22 Obscure Bible Characters You May Have Missed (and Why They Matter)
Inside: Learn about 22 amazing, but lesser-known Bible characters whose actions helped shape Biblical history–even though many people don’t know their names!
The pages of Scripture are filled with incredible stories and familiar names—Moses, Noah, David, and Jonah. But what about the lesser-known Bible characters like Ehud, Jethro, Epaphroditus, and Rhoda? And yes, there’s even one named Dodo.
Many people don’t recognize these names, yet their lives and actions hold valuable lessons about faith, courage, and God’s power working through ordinary people.
Uncovering Hidden Gems in the Bible
Let’s be honest—some parts of the Bible are easier to read than others. The Israelites’ dramatic rescue from Egypt? Absolutely gripping. The long lists of names in 1 and 2 Chronicles? Not so much.
But here’s the thing—every part of God’s Word is important, even when it doesn’t seem exciting. We need to read the story of creation, Noah’s Ark, and Paul’s conversion because they offer powerful lessons that strengthen our faith.
However, tucked away in the Holy Bible are names that appear only once or stories that barely get a mention. These characters may seem minor, but many played a pivotal role in God’s plan.
For example, did you know Jehosheba saved the entire kingdom of Judah by stealing away a child and hiding him for six years? That really happened, right in the middle of 2 Kings!
So, what other fascinating stories might you have missed? Let’s take a look at 23 lesser-known characters and the major lessons they teach us.
22 Lesser-Known Bible Characters
From a left-handed judge who assassinated an evil king to a boy who fell out of a window, these characters may not have been in your Sunday school lessons—but their stories are unforgettable.
1. Jethro – The Wise Father-in-Law
Most people don’t recognize the name Jethro, but he played a crucial role in shaping Israel’s leadership. As the father-in-law of Moses, he noticed that Moses was carrying the entire leadership burden. He spent hours every day resolving disputes among the people of Israel—an exhausting task.
Jethro advised Moses to delegate responsibilities by appointing wise men to help judge minor cases. This simple yet powerful idea transformed Israel’s system of governance and leadership structure.
Read about Jethro’s wise suggestion in Exodus 18.
2. Balaam – The Man Who Talked to a Donkey
As Israel traveled toward the Promised Land, the King of Moab, King Balak, hired Balaam to curse them. But when Balaam ignored God’s warning not to go, an angel of the Lord blocked his path—though Balaam didn’t see it.
His donkey, however, did. Three times, the donkey veered off the road to avoid the angel. Frustrated, Balaam beat the donkey until—it spoke! Instead of being shocked, Balaam actually argued with his talking donkey.
In the end, God used Balaam to bless Israel instead of cursing them.
Read this surprising story in Numbers 22–23.
3. Ehud – The Left-Handed Assassin
For 18 years, Israel suffered under the oppressive rule of Eglon, king of Moab. But God raised up an unlikely hero—Ehud, a left-handed man from the tribe of Benjamin.
Using his unique advantage, Ehud hid a dagger under his robe, assassinated Eglon, and led Israel to victory. The story of Ehud is tucked in the pages of Judges in the Old Testament, and if you blink, you might miss it!
Read about Ehud’s bold move in Judges 3.
4. Deborah – The Judge Who Led Israel to Battle
When Israel turned away from God again, they fell under the harsh rule of the Canaanites. Enter Deborah, a prophetess and judge who led God’s people during this time.
She called a warrior named Barak to lead Israel into battle, but he refused to go unless she came too. Because of his lack of faith, Deborah prophesied that a woman would be the one to defeat the enemy general, Sisera.
Read about Deborah’s leadership in Judges 4–5.
5. Jael – The Woman with the Tent Peg
After Sisera fled the battlefield, he sought refuge in the tent of Jael, a seemingly harmless woman. She welcomed him, gave him milk, and waited for him to fall asleep.
Then, she took a tent peg and drove it through his temple—single-handedly defeating one of Israel’s greatest enemies.
Read about Jael’s bravery in Judges 4.
6. David’s Mighty Men – Warriors of Unbelievable Feats
Most people know David as a great warrior, but he had three mighty men who performed astonishing feats:
- Adino the Eznite killed 800 men with a spear in one battle.
