Foundational Mothers
This mother’s name means “life” or “living” and she is the only woman personally named by Adam.
Eve
Genesis 3:20
She placed her baby in a basket coated with tar and pitch and set it among the reeds.
Exodus 2:3
Jochebed
This mother brought a small robe to her son every year while he served in the temple.
1 Samuel 2:19
Hannah
This mother treasured all the events surrounding her son’s birth and pondered them in her heart.
Luke 2:19
Mary
She told a king to give the living child to the other woman so the baby would live.
1 Kings 3:26
The true mother in Solomon’s judgment
This mother named her second son Ben-Oni before dying in childbirth, but his father renamed him.
Rachel
Genesis 35:18
This Egyptian servant became a mother to a son who would be the ancestor of many nations, though he was not the child of promise.
Genesis 16:15; 21:17–18
Hagar
When her only son died, this mother saddled a donkey and rode to see the prophet without telling her husband why.
2 Kings 4:22–23
The Shunammite woman
This elderly mother hid herself for five months after becoming pregnant, calling her pregnancy a removal of disgrace.
Luke 1:24–25
Elizabeth
She told her daughters-in-law to return to their people after all three were widowed.
Ruth 1:8
Naomi
She laughed when she heard she would have a child in her old age.
Genesis 18:12
Sarah
Before she became queen, this mother was summoned by the prophet Nathan to help secure her son’s throne.
1 Kings 1:11–12
Bathsheba
This mother was told not to drink wine or eat unclean food during her pregnancy because her son would be a Nazirite.
Judges 13:3–5
Samson’s mother
This mother once tried to speak to Jesus while He was teaching, but He replied with, “Who is my mother?”
Matthew 12:46–50
Mary
Her advice to her royal son included warnings about strong drink and women.
Proverbs 31:1–3
King Lemuel’s mother
Who was the mother of Perez and Zerah, born from Judah?
Genesis 38:27–30
Tamar
God told this mother while she was pregnant that two nations were in her womb.
Genesis 25:23
Rebekah
This woman’s sincere faith influenced both her son and her mother, creating three generations of believers.
2 Timothy 1:5
Eunice
This ambitious mother’s request for her two sons to sit in honored places in Christ’s kingdom caused tension among the disciples.
Matthew 20:20–24
Salome
She sang a prophetic song mentioning kings and the anointed one after dedicating her son to the Lord.
1 Samuel 2:10
Hannah
This mother-in-law changed her name to mean “bitter” after losing her husband and sons.
Ruth 1:20
Naomi
This mother hid her son Joash in the temple for six years to save him from being killed by the queen.
2 Kings 11:2–3Jehosheba
This mother’s prayer of thanksgiving includes the line, “Those who were full hire themselves out for food, but those who were hungry are hungry no more.”
1 Samuel 2:5
Hannah
According to John 2:3–5, this mother told servants at a wedding to “Do whatever He tells you,” prompting Jesus’ first miracle.
Mary
This mother-in-law helped her daughter-in-law approach a man at night on the threshing floor, leading to marriage.
Ruth 3:1–4
Naomi