Bible Strands
The people of the Bible
3,118 people are named in Scripture and traced here from STEPBible's genealogy data — parents, children, and every verse that names them. Where a lexicon says what a name means, it says so and names the lexicon.
The three hundred most often named are below; the rest are reachable from any verse that names them, or by searching in the app.
- Jesus — The Son of God and Savior of the world. 1149 verses
- David — Anointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus Christ 964 verses
- Moses — Prophet who led Israel out of Egypt 786 verses
- Aaron — Moses' brother, first high priest of Israel 333 verses
- Saul — First king of Israel, anointed by Samuel 327 verses
- Abraham — Patriarch, chosen by God to father His people 275 verses
- Solomon — Son of David, king of Israel, known for his wisdom. 272 verses
- Jacob — Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes 262 verses
- Joseph — Son of Jacob, ruler in Egypt 197 verses
- Joshua — Moses' assistant who led Israel into Canaan 189 verses
- Paul — Apostle to the Gentiles, author of many NT epistles 182 verses
- Peter — Apostle of Jesus, leader in the early church 179 verses
- Jeremiah — Son of Hilkiah, the prophet during Judah's final days. 124 verses
- Isaac — Son of Abraham; father of Jacob and Esau. 123 verses
- Samuel — Prophet and last judge of Israel before the kings 121 verses
- Joab — Son of Zeruiah, commander of David's army 120 verses
- Hezekiah — A righteous king of Judah. 116 verses
- Pharaoh — Egyptian Pharaoh during the Exodus 111 verses
- Absalom — David's rebellious son who tried to usurp the throne. 92 verses
- Elijah — A prophet during the reigns of Ahab and Ahaziah. 92 verses
- John — The Baptist, a prophet who prepared the way for Jesus 89 verses
- Nebuchadnezzar — Emperor of Babylon who conquered Judah 88 verses
- Jonathan — Eldest son of King Saul and friend of David 82 verses
- Jeroboam — First king of the northern kingdom of Israel. 81 verses
- Ahab — Wicked king of Israel; husband of Jezebel 79 verses
- Daniel — Prophet in Babylon, known for wisdom and visions 72 verses
- Pharaoh — Egyptian ruler during Joseph's time 70 verses
- Jehoshaphat — Son of Asa, king of Judah. 67 verses
- Esau — Isaac's firstborn son; sold birthright to Jacob; became Edom. 66 verses
- Eleazar — Son of Aaron, high priest after his father 61 verses
- Balaam — A prophet hired to curse Israel but blessed them instead. 59 verses
- Isaiah — Prophet during reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah. 54 verses
- Zedekiah — Last king of Judah before the Babylonian exile 54 verses
- Abner — Saul's cousin and commander of his army 53 verses
- Asa — King of Judah, son of Abijah; father of Jehoshaphat 53 verses
- Elisha — A prophet who succeeded Elijah. 53 verses
- Job — A righteous man who endured great suffering 53 verses
- Pilate — Roman governor who presided over Jesus' trial 53 verses
- Gideon — Judge of Israel; defeated Midianites; tested and reassured by God. 50 verses
- Mordecai — Esther's cousin, a Jewish leader in the Persian court. 50 verses
- Josiah — King of Judah known for his religious reforms 49 verses
- Sarah — Wife of Abraham; mother of Isaac 48 verses
- Noah — Righteous man, built ark, survived flood 47 verses
- Jehu — Son of Jehoshaphat, king of Israel, destroyed Ahab's dynasty. 46 verses
- Judah — Israelite tribe, kingdom, and province 46 verses
- Laban — Brother of Rebekah; father of Leah and Rachel 46 verses
- Esther — Jewish queen of Persia; saved her people from genocide. 45 verses
- Haman — A Persian official who plotted to destroy the Jews. 45 verses
- Rachel — Wife of Jacob; mother of Joseph and Benjamin 45 verses
- Jesse — Father of King David. 44 verses
- Rehoboam — Son of Solomon, first king of Judah 42 verses
- Balak — King of Moab who hired Balaam to curse Israel. 41 verses
- Zadok — High priest during the reigns of David and Solomon 40 verses
- Samson — Israelite judge with great strength from God 38 verses
- Abimelech — Son of Gideon, self-proclaimed king of Shechem 37 verses
