25 Influential Women in the Bible Who Shaped Scripture

TheCollector.com published a listicle profiling 25 women from the Bible, ranging from Eve to Herodias. The article examines their roles as matriarchs, prophetesses, queens, and disciples, highlighting how they influenced biblical narratives. Figures include Eve, Sarah, Hagar, Rebekah, Leah, Rachel, Miriam, Pharaoh's daughter (Bataya), Deborah, Jael, Delilah, Hannah, Ruth, Bathsheba, Jezebel, Esther, Elizabeth, Mary (mother of Jesus), Mary Magdalene, Martha, Joanna, the Samaritan woman, Phoebe, Lydia, and Herodias. Each entry includes biblical references and artistic depictions. The article emphasizes women's agency—both positive and negative—in shaping Israelite history and Christian theology. It notes that some women, like Deborah, served as leaders; others, like Jael, performed violent acts for Israel's deliverance. The piece also addresses figures like Delilah and Jezebel as archetypes of betrayal and evil. The article draws on texts from Genesis, Exodus, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Esther, and the Gospels.