- Eleazar fought until his hand was stuck to his sword. (Believe it or not, his father’s name was Dodo!)
- Shammah stood alone against the Philistines while everyone else fled—and won.
These men were great heroes, but we often miss their Bible stories because they are only mentioned for a moment.
Read about these legendary warriors in 2 Samuel 23.
7. Shiphrah and Puah – The Midwives Who Defied Pharaoh
Before Moses was born, Pharaoh ordered that all Hebrew baby boys be killed at birth. But two midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, bravely defied the king’s command, refusing to kill innocent babies.
Because of their courage, Moses was later born and became Israel’s deliverer. These female characters remind us that even when evil seems overwhelming, doing the right thing can change the course of history.
Read about their bravery in Exodus 1.
8. Mephibosheth – The King’s Forgotten Grandson
Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathan and the grandson of King Saul. After Saul’s death, David sought out any surviving family members—not to harm them, but to show kindness for Jonathan’s sake.
When Mephibosheth was brought before David, he expected death but instead received grace. David restored his family’s land and invited him to eat at the king’s table for the rest of his life.
Read about Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9.
9. Zipporah – The Wife Who Saved Moses
Zipporah, Moses’ wife, isn’t mentioned often, but she played a critical role in his journey. When God sought to kill Moses for not circumcising their son (a sign of the covenant), Zipporah quickly acted and performed the circumcision herself, saving her husband’s life.
Read about Zipporah in Exodus 4.
10. Abigail – The Peacemaker
Abigail was married to Nabal, a rich but foolish man who insulted David. Enraged, David planned to kill Nabal and his household.
But Abigail, full of wisdom, hurried to meet David, bringing gifts and urging him to reconsider. Her humble and wise words stopped a massacre, and shortly after, Nabal died.
David recognized Abigail’s wisdom and later took her as his wife.
Read about Abigail’s wisdom in 1 Samuel 25.
11. Epaphroditus – The Faithful Messenger
Epaphroditus was a trusted companion of Apostle Paul, delivering letters and assisting in his ministry. At one point, he became so sick that he nearly died, yet he continued serving.
Paul praised him, calling him “a brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier.”
Read about Epaphroditus in Philippians 2.
12. Onesimus – The Runaway Slave
Onesimus was a runaway slave who met Paul, became a Christian, and was transformed. Paul sent him back to his master, Philemon, with a plea for forgiveness, urging him to receive Onesimus not as a slave, but as a brother in Christ.
Read about Onesimus in Philemon.
13. Rhoda – The Girl Who Forgot to Open the Door
In the book of Acts, members of the early church were facing great persecution. Peter was thrown into prison for preaching the Gospel.
The other members of the church met to pray for Peter. God answered their prayers, and Peter was miraculously delivered from prison.
When he arrived at the home of the church leader, Peter knocked on the door. A young girl named Rhoda came to the door. She was so excited to hear Peter’s voice, that she ran back to tell the others–completely forgetting to let him in the house!
Read the powerful story of Peter’s deliverance in Acts 12.
14. Uzzah – The Man Who Touched the Ark
As King David brought the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem, he and all of Israel celebrated with music and dancing. The ark was placed on a new ox cart, and everything seemed to be going smoothly—until the oxen stumbled.
Uzzah, likely out of instinct, reached out his hand to steady the ark—and immediately fell dead.
Read what happened to the Ark next in 2 Samuel 6.
15. Eutychus – The Young Man Who Fell Asleep in Church
Eutychus has one of the most relatable stories in the Bible—he fell asleep during a long sermon and paid the price for it!
One night, Paul was preaching to a group of believers in a third-story room, and he kept going until midnight. A young man named Eutychus sat on the windowsill. Eventually, he fell into a deep sleep and tumbled out the window.
He hit the ground and was pronounced dead—but Paul rushed down, embraced him, and declared that he was alive. Miraculously, Eutychus was restored, and the gathering continued!
Read this incredible story in Acts 20.
