We celebrated Mother’s Day with flowers, candy, and fun hats this past weekend. You know? The usual: packed churches full of carnations, generations of kids doting on a loving lady, and waiting up to two hours in lines for a booth at your favorite Mexican restaurant.
Meanwhile, at church, most messages focused on familiar passages of scripture featuring the known Mothers of the Bible. Bold women like Mary, mother of Jesus (Luke 1:46-55), and Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist (Luke 1:39-45). Some more daring pastors may have touched on other women. Mothers, including Sarah, mother of Isaac (Genesis 21:1-3); Hannah, mother of Samuel (1 Samuel 1:10-27); or even Naomi, the mother-in-law of Ruth (Ruth 1:16-28).
But what about the forgotten mothers of the Bible? There are mothers scattered across the 66 books of the Bible that don’t always get the obligatory shine on Mother’s Day. What about them? Have you thought of their significance to the matriarchy of Biblical parables and people?
You should. There are mysteries of the Gospels located within their lives. And we’re missing them on this special Sunday. Why? Because pastors also consider the people in church who are there only because of their mother.
In this episode of the Biblist (that’s “Bible List”), let’s journey through scripture and uncover the forgotten mothers of the Bible. Their lives may hit closer to home than you think.
Before we get to know those other mothers of the Bible, I encourage you to stay aware of other faith-based issues that hit “close to home.” Subscribe to our free newsletter to stay informed about what’s happening in the Church and how real Christians can help defend the love and work of Christ.
Widow at Zarephath (1 Kings 17)
Water, a piece of bread, and a prophet. That’s all it took for this woman to become one of the Bible’s mothers we know, teaching us all something. She lived in Sidon, a non-Israelite territory amid extreme famine. It’s the desert, and the heat destroyed everything natural.
Elijah came upon her home during his arduous travels and asked for something to eat. This single mother barely had anything to feed herself and her child, but was faced with sacrificing and feeding a sojourner of God.
“As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she told him in verse 12, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”
Elijah told her not to be afraid. “For so says the Lord God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry’” (vs. 14). Sick child. No money. Zero food. Man of God. So, she sacrificed and fed Elijah. Shortly thereafter, her child falls ill and stops breathing.
The great majority of people would be like, “Hey, God? Wassup with that? I feed your man and then this.” But God proves his faithfulness, and as she proved hers in vs. 20-24.
“Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth” (vs. 24, ESV). Radical trust over logic. Sacrifice over selfishness. And God sees you, even when you feel like no one else does.
Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11)
Oftentimes, Bathsheba is denied her Mother of the Year award because of how she became one.
You may have heard the story. David sees her taking a bath, thinks she’s fine, finds out she’s taken…and has her husband killed in a war to make room for David at the dinner table (2 Samuel 11:24).
It was shady. Although David thoroughly repented for having Uriah assassinated (Psalm 51), the birth of Solomon is frowned upon in Bible study. He became the wisest and richest king in history. Bathsheba became one of the lesser-known mothers of the Bible. Solomon was the baby of five kids, and we tend to overlook that.
Their first son died in infancy, then Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon (1 Chronicles 3:5). Yet, it’s only the latter we talk about. (Kinda’ like in David’s household, too.) Nonetheless, God had a plan with Bathsheba.
Did you know her name means “daughter of the oath“?
Despite the tragic, forced nature of her initial encounter with David, Bathsheba is remembered as a resilient figure and one of only four women listed in the genealogy of Jesus. Yes, that oath.
Lois (2 Timothy 1)
Technically, she was a grandmother — Timothy’s.
“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also” (verse 5).
Yet, the spiritual wisdom, heart to serve, and yearning for God she cultivated were passed on. First, to her daughter Eunice. We don’t know much about Eunice. But scholars have been able to peel away layers to learn about her. She married a Greek pagan, who was a Gentile pagan.
She lived in Lystra (in modern-day Turkey, formerly Constantinople). While Timothy was being fed and diapers were being changed, Lois went to synagogues. In those travels, a world with God was revealed to her. Lois was so overwhelmed by it that she evangelized her world. She testified to Eunice.
There’s something peculiar about Lois’ conversion to God. According to biblical scholars, it occurred during the Apostle Paul’s first missionary visit to Lystra in 48-49 AD. That word reaches Eunice, who later teaches her son, Timothy.
And that’s the guy who was mentored by Paul.
Abijah (2 Chronicles 26)
It’s okay. Say it with us all, “Who?!”
King Ahaz was a malevolent king of Judah who ruled from 731 to 715 BC. He was only 20 when he sat next to his father, Jotham. He taught Ahaz how to rule with terror. Together, they held public human sacrifices (including Ahaz’s own siblings). There was total idolatry and hedonism, which led to utter desecration of the Temple.
Ahaz was a demonically influenced dude. And Abijah was his wife.
Something was different with Abijah. Despite her husband’s sardonic ways, she sought to serve God. Together, they raised a son with a familiar name of righteousness, Hezekiah.
While Ahaz was out pillaging and conquering, Abijah was like the many mothers of the Bible, praying and worshipping. Often, in secret. As we have read from his thanksgiving in 2 Kings 18:2 and 2 Chronicles 26:5, the godly influence of Hezekiah’s mother is acclaimed and far-reaching.
Arguably, her faith changed an entire nation because of her love for her son.
Tamar (Genesis 38)
Tamar’s story enters Scripture with heartbreak and injustice. Widowed after the death of Judah’s son, Er, she was promised another son in marriage so she could still have a child and future within the family line. But Judah never fulfilled that promise. Tamar was left forgotten, grieving, and childless.
Yet, like all mothers of the Bible, Tamar refused to disappear quietly. She took a bold and risky step to secure the justice she had been denied. When Judah later realized the truth, he declared, “She is more righteous than I” (Genesis 38:26).
Tamar gave birth to twin sons, Perez and Zerah. And Perez would be included in the genealogy of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:3).
Did you know the name Perez means “breakthrough”?
Fitting for a woman who refused to give up on the promise God had placed before her.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In