Who was Miriam in the Bible?
Moses' sister, during the years in Egypt and the wilderness
Miriam was the sister of Moses and Aaron, and a prominent figure in the Exodus narrative. Miriam appears in 9 verses across 3 books of the Bible.
What does the Bible say about Miriam?
Miriam was the sister of Moses and Aaron, and a prominent figure in the Exodus narrative. She first appears in Exo.15.20-21, where she is described as a prophetess who led the women of Israel in worship and dance after the crossing of the Red Sea. This event highlights her leadership role among the women and her musical abilities. However, Miriam's life was not without controversy. In Num.12.1-15, she and Aaron criticized Moses for marrying a Cushite woman and challenged his authority as God's chosen leader. As a result, God punished Miriam with leprosy, but she was healed after Moses interceded on her behalf. This incident serves as a warning against questioning God's appointed leaders. Miriam's death is recorded in Num.20.1, which takes place near the end of the Israelites' forty years of wandering in the wilderness. Her significance in Israel's history is further emphasized in Mic.6.4, where she is mentioned alongside Moses and Aaron as one of the leaders God sent to guide the people out of Egypt.
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.
Where does Miriam appear in the Bible?
Miriam is referenced in 9 verses across 3 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.
- Deuteronomy 24:9
- Exodus 15:20
- Exodus 15:21
- Numbers 12:1
- Numbers 12:4
- Numbers 12:5
- Numbers 12:10
- Numbers 12:15
- Numbers 20:1
What else appears in these passages?
These turn up in the same passages as Miriam.
Common questions
How many times does the Bible mention Miriam?
Miriam appears in 9 verses across 3 books, most often in Numbers, which accounts for 6 of them.
Which books of the Bible mention Miriam?
Numbers, Exodus, Deuteronomy.
Where can I read every verse about Miriam?
This page lists 9 of them. Protos carries all 9, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.
