Was the Bible Right?

People outside the Bible

Real people? What the evidence says

Kings, officials and prophets named in the Bible who also appear in inscriptions, seals or ancient historians. Several were once dismissed as legends. King David had no mention outside the Bible until 1993.

Confirmed
30
Named in an authenticated source outside the Bible.
Probable
4
A strong match (name, father, title, date), but identity not certain.
Disputed
2
Evidence exists, but its reading or authenticity is contested.

When were they found?

Running total of confirmed and probable people by the year the evidence came to light. Another 10 were known all along from ancient historians such as Josephus, Herodotus and Tacitus. Hover a point for names; the full list is below.

051015202530182518501875190019251950197520002025Sargon II 1843Belshazzar 1854Pontius Pilate 1961David 1993

Old Testament

  • David

    King of Israel and Judah

    c. 1000 BCE · 1 Samuel 16 – 1 Kings 2

    Named as founder of Judah's royal dynasty ('House of David') on the Tel Dan Stele, c. 840 BCE. A 'House of David' reading on the Mesha Stele is debated. See the evidence →
    ConfirmedFound 1993

  • Shishak (Sheshonq I)

    Pharaoh of Egypt

    c. 945–924 BCE · 1 Kings 14:25–26

    His own relief and list of conquered towns on the Bubastite Portal at Karnak, and a stele fragment from Megiddo. See the evidence →
    ConfirmedFound 1828

  • Omri

    King of Israel

    c. 885–874 BCE · 1 Kings 16:16–28

    The Mesha Stele names 'Omri king of Israel', and Assyrian records call Israel 'the House of Omri'. See the evidence →
    ConfirmedFound 1868

  • Ahab

    King of Israel

    c. 874–853 BCE · 1 Kings 16:29 – 22:40

    The Kurkh Monolith lists 'Ahab the Israelite' with 2,000 chariots at the Battle of Qarqar, 853 BCE. See the evidence →
    ConfirmedFound 1861

  • Mesha

    King of Moab

    c. 840 BCE · 2 Kings 3:4

    His own victory inscription, the Mesha Stele. See the evidence →
    ConfirmedFound 1868

  • Hazael

    King of Aram-Damascus

    c. 842–800 BCE · 2 Kings 8:7–15

    Named as king of Damascus in the inscriptions of Shalmaneser III; probably the author of the Tel Dan Stele. See the evidence →
    ConfirmedFound 1850s

  • Jehu

    King of Israel

    c. 841–814 BCE · 2 Kings 9–10

    Shown paying tribute, by name, on Shalmaneser III's Black Obelisk. See the evidence →
    ConfirmedFound 1846

  • Uzziah (Azariah)

    King of Judah

    c. 783–742 BCE · 2 Kings 15:1–7; 2 Chronicles 26

    Seals of officials call themselves 'servant of Uzziah'. A 1st-century CE plaque marks the reburial of 'Uzziah king of Judah'.
    ProbableFound 1931

  • Menahem

    King of Israel

    c. 752–742 BCE · 2 Kings 15:19–20

    Tiglath-pileser III's annals list tribute from 'Menahem of Samaria', matching 2 Kings 15.
    ConfirmedFound 1850s

  • Tiglath-pileser III (Pul)

    King of Assyria

    745–727 BCE · 2 Kings 15:19, 29; 2 Kings 16:7–10

    His palace reliefs and annals from Nimrud.
    ConfirmedFound 1850s

  • Pekah

    King of Israel

    c. 740–732 BCE · 2 Kings 15:25–31

    Tiglath-pileser III records that the Israelites overthrew their king Pekah.
    ConfirmedFound 1850s

  • Ahaz

    King of Judah

    c. 735–715 BCE · 2 Kings 16

    Tiglath-pileser III lists 'Jehoahaz of Judah' (Ahaz's full name) among kings paying tribute.
    ConfirmedFound 1850s

  • Hoshea

    Last king of Israel

    c. 732–722 BCE · 2 Kings 17:1–6

    Tiglath-pileser III claims he placed Hoshea on Israel's throne.
    ConfirmedFound 1850s

  • Sargon II

    King of Assyria

    722–705 BCE · Isaiah 20:1

    Known only from Isaiah 20:1 until Botta uncovered his capital at Khorsabad, with annals recording the fall of Samaria and the capture of Ashdod. See the evidence →
    ConfirmedFound 1843

  • Hezekiah

    King of Judah

    c. 715–686 BCE · 2 Kings 18–20; Isaiah 36–39

    Named in Sennacherib's annals of the 701 BCE campaign, and on his own royal seal impression found in Jerusalem in 2009. See the evidence →
    ConfirmedFound 1850s

  • Isaiah

    Prophet

    c. 740–700 BCE · Isaiah 1:1; 2 Kings 19–20

    A seal impression reading 'Yesha'yahu' followed by damaged letters that may or may not spell 'prophet', found next to Hezekiah's. See the evidence →
    DisputedFound 2018

  • Sennacherib

    King of Assyria

    705–681 BCE · 2 Kings 18:13 – 19:37

    His annals (the Taylor Prism and copies) and the Lachish reliefs from his palace at Nineveh. Also named by Herodotus. See the evidence →
    ConfirmedAncient historians

  • Manasseh

    King of Judah

    c. 687–643 BCE · 2 Kings 21:1–18

    Listed as 'Manasseh king of Judah' among the vassal kings who supplied building materials to Esarhaddon of Assyria.
    Confirmed19th century

