The name Mary is a popular one in the Bible, belonging to several different women. Determining the exact number of Marys mentioned in the Bible is difficult, as there are cases where it is unclear if the same Mary is being referred to in different passages. However, by analyzing the biblical text, scholars have identified at least six individual Marys in the Bible:
Mary the Mother of Jesus
The most well-known Mary in the Bible is Mary, the mother of Jesus. She was a young virgin girl living in Nazareth who was visited by the angel Gabriel and told she would conceive and bear the Son of God (Luke 1:26-38). Mary responded in faith and became the mother of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. She was present throughout Jesus’ life, from his birth in Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-7) to his death on the cross (John 19:25-27). Mary was also among the believers gathered in the upper room after Jesus’ ascension (Acts 1:14). She is an example of obedience, faith, and motherly love.
Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus’ followers mentioned prominently during his ministry. Jesus had cast out seven demons from her (Luke 8:2), and she became one of the women who accompanied Jesus and provided for him and his disciples (Luke 8:1-3). Mary Magdalene was present at Jesus’ crucifixion (Matthew 27:56) and was the first witness to Jesus’ resurrection (John 20:1-18). Her devotion to Christ earned her the title of “Apostle to the Apostles” by early church leaders. She has mistakenly been identified as a prostitute or adulteress, but Scripture does not support those characterizations.
Mary of Bethany
Mary of Bethany was the sister of Martha and Lazarus, whom Jesus loved (John 11:1-5). She sat at Jesus’ feet listening to his teachings while her sister Martha was distracted by household duties (Luke 10:38-42). Mary also anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume and wiped them with her hair, foreshadowing his death and burial (John 12:1-8). Her actions demonstrated her devotion to Christ as she offered her best to the Lord. Some scholars identify Mary of Bethany with Mary Magdalene, while others believe they were different women.
Mary the wife of Clopas
Mary the wife of Clopas is one of the women specifically identified as being present at the crucifixion in John 19:25. Clopas was possibly the brother of Joseph, the husband of Mary the mother of Jesus. So this Mary could have been Jesus’ aunt, as well as a follower. But little else is known about her from Scripture.
Mary the mother of James and Joses
Mary the mother of James and Joses was also present at the crucifixion (Matthew 27:56). James and Joses (or Joseph) were two of Jesus’ younger half-brothers, the children of Joseph and Mary (Matthew 13:55). But this Mary is distinguished from Mary the mother of Jesus in the passage, implying she was the wife of Clopas and the mother of at least two of Jesus’ half-brothers.
Mary of Rome
Mary of Rome is mentioned briefly by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans. He says to greet her, along with several others (Romans 16:6). Little is known about her except she was a believer in Christ living in Rome, possibly one of the early Christians expelled from Rome who ended up in Jerusalem (Acts 18:2).
Beyond these clear individuals, there are other Marys mentioned in the Gospels where the relationship is ambiguous. Mary the mother of James and Joseph/Joses may be the same as “the other Mary” present at the empty tomb with Mary Magdalene (Matthew 27:61, 28:1). And there is Mary, the relative of Elizabeth who gave birth to John the Baptist (Luke 1:36). Scholars also debate whether Mary of Bethany and the unnamed “sinful woman” who anointed Jesus’ feet are the same person (Luke 7:37-50). So in total there are at least six Marys clearly identified in Scripture, with a possibility of up to three more based on inconclusive evidence. While we may not be able to quantify the exact number, what is clear is the popularity of the name and its association with devoted female disciples of Jesus.
In summary, the name Mary was a common one in first century Judea. While the exact number is difficult to determine, at least six individual Marys can be identified through Scripture: Mary mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Mary of Bethany, Mary wife of Clopas, Mary mother of James and Joses, and Mary of Rome. Some ambiguity exists around Mary mother of James and Joses, the “other Mary”, Mary the relative of Elizabeth, and Mary who anointed Jesus’ feet. But in total, the available evidence points to between six to nine Marys mentioned in the Bible, all of whom played varying roles as followers of Christ.
