Potiphar’s Wife Her character: The wife of a prosperous and influential Egyptian, she was unfaithful and vindictive, ready to lie in order to protect herself and ruin an innocent man. Her sorrow: To be rebuffed by a slave. Key Scriptures: Genesis 39 Her Story We don’t even know her name.Read More …

Tamar, Daughter-in-Law of Judah Her name means: “Date Tree” or “Palm Tree” Her character: Driven by one overwhelming need, she sacrificed her reputation and nearly her life to achieve her goals. Her sorrow: That the men in her life failed to fulfill their responsibility, leaving her a childless widow. HerRead More …

Leah Her name means: “Impatient” or “Wild Cow” Her character: Capable of both strong and enduring love, she was a faithful mother and wife. Manipulated by her father, she became jealous of her sister, with whom, it seems, she never reconciled. Her sorrow: That she lacked her sister’s beauty, andRead More …

Rachel Her name means: “Ewe” Her character: Manipulated by her father, she had little say over her own life circumstances and relationships. But rather than dealing creatively with a difficult situation, Rachel behaved like a perpetual victim, responding to sin with yet more sin, making things worse by competing withRead More …

Rebekah Her name means: “Loop” or “Tie” Her character: Hardworking and generous, her faith was so great that she left her home forever to marry a man she had never seen or met. Yet she played favorites with her sons and failed to trust God fully for the promise heRead More …

Lot’s Wife Her character: She was a prosperous woman who may have been more attached to the good life than was good for her. Though there is no indication she participated in the sin of Sodom, her story implies she had learned to tolerate it and that her heart hadRead More …

Hagar Her name means: “Fugitive” or “Immigrant” Her character: A foreigner and slave, Hagar let pride overtake her when she became Abraham’s wife. A lonely woman with few resources, she suffered harsh punishment for her mistake. She obeyed God’s voice as soon as she heard it and was given aRead More …

Sarah Her name means: “Chieftainness” or “Princess” Her character: Beautiful enough to attract rulers in the ancient world, she could be strong-willed and jealous. Yet Sarah was considered a loyal wife who did what was right and who didn’t give in to fear. Her sorrow: That she remained childless forRead More …

Priscilla Her name means: “Worthy” or “Venerable” Her character: One of the first missionaries and a leader of the early church, along with her husband, Aquila, she risked her life for the apostle Paul. Priscilla was a woman whose spiritual maturity and understanding of the faith helped build up theRead More …

Lydia Her name signifies that she was a woman of Lydia, a region in Asia Minor Her character: A Gentile adherent of Judaism, she was a successful businesswoman who sold a type of cloth prized for its purple color. As head of her household, she may have been either widowedRead More …