- Ahaz — King of Judah, son of Jotham 37 verses
- Jehoiakim — King of Judah, son of Josiah 36 verses
- John — Apostle and son of Zebedee 35 verses
- Amaziah — King of Judah, son of Joash 34 verses
- Lot — Abraham's nephew; rescued from Sodom's destruction 34 verses
- Sihon — Amorite king of Heshbon, defeated by the Israelites. 34 verses
- Asaph — Levite musician, psalmist, and ancestor of temple singers 33 verses
- Uzziah — King of Judah, reigned 52 years 33 verses
- Leah — Wife of Jacob; mother of six sons and Dinah 32 verses
- Ahasuerus — Persian Emperor (probably Xerxes I); husband of Esther 30 verses
- Eli — High priest and judge of Israel at Shiloh 30 verses
- Nathan — Prophet during the reigns of David and Solomon. 30 verses
- Nun — Father of Joshua 30 verses
- Rebekah — Wife of Isaac; mother of Jacob and Esau 30 verses
- Abiathar — High priest during the reigns of David and Solomon 29 verses
- Barnabas — A Levite from Cyprus who accompanied Paul on missionary journeys. 28 verses
- Timothy — Paul's young disciple and co-worker 28 verses
- Zerubbabel — Leader of the first Jewish exiles from Babylon 27 verses
- Ahaziah — King of Judah, son of Jehoram and Athaliah 26 verses
- Baasha — Third king of Israel who ruled for 24 years. 26 verses
- Gedaliah — Appointed governor of Judah by Babylonians; assassinated by Ishmael. 26 verses
- Jehoiada — High priest who overthrew Athaliah and crowned Joash 26 verses
- Jephthah — A judge of Israel, known for his tragic vow. 26 verses
- Joash — King of Judah, son of Ahaziah 26 verses
- Benjamin — Youngest son of Jacob and Rachel 25 verses
- Nebat — Father of Jeroboam, the first king of Israel. 25 verses
- Zeruiah — Sister of David; mother of Joab, Abishai, and Asahel 25 verses
- Abishai — David's nephew, one of his mighty men and commanders 24 verses
- Adonijah — Son of David who attempted to seize the throne 24 verses
- Herod — Tetrarch of Galilee during Jesus' ministry. 24 verses
- Jonah — Prophet swallowed by fish, preached to Nineveh 24 verses
- Manasseh — King of Judah, son of Hezekiah. 24 verses
- Abimelech — Philistine king who interacted with Abraham and Isaac 23 verses
- Benaiah — Son of Jehoiada, a mighty warrior and loyal supporter of David and Solomon. 23 verses
- Hiram — King of Tyre, ally of David and Solomon. 23 verses
- Joash — King of Israel, son of Jehoahaz 23 verses
- Judas — The apostle who betrayed Jesus 23 verses
- Shaphan — Scribe during the reign of King Josiah 23 verses
- Boaz — Kinsman-redeemer who married Ruth, ancestor of David and Jesus 22 verses
- Ezra — Priest; scribe; led a group of exiles back to Jerusalem. 22 verses
- Jehoiachin — King of Judah, son of Jehoiakim 22 verses
- Og — King of Bashan, defeated by Israel 22 verses
- Uriah — Hittite soldier; husband of Bathsheba 22 verses
- Achish — Philistine king of Gath, gave refuge to David 21 verses
- Amnon — David's firstborn son, killed by Absalom 21 verses
- Baruch — Jeremiah's scribe who recorded and delivered his prophecies. 21 verses
- Hazael — King of Aram (Syria), anointed by Elijah. 21 verses
- Ishmael — Assassinated Gedaliah the governor; led captives to Ammon. 21 verses
- Jehoiada — Father of one of David's warriors, Benaiah 21 verses
- Jehoram — Son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. 21 verses
- Joshua — High priest during the rebuilding of the temple 21 verses
- Reuben — Firstborn son of Jacob and Leah 21 verses
- Abijah — King of Judah, son of Rehoboam 20 verses
- Ahikam — Son of Shaphan, protected Jeremiah from death 20 verses
- Ithamar — Youngest son of Aaron; served as priest. 20 verses
- Jezebel — Queen of Israel; wife of King Ahab 20 verses
- Jotham — King of Judah and son of Uzziah 20 verses
- Manasseh — Firstborn son of Joseph, blessed by Jacob. 20 verses
- Mary — Mother of Jesus; wife of Joseph. 20 verses
- Naomi — Israelite woman, mother-in-law of Ruth. 20 verses
- Cyrus — Persian Emperor who decreed the rebuilding of the Temple 19 verses
- Hilkiah — The high priest who discovered the Book of the Law. 19 verses
- James — Son of Zebedee, one of the Twelve Apostles 19 verses
