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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: Rebekah

Rebekah Genesis 24 describes the mission of Abraham’s servant to find a wife for Isaac. At Abraham’s command, he went to Haran in Aram-naharaim (northwest Mesopotamia), to Abraham’s relatives, because Abraham did not want Isaac to marry a local Canaanite.

Genesis 22:23Universalbiblical_peoplefaith

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Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Babylon

Babylon Babylon, one of the world’s most ancient cities, was the center of the Babylonian civilization and is an enduring symbol for defiant human pride. Babylon was founded a few generations after the Flood by Nimrod (Gen 10:8-10), one of history’s first powerful overlords.

2 Kings 24:1-25:30Universalbiblical_peopleworship

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Samuel

Samuel Samuel lived at the end of the period of the judges and ushered in the period of kingship. He was Israel’s last judge (1 Sam 7:6, 15-17) and was essentially considered Israel’s first prophet (1 Sam 3:20; Acts 3:24; 13:20).

1 Samuel 1:20-1:28Universalbiblical_peoplefaith

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: David

David David is one of the monumental figures of biblical history. His reign was a high point in God’s plan for Israel, and it had great and lasting significance.

1 Samuel 16:11-30:31Universalbiblical_peoplefaith

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Abner

Abner Abner son of Ner was King Saul’s cousin as well as his general (1 Sam 14:49-52). Saul’s armies won important battles against the Philistines under Abner’s command (1 Sam 17:1-58), and Abner ate at the king’s table with David and Jonathan (1 Sam 20:24-25).

2 Samuel 2:8-2:31Universalbiblical_peoplesin

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Assyria

Assyria Assyria was a symbol of terror and tyranny in the Near East for more than three centuries. In the biblical account, we learn about its power and ruthlessness in its treatment of the people of Israel and Judah.

2 Kings 15:19-19:37Universalbiblical_peopleprophecy

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Isaiah

Isaiah Isaiah was a Judean prophet during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. He was the son of Amoz (Isa 1:1) and was possibly related to King Amaziah. He lived in Jerusalem, was well educated, and had deep insight into human nature.

Isaiah 1:1-66:24Universalbiblical_peoplecovenant

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Rachel

Rachel Rachel, Laban’s beautiful younger daughter, was Jacob’s favorite wife. He first met her as he arrived at Paddan-aram in Haran, when he helped her remove the stone from a well and watered her father’s sheep (Gen 29:10).

Genesis 29:6-30:26Universalbiblical_peoplegrace

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Asa

Asa Asa became the third king of Judah after the split of Solomon’s empire into independent kingdoms. Asa succeeded his father, Abijah, after Abijah’s brief kingship (913–910 BC) and reigned for 41 years (910–869 BC). In the beginning of his...

2 Chronicles 14:1-16:14Universalbiblical_peoplefaith

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Roman Emperors

Roman Emperors (27 BC–AD 96) Augustus (Octavian) (27 BC–AD 14) Became the first Roman emperor after defeating Marc Antony at the battle of Actium (31 BC); ruled with wisdom and good administration; given the title “Augustus” (27 BC), initiating emperor worship.

Revelation 17:9-17:11Universalbiblical_peopleworship

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Stephen

Stephen Stephen was an exemplary early Christian who, as a result of the boldness of his witness, was arrested and killed by the Jewish authorities. He is known as the first Christian martyr.

Acts 6:5-8:2Universalbiblical_peoplefaith

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Nebuchadnezzar II

Nebuchadnezzar II King Nebuchadnezzar II reigned over Babylon from 605 to 562 BC. He secured and extended the empire of his father, Nabopolassar (626–605 BC). Beyond the scriptural record, many ancient Babylonian documents report Nebuchadnezzar’s accomplishments.

Daniel 1:1-5:21Universalbiblical_peopleworship

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Annas and Caiaphas

Annas and Caiaphas Annas and Caiaphas were both spoken of as high priests during the time of Jesus, and they were instrumental in getting Jesus condemned to death. Annas was the Jewish high priest around AD 6–15.

John 11:49-11:53Universalbiblical_peoplefaith

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Saul

Saul Saul was the first king of Israel. He was chosen by God and the people, but he failed tremendously because he lacked confidence in himself and in God. Saul was a very complex character who sometimes elicits our sympathy.

1 Samuel 9:1-24:22Universalbiblical_peopleworship

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Antiochus IV

Antiochus IV Antiochus IV is the most important of all the Seleucid rulers as far as the biblical literature is concerned and is known as one of the cruelest tyrants of all time.

Daniel 11:21-11:39Universalbiblical_peoplefaith

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Deborah

Deborah Deborah the prophet was one of the early judges of Israel, a woman of integrity and devotion to the Lord. As a prophet, she received divine revelation; as a judge, she arbitrated legal disputes. She could aptly be characterized...

Judges 4:4-5:31Universalbiblical_peopleprophecy

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Mary, Mother of Jesus

Mary, Mother of Jesus Mary, the wife of Joseph, was the virgin mother of Jesus. Luke tells us that as a young girl in Nazareth, Mary was betrothed to Joseph, a local carpenter.

Luke 1:26-1:56Universalbiblical_peoplefaith

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Judas Iscariot

Judas Iscariot Judas Iscariot is infamous for betraying Jesus to the authorities (Matt 10:4; Mark 3:19; Luke 6:16). The meaning of the name “Iscariot” is uncertain; it might refer to a village named Kerioth. He is not the same person...

Mark 14:10-14:11Universalbiblical_peoplesalvation

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Eleazar

Eleazar Eleazar was the third son of Aaron, the first high priest (Exod 6:23). Eleazar’s two older brothers, Nadab and Abihu, offended God by offering incense in a different way than what God had commanded (Lev 10:1-7). Because of their disobedience, God killed them.

Numbers 26:1-26:4Universalbiblical_peoplefaith

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Baruch

Baruch Baruch the son of Neriah was a royal scribe in Jerusalem who served as secretary for Jeremiah the prophet. His brother Seraiah was a “staff officer” in Zedekiah’s administration (Jer 51:59-64). Baruch’s family evidently ranked highly in the administration of Judah.

Jeremiah 45:1-45:5Universalbiblical_peoplecovenant

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Rahab

Rahab Rahab, a prostitute and a woman of faith, remains enigmatic centuries after her brief appearance in Israel’s history. Because she placed her faith in Israel’s God and helped the two Israelite scouts who came to her house, her life...

Joshua 2:1-2:21Universalbiblical_peoplefaith

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Elijah

Elijah Elijah from Tishbe served as prophet of Israel during the reigns of Ahab and Ahaziah (874–852 BC). His name means “my God is Yahweh,” and his ministry involved demonstrating that the Lord is the one true God and calling Israel back to the Lord.

1 Kings 17:1-19:21Universalbiblical_peopleworship

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Ezekiel

Ezekiel Ezekiel, a priest and prophet, was born around 623 BC. He was probably raised in Jerusalem, and he was married (24:16-18). He went into exile in Babylon with Jehoiachin in 597 BC, where he lived by the Kebar River.

Ezekiel 1:1-48:35Universalbiblical_peoplefaith

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Apollos

Apollos Apollos was a Hellenistic (Greek-speaking) Jew, well versed in Scripture, who became a strong evangelist and Christian apologist. A native of Alexandria in Egypt, where there was a large Jewish community, Apollos apparently came under the influence of John the Baptist’s followers.

Acts 18:24-19:1Universalbiblical_peoplefaith