MARIA (VARIOUS WOMEN IN THE BIBLE). — The name M. appears in both the Old and New Testaments.
1. Sister of Moses, the firstborn of Amram and Jochebed (Ex. 6:20; Num. 26:59; 1 Chron. 6:3). She watched over her infant brother exposed on the waters of the Nile and, with deep concern, arranged for him to be nursed by his own mother at the suggestion of Pharaoh’s daughter (Ex. 2:4–10). At the crossing of the Red Sea, M. was ninety years old (Ex. 7:7) and led the prophetic dances and songs of joy and thanksgiving to Yahweh (Ex. 15:20–21; Mic. 6:4; cf. Num. 12:2). In the wilderness, at Hazeroth, she murmured with Aaron against Moses’ authority, as if they too were not prophets, jealous of the influence that Sephora—whom M. called, perhaps in contempt, a Cushite—had over Moses. Yahweh punished M. with leprosy; yet Moses’ immediate intercession secured her healing, though she had to remain outside the camp for seven days (Num. 12:1–15). She died at Kadesh shortly after the Israelites’ arrival and was buried there (Num. 20:1).
2. A woman of the tribe of Judah (1 Chron. 4:17), though the text is uncertain. The Septuagint renders it *Mzqwv*; some scholars suggest it may refer to a man (cf. W. Gesenius–F. Buhl, *Hebräisches und Aramäisches Handwörterbuch*, 17th ed., Berlin 1949, p. 460).
3. Sister of Lazarus, living in Bethany, where she is seen in quiet contemplation at Jesus’ feet (Luke 10:39–42) or in loving gratitude at the dinner after her brother’s resurrection (John 11:1–33), when she anoints the Lord’s head and feet (John 12:1–8; Matt. 26:6–13; Mark 14:3–9). Jesus praises her for choosing “the better part,” the one thing truly necessary (Luke 10:42), and for having anticipated the anointing for his burial, defending her act against Judas’ mercenary displeasure (John 12:8; Matt. 26:6–13; Mark 14:6–9). She is thus clearly distinct from MARY MAGDALENE and the unnamed sinful woman who anointed the Lord in Galilee a year earlier (Luke 7:36–50): see MARY MAGDALENE.
4. Wife of Clopas (John 19:25), mother of James the Less and Joseph (Matt. 27:55; Mark 15:40–47; Luke 24:10), cousins of the Lord (Mark 6:3, etc.). She is present at Calvary with Jesus’ Mother (John 19:25), remains after His death, and attends the burial (Matt. 27:56–61; Mark 15:40–47). On the morning after the Sabbath, she goes to the tomb and, on returning, shares the news with the other pious women, Jesus’ Mother, and the disciples (Matt. 28:1–9); the poor and prisoners.
5. Mother of the evangelist John Mark, in whose house St. Peter went immediately after his miraculous release from prison (Acts 12:12).
6. A Christian woman in Rome, to whom St. Paul sends greetings, recalling her zealous service to the faithful there (Rom. 16:6). — See pl. XII.