5 Strong Women of the Bible Who Inspire Us

More Than A Name

From great military heroes to prophets, there are many strong figures in the Bible who are recognized for their strength and character. While many think of men first when it comes to these strong figures, there are also a number of women in the Bible who inspire, not only because of how they lived but also because of their rock-solid faith, even in some of the toughest of circumstances. By definition, a strong woman is fearless when it comes to facing hard situations. They are confident in who they are and what they believe, and in their example of fearlessness, they encourage others to be courageous and make a difference. Here are five strong women of the Bible who inspire us. We can all learn from their great example.

Esther

Esther, in the book of Esther, was a heroine who saved the Jewish people. She is recognized mostly for her strength, bravery and dignity. She was chosen by the Persian King Ahasuerus to be his wife in a contest, not knowing she was a Jew. When the king’s right-hand man, Haman, came up with a plan to kill the Jews, Esther’s uncle found her and pleaded with her to spare Israel. Even though she was his wife, she knew she was not allowed to approach him without invitation, and if she did, it could end in death. But she believed she was chosen by God to save her own people and agreed to go in front of the king anyway and won his favor and her people were saved. She didn’t let her fear or position stand in her way.

Abigail

There is much to be learned from this lesser-known heroine in the Bible and lady of faith. Abigail’s story can be found in 1 Samuel 1:25. While she is described as beautiful in the Bible, unlike many other women referenced in the Old Testament, she is also described as “intelligent”, “clever” or “of good understanding”. On top of having beauty and brains, she was also brave. She was a humble woman, married to a wealthy but unscrupulous man named Nabal. She used her wisdom, along with her wealth to plead for the safety of her husband’s household. David, the future king of Israel, swore to seek vengeance after being insulted by Nabal, but was so moved by Abigail’s humble plea, that his heart turned. She was brave enough to take a leap of faith when the odds were against her, humble enough to acknowledge her husband’s shortcomings and trusted God’s will enough to let go and let Him.