Goliath to Jesse
Important Old Testament People

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This page lists brief information on important Old Testament people. The individuals on this page include Goliath the giant, Hagar, King Hezekiah, Isaac, Isaiah, Ishmael, Jabez, Jacob, Jeremiah, Jeroboam and others.

Goliath
1Samuel 17, 21:9, 22:10, 21:19, 1Chronicles 20:5

Goliath was one of five giant Philistine brothers. The Bible states he was at least 9 feet 3 inches tall (2.82 meters). In battle he wore a protective coat that weighed at least 78 U.S. pounds (35.4 kilograms) and threw a spear that was 26 feet (7.9 meters) long. Considered the Philistine's greatest fighter when a young David fought and killed him. He is one of three people in Scripture who have the mark of 666 as one of God's adversaries!

Habakkuk
Habakkuk 1:1, 3:1

One of the Old Testament's Minor Prophets. Gave prophecies concerning destruction of Chaldeans and against greed, graft, idolatry and aggression.

Hagar
Genesis 16, 21, 25:12, Galatians 4:24 - 25

Hagar was Sarah's Egyptian handmaid she gave to her husband Abraham in order to produce a child and heir. Hagar gave birth to Ishmael who was not considered Abraham's firstborn heir when God healed Sarah's womb and allowed her to produce Isaac. Hagar lived with the couple until Ishmael was about 14 years old.

Haggai
Ezra 5:1, 6:14, Haggai 1:1 - 13, 2:1 - 20

One of the minor prophets. Gave prophecies concerning the restoration of Jerusalem's temple and the neglect of those rebuilding it.

Ham
Genesis 5:32, 6:10, 7:13, 9:18 - 22, 10:1 - 20, etc.

The youngest of Noah's three children. Survived the great flood in Noah's ark. His sons were Cush, Mizraim, Phut and Canaan (from which the land of Canaan gets its name). Contrary to what some believe, Ham did not represent one of three races God wanted to save after the flood.

Hannah
1Samuel 1:2 - 22, 2:1, 22

Barren woman who prayed to God for a child and promised to dedicate him to His service. She miraculously gave birth to Samuel, one of the most important prophets in the Old Testament.

David rejoicing after killing Goliath
David thanks God after killing Goliath
18th century painting

Heber
Genesis 46:17, Numbers 26:45, Judges 4:11 - 21, etc.

Heber is also referred to as Eber. He was the great-grandson of Shem and lived from 2276 to 1812 B.C. It is believed that from his name the term 'Hebrews,' used to denote those claiming descent from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, is derived.

Hezekiah
2Kings 18:13 - 14, 17, 19, 29 - 30, 2Chronicles 30:1 - 2, Isaiah 38:1 - 2, 5, etc.

Hezekiah was a righteous king who ruled over the Kingdom of Judah from 715 to 686 B.C. Please see our dedicated article on Hezekiah for more information.

Hiram
1Chronicles 8:5, 2Chronicles 2:3 - 13, 4:11 - 16, etc.

King of Tyre who assisted King David in building his house. He greatly aided King Solomon in building Jerusalem's temple by sending him craftsmen as well as materials such as wood, precious gold and silver.

Hosea
Hosea 1:1 - 2

One of the minor prophets who warned Israel about their adultery, idolatry and drunkenness.

Hoshea
2Kings 15:30, 17:1 - 41, 18:1 - 10

The last king of the northern ten tribes of Israel (the Kingdom of Israel). He ruled from 732 to 723 B.C. When Samaria fell to Assyrian King Shalmaneser V the kingdom he ruled was taken captive to Assyria.

Isaac
Genesis 17:19 - 21, 21:3 - 12, 22:2 - 9, 24:4 - 67, etc.

Isaac was the only child produced by Abraham and Sarah. He was miraculously born after Sarah was healed of being barren. God tested Abraham's faith by commanding he sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22). Isaac's wife Rebekah born him two sons, Esau and Jacob. He lived longer, at 180 years, than his father Abraham (175) or son Jacob (147).

Isaiah
2Kings 19:2 - 20, 20:1 - 19, 2Chronicles 26:22, etc.

