“Hope starts here. Joy starts here. Faith grows here. Welcome!” We’ve been praying for you—yes, you! Welcome to a space filled with God’s love. Faith. Truth. Community. Welcome to a place where you can grow and be inspired.”
“Friends, welcome!” This article is about some highly important figures in Bible history who lived during a time when women became a very prominent influence. This is their story…
In a world often dominated by patriarchal leadership, the Holy Bible—especially as preserved in the King James Version—elevates and honors women in ways that are both profound and revolutionary. From the matriarchs of Israel to the brave heroines of crisis, from prophetic voices to humble servants.
The Bible unveils the lives of women whose faith, courage, obedience, and wisdom shaped the course of redemptive history. Their names are not mere footnotes but divine appointments, inscribed for our instruction, inspiration, and admiration. As we journey through Scripture, we discover women who believed God—sometimes against all odds—and thereby earned a place in His eternal narrative.
1. Eve: The Mother of All Living:
“And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.” – (Genesis 3:20). Eve was the first woman, formed by God from Adam’s rib and placed in Eden as his helpmate (Genesis 2:18-22). Though her decision in Eden led to the fall of man (Genesis 3:6), Eve’s story is not one of eternal shame but of pivotal origin. She bore the first children, including Abel—whose righteous offering pleased God—and Seth, through whom the godly lineage continued (Genesis 4:25).
Her life set the foundation for the human race, and the promise of a Redeemer (Genesis 3:15) came through her lineage, making her the original vessel through which God’s redemptive plan would unfold.
2. Sarah: The Mother of Nations:
“Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed… because she judged him faithful who had promised,” (Hebrews 11:11). Sarah, Abraham’s wife, is revered as a matriarch of faith. Though barren into her old age, she conceived Isaac at 90 years old because she believed God’s promise (Genesis 21:1-2).
Her laughter at the angelic prophecy turned into joyful astonishment (Genesis 18:12-14). She is the only woman in Scripture whose age at death is recorded (Genesis 23:1), underscoring her importance. Her faith and obedience secured the birth of the nation of Israel, for through Isaac came Jacob, and through Jacob, the twelve tribes.
3. Hagar: The God Who Sees Me:
“Thou God seest me” (Genesis 16:13). An Egyptian maidservant to Sarah, Hagar bore Abraham’s first son, Ishmael. Though she was used and mistreated, God appeared to her in the wilderness, making her the first person in Scripture to give God a name: El Roi, “the God who sees me.” Her survival and the promised greatness of Ishmael’s descendants (Genesis 16:10-12) confirm her significance. Hagar reminds us that even the marginalized are not forgotten by God.
4. Rebekah: A Woman of Initiative and Faith:
“Let the damsel abide with us a few days… And they said, We will call the damsel and enquire at her mouth,” (Genesis 24:55-57). Chosen by God to become Isaac’s wife, Rebekah left her home willingly in a bold act of faith. She was decisive, quick-thinking, and spirited. Her discernment played a key role in ensuring Jacob received Isaac’s blessing (Genesis 27), fulfilling the prophetic word she had received while pregnant (Genesis 25:23). While her methods were flawed, her faith in God’s plan was evident.
5. Rachel and Leah: Mothers of Israel’s Tribes:
Rachel and Leah, sisters married to Jacob, together bore the patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel. Leah, though unloved, was fruitful and faithful, giving birth to six of Jacob’s sons, including Judah—from whom Christ descended (Genesis 29:31-35). Rachel, favored yet barren for a time, eventually bore Joseph and Benjamin. The tension and rivalry between them ultimately fulfilled God’s purpose in multiplying the children of Israel.
6. Miriam: Prophetess and Worship Leader:
“And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand… and the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances” (Exodus 15:20). Miriam, sister to Moses and Aaron, was a prophetess and instrumental in Israel’s deliverance.
She watched over baby Moses (Exodus 2:4-8) and later led the women of Israel in triumphant praise after the Red Sea crossing. Though later disciplined for challenging Moses’ authority (Numbers 12), her role as a leader, singer, and prophetess was critical in Israel’s journey from bondage to freedom.
7. Deborah: Judge, Prophetess, Warrior:
“And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time,” (Judges 4:4). Deborah was the only female judge of Israel and a prophetess who led the nation in righteousness and victory. She commanded Barak to battle against Sisera, but because of his reluctance, she prophesied that a woman—Jael—would get the glory (Judges 4:9). Deborah’s song in Judges 5 is one of the oldest and most powerful poetic declarations in the Bible. She exemplifies strength, leadership, and spiritual authority.
8. Jael: Slayer of Israel’s Enemy:
“Blessed above women shall Jael… be,” (Judges 5:24). In one of Scripture’s most dramatic scenes, Jael, a seemingly gentle tent-dweller, killed Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite army, by driving a tent peg through his head (Judges 4:21). Her decisive and fearless action fulfilled prophecy and delivered Israel from oppression, earning her unique praise in Deborah’s victory song.
9. Ruth: The Loyal Moabite:
“Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God,” (Ruth 1:16). Ruth, a Moabite widow, left her homeland to stay with her mother-in-law Naomi in Bethlehem. Her loyalty and virtue gained her favor with Boaz, a wealthy kinsman redeemer, whom she later married (Ruth 4:13). Ruth became the great-grandmother of King David and thus part of Christ’s lineage (Matthew 1:5). Her story is one of redemption, humility, and God’s grace toward Gentiles.