- Joram — King of N. Israel, son of Ahab 19 verses
- Micah — A man from Ephraim who set up idolatrous worship. 19 verses
- Azariah — One of Daniel's companions, survived the fiery furnace 18 verses
- Hadadezer — King of Zobah, defeated by David. 18 verses
- Hananiah — One of Daniel's three friends in Babylon. 18 verses
- Hophra — Pharaoh during Jeremiah's time. 18 verses
- Ishmael — Son of Abraham and Hagar; father of Arab tribes. 18 verses
- Micaiah — A prophet who foretold King Ahab's death. 18 verses
- Mishael — A Jewish exile in Babylon, friend of Daniel. 18 verses
- Nabal — Wealthy Carmelite; husband of Abigail. He was known for foolishness. 18 verses
- Naboth — Jezreelite vineyard owner, unjustly killed by Ahab and Jezebel. 18 verses
- Adam — The first man, created by God 17 verses
- Ahithophel — David's counselor who joined Absalom's rebellion, later committed suicide 17 verses
- Ben-hadad — King of Aram, contemporary of Asa and Baasha. 17 verses
- Levi — Son of Jacob; progenitor of the Levites 17 verses
- Ornan — Jebusite, sold threshing floor to David 17 verses
- Shem — Noah's son, ancestor of Semitic peoples 17 verses
- Silas — Prominent member of the Jerusalem church, companion of Paul. 17 verses
- Sisera — Canaanite commander defeated by Deborah and Barak. 17 verses
- Cain — Adam and Eve's firstborn son, killed his brother Abel 16 verses
- Darius — Persian king who decreed the rebuilding of the Temple 16 verses
- Michal — Daughter of Saul; wife of David. 16 verses
- Nethaniah — Father of Ishmael 16 verses
- Obed-edom — Gittite who housed the Ark 16 verses
- Philip — One of the seven deacons, evangelized in Samaria 16 verses
- Phinehas — Aaron's grandson; zealous priest who opposed idolatry 16 verses
- Rabshakeh — A Babylonian official who taunted Hezekiah and Jerusalem's people 16 verses
- Simeon — Son of Jacob and Leah, one of the twelve tribes. 16 verses
- Amon — King of Judah, son of Manasseh 15 verses
- Athaliah — Queen of Judah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel 15 verses
- Jeduthun — Levitical musician and singer during David's reign 15 verses
- Jephunneh — The Kenizzite, father of Caleb the spy. 15 verses
- Johanan — A Judean military leader after the fall of Jerusalem 15 verses
- Nebuzaradan — Babylonian captain of the guard during Jerusalem's fall. 15 verses
- Philip — One of the twelve apostles of Jesus 15 verses
- Shimei — Benjamite who cursed David during Absalom's rebellion. 15 verses
- Titus — Gentile convert and companion of Paul 15 verses
- Abigail — Wife of Nabal, later married David 14 verses
- Artaxerxes — Persian king during Ezra and Nehemiah's time 14 verses
- Asahel — Son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, killed by Abner 14 verses
- Barak — An Israelite commander who defeated Canaanite forces with Deborah. 14 verses
- Ephraim — Second son of Joseph, and a tribe of Israel. 14 verses
- Jehoahaz — King of Israel, son of Jehu 14 verses
- Jeroboam — King of Israel, son of Jehoash. 14 verses
- Joseph — Husband of Mary and earthly father of Jesus 14 verses
- Kareah — Father of Johanan and Jonathan 14 verses
- Manoah — Father of Samson, from the tribe of Dan. 14 verses
- Mary Magdalene — Follower of Jesus, first witness of His resurrection. 14 verses
- Mephibosheth — Son of Jonathan and grandson of King Saul. 14 verses
- Ner — Father of Abner, King Saul's commander. 14 verses
- Sennacherib — Assyrian Emperor who invaded Judah 14 verses
- Ahimaaz — Son of Zadok the priest, a messenger for David 13 verses
- Ahimelech — High Priest at Nob who helped David, killed by Saul 13 verses
- Amoz — Father of the prophet Isaiah 13 verses
- Festus — Roman governor of Judea; heard Paul's case; sent him to Rome. 13 verses
- Gad — Prophet during the reigns of David and Solomon. 13 verses
- Hamor — A Hivite prince, father of Shechem. 13 verses
- Hushai — David's friend and advisor who helped him during Absalom's rebellion. 13 verses
- Kish — Father of Saul, the first king of Israel 13 verses
- Omri — King of Israel; father of Ahab 13 verses
