During the time of the New Testament Mary was a common name. The New Testament mentions six women by this name. The name Mary comes from the Hebrew name Miriam. The name has several possible meanings, including “bitter,” “sea of bitterness,” “rebellion,” and “beloved.” 

The most well-known woman called Mary in the Bible is Mary, the mother of Jesus. She is always clearly identified by the context of Scripture. For example in John 2:5 she is called, “His mother” and in Acts 1:14 she is called, “the mother of Jesus.” Mary, the mother of Jesus is central to the birth of Jesus. She was a virgin chosen by God to give birth to the Son of God, the Saviour of the world. Mary was in Nazareth, when the angel Gabriel made the announcement that she had been chosen to bear the Son of God (Luke 1:26). The Bible tells us that Mary was a godly woman who was blessed by God. She was present at the crucifixion of Jesus.

The second Mary mentioned in the New Testament is Mary Magdalene. She was a woman of Magdala. She was a close follower of the Lord Jesus Christ and she was also present at the crucifixion of Jesus. She was the first to see the resurrected Jesus. Luke 8:2 identifies her as the woman who had seven demons casts out of her. Mary Magdalene is mentioned 11 times in the Gospels, each time she is called, “Mary Magdalene” making her clearly identifiable.

The third Mary mentioned is Mary of Bethany. This Mary was the sister of Lazarus and Martha. She is mentioned by name in Luke 10:39, 42, John 11:1, 2, 19, 20, 28, 31, 32, 45 and John 12:3. She is referred to in Matthew 26:7 and Mark 14:3-9. Mary of Bethany is known for her close relationship with the Lord Jesus and for anointing his feet with perfume. This Mary was the one who sat at the feet of the Lord Jesus when her sister Martha prepared a meal (Luke 10:38-42).

The fourth Mary mentioned is Mary the mother of James the less or younger and Joseph. She was the wife of Clopas (also called Alphaeus in Luke 6:15). She is mentioned in Matthew 27:56, Mark 15:40 and John 19:25 as one that watched the crucifixion of Jesus. She is called, “the other Mary” in Matthew 28:1, where the Bible tells us that she came to bring spices for Jesus’s body.

The fifth Mary mentioned is Mary the mother of John Mark (author of the Gospel of Mark) and sister of Barnabas (Acts 12:12). She is known for her house in Jerusalem, which was a meeting place for the assembly of believers gathered there.

The sixth Mary mentioned is Mary of Rome who is mentioned in Paul’s letter to the Romans as one of his helpers (Romans 16:6). He describes her as one, “who has worked hard for you.”