LIST OF PEOPLE:B–E
Aa-Ae, Ah-Am, An-Az / B / C / D / Ea-Em, En-Ez / F / G / Ha-He, Hi-Hz / I / Ja-Je, Ji-Jz / K / L / Ma, Me-Mz / N / O / P / Q-R / Sa-Se, Sh-Sz / T / U-Y / Z
Key: † Ancestor of Christ / Ω Prophet / ■ High Priest / ♦ King-Queen / ○ Judge or Ruler / + Female / BD = Bible Dictionary / GS = Guide to the Scriptures / JE = Jewish Encyclopedia
בעל – "Lord"
Sun or Storm God ≈ 2000 BC
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Storm/sun god worshipped in many religions by many different names; often worshipped with Ashtoreth the goddess
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Israelites were constantly warned away from his worship (1 Kgs. 16:31)
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Phoenicia = Baal
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Moab = Baal-peor
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Shechem = Baal-berith
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Ekron = Baal-zebub
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Babylon = Bel
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Greece = Zeus
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Rome = Jupiter
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Egypt = Horus
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Sumer = Hadad
בעשא – "Revolting"
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Son of Ahijah II
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Father of Elah of Israel
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Probably a military leader
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Conspired against and killed Nadab of Israel, taking the throne (1 Kgs. 15:27)
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Killed all the house of Jeroboam (1 Kgs. 15:29)
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Constantly warred against Asa of Judah (1 Kgs. 15:32); Benhadad assisted the Southern Kingdom against him (1Kgs. 15:20)
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Jehu prophesied against him and his posterity (1 Kgs 16:1–7)
"Gate of the Gods"
Tribe/group from Mesopotamia ≈ 2000 – 539 BC
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Ancient kingdom from present-day Iraq and parts of Syria and Iran
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Nimrod was an early founder (Gen. 10:10–12)
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Often at war with neighboring Assyrians
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Prided themselves on education in Astronomy, Mathematics, and Philosophy
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Became a symbol for the Israelites of wickedness
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After conquering the Jews, Nebuchadnezzar carried them away captive to Babylon
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The empire was absorbed into the Persian/Achaemenid Empire in 539 BC by Cyrus the Great
בלעם – "Destroyer of People"
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From Pethor, Mesopotamia
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Son of Beor
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Bribed by Balak of Moab to curse the Israelites (Num. 22–23)
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His donkey saw an angel and tried to avoid it on the road; when he struck the beast, it spoke to him (Num. 22:22–35)
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The Lord commanded him to bless Israel instead; he saw a vision of the destiny of Israel and the Messiah, the Star out of Jacob and Scepter (Num 23–24)
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Prophesied against the Amalekites and Kenites (Num. 24:20–24)
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Slain with Midianites (Num. 31:8)
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Story mentioned often in scripture (Josh. 13:22; Micah 6:5; 2 Pet. 2:15; Jude 1:11; Rev. 2:14)
בלק – "Spoiler"
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Son of Zippor
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King of Moabites during Israel's wanderings in the desert; summoned Balaam to curse them but he blessed them instead (Num. 22–24)
ברק – "Lightning"
Judge of Israel? ≈ 1200 – 1160 BC
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From Kedesh-naphtali (Judg. 4:6)
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Son of Abinoam
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Agreed to fight Sisera, captain of Jabin of Hazor, only if Deborah went (Judg. 4:8)
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Defeated them with 10,000 men from Mount Tabor; pursued Sisera when he fled, but he was killed by Jael, Heber's wife (Judg. 4)
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Sang a song with Deborah of praise (Judg. 5)
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Possibly served as Judge of Israel with Deborah
Βαρναβας –"Son of Consolation"
Apostle & Companion of Paul ≈ 34 AD
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From Cyprus (Acts 4:36–37)
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Sold his land and gave the money to the apostles (Acts 4:36–37)
- Witnessed to the apostles that Paul had been converted (Acts 9:27)
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Made an apostle (Acts 14:14)
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Served several missionary journeys (Acts 11; 12; 1 Cor. 9:6; Gal. 2:1, 9; Col. 4:10)
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Tradition states he was martyred in Cyprus
Βαρθολομαιος – "Son of Talmai"
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From Cana
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When his friend Philip II spoke of finding the Messiah, he questioned "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" (John 1:45–46)
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Jesus called him "An Israelite...in whom is no guile!" and he asked how He knew him; Jesus said He saw him under a fig tree and he immediately believed (John 1:45–46)
