Sisera by driving a tent peg through his head as he slept.

Deborah. (2007, September 25). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 23:47, October 11, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Deborah&oldid=160275735


Elijah

Elijah was a prophet in Israel in the 9th century BC. He appears in the Hebrew Bible, Talmud, Mishnah, Christian Bible, and the Qur'an. According to the Books of Kings, Elijah raised the dead, brought fire down from the sky, and ascended into heaven on a whirlwind. In many parts of the New Testament, both Jesus and John the Baptist are frequently thought to be Elijah. Based on a prophecy in Malachi, many Jews still await his return as precursor to the coming of the Messiah.

Elijah. (2007, October 30). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 23:01, November 1, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elijah&oldid=168162404


Enoch

Enoch is a name occurring twice in the generations of Adam. In one, he is described as having had a city named after him, but it is the other occurrence for which the name is famous. Despite the fame, the second mention of the name merely says that Enoch walked with God, and was not, for God took him, that he lived 365 years, and that he was the great-grandfather of Noah (Genesis 5:22-29). Despite the brief description, its highly esoteric nature lead Enoch to be one of the main two focal points for much of the 1st millennium BC Jewish mysticism. In Islam, he is usually referred to as Idris, and regarded as a prophet. He is commemorated as one of the Holy Forefathers in the Calendar of Saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church on July 30.

Enoch (ancestor of Noah). (2007, October 27). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22:57, November 1, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Enoch_%28ancestor_of_Noah%29&oldid=167416928


Esther

Esther born Hadassah, was a woman in the Hebrew Bible, the queen of Ahasuerus (commonly identified with either Xerxes I, Xerxes II, Artaxerxes I or Artaxerxes II), and heroine of the Biblical Book of Esther which is named after her.

Esther. (2007, October 4). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 23:53, October 11, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Esther&oldid=162245135


Gideon

Gideon also known as Jerub-Baal, is a judge appearing in the Book of Judges, in the Bible. His story is told in chapters 6 to 8. He is also named in the Epistle to the Hebrews as an example of a man of faith. He is the son of Joash, from the clan of Abieezer in the tribe of Manasseh. The name Gideon means "Destroyer", "Mighty warrior" or "Feller (of trees)".

Gideon (Bible). (2007, October 2). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 23:43, October 11, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gideon_%28Bible%29&oldid=161809243


Isaac

Isaac is the son of Abraham and Sarah, and the father of Jacob and Esau. His story is told in the Book of Genesis. Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born. (Genesis 21:1-5) Isaac was the longest-lived of the patriarchs, and the only biblical patriarch whose name was not changed. Isaac was the only patriarch who did not leave Canaan, although he once tried to leave and God told him not to do so. Compared to other patriarchs in the Bible, his story is less colorful, relating few incidents of his life.

The New Testament contains few references to Isaac. The early Christian church viewed Abraham's willingness to follow God's command to sacrifice Isaac as an example of faith and obedience.

Isaac is a prophet in Islam. A few narratives of Isaac appear in the Qur'an. The Qur'an views Isaac as a righteous man, servant of God and the father of Israelites. The Qur'an states that Isaac and his progeny are blessed as long as they uphold their covenant with God. Some early Muslims believed that Isaac was the son who was supposed to be sacrificed by Abraham. This view however ceased to find support among Muslim scholars in later centuries.

Isaac. (2008, June 17). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 01:53, June 21, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Isaac&oldid=219974947


Isaiah

Isaiah is the main figure in the Biblical Book of Isaiah, and is traditionally considered to be its author. He was an 8th-century BC Judean prophet who declared all the world to be under Yahweh's control, and who warned his people that their nation would be destroyed if they turned from Yahweh.

Isaiah. (2008, June 13). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 01:51, June 21, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Isaiah&oldid=219125968


Jacob

Jacob ("holds the heel"), also known as Israel ("Struggled with God"), is the third Biblical patriarch. His father is Isaac, and his grandfather is Abraham. Jacob also has a brother named Esau. Jacob plays a major part in some of the later events in the Book of Genesis.

