With Mother's Day being celebrated this past weekend, let's take a look at some of the mothers mentioned in the Bible. Note: there are many mothers mentioned in the Bible, I will just cover five.
Eve - The First Mother
While we don't know all of the children Adam and Eve had, we do know about Cain, Abel, and Seth. The Bible does not state every detail about Eve's life or her character, but it does give us some idea about her life. She walked and talked with God in the Garden of Eden before sin entered this world, she was loved by her husband, Adam, and she was a mother to all generations. While she was not perfect, she is a woman we can learn from.
And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. - Genesis 2:23-24
And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. - Genesis 3:20
Naomi - The Compassionate Mother
Naomi had tragedy happen without warning. She lost her husband and both of her sons. She had no grandchildren and without her husband and sons, she had no family or income. She pleaded with her daughter-in-laws to leave her and go back to their homes and families, but one of them stayed with her to help her out and take care of her. Even with Naomi's heartache and loss, she showed compassion and took her daughter-in-law in to live with her and be her family. Naomi gave Ruth, her daughter-in-law wise advice that eventually led to Ruth marrying Boaz and becoming a part of Jesus' genealogy.
And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each to her mother’s house. The Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.” So she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. And they said to her, “Surely we will return with you to your people.” But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? Turn back, my daughters, go—for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons, would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me!” - Ruth 1:8-15
Ruth - The Obedient Mother
Ruth was obedient to Naomi and sought her advice. She trusted Naomi and left her home and family and chose to follow God, forsaking her culture's idols. Through her obedience, she ending up marrying Boaz, a wealthy landowner, who demonstrated agape love and is a portrait of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Ruth's son, Obed, was the father of Jesse, David's father.
But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.” - Ruth 1:16-17
So she fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” And Boaz answered and said to her, “It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before. The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.” - Ruth 2:10-12
Hannah - The Earnest Mother
Hannah had great patience! God had closed up her womb so she was not able to have children. This caused her great sorrow and she wept, fasted, and mourned. Her husband loved her immensely but she longed for a child. After praying diligently and fervently to God and promising God that she would give the child back to Him (meaning the child would be raised by the priest and live for God), she was granted her desire. She had a son, Samuel, and kept her promise to God once the child was weened. Samuel grew up a godly man, and became a judge who obeyed God. Because of Hannah's obedience, God blessed her with three sons and two daughters. Read Hannah's prayer to God after Samuel's birth.
But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the Lord had closed her womb. - 1 Samuel 1:5
Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the Lord. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.” - 1 Samuel 1:8-11
Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.” And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the Lord.” - 1 Samuel 1:17-20
For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord.” So they worshiped the Lord there. - 1 Samuel 1:27-28
Mary - The Blessed Mother
Mary was a righteous woman who had faith in God. When things seemed impossible, she trusted God's word and knew what He said would happen. Mary became the mother of Jesus, the Son of God, and a role model for many women. Read Mary's song.
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one,the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” - Luke 1:26-33
But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. - Luke 2:19
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother,“Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple,“Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. - John 19:25-27
And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. - Acts 1:13-14