10. Hannah: Mother of a Prophet:
“For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition,” (1 Samuel 1:27). Hannah, barren and ridiculed, prayed fervently for a child and vowed to dedicate him to the Lord. God answered her prayers, and she bore Samuel, who became a prophet, judge, and anointer of kings. Her song of thanksgiving (1 Samuel 2) foreshadows the Magnificat of Mary. Hannah’s faith and devotion exemplify the power of prayer.
11. Abigail: A Woman of Wisdom and Peace:
“Blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou,” (1 Samuel 25:33). Abigail was married to Nabal, a harsh man who disrespected David. In an act of peacemaking and wisdom, Abigail quickly brought provisions to David and prevented bloodshed. David recognized her wisdom and later married her after Nabal’s death. She became one of his most trusted wives and is a model of discernment and diplomacy.
12. Esther: Queen for Such a Time as This:
“…and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14). Esther, a Jewish orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai, became queen of Persia. Risking her life, she approached King Ahasuerus uninvited to save her people from genocide. Her courage and strategy led to the downfall of Haman and the preservation of the Jewish nation. The Feast of Purim still commemorates her heroism.
13. Mary, Mother of Jesus: Blessed Among Women:
“Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word,” (Luke 1:38). Mary was chosen to bear the Messiah, Jesus Christ. A virgin, visited by the angel Gabriel, she submitted to God’s will with unwavering faith. Her Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55) is a profound declaration of God’s mercy and justice. Present throughout Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, Mary exemplifies maternal faith, humility, and obedience.
14. Elizabeth: Mother of John the Baptist:
“And they were both righteous before God,” (Luke 1:6). Elizabeth, a descendant of Aaron and wife to Zechariah, was righteous and barren. In old age, she conceived John the Baptist. When pregnant Mary visited her, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost and recognized the Messiah in Mary’s womb (Luke 1:41-45). Her prophetic voice and spiritual discernment were vital affirmations of Jesus’ divine nature.
15. Mary Magdalene: Witness to the Risen Christ:
“He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils” (Mark 16:9). Mary Magdalene was a devoted follower of Jesus, healed from demonic oppression. She witnessed His crucifixion and was the first to see the resurrected Christ. Her faithfulness made her a foundational witness of the resurrection, commissioned by Christ to tell the apostles (John 20:17-18). Despite misconceptions, she was not a prostitute but a faithful disciple.
16. Priscilla: Teacher and Co-Laborer in Christ:
“Aquila and Priscilla… expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly” (Acts 18:26). Priscilla, with her husband Aquila, was a tentmaker and missionary. They taught Apollos, a mighty preacher, helping refine his doctrine. Her name is often mentioned before her husband’s, a sign of her leadership and prominence. She exemplifies spiritual intelligence, hospitality, and discipleship.
17. Lydia: First European Convert:
“Whose heart the Lord opened… she was baptized, and her household” (Acts 16:14-15). A seller of purple in Philippi, Lydia was the first European convert to Christianity. She opened her home to Paul and Silas, supporting the early church. Her conversion marks the expansion of the gospel beyond Asia into the Gentile world of Europe. Lydia represents industry, generosity, and divine appointment.
Author’s Note / Women of Legacy and Faith:
‘Friends, from the pages of Genesis to the final chapters of Revelation, the women of the Bible are not passive bystanders but active agents of God’s will. They shepherded nations, saved lives, nurtured prophets, led armies, proclaimed truth, and walked in faith. They believed in God—and through that belief, became eternal examples of courage, faith, and spiritual greatness.
As the apostle Paul wrote: “There is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). The stories of these women are woven into the very fabric of Scripture because they illustrate a timeless truth: faith knows no gender. When a woman believes God, she becomes a vessel of miracles, justice, and divine purpose.
This essay, She Believed God: The Faithful Women Who Made History in Scripture, is a tribute to the often-overlooked yet divinely appointed women of the Bible. Each woman featured played a crucial role in shaping the spiritual and historical narrative of God’s redemptive plan. From Eve, the mother of all living, to Mary Magdalene, the first to witness the resurrected Christ, these women stood in faith, obedience, and courage during times of great challenge and transition.
They were prophets, queens, judges, mothers, and disciples—each one uniquely chosen and empowered by God. In exploring their lives and accomplishments, the goal was not only to honor their legacy but also to inspire modern readers—especially women of faith—to recognize their own God-given worth and potential. Scripture does not diminish their voices; except in (1 Timothy 2:12) but not to preach, nor usurp authority over man, but to be in silence regarding preaching duties.
Their faith moved nations, preserved generations, and ushered in the Messiah Himself. Their inclusion in the Bible is no accident. It is God’s intentional affirmation that He uses both men and women to fulfill His divine will. May their stories awaken a deeper reverence for God’s Word and stir every reader to believe, like they did, that with God, all things are possible. God bless!
Author and Servant; Norman G. Roy III
22 EXAMPLES OF WOMEN OF FAITH IN THE BIBLE: