OLD TESTAMENT

Adam Adam in Creation of Adam by Michelangelo Adam was the first man created by God. Adam's most popular quote comes after Adam and Eve become tempted and eat the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden. Adam is hiding from God when God calls to Adam “Where art thou?” And Adam replies: “I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” — Adam, Genesis 3:10 The irony here is that Adam was naked all along. He only became aware of, and shameful of his nakedness after he ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Eve Eve in Creation of Adam by Michelangelo Eve was the first woman created by God and the wife of Adam. In the story of the temptation by the serpent and the Fall, the serpent asks Eve whether she is allowed to eat of any of the tree in the Garden of Eden. So Eve tells the serpent: “But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, ‘Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.’” — Eve to the serpent, Genesis 3:3 Eventually though, Eve does succumb to temptation and eats the forbidden fruit.

Abraham Abraham detail by József Molnár Abraham was originally named Abram and was the first to be led to the Promised Land by God. God named him Abraham after he forms a covenant with him and promised he would be the father of many nations. In the following quote, Abram and Lot are negotiating for land for their families to settle on and Abrams suggests: “Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.” — Abraham to Lot, Genesis 13:8 Eventually, to keep the peace between them, Abram settles on the less-favorable land that Lot does not want.

Moses Moses with the Ten Commandments by Philippe de Champaigne Moses was a prophet of God who led the Israelites out of Egypt to the Promised Land. In the following quote, Moses is 120 years old. God has told Moses “You shall not go over this Jordan.” (Deuteronomy 31:2). Moses then encourages the Israelites gathered across the Jordan from the Promised Land, who will enter after Moses death: “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” — Moses, Deuteronomy 31:6 Thus were the most famous last words of Moses. The man who led God’s chosen people out of captivity in Egypt to the doorstep of the Promised Land.

David Detail from The Triumphant David by Matteo Rosselli David was the third king of Israel after Saul and his son Ish-bosheth. In his youth David fights the giant Goliath. After Goliath mocks the young, lightly armed and physically unprotected David, David replies to the heavily armed Goliath: “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.” — David to Goliath, 1 Samuel 17:45 David then proceeds to strike Goliath in the forehead with a stone from his sling and then beheads him with his own sword which leads to a retreat and defeat of the Philistine army.

Solomon Detail from The Judgment of Solomon by Peter Paul Rubens Solomon was the fourth king of Israel and son of King David. Solomon is traditionally cited as the author of the book of Proverbs. Proverbs 31 consists of the sayings of King Lemuel (thought by Jewish legend to be Solomon) whose mother, Bathsheba, taught him about the qualities of a wife of noble character: “Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.” — Solomon, Proverbs 31:25 To read more about the qualities of a virtuous woman including chastity, justice, mercy, temperance and virtue see virtuous woman, Proverbs 31.