6 Key Women in the Bible: From Eve to Mary Magdalene

The women of the Bible span a wide range of roles—from queens and matriarchs to unnamed figures. While some shape pivotal events, many remain on the margins of the narrative.

Since the Bible emerged from societies in which men held most positions of authority, this might be expected. But Marion Taylor, professor of Old Testament at the University of Toronto, notes that across the Bible, many female figures take on complex, sometimes unexpected roles that challenge traditional assumptions. As Taylor puts it, “The importance of women in the Bible has been underestimated.”

Here are six key women whose Biblical stories reflect that depth.

According to Genesis, the first book of the Bible, God created Adam. Seeing that “it is not good that the man should be alone,” God then formed Eve from Adam’s side as his companion. The two lived in the Garden of Eden until, as the story goes, a serpent persuaded Eve to eat the Tree of Knowledge’s forbidden fruit. As punishment, she and Adam were expelled from Eden. They later had three sons: Cain, Abel and Seth.

Interpretations of Eve’s role in original sin—the theological idea that humanity’s first act of disobedience introduced sin and mortality into the world—have shifted over time. Though Christian theology often emphasizes her role, “The Bible story doesn't even blame Eve particularly” for being deceived, says Taylor. She points to the work of feminist biblical scholar Phyllis Trible, who offers a reinterpretation of the Genesis creation story that challenges more traditional readings.

Rather than viewing Eve as secondary or subordinate, Trible describes her creation as the high point of the narrative. As Taylor explains, this perspective suggests that while Adam is formed from the earth, Eve is created from living human substance—an act that can be understood as signaling a more complex and elevated role.

The Book of Esther, a text in the Old Testament, tells the story of a young Jewish woman who, after being orphaned, rises to become queen of Persia and save the Jewish people from genocide. Raised by her cousin Mordechai, Esther was taken to the royal court and chosen by King Ahasuerus to be queen, admired for her beauty and grace. At Mordechai’s urging, she kept her Jewish identity a secret.

According to the Bible, when royal official Haman persuaded the king to kill all the Jews in the empire, Esther took a risk by intervening. After fasting for three days, she approached the king and revealed her Jewish identity. Haman was executed and it was decreed that Jews could defend themselves. The story is the basis for the Jewish festival of Purim, which commemorates this deliverance.

“It’s the story of human ingenuity, human courage and human bravery,” Rabbi Elaine Glickman of the Women’s Rabbinic Network told USA Today in 2023.

“If you read the book of Esther now through the lens of trauma, she’s orphaned, then taken away from her uncle with all these other young girls into the harem. We would call that sex trafficking,” says Taylor. “Then you see her incredible character development…she's a young girl at the beginning, but then she steps up to the plate and is able to navigate the reversal of the genocidal edict.”

Sarah, the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac, is regarded as one of the key matriarchs in Genesis. Her story is central to the founding narratives of the Hebrew Bible and to the covenant between God and Abraham. She is described as both beautiful and renowned for her hospitality.

Because Sarah was believed to be unable to have children, the Egyptian slave Hagar becomes a concubine to Abraham and gives birth to his son Ishmael. Later, in Sarah's old age—at 90, according to the biblical account—she gives birth to Isaac. Isaac is regarded as the ancestor of the Jewish people, while Ishmael is deemed the ancestor of many Arab tribes.

Theologians point out how impatient Sarah was with God and how harshly she treated Hagar. “Sarah being an abuser of Hagar is an example that women can be abusive, too. Power is part of that story,” explains Taylor. “Her story is about survival in a world where a woman's future depends on fertility. She's not idealized. She has doubts, frustrations, makes mistakes and is portrayed as a very real person.”

Rebekah, the wife of Isaac, gave birth to twins—Jacob and Esau—after 20 years of infertility, according to Genesis. The first twins mentioned in the Bible, the boys fought in the womb. It was prophesied they would form separate nations—and that the older would serve the younger.

As they grew, Esau became a skilled hunter and Jacob was quieter and more reserved. Rebekah favored Jacob, while Isaac preferred Esau. This division led Rebekah to take decisive action: She deceived Isaac—by then elderly and blind—into granting Jacob the family’s birthright. This moment is a turning point in biblical history, as Jacob—later renamed Israel—becomes the namesake of the Israelite people.

“She is not as fully fleshed out as a character,” says Taylor. “But she is uncharacteristically decisive. She leaves her family by choice to marry Isaac. She acts independently. She's manipulative, deceitful. She’s very interesting.”

As the young Jewish woman chosen to give birth to the Messiah, Mary is known for her faith and obedience to Jesus and God. According to the Gospels of the New Testament, she remained a devoted presence throughout Jesus’ life and ministry, and was there at his crucifixion.

Interpretations of Mary’s conception and motherhood have varied across time and traditions. Taylor notes that some ideas associated with Mary developed later in Christian thought. It is important to distinguish between two often-confused concepts: the virgin birth—the belief that Mary conceived Jesus without sexual relations—and the immaculate conception, a later theological doctrine in some Christian traditions that refers to Mary herself being conceived without original sin.

Taylor says that the idea of Mary’s immaculate conception can be dated back to the 19th century. Those who believe she was a virgin point to the Gospel of Luke, explains Taylor, where Mary asks how she could be pregnant “since I have no husband.”

Likely from the fishing town of Magdala on the Sea of Galilee, Mary Magdalene became a disciple of Jesus after he healed her of seven demons, according to the Gospel of Luke. She supported Jesus' ministry during his lifetime, witnessed his crucifixion, and was the first to see and announce his resurrection.  

In early Christian texts, she is presented as a prominent follower of Jesus, though her role was later reinterpreted in Western Christian tradition. There is little evidence to support that she was ever a prostitute or married to Jesus. “There was early confusion about her,” says Taylor. As a result, Mary Magdalene was often mistaken for an unnamed sinful woman from the Gospel of Luke, leading to the interpretation that she was a penitent prostitute. 

“Mary Magdalene was important because she proved women could preach and could share the gospel with other people,” declares Taylor. “She empowered women to not be silent and step up.”