Jacob. (2007, November 1). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22:59, November 1, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jacob&oldid=168432336


Jephtha

Jephtha (also spelled Jephthah) is a character in the Old Testament who served as one of the Judges in Israel for a period of six years (Judges 12:7) between the conquest of Canaan and the first king. Jephtha lived in Gilead and was a member of the Tribe of Manasseh. His father's name was also Gilead.

Jephtha. (2007, September 27). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 23:53, October 11, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jephtha&oldid=160805549


Job

Job is a character in the Book of Job in the Hebrew Bible. In brief, the book begins with an introduction to Job's character — he is described as a rich, blessed man who fears God and lives righteously. Satan, however, challenges Job's integrity, and so it is revealed to Satan by God that Job exceeded the protective hedge with the word "behold" in effect God is saying look he is outside his protective boundry, resulting in tragedy for Job: the loss of his children, wealth, and physical soundness.

Job (Bible). (2007, October 10). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 23:40, October 11, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Job_%28Bible%29&oldid=163646093


Joseph

Joseph, son of Jacob, is one of the best-known figures in the Torah, famous for his coat of many colors (although this may be a mistranslation of the Hebrew word for "sleeves") and his God-given ability to interpret dreams. Due to jealousy, his brothers sold him into slavery. Eventually he worked under the Egyptian official Potiphar, but was freed and became the chief adviser (vizier) to the Egyptian Pharaoh.

Joseph (Hebrew Bible). (2007, October 8). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 01:14, October 12, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Joseph_%28Hebrew_Bible%29&oldid=163067840


Joshua

Joshua, born in Egypt, was a biblical Israelite leader who succeeded Moses. His story is told in the Hebrew Bible, chiefly in the books Exodus, the Numbers, and Joshua. He was one of the twelve spies sent on by Moses to explore the land of Canaan who would later lead the conquest of that land.

Joshua supposedly lived sometime in the late Bronze Age, around 1200 BC. However, he is associated with problems concerning the evidence for the Exodus from Egypt.

Joshua. (2008, June 19). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20:45, June 22, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Joshua&oldid=220366366

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Miriam

Miriam meaning either "wished for child", "bitter" or "rebellious", but it might be derived originally from an Egyptian name, myr "beloved" or mr "Love" or even Meryamun "beloved of Amun" was the sister of Moses and Aaron, and the daughter of Amram and Jochebed. She appears first in the book of Exodus in the Hebrew Bible.

It was Miriam who, at Jochebed's request, hid Moses (then a baby) by the side of a river to evade the Pharaoh's order that newborn Hebrew boys be killed.

Miriam is called a prophetess, and composed a brief victory song after Pharaoh's army was drowned in the Red Sea (Exodus 15:20-21).

Miriam. (2008, June 21). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 01:49, June 21, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Miriam&oldid=220679074


Moses

According to the book of Exodus, Moses was born to a Hebrew mother who hid him when a Pharaoh ordered all newborn Hebrew boys to be killed, and ended up being adopted into the Egyptian royal family. After killing an Egyptian slave master, he fled and became a shepherd, and was later commanded by God to deliver the Hebrews from slavery.

Moses. (2007, October 11). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 23:26, October 11, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Moses&oldid=163909956


Nehemiah

Nehemiah is a major figure in the post-exile history of the Jews as recorded in the Bible, and is believed to be the primary author of the Book of Nehemiah. He was the son of Hachaliah, (Neh. 1:1) and probably of the Tribe of Judah. His ancestors resided in Jerusalem before his service in Persia. (Neh. 2:3).

Nehemiah lived during the period when Judah was a province of the Persian Empire, having been appointed royal cup-bearer at the palace of Shushan. The king, Artaxerxes I (Artaxerxes Longimanus), appears to have been on good terms with his attendant, as evidenced by the extended leave of absence granted him for the restoration of Jerusalem.

Nehemiah. (2008, June 11). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 01:56, June 21, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nehemiah&oldid=218578271


Noah

While the Deluge and Noah's Ark are the best-known elements of the story of Noah, he is also mentioned as the "first husbandman" and the inventor of wine, as well as in an episode of his drunkenness and the subsequent Curse of Ham. The story of Noah was the subject of much elaboration in the later Abrahamic traditions, and was immensely influential in Western culture. Jewish thinkers have debated the extent of Noah's righteousness, Christians have likened the Christian Church to Noah's ark, and in Islam he is revered as a prophet of Allah.