- Remaliah — Father of Pekah, king of Israel 13 verses
- Ruth — Moabite woman, ancestor of David and Jesus 13 verses
- Tamar — David's daughter, raped by her half-brother Amnon 13 verses
- Ziba — Servant of Saul's household, later served David 13 verses
- Abihu — Son of Aaron 12 verses
- Agrippa — Tetrarch who heard Paul's defense in Caesarea 12 verses
- Andrew — Apostle, brother of Simon Peter 12 verses
- Bathsheba — Wife of Uriah, later married David and bore Solomon. 12 verses
- Eber — Ancestor of Abraham; father of Peleg and Joktan 12 verses
- Gehazi — Elisha's servant; punished with leprosy for greed and deceit. 12 verses
- Hagar — Sarah's Egyptian maidservant; mother of Ishmael. 12 verses
- Heman — A Levite and chief musician in David's time. 12 verses
- Heth — Son of Canaan and ancestor of the Hittites. 12 verses
- Hur — A companion of Moses and grandfather of Bezalel. 12 verses
- Ish-bosheth — Son of Saul, king over Israel. 12 verses
- Jehozadak — Father of Joshua the high priest during the exile. 12 verses
- Kohath — Son of Levi; Levite clan ancestor 12 verses
- Martha — Sister of Mary and Lazarus, hosted Jesus. 12 verses
- Merari — The third son of Levi and founder of the Merarites. 12 verses
- Miriam — Moses' sister, a prophetess who led women in worship. 12 verses
- Nadab — Son of Aaron, consumed by fire for offering incense. 12 verses
- Pharaoh — Egyptian Pharaoh during Solomon's reign 12 verses
- Thomas — One of Jesus' twelve disciples, known for doubting 12 verses
- Tiberius — Roman emperor during Jesus' ministry and death 12 verses
- Tobiah — Ammonite official who opposed Nehemiah's rebuilding efforts 12 verses
- Ahijah — Prophet from Shiloh who prophesied to Jeroboam 11 verses
- Amasa — Military commander, son of Abigail (David's sister), killed by Joab 11 verses
- Amminadab — Father-in-law of Aaron, ancestor of David 11 verses
- Claudius — Roman emperor during Paul's ministry 11 verses
- Haggai — A prophet who encouraged the rebuilding of the temple. 11 verses
- Hannah — The mother of the prophet Samuel. 11 verses
- Herod — The Great, Roman-appointed king of Judea during Jesus' birth. 11 verses
- James — Jesus' brother, leader in the Jerusalem church 11 verses
- Japheth — Son of Noah, ancestor of Indo-European peoples 11 verses
- Jethro — Moses' father-in-law, priest of Midian 11 verses
- Kedar — A son of Ishmael and a nomadic tribe 11 verses
- Lazarus — Brother of Mary and Martha; raised from the dead 11 verses
- Mary — Sister of Martha and Lazarus, sat at Jesus' feet. 11 verses
- Melchizedek — King of Salem and priest of God Most High. 11 verses
- Naaman — Aramean commander healed of leprosy by Elisha. 11 verses
- Nahor — Son of Terah, Abraham's brother; father of Bethuel. 11 verses
- Nahshon — Son of Amminadab, leader of Judah, ancestor of David. 11 verses
- Pekah — King of Israel who reigned for 20 years 11 verses
- Pharaoh — Egyptian Pharaoh during Moses' birth and early life 11 verses
- Shealtiel — Grandfather of Zerubbabel, descendant of David 11 verses
- Shechem — Founded the city where Dinah was raped 11 verses
- Zebedee — Father of the apostles James and John 11 verses
- Anah — Horite, father of Oholibamah, Esau's wife 10 verses
- Apollos — Eloquent Jewish Christian from Alexandria, co-worker with Paul 10 verses
- Arpachshad — Son of Shem, ancestor of Abraham 10 verses
- Asher — Son of Jacob and Zilpah, founder of the tribe of Asher 10 verses
- Barabbas — A notorious prisoner released instead of Jesus. 10 verses
- Bilhah — Rachel's maidservant and mother of Dan and Naphtali 10 verses
- Cornelius — Centurion, first Gentile convert to Christianity 10 verses
- Elkanah — The father of the prophet Samuel. 10 verses
- Enoch — A righteous man who walked with God. 10 verses
- Ephron — A Hittite who sold a burial site to Abraham. 10 verses
- Gershon — Firstborn son of Levi; head of the Gershonite Levites. 10 verses
- Ham — One of Noah's three sons, father of Canaan. 10 verses
- Hezron — Son of Perez, grandson of Judah, ancestor of David. 10 verses
- Issachar — Son of Jacob and Leah, forefather of tribe 10 verses