The popularity of the name Mary reflects Jewish tradition and culture. Mary is a version of the Hebrew name Miriam, the name of Moses’ sister in the Old Testament (Exodus 15:20-21). Other versions of the name include Maria in the New Testament. Miriam was a prophetess and leader among the Israelite women, making it an appropriately spiritual name to bestow on daughters. In the New Testament, Mary came to be associated with characteristics such as spiritual devotion, motherly care, and courageous witness to Christ. The name held deep meaning for early Jewish believers and new converts to Christianity seeking to honor Jesus’ mother and other female exemplars of the faith.
While Mary was a common name, the individual Marys of the New Testament are remembered for their unique contributions to Christ’s ministry and the early church. Mary the mother of Jesus bore the Son of God, providing an example of obedience and motherly love. Mary Magdalene witnessed the crucifixion, was the first to testify to the resurrection, and rightly bears the title Apostle to the Apostles. Mary of Bethany demonstrated her devotion by anointing Christ’s feet and sitting at his feet to learn from him. Mary wife of Clopas, Mary mother of James and Joses, and Mary of Rome all played their part as supporters of Jesus and pillars of the early church. The Marys mentioned by Scripture, both unambiguously identified and conjectured, were courageous women of faith.
Though common, the name Mary was significant to early Jewish and Christian culture. It honored important biblical women of the past and expressed the virtues of the Marys of the New Testament. Despite the ambiguity surrounding the exact number of Marys in the Bible, each one can be appreciated for her faithfulness to Christ and the work of the gospel.
When examining how many individuals named Mary appear in the Bible, it quickly becomes clear there is no straightforward answer. The name Mary was extremely common in 1st century Judea so several different women with the name are mentioned across the New Testament. Tallying up an exact number is also difficult because in some cases it’s unclear if separate passages are referring to the same or distinct Marys. There are at least six clearly identifiable Marys if each mention is taken as a separate individual, but there are reasonable arguments some passages refer to the same person, putting the potential range anywhere from six to nine Marys total.
Looking first at the unambiguous Marys, there is:
- Mary the mother of Jesus
- Mary Magdalene
- Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus
- Mary the wife of Clopas
- Mary the mother of James and Joses/Joseph, who was likely the wife of Clopas and mother of Jesus’ half-brothers
- Mary of Rome mentioned in Romans 16:6
Beyond this list the identity of other Marys mentioned becomes less clear:
- “Mary the mother of James and Joseph/Joses” may be the same person as “the other Mary” in Matthew 27:61 and 28:1.
- There is Mary the relative of Elizabeth mother of John the Baptist in Luke 1:36.
- There is some debate if Mary of Bethany is the same person as the unnamed “sinful woman” who anointed Jesus’ feet in Luke 7:37-50.
So while six biblical Marys can be delineated unambiguously based on the given information, arguments persist around the exact relationships and potential overlap between some of the other named Marys. This could put the total between six and nine depending on the interpretation taken.
The prevalence of the name Mary derives from its Hebrew origin as a version of Miriam. Miriam was the name of Moses’ sister and an important prophetess and leader for the Israelite women. Mary was a very popular Jewish name at the time as a result, since Miriam was a revered figure in their tradition. Naming daughters Mary honored this heritage.
In the New Testament Mary takes on added significance through its association with Jesus’ mother and other female followers. Some of the virtues the name came to represent were spiritual devotion, courage, care for others, and being a witness to the gospel. Mary became a name new Jewish and Gentile converts to Christianity latched onto as they sought to emulate characteristics of biblical Marys like Jesus’ mother.
While ambiguity persists around the exact number of Marys due to limited information, each contributed in their own way as supporters of Jesus or prominent members of the early Christian church. The popularity of the name reflects important cultural and spiritual meanings it held for Jewish and Christian communities, making it a fitting title for both well-known and more obscure women of faith.
Determining the precise number of women named Mary in the Bible is challenging, owing chiefly to the prevalence of the name in Judea during the 1st century CE and ambiguities between potential references. However, analysis of the texts suggests several clear individuals with the name Mary, and reasonable scholarly debate surrounding a potential range of between six and nine total Marys mentioned.