Noah. (2007, October 11). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 23:27, October 11, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Noah&oldid=163872880


Samson

Interestingly, while there are many common prophets in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic discourse, stories about Samson are absent in narratives from the Quran. Samson is something of a Herculean figure, using massive strength to combat his enemies and to perform heroic feats unachievable by ordinary men: wrestling a lion, slaying an entire army with nothing more than a donkey's jawbone, and tearing down an entire building. He is commemorated as one of the Holy Forefathers in the Calendar of Saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church on July 30.

Samson. (2007, October 3). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 23:37, October 11, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Samson&oldid=162080915


Samuel

Samuel or Shmu'el is an important leader of ancient Israel in the Book(s) of Samuel in the Hebrew Bible. His status, as viewed by rabbinical literature, is that he was the last of the Hebrew Judges and the first of the major prophets who began to prophesy inside the Land of Israel. He was thus at the cusp between two eras. According to the text of the Book(s) of Samuel, he also selected / anointed the first two kings of the Kingdom of Israel: King Saul and King David.

Samuel (Bible). (2007, September 28). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 23:57, October 11, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Samuel_%28Bible%29&oldid=160933159


Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were three friends of Daniel in the Bible whose Hebrew names were Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah respectively. Like him they were youths from the Jewish nobility. At the first deportation of the Jews by Nebuchadnezzar, or immediately after his victory over the Egyptians at the second battle of Carchemish, in the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim (606 BC), these three and Daniel were among the Jewish young nobility carried off to Babylon, along with some of the vessels of the temple. They were subsequently evaluated and chosen for their intellect and beauty, to be trained as Chaldeans (members of the class of the magi: astrologers, sorcerers, enchanters and magicians), who constituted the ranks of the advisors to the Babylonian court.

Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego. (2007, November 1). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 16:56, November 2, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shadrach%2C_Meshack%2C_and_Abednego&oldid=168445345

New Testiment Bible Heroes

Jesus

Jesus (8–2 BC/BCE to 29–36 AD/CE), also known as Jesus of Nazareth, is the central figure of Christianity. He is also called Jesus Christ, where "Christ" is a title derived from the Greek (Christós), meaning the "Anointed One," which corresponds to the Hebrew-derived "Messiah".

The main sources of information regarding Jesus' life and teachings are the four canonical Gospels of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Most scholars in the fields of history and biblical studies agree that Jesus was a Galilean Jew, was regarded as a teacher and healer, was baptized by John the Baptist, and was crucified in Jerusalem on orders of the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate under the accusation of sedition against the Roman Empire.

Christian views of Jesus (see also Christology) center on the belief that Jesus is the Messiah whose coming was promised in the Old Testament and that he was resurrected after his crucifixion. Christians predominantly believe that Jesus is God incarnate, who came to provide salvation and reconciliation with God. Nontrinitarian Christians profess various other interpretations regarding his divinity. Other Christian beliefs include Jesus' Virgin Birth, performance of miracles, fulfillment of biblical prophecy, ascension into Heaven, and future Second Coming.

In Islam, Jesus (Arabic, commonly transliterated as Isa) is considered one of God's most beloved and important prophets, a bringer of divine scripture, a worker of miracles, and the Messiah. Muslims, however, do not share the Christian belief in the crucifixion or divinity of Jesus. Muslims believe that Jesus' crucifixion was a divine illusion and that he ascended bodily to heaven. Most Muslims also believe that he will return to the earth in the company of the Mahdi once the earth has become full of sin and injustice at the time of the arrival of Islam's Antichrist-like Dajjal.

Jesus. (2007, October 11). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 01:28, October 12, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jesus&oldid=163926445


Mary

Mary (Hebrew Miriam), called since medieval times Madonna (My Lady), resident in Nazareth in Galilee, is known from the New Testament as the mother of Jesus of Nazareth, whom as a young maiden she had conceived by the agency of the Holy Spirit whilst she was already the betrothed wife of Joseph of the House of David and awaiting their imminent formal "Home-taking" ceremony (the concluding Jewish wedding rite).