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Ordained an apostle (Matt. 10:2–4)
- Considered same person as Nathanael since they are never mentioned in the same list of apostles
ברוך –"Blessed"
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Son of Neriah
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Scribe who wrote the prophesies of Jeremiah; read them in the Temple and later to the Jewish leaders who burned them; had to rewrite (Jer. 36)
בת־שבע – "Daughter of an oath"
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Daughter of Eliam
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Wife of Uriah the Hittite & David
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David lusted after; when she became pregnant by him, he arranged for her husband Uriah to be killed in battle (1 Sam. 11); they were married after Uriah's death
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Her first son died (2 Sam. 12:20); she gave birth to other sons, including Solomon (2 Sam. 12:24)
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With the prophet Nathan, she convinced David to make Solomon king over Adonijah (1 Kgs. 1)
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Ancestor of Jesus through Solomon and Nathan II (Matt. 1:6; Luke 3:31)
"Bel Protects the King"
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Son of Nabonidus
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Last ruler before Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon
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Made a great feast using the vessels stolen from the Temple in Jerusalem; saw mid-feast a finger writing a message on the wall; none of his wise men could read the message, but the queen suggested Daniel could; Daniel prophesied the kingdom's downfall; king was killed that evening (Dan. 5)
בן־עמי – "Son of My People"
Father of Ammonites ≈ 1890 BC
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Son of Lot and Lot's daughter; brother of Moab (Gen. 19:30–38)
בן־הדד – "Son of Thunder"
King of Syria/Aram Damascus ≈ 885 – 865 BC
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Son of Tabrimmon
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Allied with Asa of Judah against Baasha of Israel (1 Kgs. 15:18–20)
בן־הדד – "Son of Thunder"
King of Syria/Aram Damascus ≈ 796 – 792 BC
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Son of Hazael
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Prevailed over Jehoahaz II of Israel (2 Kgs. 13:3)
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Jehoash II of Israel defeated him and took back cities (2 Kgs. 13:25)
בנימן – "Son of the Right Hand"
Patriarch ≈ 1733 BC
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Father of 10 sons, 1 daughter and Benjamites
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Rachel died giving birth to him in Bethlehem; named him "Ben-oni" (Gen. 35:16-20)
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Stayed with Jacob when brothers went to Egypt; Joseph demanded they bring him too; Joseph gave him special gifts (Gen. 42–45)
בנימן – "Son of the Right Hand"
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Son of Mosiah I
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Father of Mosiah II, Helorum, and Helaman
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Righteous king of Nephites
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Drove Lamanites out of the land with the sword of Laban II (Omni 1:24; WoM 1:13)
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Amaleki gave the small plates of Nephi which he put with other plates (Omni 1:25; WoM 1:10)
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Gathered his people for final address; recorded names of those who entered covenant; appointed priests (Mosiah 2–6)
בנימן – "Sons of the Right Hand"
One of the Twelve Tribes ≈ 1600 BC – Present
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Descended from Benjamin
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Blessed by Jacob that they "shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil" (Gen. 49:27); and by Moses that "The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders" (Deut. 33:12)
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Territory was west of the Jordan River and parts of Judea around Jerusalem, including Jericho (see map)
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Tribe was nearly destroyed after the men of Gibeah abused and killed a Levite's concubine (Judg. 19-21)
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Majority ended up in the Southern Kingdom of Judah; after the Babylonian captivity, many lost their distinction from the tribe of Judah
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Famous people include King Saul, Queen Esther, and the apostle Paul
Βερνικη – "Bringer of Victory"
Princess/Queen? of Judea ≈ 39 – 92 AD
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Daughter of Herod Agrippa & Cypros III
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Wife of Marcus Julius Alexander, Herod V of Chalcis, Polemon II of Pontus, and mistress of Roman Emperor Titus; Josephus and others also implied she had an incestuous relationship with her brother Herod Agrippa II
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Mother of Berenicianus and Hyrcanus
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Seemed to have been co-ruler with her brother Agrippa II
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Paul stood trial before her and Agrippa II in Caesarea (Acts 25:13)
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Begged governor Florus to spare Jerusalem and the Jews in 66 AD, but she was nearly killed and the Jews burned down her palace
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After the Jewish-Roman war and destruction of Jerusalem, she moved to Rome to be with Emperor Titus, conqueror of Jerusalem; he eventually dismissed her
בתואל – "House of God"
Patriarch ≈ 1900 BC
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From Haran
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Son of Nahor & Milcah; nephew of Abraham (Gen. 22:22)
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Father of Rebekah & Laban (Gen. 22:23; 24)
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Took part of negotiations for Isaac and Rebekah to marry (Gen. 22:50)
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Ancestor of Jesus
בלהה – "Calamity"
Matriarch ≈ 1768 BC
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Handmaid of Rachel (Gen. 29:29)
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Wife/concubine of Jacob after Rachel was unable to have children (Gen. 30:3–4)
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Mother of Dan & Naphtali (Gen. 30:5–8)
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After Rachel's death, Reuben slept with her and lost his birthright (1 Chr. 5:1)
"Overseer"
Religious Leader ≈ 40 AD
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Qualifications for (1 Tim. 3:1–7)
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Jesus is the "Bishop of our souls" (1 Pet. 2:25)
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Must be ordained (D&C 20:67) and a high priest (D&C 68:19)
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Should care for the poor (D&C 84:112)
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A judge in Israel (D&C 107:74)
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Presides over the Aaronic Priesthood (D&C 107:87–88)
בעז – "Strength"
Patriarch ≈ 1200 BC
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Son/descendant of Salmon & Rahab; wealthy relative of Elimelech & Naomi (Ruth 2:1)
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Father of Obed (Ruth 4:17)
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Showed charity to Ruth by deliberately leaving grain for her and allowing her to eat with him and workers (Ruth 2)
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Accepted Ruth's offer of marriage after confirming his right as kinsman-redeemer (Ruth 3–4)
"Bridge Homestead"
Prophet & Governor of Utah = b.1801 – d. 1877 AD
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From Whitingham, Vermont
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Son of John & Abigail Howe Young
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Husband of many
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Father of many
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Carpenter, glazier, and painter by trade
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Converted to the restored gospel in 1832
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Marched with members of Zion's Camp to the aid of the Missouri Saints
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Called to be an apostle in 1835 by the Three Witnesses; appointed president of the twelve in 1841 (D&C 124:127)
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Worked on the Kirtland Temple and spoke in tongues at its dedication in 1836
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Served missions to spread the gospel in the eastern states and the United Kingdom
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After expulsion from Missouri and then Illinois, he led groups of saints to safety (D&C 136)
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Became prophet after the death of Joseph Smith and succession crisis in 1847–1877
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Governor of Utah from 1850–1857
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Among the choice ones in the spirit world (D&C 138:53)
"Gift of God"
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Brother of Jared II
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Asked Lord to not confound the language of his family and friends at the Tower of Babel (Ether 1:33)
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Saw the Lord in vision (Ether 2–3)
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Built eight barges (Ether 2–3)
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Shown the history of the world (Ether 3:25)
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Sailed with family to Promised Land/Americas (Ether 6)
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Moved a mountain (Ether 12:30)
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Founder of the Jaredites
Καιαφας – "Basket Man"
High Priest ≈ 18 – 36 AD
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Son-in-law of Annas
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Possibly served as joint High Priest with Annas (Luke 3:2, see also John 18)
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After the resurrection of Lazarus, conspired to kill Jesus (John 11)
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Jesus' trial was held at the Palace of Caiaphas (Matt. 26:3)
קין – "Spear "
Patriarch ≈ 3900 BC
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Father of Enoch II
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Tiller of the ground; offering was rejected by the Lord (Gen. 4:3–7)
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Killed younger brother Abel (Gen. 4:8–14)
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Made a covenant with Satan (Moses 5:29–31)
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Had wicked descendants who lived separately from other descendants of Adam (Gen. 4)
כלב – "Devoted"
Prince/Head of Judah ≈ 1400 BC
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Son of Jephunneh
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Sent by Moses when 40yo to search the land of Canaan;he and Joshua gave a true report and were only ones of the older generation permitted to survive to the conquest (Num. 13:6, 30; 26:65)
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Given Hebron for an inheritance (Josh. 14:13–14)
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Gave daughter Achsah to nephew Othniel to wife; gave her land and springs (Josh. 15)
כנען – "Purple"
Patriarch ≈ 2300 BC
- Canaanite
- Fourth son of Ham
- Brother of Cush, Mizraim, and Phut (Gen. 9:18)
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Grandson of Noah who cursed him and his descendants to be the servants of Israelites (Gen. 9:24–27)
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Father of Sidon, Heth, and the Canaanites
כנען – "Purple"
Tribes in the Levant ≈ 2000 BC
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Canaanite: included Sidonians/Phoenicians, Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites
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Descended from Canaan (Gen. 10:18)
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Joshua commanded to drive them out of the land
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Often at war with Israelites
ἀρχιερεῖς
Priests ≈ 1600 BC – 70 AD
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Group of priests who oversaw in the Temple; included the High Priest
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During the Second Temple period, many served on the Great Sanhedrin
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Often argued with Jesus; tried to arrest Him (John 7); ultimately participated in His arrest and trial (Matt. 27:1); Jesus prophesied of their part (Matt. 16:21)
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Continued to oppose early Christians including Peter and John (Acts 4); Paul had authority from them to arrest Christians (Acts 9:14)
Κλαυδιος – "Shut in"
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Son of Nero Claudius Drusus
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Agabus prophesied of a famine during his reign (Acts 11:28)
Κορνηλιος – "Little Horn"
Roman Centurion ≈ 39 AD
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God-fearing Roman Centurion stationed in Caesarea
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After an angelic vision and visit from Peter, became first Gentile convert to Christianity without first joining Judaism (Acts 10); many of his householdd also converted
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His baptism marked a new beginning in preaching the gospel
כוש – 𓎡𓄿𓈙𓈉
Patriarch ≈ 2200 BC
- Cushite
- Son of Ham (Gen. 10:6–7)
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Grandson of Noah
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Father of Nimrod and Cushites/Kushites
𐎤𐎢𐎽𐎢𐏁 – "The Sun"
King of Achaemenid Empire ≈ b. 600 – d. 530 BC
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Son of Cambyses
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Father of Cambyses II, Bardiya, and father-in-law of Darius the Great
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King of Achaemenid Empire from ≈ 550 – 530 BC
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Conquered Babylon and all of Mesopotamia to create the largest empire in history to that point
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Fulfilled Isaiah's prophesy (Isa. 44:28) and allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple (2 Chr. 36:22)
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Returned the vessels of the Temple (Ezra 1:7–11)
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Daniel lived through part of his reign (Dan. 1, 6, 10)
דן – "Judge"
One of the Twelve Tribes ≈ 1600 BC – Present
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Descended from Dan
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Blessed by Jacob that he would judge his people and "be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord" (Gen. 49:16–18); and by Moses that he is a "lion's whelp: he shall leap from Bashan" (Deut. 33:24–25)
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Received territory last from Joshua; included small area along coastline which included Joppa (see map)
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Joined the Northern Kingdom of Israel
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Majority carried away captive by Assyrians in 721 BC; one of the "Lost 10 tribes" (2 Kgs. 17)
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Tribe was excluded from the 144,000 sealed Israelites mentioned by John (Rev. 7:4–8)
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Famous people include Samson
דנאל – "God is My Judge"
Prince of Judah & Prophet ≈ 605 – 530 BC
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One of the young royals carried away to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 1:3–4)
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Refused the king's meat and wine (Dan. 1:5–17)
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Interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dreams (Dan. 2, 4, 6) and the handwriting on the wall (Dan. 5)
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Thrown in lion's den for praying (Dan. 6)
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Prophesied much, including signs preceding the Second Coming (Dan. 7–12)
𐎭𐎠𐎼𐎹𐎺𐎢𐏁 – "He Who Possesses Good"
King of Babylon ≈ 540 BC
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𐎭𐎠𐎼𐎹𐎺𐎢𐏁 – "He Who Possesses Good"
King of Achaemenid Empire ≈ 522 – 486 BC
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Son of Hystaspes; son-in-law of Cyrus the Great
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Father of Xerxes I
𐎭𐎠𐎼𐎹𐎺𐎢𐏁 – "He Who Possesses Good"
Last King of Achaemenid Empire ≈ 336 – 330 BC
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Son of Arsames
דוד – "Beloved"
King of Israel ≈ 1010 – 970 BC
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Son of Jesse
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Husband of Michal, Ahinoam, Abigail, Maacah II, Haggith, Abital, Eglah, Bathsheba, & others
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Father of Amnon, Absalom, Tamar II, Adonijah, Solomon, Nathan II, & others
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Ancestor of Jesus (Matt. 1:6); Jesus often called "Son of David" (Matt. 22:41–46)
דלילה – "One Who Hangs"
Temptress of Samson ≈ 1060 BC
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דינה – "Judgment"
Daughter of Jacob & Leah ≈ 1670 BC
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Shechem the Canaanite desired to marry her; her brothers Levi and Simeon slew all the men of Shechem and retrieved her (Gen. 34)
דברה – "Bee"
Judge of Israel & Prophetess ≈ 1200 – 1160 BC
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Wife of Lapidoth
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Prophetess and Judge of Israel (Judg. 4:4)
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Summoned Barak to fight Sisera, captain of Jabin of Hazor's army; he agreed only if she went (Judg. 4:8)
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They defeated them with 10,000 men from Mount Tabor; pursued Sisera when he fled, but he was killed by Jael, Heber's wife (Judg. 4)
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Sang a song with Barak of praise (Judg. 5)
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Served as Judge of Israel
Δρουσιλλα – "Freshness"
Princess of Judea ≈ 38 AD
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Daughter of Herod Agrippa & Cypros III
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Wife of Felix and Aziz of Emesa
אדום – Red
Tribe/group from south of Dead Sea ≈ 1800 BC
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Descended from Esau
אלה – Oak Tree
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Son of Baasha
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His captain of chariots Zimri conspired against him ; killed him and posterity, fulfilling Jehu's prophecy (1 Kgs. 16:6–14)
אלעזר – "God Has Helped"
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Son of Aaron
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Brother of Nadab, Abihu, and Ithamar
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Father of Phinehas
עלי – My God
Judge & High Priest ≈ 1080 BC
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Father of Hophni & Phinehas II
Ελισαβετ – "God is an Oath"
Matriarch ≈ 2 BC
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Wife of Zacharias
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Mother of John the Baptist
אילן – "Oak"
Judge of Israel ≈ 1150 BC
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Judged Israel for 10 years
חנוך – "Follower"
Prophet & Patriarch ≈ 3378 – 2948 BC
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Son of Jared
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Father of Methuselah
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Walked in righteousness (Gen. 5:18–24)
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Was ordained to the priesthood (D&C 84:15-16; 107:48)
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Preached repentance (Moses 6:37)
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The Lord called his people Zion (Moses 7:18)
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Prophesied of the Lord coming (Jude 1:14)
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He and his city were translated (Heb. 11:5; Moses 7:69)
אפרים – "Fruitful"
Patriarch ≈ 1707 BC
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Brother of Manasseh
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Father of Shuthelah, Tahan, Beriah-Becher (Num. 26:35) and Ephraimites
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Grandson of Jacob, but he made them equal to his sons (Gen. 48:5)
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Given the birthright of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacb over his older brother Manasseh (Gen. 48:13–20)
אפרים – "Fruitful"
One of the Twelve Tribes ≈ 1600 BC – Present
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Descended from Ephraim
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Blessed by Jacob that they would grow into a "multitude in the midst of the earth" and greater than Manasseh in that "his seed shall become a multitude of nations" (Gen. 48); and by Moses that they would be fruitful and "His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh" (Deu. 33:13–17)
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Territory included some of the richest land in the country and had several important highways and cities, including Shechem, Ebal, and Gerizim (modern-day West Bank and Samaria) (see map)
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Part of (and often led) the Northern Kingdom of Israel
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Majority carried away captive by Assyrians in 721 BC; one of the "Lost 10 tribes (2 Kgs. 17)
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Samaritans claim descent partially from their tribe
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Promised to bear the message of the Restored gospel to the world and help gather Israel (D&C 133:26–34; Isa. 11:12–13)
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Famous people include Joshua, Deborah II, Jeroboam, Ahab, Ishmael II, and Joseph Smith
𒀭𒊹𒉽𒀸 – "Ashur has Given a Brother"
King of Neo-Assyrian Empire ≈ 681 – 669 BC
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Son of Sennacherib
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Father of Ashurbanipal
עשו – "Worker"
Patriarch ≈ 1832 BC
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Twin of Jacob
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Father of Edomites/Idumaeans
אסתר – "Star"
Queen of Persia ≈ 479 BC
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Niece of Mordecai
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Wife of Ahasuerus (Xerxes I or Artaxerxes II?)
חוה – "Living Source"
Matriarch ≈ 4000 BC
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Created by God (Gen. 1:26-27)
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Wife of Adam in the Garden of Eden before the Fall; then lived in fallen world (Gen. 2-3)
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Ancestor of Jesus