The most unambiguous Marys identified in Scripture include:
- Mary, the mother of Jesus
- Mary Magdalene
- Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus
- Mary, wife of Clopas
- Mary, mother of James and Joses
- Mary of Rome
More ambiguous cases arise from potential overlap between references to:
- Mary mother of James and Joses, and “the other Mary”
- Mary the relative of Elizabeth, John the Baptist’s mother
- Mary of Bethany and the anonymous “sinful woman” who anointed Jesus
Scholarly debate and analysis thus supports approximately six to nine different Marys mentioned across the Bible. The prevalence of the name reflects its popularity and significance within Jewish culture as a version of Miriam, an important Old Testament female leader.
In the New Testament, Mary gained further resonance as the name of Jesus’ mother and other female supporters. Their demonstrations of faith, courage, and devotion contributed to the name Mary taking on new layers of spiritual meaning in the early church. While the exact tally remains difficult given the limited information, the many Marys of the Bible represent shining examples of faithfulness to Christ in their unique contexts.
Determining the number of women named Mary in the Bible is a complex task. Mary was an exceedingly common Jewish name during the 1st century CE when the New Testament books were written. In addition, many Marys are mentioned in passing without clear details about their identity or relationship to other Marys. Scholars have identified at least six individual Marys clearly attested to in Scripture, with the possibility of anywhere from three to six more that cannot be conclusively differentiated. Thus, credible estimates range from as few as six Marys to as many as twelve, although experts cannot reach full agreement given the limitations of the source material.
The six unambiguous Marys in the New Testament are:
- Mary, the mother of Jesus
- Mary Magdalene
- Mary of Bethany, sister to Martha and Lazarus
- Mary, wife of Clopas
- Mary, mother of James and Joses
- Mary of Rome mentioned in Paul’s letter to the Romans
Additional Marys whose identity remains inconclusive include:
- Mary, mother of James and Joses, potentially the same as “the other Mary”
- Mary, relative of Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist
- Mary of Bethany, potentially the same as the “sinful woman” who anointed Jesus
- Other unnamed Marys at the crucifixion and tomb
The frequency of the name Mary reflects its popularity and significance in Jewish culture as the name of the Old Testament matriarch Miriam. It held deep meaning for Jewish and Gentile Christian women seeking to emulate people of faith like Jesus’ mother. While the exact number remains elusive, the many Marys of the Bible exhibit profound devotion to Christ within their individual circumstances and contexts.
In summary, determining the precise number of Marys in the Bible is challenging due to the prevalence of the name in the time period and ambiguities between potential references. Scholarly analysis supports at least six clearly attested biblical Marys, with estimates ranging up to potentially nine to twelve once debatable cases are included. While the exact figure remains open to interpretation, the many Marys underscore the name’s resonance with virtues like courage, faithfulness, and spiritual devotion in both Jewish and early Christian tradition.
Pinning down the exact number of women named Mary in the Bible is difficult, but we can identify at least 6 individual Marys clearly attested to in Scripture:
- Mary the mother of Jesus
- Mary Magdalene
- Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus
- Mary wife of Clopas
- Mary mother of James and Joses
- Mary of Rome mentioned in Romans 16:6
Beyond these, there are a few more possible, indistinct Marys:
- Mary mother of James and Joses may be the “other Mary”
- Mary the relative of Elizabeth, John the Baptist’s mother
- Potentially the same as Mary of Bethany, the unnamed “sinful woman” who anointed Jesus
So while scholars propose estimates ranging from 6 to around 12 total Marys, the exact number is difficult to determine conclusively. What we can say with confidence is there are at least 6 distinct Marys clearly identified in the Bible text itself.
The popularity of the name reflects that Mary was the Greek form of Miriam, an important woman in Hebrew tradition. It became even more common after the virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ. Naming girls Mary honored this heritage and the qualities of faith, courage, and devotion seen in biblical Marys.
While the precise tally is uncertain, each of the Marys in Scripture played a role in Jesus’ ministry or the early church. They were models of faithfulness for early Jewish and Gentile Christians, and their influence is evident through the persistence and resonance of the name Mary in the church up to today.