Word search: Names of people mentioned most often in the Bible

A bit of Bible trivia

Looking for a fun and educational Bible activity? This word search puzzle features 16 names of people in the Bible. Ideal for Sunday school lessons, youth groups, Bible study, or family devotionals, this activity encourages reflection on the lives of biblical characters.

Can you find all 16 of the most-frequently-used biblical names in the word search puzzle grid? The names may run forward, backward, diagonally, vertically, or horizontally.

Find as many Bible names as you can before looking at the list of names below.

grid of letters for word search puzzle

Note: The number of times a specific name appears can vary from translation to translation. The number of occurrences given in parentheses is the count reported by BibleGateway.com for the New International Version.

For example, BibleGateway.com reports that the name Joab is used 128 times in the New King James Version while it appears 129 times in the New International Version. This difference in the number of occurrences is not due to material that is missing or has been added. It is simply due to how sentences are constructed and the number of times pronouns are used instead of the person's actual name.

Jesus (1,281 times)
David (971 times)
Moses (803 times)
Jacob (363 times)
Saul (362 times)
Aaron (342 times)
Abraham (294 times, with 57 of those being Abram)
Solomon (272 times)
Joseph (246 times)
Paul (228 times)
Joshua (219 times)
Peter (193 times)
Jeremiah (145 times)
Samuel (142 verses)
Isaac (129 times)
Joab (129 times)

puzzle solution

This puzzle on a 1-page MS Word document

People mentioned only once or twice

Some people are only mentioned once in the Bible. Those names include Diotrephes, Eglon, Ehud, and Eliezer of Damascus.

Other names, like Agabus, Demetrius, Og, and Onesimus, appear only twice.

Acrostic: The importance of Biblical names

N - Names carry history, linking past to present.
A - Across generations, they echo with meaning.
M - Memories and identities are woven within them.
E - Every culture treasures the names it bestows.
S - Symbols of heritage, they add to biblical stories.

More acrostics on this site

Nouns that Appear Often in the Bible

The most frequently used nouns in the Bible include:

God -- Refers to the central figure of the Bible, the creator, and supreme being.
Lord -- Often used to denote God, especially in the Old Testament.
Israel -- Refers to the people chosen by God and their descendants, as well as the nation itself.
Man -- Represents humanity in general
Son -- Commonly used in the context of Jesus (Son of God) and in genealogies.
House -- Often refers to a family lineage or a place of worship.
King -- Refers to earthly rulers as well as God as the King of kings.
Land -- Commonly refers to the Promised Land as well as other territories.
People -- Refers to groups of humans, often specifically the Israelites.
Day -- Used both literally (a 24-hour period) and figuratively (as in "the Day of the Lord").
Heaven -- Refers to the dwelling place of God and sometimes the sky above the Earth.
Earth -- Refers to the planet, or land, or ground.
Word -- Often refers to the teachings or commands of God.
Spirit -- Refers to the Holy Spirit or the human spirit.
Sin -- Represents moral wrongdoing or disobedience to God's commands.

The number of times a particular word occurs in the Bible will depend on which English translation is being consulted.

-- Howard Culbertson, hculbert@gmail.com

Why do people's names seem of such magnitude in the Bible?

Here's why a person's name can be very important:

People's Name in Relation to Cultural Identity and Heritage
Strong Connection to Heritage: In many cultures, names are tied to a person’s heritage, identity, and familial lineage. For example, in many African and Asian cultures, names can reflect family history, the circumstances of a child's birth, or ancestral homage.
Forecasters of the Future: Names are sometimes believed to influence a person’s character or destiny.
Religious and Ceremonial Significance
Spiritual Beliefs: Names can have sacred meanings.
Rituals and Ceremonies: Some cultures have elaborate naming ceremonies where the act of naming is part of a religious practice, such the Jewish Brit Milah.
Societal Structure
Status and Respect: In cultures with strong hierarchical structures, names are used with specific titles or honorifics that signify respect, status, or age.
Family Names and Lineage: Some cultures place great emphasis on family history and ancestry. So, a name may indicate the importance of feeling connected to previous generations.
Cultural Characteristics that Influence the Choice of a Person's Name:
- Traditional vs. Individualistic Societies: Collectivist societies often place importance on names as symbols of family and community ties. In contrast, more individualistic cultures prioritize personal achievement and self-expression over traditional naming conventions.
- Personal vs. Communal Identity: In cultures that value communal identity, a person’s name is seen as a reflection of their role within the larger group, which imbues the name with more importance. In more individualistic cultures, names might be chosen for their uniqueness, sound, or aesthetic value rather than for deep cultural or religious meaning.