In this episode of A Woman’s Heart, I sit down with Amanda Hope Haley, biblical scholar, author, and the Red-Haired Archaeologist® for a fascinating conversation about how archaeology brings Scripture to life. Amanda has devoted her career to helping people understand the Bible within its historical and cultural context. With an MTS in Hebrew Scripture and Interpretation from Harvard, and experience contributing as a translator, writer, and editor for The Voice Bible, she brings deep insight into the world behind the text.

Amanda explains how biblical archaeology isn’t about proving the Bible but about contextualizing it—helping us see Scripture within its original culture, language, and landscape. Amanda shares insights from her newest book, Stones Still Speak and opens up about the moments in her faith journey when learning history challenged long-held church traditions and assumptions.

Throughout our conversation, she invites us to read the Bible not as isolated stories, but as one unified narrative of God’s work. She reminds us that the beauty, complexity, and even the “human-looking imperfections” of Scripture point to its divine origin.

Key Quotes from Amanda

• “I desperately want people to dive in and learn more about what God says in the Word.”
• “God gave us this [Bible] so that we could interact with Him more.”
• “Scripture is very complex when you try to break it down… but the way it all came together really could only be the work of God.”
• About David & Goliath: “God spent years preparing him for exactly this scene.”
• “When God places something in your heart, you are not going to be happy doing anything else.”

Amanda’s passion is clear: she wants people to dive deep into the Bible, explore its historical context, and discover a deeper, more grounded faith.

You can dig into it with Amanda: https://redhairedarchaeologist.com/

Connect with Lisa: www.lisagranger.com