Mary (mother of Jesus). (2007, October 11). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 01:19, October 12, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mary_%28mother_of_Jesus%29&oldid=163849653


Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene is described, both in the canonical New Testament and in the New Testament apocrypha, as a devoted disciple of Jesus. She is considered by the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican churches to be a saint, with a feast day of July 22. She is also commemorated by the Lutheran Church with a festival on the same day. The Orthodox Church also commemorates her on the Sunday of the Myrrhbearers, which is the second Sunday after Pascha (Easter).

Mary Magdalene. (2007, October 9). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 01:21, October 12, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mary_Magdalene&oldid=163400648


Stephen, Saint

Stephen, known as the Protomartyr (or first martyr) of Christianity, is venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. His name means 'laurel wreath' or 'crown' in Greek.

According to the Acts of the Apostles, during the early time frame of the Christian church in Jerusalem, Stephen was one of seven men, probably Hellenistic Jews, chosen to attend to the distribution of aid to elderly widows within the church community. (This role came to be known as deacon.) Stephen was also recognized for his gifts as an evangelist, preaching the teachings of Jesus to the people of Jerusalem, including members of the place of the Hellenistic synagogues.

Saint Stephen. (2008, June 18). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20:49, June 22, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saint_Stephen&oldid=220223157

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The 12 Apostles / Disciples

According to the list occurring in each of the Synoptic Gospels (Mark 3:13-19, Matthew 10:1-4, Luke 6:12-16), the Twelve chosen by Jesus near the beginning of his ministry, those whom also He named Apostles, were:

  1. Simon: called Peter (Grk. petros, petra; Aram. kef; Engl. rock) by Jesus, also known as Simon bar Jonah and Simon bar Jochanan (Aram.) and earlier (Pauline Epistles were written first) Cephas (Aram.) by Paul of Tarsus and Simon Peter, a fisherman from Bethsaida "of Galilee" (John 1:44; cf. 12:21)
  2. Andrew: brother of Peter, a Bethsaida fisherman and disciple of John the Baptist, and also the First-Called Apostle
  3. James and
  4. John: sons of Zebedee, called by Jesus Boanerges (an Aramaic name explained in Mk 3:17 as "Sons of Thunder")
  5. Philip: from Bethsaida "of Galilee" (John 1:44, 12:21)
  6. Bartholomew: in Aramaic "bar-Talemai?", "son of Talemai" or from Ptolemais, sometimes identified with the Nathanael of John 1:45-1:51.
  7. Thomas: also known as Judas Thomas Didymus - Aramaic T'oma' = twin, and Greek Didymous = twin
  8. James, son of Alphaeus: commonly identified with James the Less. Sometimes also identified with James the Just
  9. Matthew: the tax collector, some identify with Levi son of Alphaeus
  10. Simon the Canaanite: called in Luke and Acts "Simon the Zealot", some identify with Simeon of Jerusalem, which others dispute on the grounds that Simeon was described at the time of Jesus' birth some thirty years before, as an old man not far from death.
  11. Judas Iscariot: the name Iscariot may refer to the Judaean towns of Kerioth or to the sicarii (Jewish nationalist insurrectionists), or to Issachar. Also referred to (e.g. at John 6:71 and 13:26) as "Judas, the son of Simon". He was replaced as an apostle in Acts by Matthias.
  12. The identity of the other apostle of the twelve, traditionally called St. Jude, varies between the Synoptic Gospels and also between ancient manuscripts of each gospel: Mark names him as Thaddaeus; Different manuscripts of Matthew identify him as either Thaddeus or Lebbaeus (some later Latin manuscripts name him "Judas the Zealot", but this is regarded as an unlikely reading); Luke names him as Judas, son of James (translated in the KJV as: "Judas the brother of James" Luke 6:16).

Twelve Apostles. (2007, September 30). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 15:49, October 12, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Twelve_Apostles&oldid=161352602


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