Who was Moses' sister in the Bible?

Moses’ sister in the Bible was Miriam. She was the daughter of Amram and Jochebed and the sister of both Moses and Aaron.

Miriam first appears in the story of Moses’ infancy. In Exodus, Moses’ unnamed sister watches over him after their mother places him in a basket among the reeds of the Nile. Later biblical tradition identifies this sister as Miriam. She helps ensure that Moses is safely reunited with his mother after Pharaoh’s daughter finds him.

Miriam is also called a prophetess. After the Israelites escape from Egypt and Pharaoh’s army is defeated, she leads the women in singing, dancing, and playing tambourines in celebration. The Bible later describes a conflict in which Miriam and Aaron criticize Moses; Miriam is punished with a skin disease but is restored after Moses prays for her.

A common mix-up is confusing Miriam with Zipporah. Zipporah was Moses’ wife, while Miriam was his sister. Miriam is also distinct from Mary, the mother of Jesus, although the names are related through later Hebrew, Greek, and Latin forms.