- Mark — Cousin of Barnabas, companion of Paul, author of Gospel. 10 verses
- Neco — Egyptian Pharaoh during the reigns of Josiah and Jehoiakim. 10 verses
- Neriah — Father of Baruch 10 verses
- Queen of Sheba — A queen who visited Solomon and praised his wisdom 10 verses
- Sanballat — Governor of Samaria, opposed Nehemiah's rebuilding of Jerusalem 10 verses
- Seth — Third son of Adam and Eve, ancestor of righteous line 10 verses
- Terah — Abraham's father who settled in Haran 10 verses
- Vashti — Queen of Persia, deposed by King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) 10 verses
- Abel — Adam and Eve's second son, killed by Cain 9 verses
- Barzillai — A Gileadite who provided for David during Absalom's rebellion. 9 verses
- Beor — Father of Balaam 9 verses
- Bethuel — Father of Rebekah, Isaac's wife 9 verses
- Caiaphas — High priest during Jesus' ministry and trial 9 verses
- Caleb — Son of Hezron, descendant of Judah 9 verses
- Canaan — Son of Ham; father of Sidon and Heth 9 verses
- Deborah — Prophetess and judge who led Israel to victory over Canaanites. 9 verses
- Eliakim — Palace administrator under King Hezekiah 9 verses
- Gaal — Son of Ebed; led a revolt against Abimelech. 9 verses
- Gad — Israelite tribe; descended from Gad, son of Jacob. 9 verses
- Gilead — Son of Machir; grandson of Manasseh; father of six sons. 9 verses
- Jonadab — Son of Rechab, who promoted Rechabite lifestyle 9 verses
- Naphtali — Son of Jacob, founder of the tribe of Naphtali. 9 verses
- Rezin — King of Aram (Syria) during the reign of Ahaz 9 verses
- Shebna — Steward of the palace during Hezekiah's reign 9 verses
- Tiglath-pileser — Assyrian king who conquered parts of Israel 9 verses
- Zalmunna — Midianite king defeated by Gideon 9 verses
- Zebah — Midianite king defeated by Gideon 9 verses
- Zechariah — Priest, father of John the Baptist 9 verses
- Zelophehad — Israelite whose daughters received his inheritance 9 verses
- Abiram — Reubenite who rebelled against Moses and Aaron 8 verses
- Belshazzar — The last Emperor of Babylon, son of Nabonidus. 8 verses
- Bezalel — Skilled craftsman who built the tabernacle 8 verses
- Darius — Mede who became Emperor over Babylon 8 verses
- Dathan — Reubenite who rebelled against Moses and Aaron 8 verses
- Dinah — Daughter of Jacob and Leah 8 verses
- Ehud — Left-handed Benjamite judge who delivered Israel from Moabite oppression 8 verses
- Eliphaz — The firstborn son of Esau. 8 verses
- Elizabeth — The wife of Zechariah and mother of John the Baptist. 8 verses
- Enosh — Son of Seth, during whose time people called on the Lord's name. 8 verses
- Felix — Roman governor of Judea; heard Paul's case. 8 verses
- Hananiah — A false prophet who opposed Jeremiah's prophecies. 8 verses
- Hanun — An Ammonite king who mistreated David's envoys. 8 verses
- Hoshea — The last king of Israel (northern kingdom). 8 verses
- James — James "the Less", son of Alphaeus 8 verses
- Jeshua — A prominent Levite leader during the post-exilic period. 8 verses
- Joash — The father of Gideon, a judge of Israel 8 verses
- Kadmiel — A Levite who returned from Babylonian exile 8 verses
- Maacah — Daughter of Abishalom; wife of Rehoboam; mother of Abijah 8 verses
- Matthew — Apostle, tax collector, author of the Gospel of Matthew. 8 verses
- Menahem — King of Israel who reigned for ten years. 8 verses
- Peleg — Descendant of Shem, ancestor of Abraham 8 verses
- Perez — Son of Judah, ancestor of David and Jesus 8 verses
- Rahab — A Canaanite woman who helped the Israelite spies in Jericho 8 verses
- Sheba — Benjamite rebel against King David 8 verses
- Shelah — Son of Arpachshad and ancestor of Abraham 8 verses
- Uzzah — Died while moving the ark; place named after him 8 verses
- Zebulun — Israelite tribe, son of Jacob and Leah 8 verses
- Zimri — King of Israel, reigned seven days 8 verses
- Achan — An Israelite who stole devoted things, causing Israel's defeat. 7 verses
- Ahaziah — King of Israel, son of Ahab 7 verses
- Alphaeus — Father of apostles James and Matthew (Levi) 7 verses