Miriam
She watched over baby Moses, and led Israel in song by the sea.
Old Testament · c. 15th–13th century BC · Exodus, Numbers, Micah · Also known as Miriam the prophetess, Sister of Moses
About Miriam
Miriam was the sister of Moses and Aaron, and Scripture calls her a prophetess. She is widely identified with the unnamed sister who watched baby Moses in the reeds and arranged for his own mother to nurse him. After the crossing of the sea, she took a timbrel and led the women in song and dance. Later she and Aaron spoke against Moses, and she was struck with a skin disease until Moses prayed for her. The prophet Micah remembers her as one of the three leaders God sent to bring Israel out of Egypt.
Exodus 2 never names Moses’ sister, but she is traditionally identified with Miriam, his only sister named in Scripture. Women’s songs of victory, with timbrels and dancing, appear elsewhere in the Old Testament too.
The story
Watching from a distance
When baby Moses was hidden in a basket among the reeds, "his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him." Pharaoh’s own daughter found him.
Exodus 2:1-6
A clever question
The sister stepped forward and asked the princess, "Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?" She fetched Moses’ own mother.
Exodus 2:7-10
Sing ye to the LORD
After Israel crossed the sea on dry ground, "Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances." She sang, "Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously."
Exodus 15:19-21
Seven days outside the camp
Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses: "Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses?" Miriam was struck with a skin disease. Moses cried out, "Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee." She was shut outside the camp seven days, and the people did not move on until she was brought back.
Numbers 12:1-15
Remembered as a leader
Centuries later, the prophet Micah recalled God’s words: "I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt… and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam."
Micah 6:4
Key moments
- Watches over baby Moses: Standing afar off. (Exodus 2:4)
- Finds a nurse: Moses’ mother: A quick, brave question. (Exodus 2:7-8)
- The song by the sea: "Sing ye to the LORD." (Exodus 15:20-21)
- Healed after Moses prays: The camp waited for her. (Numbers 12:13-15)
Questions about Miriam
In meetBible these answers are given in Miriam’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.
Were you the sister who watched baby Moses?
Exodus 2 doesn’t give the sister’s name. It says "his sister stood afar off," then offered to find a Hebrew nurse for him. I’m the only sister of Moses named anywhere in Scripture, so readers have long identified her with me, but the text itself doesn’t say so.
What was your song by the sea?
After the sea closed over Pharaoh’s army, I took a timbrel and the women followed me with timbrels and dances. I sang, "Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea." It echoes the longer song Moses and Israel sang just before.
Connected people
Read it yourself
Start with Exodus 2; 15.