Scripture Compass

Who's Who

The people of Scripture.

Real people. Real centuries. Real failures and faith. Each life points, in its own way, to the One the whole Bible is finally about.

Portraits are commissioned painterly interpretations, not historical likenesses. We do not know what any biblical figure actually looked like.

Painterly portrait of a first-century Judean man with olive skin, dark wavy hair, and a short beard, gazing forward with calm warm eyes.

New Testament · c. 4 BC – AD 30/33, Roman Judea

Jesus of Nazareth

The promised Messiah — fully God, fully man, crucified and risen.

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Painterly portrait of an aged Hebrew man with a long white beard, holding stone tablets, robed in earth tones.

Old Testament · c. 1400s–1200s BC (traditional)

Moses

Reluctant prophet who led Israel out of Egypt and received the Law.

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Painterly portrait of a young dark-haired Hebrew man with a beard, holding a small harp, robed in deep blue and cream.

Old Testament · c. 1040–970 BC

David

Shepherd boy who became Israel's greatest king — and Christ's ancestor.

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Painterly portrait of a balding middle-aged Jewish man with a dark beard, holding a scroll and quill, robed in earth tones.

New Testament · c. AD 5 – c. AD 64/67

Paul (Saul of Tarsus)

Persecutor turned missionary — the apostle who took the gospel to the Gentiles.

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Painterly portrait of a weathered Galilean fisherman with gray-streaked beard, robed in linen and earth tones, fishing nets in the background.

New Testament · c. AD 1 – c. AD 64/68

Peter (Simon)

Galilean fisherman who became the bold, broken-and-restored apostle.

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Painterly portrait of a young first-century Judean woman with a soft blue head covering and folded hands, robed in cream and blue.

New Testament · c. 18 BC – AD 1st century

Mary, mother of Jesus

Young Judean woman who said yes to God and bore the Savior.

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Painterly portrait of a young woman with warm olive skin and a head scarf, holding sheaves of golden barley in a field at sunset.

Old Testament · Time of the Judges, c. 1100s BC

Ruth

Moabite outsider whose loyalty made her great-grandmother to King David.

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Painterly portrait of a bearded Hebrew man in robes blending navy, cream and gold, holding a scroll.

Old Testament · c. 620–530 BC, Babylonian exile

Daniel

Faithful in a foreign court — prophet of the kingdoms to come.

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Painterly portrait of an aged patriarch with a long white beard and tan headcloth, gazing upward at a starry sky.

Old Testament · c. 2000s–1800s BC (traditional)

Abraham

The father of faith — called out from Ur, promised a nation through him.

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Painterly portrait of a young Hebrew man wearing an ornate striped coat of many colors over linen robes.

Old Testament · c. 1800s BC (traditional)

Joseph (son of Jacob)

Betrayed and enslaved — raised to save the family that sold him.

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Painterly portrait of a strong middle-aged Hebrew warrior with a short dark beard, in simple bronze-trimmed armor over earth-tone robes.

Old Testament · c. 1400s–1200s BC (traditional)

Joshua

Moses' successor — the commander who led Israel into the Promised Land.

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Painterly portrait of a rugged prophet with wild gray-streaked hair and beard, wearing a rough camel-hair cloak.

Old Testament · 9th century BC, northern kingdom of Israel

Elijah

Bold prophet who confronted kings — and crashed into burnout.

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Painterly portrait of a dignified older Hebrew prophet with a long gray beard, holding a scroll, robed in deep indigo and cream.

Old Testament · c. 740–680 BC, kingdom of Judah

Isaiah

Prophet of holiness and hope — who saw the Suffering Servant centuries early.

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Painterly portrait of a young Persian-Jewish queen with dark braided hair, modest jeweled headdress, and rich burgundy and gold robes.

Old Testament · 5th century BC, Persian Empire under Xerxes I

Esther

A Jewish exile made queen of Persia — 'for such a time as this.'

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Painterly portrait of a poised young Hebrew woman with dark hair under a simple woven head covering, in sage and cream robes.

Old Testament · c. 1010s BC, late in Saul's reign

Abigail

A wise woman who stopped a future king from sin.

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Painterly portrait of a lean wilderness prophet with sun-darkened skin, long dark hair and beard, wearing a rough camel-hair garment.

New Testament · c. 4 BC – c. AD 30, Roman Judea

John the Baptist

The wilderness prophet who pointed everyone away from himself, to Jesus.

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Painterly portrait of an elderly Galilean man with a soft white beard, robed in cream and deep red, holding a scroll.

New Testament · c. AD 6 – c. AD 100, Galilee and Ephesus

John the Apostle

The 'disciple Jesus loved' — fisherman who became the apostle of love.

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Painterly portrait of a first-century Judean woman with long dark hair under a soft headscarf, robed in muted rose and cream.

New Testament · 1st century AD, Galilee and Judea

Mary Magdalene

Delivered from darkness — first witness of the resurrection.

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