16. The Little Maid of Israel – A Young Girl with Great Faith
Once again, the nation of Israel had been taken into captivity. Many of them were made slaves. When the mighty general Naaman suffered from leprosy, he had no hope—until a little servant girl told him about the prophet Elisha.
Because of her simple faith, Naaman sought healing and was miraculously cured.
Read about her life-changing words in 2 Kings 5.
17. Mordecai–The Man Who Encouraged a Queen
The story of Mordecai is often lost, but it’s an important part of Biblical history. While Esther is the hero of her story, Mordecai is the one who encourages her to stand up for her people. His words became legendary:
Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
Esther 4:14
Read about Mordecai’s wisdom in Esther 4.
18. Jabez – The Man Who Prayed Boldly
One of the most obscure characters in the Bible is Jabez–mentioned only briefly in 1 Chronicles. However, his powerful prayer stands out:
“Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!”
And God answered his prayer.
Read the powerful prayer of Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4.
19. Jehosheba – The Princess Who Saved a Kingdom
When Queen Athaliah murdered the royal family to seize the throne, Jehosheba secretly rescued baby Joash and hid him in the temple for six years.
Because of her courage, Joash survived and later restored proper worship in Judah.
Read about Jehosheba’s bold rescue in 2 Kings 11–12.
20. Nicodemus – The Pharisee Who Met Jesus at Night
From the outside, it appeared that Nicodemus lived a godly life. As a member of the Sanhedrin, he closely followed the laws of God and even memorized the book of the law. But he was very curious about Jesus.
Unlike many religious leaders, Nicodemus sought Jesus with an open heart. Their conversation led to one of the most famous verses of Scripture:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son… (
John 3:16)
Read their conversation in John 3.
21. The Ethiopian Eunuch – The Man Who Sought Understanding
The Ethiopian eunuch was a high-ranking official serving the queen of Ethiopia, yet he longed to understand the Scriptures. As he traveled home from Jerusalem, he read from the book of Isaiah but struggled to comprehend its meaning.
God sent Philip, the evangelist, to meet him, and Philip explained that the prophecy pointed to Jesus Christ. He gave his heart to the Lord and was baptized on the spot!
Read about the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-39.
22. Dorcas–The Woman Raised from the Dead
Dorcas, also known as Tabitha, was a beloved disciple known for her good works, kindness, and generosity. She spent her days making clothes for widows and helping the poor, leaving a lasting impact on her community.
When she became sick and died, the believers sent for Peter, who came and prayed over her. In a miraculous display of God’s power, Peter said, “Tabitha, arise,” and she opened her eyes and lived again.
Read about Dorcas in Acts 9:36-42.
Minor Bible Characters, Major Lessons
These lesser-known Bible characters may seem small in the grand story of Scripture, but God used them in incredible ways.
From quiet acts of faith to bold moments of courage, their stories remind us that God sees every little thing we do, and He cares.
If God could use a left-handed judge, a young servant girl, and even a talking donkey, imagine what He can do with your life.
What other obscure Bible character has inspired you? Share in the comments!
More Bible Characters You Need to Know
- 10 Beautiful Women in the Bible Who Show Great Character
- 10 Courageous Women in the Bible Who Inspire Us to Be Brave
- 26 Bible Stories Every Child Should Know
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dear Lyndsie,
I was looking for ‘ lesser known bible characters to be used in an upcoming meeting with a tribal youth group next month, in the Highland mountains in central Vietnam. I had already decited to use Ruth for the girls, but was looking for
a none-king-lesser known man story for the boys, and found your site. I am blessed, by the content, by our Lord’s Helper who is so visible here. Your labor and thoughtfulness are a refreshing light in the ‘ online cosmos ‘. Thank you Lord for encouraging my sister to help others and thank you Lyndsie for serving us on the internet.
Shalom,
Bob
82 year old missionary man
hi sis,
Iam actually praying for this kind of topic with my ladies group who are mostly in their higher position in their workplace – and this is so timely to remind them about the people in the Bible with no names, unknown or lesser-known – how their legacy mark the kind of life we have now. If not for these people, the Scripture will remain a mystery. Thanks you for your endeavor to seek God’s Word and share it to us all.
Ners
Philippines