  • Gemariah son of Shaphan

    Royal scribe

    c. 605 BCE · Jeremiah 36:10–12

    A seal impression of 'Gemaryahu son of Shaphan' from Yigal Shiloh's City of David excavations. See the evidence →
    ProbableFound 1982

  • Nebuchadnezzar II

    King of Babylon

    605–562 BCE · 2 Kings 24–25; Daniel 1–4

    The Babylonian Chronicles, thousands of bricks stamped with his name, and his building inscriptions. Also known through Berossus and Josephus. See the evidence →
    ConfirmedAncient historians

  • Jehoiachin

    King of Judah

    598–597 BCE · 2 Kings 24:8–17; 2 Kings 25:27–30

    Babylonian ration tablets list oil for 'Ya'u-kin, king of the land of Yahud' and his sons. See the evidence →
    ConfirmedFound 1939

  • Jehucal son of Shelemiah

    Royal official

    c. 590 BCE · Jeremiah 37:3; Jeremiah 38:1

    A seal impression of 'Yehukal son of Shelemyahu' found by Eilat Mazar in the City of David. See the evidence →
    ProbableFound 2005

  • Gedaliah son of Pashhur

    Royal official

    c. 590 BCE · Jeremiah 38:1

    A seal impression of 'Gedalyahu son of Pashhur' found a few meters from Jehucal's. See the evidence →
    ProbableFound 2008

  • Cyrus the Great

    King of Persia

    559–530 BCE · Ezra 1:1–4; Isaiah 45:1

    Described by Herodotus and Xenophon; his own Cyrus Cylinder was found at Babylon in 1879. See the evidence →
    ConfirmedAncient historians

  • Belshazzar

    Crown prince and regent of Babylon

    c. 553–539 BCE · Daniel 5

    Long called fictional, until cylinders of Nabonidus found at Ur named Belshazzar as his eldest son. See the evidence →
    ConfirmedFound 1854

  • Sanballat

    Governor of Samaria

    c. 445–407 BCE · Nehemiah 2:10; Nehemiah 4:1–8

    An Aramaic letter from Elephantine (407 BCE) mentions the sons of Sanballat, governor of Samaria. See the evidence →
    ConfirmedFound 1911

New Testament

  • Herod the Great

    King of Judea

    Ruled 37–4 BCE · Matthew 2; Luke 1:5

    Described at length by Josephus; his coins and building projects survive, and his tomb was found at Herodium in 2007. See the evidence →
    ConfirmedAncient historians

  • Herod Antipas

    Tetrarch of Galilee

    Ruled 4 BCE – 39 CE · Mark 6:14–29; Luke 23:6–12

    Described by Josephus; coins he minted at Tiberias survive.
    ConfirmedAncient historians

  • John the Baptist

    Prophet

    Died c. 29–32 CE · Mark 1:4–9; Mark 6:17–29

    Josephus (Antiquities 18.116–119) describes John 'called the Baptist', his preaching and baptism, and his execution by Herod Antipas.
    ConfirmedAncient historians

  • Jesus of Nazareth

    Teacher, executed under Pilate

    c. 4 BCE – 30/33 CE · The Gospels

    Mentioned by Josephus (twice) and Tacitus, who records his execution by Pontius Pilate under Tiberius. Pliny the Younger describes Christians worshiping him c. 112 CE. See the evidence →
    ConfirmedAncient historians

  • Caiaphas

    High priest

    High priest c. 18–36 CE · Matthew 26:3, 57; John 18:13–24

    Josephus names 'Joseph called Caiaphas' as high priest. An ossuary inscribed 'Joseph son of Caiaphas', found in 1990, very likely belonged to him or his family. See the evidence →
    ConfirmedFound 1990

  • Pontius Pilate

    Roman prefect of Judea

    Governed 26–36 CE · Mark 15; Luke 3:1

    Described by Josephus, Philo and Tacitus. The Pilate Stone from Caesarea, found in 1961, is the first inscription naming him. See the evidence →
    ConfirmedFound 1961

  • James, brother of Jesus

    Leader of the Jerusalem church

    Died 62 CE · Galatians 1:19; Acts 15:13

    Josephus records the stoning of 'James, the brother of Jesus who was called Christ' in 62 CE. The James Ossuary inscription is disputed. See the evidence →
    ConfirmedAncient historians

  • Gallio

    Proconsul of Achaia

    Proconsul c. 51–52 CE · Acts 18:12–17

    Named in a letter of Emperor Claudius inscribed at Delphi; he was also the brother of the philosopher Seneca. See the evidence →
    ConfirmedFound 1905

  • Antonius Felix

    Roman governor of Judea

    Governed c. 52–58 CE · Acts 23:24 – 24:27

    Described by both Josephus and Tacitus.
    ConfirmedAncient historians

  • Erastus

    City official of Corinth

    c. 55 CE · Romans 16:23

    A pavement inscription at Corinth names an Erastus who paid for it as aedile. Whether he is Paul's Erastus, the city treasurer, is debated.
    DisputedFound 1929

Criteria follow the approach of Lawrence Mykytiuk's studies in Biblical Archaeology Review: a match needs the right time, place, name and, where possible, a father's name or title. "Probable" means a strong match that falls just short of certainty.