One of the Bible's major prophets. Isaiah served during reigns of kings Azariah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. He foretold the coming and suffering of Jesus (Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12). Christ began his ministry by quoting Isaiah 61's words related to the Biblical year of Jubilee (Luke 4:16 - 21). Learn more about this prophet in our detailed study of Isaiah's life!

Ishmael
Genesis 16:11 - 16, 17:18 - 26, 25:9 - 17, 28:9, etc.

Abraham's eldest son by Hagar, Sarah's maidservant. Ishmael grew up to be a "wild man" (Genesis 16:12). He was cast into the wilderness with his mother when he mocked Isaac. God made him into a great nation and gave him twelve sons who were princes of their tribes (Genesis 17:20).

Jabez
1Chronicles 4:9 - 10

The Old Testament records a man named Jabez making a simple and short prayer to God. He asked the Lord the following.

Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and make my border larger, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, so that it may not grieve me (1Chronicles 4:10, HBFV).

God's response to this simple request was, "And God granted him that which he asked." Please see our dedicated article on Jabez for more information.

Jacob (Israel)
Genesis 25, 27:6 - 46, 28:1 - 20, 29:1 - 28, etc.

Jacob was the son of Isaac and twin-brother to Esau. He bought Esau's birthright blessing for bowl of stew (Genesis 25:29 - 34) but later felt it necessary to steal it by pretending to be Esau in front of their Father Jacob. Jacob flees Esau by traveling to a relative named Laban, where he will work fourteen years in order to marry Rachel. Jacob also wrestles with a man who is actually a pre-incarnate Jesus and has name changed to Israel (Genesis 32:22 - 32). Please see our dedicated article on Israel for more information.

Jacob's sons, which represent the tribes of Israel, are Asher, Benjamin, Dan, Gad, Isaachar, Judah, Naphtali, Reuben, Simeon, Zebulon. Levi, though a son, is usually not listed as a tribe due to their being made priests of the Eternal. Although Joseph was also a son of Jacob his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh, whom Jacob gave the birthright blessing (Genesis 48), are listed as tribes instead of him.

Japheth
Genesis 5:32, 6:10, 7:13, 9:18, 23, 27, etc.

One of Noah's three children who survived the great flood in the ark. His sons were Gomer, Magog, Javan, Tubal and others. He may have been Noah's oldest son (Genesis 10:21).

Jehoiachin
2Kings 24:6 - 15, 25:27, 2Chronicles 36:8 - 9, etc.

Jehoiachin was King of Judah who ruled for only 3 months from 598 to 597 B.C. After Jerusalem fell at the hands of King Nebuchadnezzar he is captured and taken as prisoner to Babylon.

Jephthah
Judges 11 - 12, 1Samuel 12:11

Jephthah was one of Israel's Judges who saved the people from the Ammonites. Please see our article on Jephthah for more information.

Jeremiah
2Kings 23:31, 24:18, 1Chronicles 5:24, 12:4, 10 - 13, etc.

Jeremiah is considered one of the Old Testament's three major prophets. He was destined to be a prophet before he was born (Jeremiah 1:4 - 5). He foretold, and lamented at, the desolation of Jerusalem and Judah. He was imprisoned by Judah's King Zedekiah but released by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. He prophecies foretold the uffering of Jesus. Learn more about this prophet in our detailed study of Jeremiah's life!

Jeroboam
1Kings 11:26 - 40, 12:2 - 32, 13:1 - 34, etc.

Jeroboam was the first king of the newly created northern ten tribes of Israel (Kingdom of Israel). He reigned over a divided Israel, whose capital was originally Shechem, from 930 to 909 B.C. He set up a pagan golden calve god in Dan and Bethel to keep people from worshipping in Jerusalem (1Kings 12). He set a precedence of idolatry and leading Israel to sin that the Lord would reference many times (1Kings 16:2, 19, 31, etc.)

Jesse
Ruth 4:17, 22, 1Samuel 16:1 - 22, 17:12 - 58, 20:27 - 31, etc.

Jesse was the grandson of Boaz and Ruth. He was the father of King David, who was his youngest of eight children.

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List of Old Testament People

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