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Home›Browse by Type›Character Profiles

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Character Profiles

125 illustrations — In-depth profiles of biblical characters and figures

Browse Character Profiles by Book

Genesis (18)Acts (11)1 Samuel (8)John (7)Daniel (7)2 Kings (7)1 Kings (7)Matthew (7)2 Samuel (6)2 Chronicles (4)Judges (4)Exodus (4)Joshua (3)Luke (3)Mark (3)Romans (3)

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Women Named Mary

Women Named Mary Four other Marys, apart from the mother of Jesus, are mentioned in the Gospels: (1) Mary Magdalene (probably from Magdala in Galilee) was freed from demon possession by Jesus (Mark 16:9) and became a faithful follower and...

Matthew 27:55-27:61Universalbiblical_peoplefaith

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Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Josiah

Josiah Josiah, who reigned in Judah from 640 to 609 BC, was a godly man, unlike his grandfather Manasseh and his father, Amon. Josiah “turned to the Lord with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses” (2 Kgs 23:25).

2 Kings 21:24-23:30Universalbiblical_peoplefaith

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Joab

Joab Joab was David’s nephew, the son of David’s sister Zeruiah (1 Chr 2:13-16); his brothers were Abishai and Asahel. Joab became commander of David’s armies because of his bravery and military skill (2 Sam 2:18; 8:16; 11:1; 1 Chr 18:15).

2 Samuel 18:2-19:13Universalbiblical_peoplesin

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: The Medes and Persians

The Medes and Persians The Medes (around 850–549 BC) The early Medes left no written records. According to an inscription from Shalmaneser III of Assyria (858–824 BC), the Medes had settled around Ecbatana, their capital (modern Hamadan, Iran), by the mid-800s BC.

Ezra 1:1-1:8Universalbiblical_peopleworship

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Herod Agrippa I

Herod Agrippa I Herod Agrippa I was Herod the Great’s grandson, Herod Antipas’s nephew, and Herodias’s brother. Agrippa I ruled the whole of Palestine for a short time following the death of Jesus, during the very early days of the Christian movement (AD 41–44).

Acts 12:1-12:23Universalbiblical_peoplegrace

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Aaron

Aaron Moses’ older brother, Aaron (see Exod 6:20; 7:7), played a crucial role in founding Israel and its institutions, particularly the priesthood. He first appears after Moses’ calling at the burning bush (Exod 3:1–4:17).

Exodus 4:14-4:16Universalbiblical_peoplecovenant

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Herod the Great

Herod the Great Herod the Great was the Roman-appointed king of Judea (37–4 BC) at the time of Jesus’ birth (Matt 2:1; Luke 1:5). He was a strong military leader, a brilliant politician, and a cruel tyrant.

Matthew 2:1-2:20Universalbiblical_peoplegrace

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Jethro (Reuel)

Jethro (Reuel) Jethro, also called Reuel (Exod 2:16-18; Num 10:29), was “the priest of Midian” (Exod 2:16). Moses rescued Jethro’s seven daughters from the rough treatment of other shepherds at a well and helped them water their flocks.

Exodus 18:1-18:27Universalbiblical_peopleworship

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Rome

Rome In the first century AD Rome was both a cosmopolitan city and a mighty empire that had brought peace and stability to the Mediterranean world.

Romans 1:1-1:7Universalbiblical_peoplegrace

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: John the Baptist

John the Baptist John the Baptist was a fiery open-air preacher who called people to repent and be baptized. John worked in the role of Elijah, to prepare people for the coming of the Messiah (Mal 4:4-5; Matt 11:14; 17:12; Mark 9:13).

John 1:6-1:37Universalbiblical_peoplesalvation

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Abraham

Abraham “By faith . Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land. He went without knowing where he was going. Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him” (Heb 11:8, 17).

Genesis 11:26-25:11Universalbiblical_peoplesalvation

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: The Son of Man

The Son of Man The Hebrew and Aramaic idiom “son of man” simply means “human being.” But the majestic yet humble figure in Daniel 7:13-14, who is “like a son of man”—meaning that he looked like a man—also appears to be much more.

Daniel 7:13-7:14Universalbiblical_peoplecovenant

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Ezra

Ezra Ezra was a priest and scribe of the high-priestly line of Zadok (Ezra 7:1-5, 11-12; cp. Neh 8:2, 9). He was a leader in Judah following the Jews’ return from exile.

Ezra 7:1-10:44Universalbiblical_peoplefaith

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Esau

Esau Esau, the son of Isaac and Rebekah, was Jacob’s older twin brother (Gen 25:24-26), so named because his body was hairy at birth.

Genesis 25:24-25:34Universalbiblical_peoplefaith

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: James, Son of Zebedee

James, Son of Zebedee James, son of Zebedee and brother of John, was one of the twelve apostles, and he was among the first to be killed as a follower of Jesus.

Luke 5:10-5:11Universalbiblical_peoplefaith

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Jeroboam II

Jeroboam II Jeroboam II, son of Jehoash, reigned over Israel for 41 years (793–753 BC), longer than any other northern king. He followed the evil example of his (unrelated) namesake, Jeroboam I (2 Kgs 14:23-24).

2 Kings 14:23-14:29Universalbiblical_peoplefaith

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Martha, Mary, and Lazarus

Martha, Mary, and Lazarus The sisters Martha and Mary lived with their brother Lazarus in Bethany, near Jerusalem; Jesus loved and spent time with this family.

Luke 10:38-10:42Universalbiblical_peoplesin

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Jeroboam I

Jeroboam I Jeroboam I, son of Nebat from the tribe of Ephraim, was the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel (931–910 BC). He led the northern ten tribes into the sins that brought about the destruction of the northern kingdom.

1 Kings 11:26-16:31Universalbiblical_peoplefaith

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Thomas

Thomas Thomas, also known as “the Twin,” was one of the twelve apostles (Matt 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13). He is remembered most for his unbelieving response to Jesus’ resurrection. Nothing is known of how Jesus first met...

John 11:16Universalbiblical_peoplefaith

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Philip

Philip Philip was one of the first to take the Good News of Christ to those outside the borders of Judea. Well respected among the early Christians, he was one of seven men chosen to administer the food-distribution program for...

Acts 6:5Universalbiblical_peoplefaith

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Cyrus II

Cyrus II Cyrus II, king of Persia (559–530 BC), founded the great Persian Empire. His father was king of Persia, a small nation that was subject to Media, and his mother was the daughter of the king of the Medes.

Ezra 1:1-1:8Universalbiblical_peoplekingdom

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Uzziah

Uzziah Uzziah, son of Amaziah and Jecoliah, reigned over Judah for 52 years (792–740 BC; see 2 Kgs 14:21-22; 15:1-2; 2 Chr 26:1-3). He reigned as co-regent with his father from the age of sixteen for approximately 25 years. Later,...

2 Chronicles 26:1-26:23Universalbiblical_peopleholiness

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Hagar

Hagar Hagar was the Egyptian servant of Sarai, Abram’s wife. When God commanded Abram to leave Mesopotamia, he promised him a multitude of descendants who would be given a new land (Gen 12:2, 7).

Genesis 16:1-16:16Universalbiblical_peoplesalvation

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Xerxes I

Xerxes I Xerxes I, who reigned over the Persian Empire from 486 to 465 BC, was the son and successor of Darius I (Hystaspes).

Esther 1:1-10:3Universalbiblical_peoplesin