When asked about biblical figures, we usually think of morally good and honorable people who always did as they were told. However, we often overlook the more rebellious stories in the Bible. Let’s fix that–here are 18 biblical figures who were actually rebels.
Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve are known as the ‘first sinners,’ making them the world’s first rebels. The Book of Genesis details their lives in the Garden of Eden and the temptation of Eve by the serpent. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, their rebellion led to the fall of mankind.
Jonah
Jonah was a prophet who fled from God after refusing to speak against Nineveh’s evil behavior. He received a monumental punishment when God sent a storm that cast him into the sea, where he was swallowed by a big fish. Only by repenting for his rebellious act did Jonah escape.
Samson
Samson is not your average biblical hero. He became estranged from God after sinning multiple times. Britannica explains that Samson broke his religious obligation to Israel and his vow of abstinence, losing his power as a result. Samson’s rebellion ultimately caused his death after he defied his Philistine captors and demolished their temple.
King Saul
King Saul’s rebellion against God did not have a happy ending. After being chosen to become the first King of Israel, Saul made the mistake of defying God’s command to destroy Israel’s enemies, the Amalekites, and their livestock. His rebellious nature causes him to reject God’s word, so God rejects him as king.
Shiphrah and Puah
Shiphrah and Puah are two of the Bible’s most courageous women who fearlessly put their lives on the line. They were midwives ordered by the King of Egypt to murder male Hebrew babies at birth, and their defiance prevented genocide. They hid the babies and protected them instead, and God rewarded their rebellion.
Moses
Moses is best known for receiving the Ten Commandments, but he did other important work before that. He led the enslaved Israelites to freedom, defying the pursuing Egyptians who wished to recapture them. He even parted the Red Sea with his staff and ensured the Israelites put their complete faith in God.
Cain
As the eldest son of Adam and Eve, Cain was the first-born human and the first-ever murderer. He famously murdered his brother Abel because God favored Abel, and he was punished for it. Zondervan Academic calls this the first human rebellion against God since Adam and Eve were not born humans. Like father, like son!
Queen Esther
Biblical heroine Queen Esther has her own book in the Old Testament, the Book of Esther. She boldly risks her life to protect the Jews from Haman’s genocidal plot. Though she was not a nobleborn, Esther was unafraid to rebel against powerful men to save innocent lives.
Rahab
Rahab is another underappreciated biblical rebel. As a sex worker, she would have been treated with much disdain, but that didn’t stop her from defying her own ruler for what was right. She concealed two Israelite spies in her home in Jericho, saving their lives and prompting her to be welcomed into Israel.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
These three young men from the Book of Daniel had no issue rebelling when commanded to commit a sin. King Nebuchadnezzar demanded they bow before a golden image, but they refused. As a divine reward for their honorable rebellion, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into a furnace but emerged unharmed.
Elijah
Elijah is one of the Old Testament’s most important prophets and an unlikely rebel. When people began worshiping the Canaanite deity Baal instead of the Hebrew God, he rejected the status quo and performed miracles to restore their faith. His rebellion almost got him killed by the vengeful Queen Jezebel!
Judas
Judas Iscariot is potentially the most abhorred biblical figure because he betrayed Christ. As Britannica recounts, the Bible gives several reasons for Judas’ rebellion, including avarice and Satan possessing his body. Whatever the reason, Judas rebelled against Jesus, betrayed him, and has been condemned for centuries by Christians as a result.
The Magi
Commonly called the Three Wise Men, the Magi’s rebellion is rarely discussed, even though it helped protect the infant Christ. King Herod ordered the Magi to return to him and reveal the baby’s location, but they defied him and traveled home via a different route, saving Christ from Herod’s murderous intentions.
The Persistent Widow
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus uses the parable of the Persistent Widow to teach a moral lesson about tenacity. In the story, the widow persistently demands justice from a corrupt judge, refusing to relent until she gets it. She rebels against her social station and is rewarded for refusing to back down.
Paul
Paul the Apostle is biblically famous for relentlessly spreading the word of God, but his good work completely defied his old beliefs. Paul initially persecuted early Christians until he encountered the resurrected Christ on the road to Damascus, choosing to rebel against everything he was taught and follow Him.
Deborah
Deborah is one of the Bible’s most influential women. As the only woman to be both prophet and judge, she was already a rebel and wasn’t afraid to make decisions for the men around her. She was highly instrumental in the Battle of Mount Tabor, helping to secure an Israelite victory.
The Devil
Also called Satan and Lucifer, the Devil is the most notorious rebel in the Bible. Previously an angel, his first act after receiving freedom of choice was to rebel against God and become his greatest adversary. He further rebelled by attempting to tempt Jesus when he wandered the desert.
Jesus Christ
This list couldn’t be complete without Jesus Christ himself. Despite being infallible, the Son of God was blessed with a rebellious streak that aided His holy work. According to Christianity.com, he was painfully crucified for being the King of the Jews, a punishment He allowed as an act of love and rebellion against those who disgraced His purpose.
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