How Well Do You Really Know the Bible?

By: Tasha Moore
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
How Well Do You Really Know the Bible?
Image: Steve Debenport / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Our divine Bible challenge brings to light scriptural facts that even the most astute Christian scholar might miss. Prove that you're ahead of the blessed curve and answer all of these questions without fail!

Heroic feats that biblical figures managed to accomplish, some tricky code names and even a few heaven-on-Earth scenarios are the indisputable focus of this quiz. We invite you to test your recall of obscure details — gems hidden among the Old and New Testament tales you thought you knew so well.

And what could possibly be so mysterious about famous Bible lore? Take Moses, hero of the Hebrews, as an example. Sunday schools across the globe teach how he parted the Red Sea and hung out with his brother Aaron a lot. But a lesser-known Moses fact is that he married an Egyptian woman, not of the chosen camp. The bride choice was so controversial that his siblings rebelled against him. God smote Moses' sister (yes, he had a sister) with leprosy for her disloyalty. But Moses wasn't too sore about sis' mindless rebuke. He begged God to restore her health so that she could be brought back into the Israel camp.

Care to learn more Bible secrets? Stay tuned after your generous scroll!

To whom did God say, "to dust you shall return?"
Moses
Isaac
Jesus
Adam
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Genesis 3 chronicles God's words spoken after Adam and Eve "hast eaten of the tree" in the Garden of Eden that God had instructed the two not to eat from. As a consequence of Adam's disobedience, God told him, "for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."

Advertisement

An angel of God predicted that Hagar's son was destined to become a what?
Prophet
Wild man
King
Shepherd
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In Genesis 16, an "angel of the Lord said unto [Hagar] ... thou art with child ... and shalt call his name Ishmael ... And he will be a wild man ..." The angel goes on to say that Ishmael's hand "will be against every man," meaning he will have an aggressive disposition.

Advertisement

Moab and Benammi were of what relation to Lot?
Nephew and Niece
Grandfathers
Sons and grandsons
Cousins
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Genesis 19 explains how Lot's daughters conspired to make their father drunk and lay with him so that they "may preserve seed of our father." Lot's firstborn daughter conceive Moab, and his youngest daughter conceived Benammi.

Advertisement

What was the interest rate charged to a poor Israelite who borrowed from another Israelite?
3% interest
33% interest
Zero interest
2% interest
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Exodus 22:25-27 illustrates God's particular concern for the poor among Israel. He delivers an incontrovertible edict to protect the needy: "If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor ... thou shalt not ... lay upon him usury."

Advertisement

On the top of what mountain did Aaron die?
Mount Hor
Mount Sinai
Mount Ararat
Mount Carmel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

According to Numbers 20, "the children of Israel ... journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor," where God told Moses to "strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son ..." Aaron's son Eleazar continued the duties of the priesthood after "Aaron died there in the top of the mount."

Advertisement

Which tribe of Israel was not counted in the census in the book of Numbers?
Benjamin
Dan
Levi
Judah
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Numbers 1:49 confirms Levi's exclusive status among the tribes of Israel: "Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel ..." Levi was reserved to oversee "the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof ..."

Advertisement

What did the cloud resting over the tabernacle mean to the Israelites?
Remain encamped
Heavy showers
Happy days ahead
Money from heaven
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Numbers 9:17 elucidates the hovering cloud's significance: "[A]nd in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents." However, "when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed ..."

Advertisement

Who were not among the 70 elders that Moses summoned and that prophesied at the tabernacle of meeting?
Igeal and Ulai
Padon and Maarath
Eldad and Medad
Tabitha and Laadan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Numbers 11:26 states that Eldad and Medad "were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle ..." Previously, God had "took the spirit that was upon [Moses], and gave it unto the seventy elders ... and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease."

Advertisement

Before an Israelite could be put to death, there had to be a testimony of how many witnesses?
13
12
1
2 or 3
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

God upholds that "[a]t the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death," according to Deuteronomy 17:6. Only the testimony of one witness is required to prevent a sentence of death.

Advertisement

According to Mosaic law, what animal should not be muzzled?
Rabbit
Ox
Turtle
Snail
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Deuteronomy 25:4 is explicit in communicating, "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn." The precaution prevented the muzzled creature from eating while it toiled.

Advertisement

A man guilty of a crime had to be beaten with how many blows?
40
600
3
16
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Exodus 21:20 suggests that a rod was used for beating: "And if a man smite his servant ... with a rod ... he shall be surely punished." The "forty stripes," or blows, that Deuteronomy 25:3 specifies was later reduced to "forty stripes save one," according to 2 Corinthians 11:24.

Advertisement

Who was Jeshurun?
Adam
Israel
Peter
Judas
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Deuteronomy 32:15 refers to Israel as Jeshurun, who "waxed fat, and kicked ... [T]hey provoked [God] to jealousy with strange gods." The nickname is included in the book's "Song of Moses," a group of verses that compares what Israel should have become with what they ultimately became.

Advertisement

Because of Gideon's lack of faith, what did he place on the threshing floor to be first wet and then dry?
Straw
Manna
Oil
Fleece
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Judges 6 illustrates Gideon's insecurity concerning what God had promised. He asked God for confirmation using fleece as the sign, saying, "If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said ... I will put a fleece of wool in the floor ..."

Advertisement

What hard-to-pronounce word did the Gileadites use to capture the Ephraimites?
Nebuzaradan
Habazziniah
Shibbolelth
Bashemath
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Judges 12:5-6 recounts how the Gileadites caught the Ephraimites at "the passages of Jordan." Ephraimites who denied their identity and requested, "Let me go over" were challenged to pronounce "Shibboleth" in the way of the Gileadites to escape execution.

Advertisement

Who told Ruth to lie at the feet of Boaz on the threshing floor?
Mary Magdalene
Sarah
Naomi
Hannah
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ruth 1:9 reveals Naomi's suggestion concerning the "security" of her "daughters in law": "The Lord grant you that ye may find rest ... in the house of her husband." In Ruth 3, she advises Ruth to "get thee down to the [threshing floor]" to await Boaz's response concerning the woman's intentions.

Advertisement

When Hannah went to the house of God to pray, Eli thought she was what?
Drunk
Possessed
Jolly
Sleepy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 1 Samuel 1, Hannah's "lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken." Eli, a priest of the temple, observed Hannah's mouth as she prayed. Hannah "drunk neither wine nor strong drink," but she instead "poured out her soul before the Lord."

Advertisement

David feigned madness to escape from what king?
Solomon
Asa
Achish
Jehoshaphat
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

First Samuel 21 confirms David's attempt to feign madness by letting "his spittle fall down upon his beard." Although the servants of Achish had told the king of David's renown, David, who was "sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath ... changed his behavior" to escape.

Advertisement

Who persuaded King David to oppose his son Adonijah in favor of his son Solomon?
Gaash and Quartus
Nathan and Bathsheba
Yoav and Dalmatia
Kallai and Obil
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bathsheba was the mother of Solomon. Nathan conspired with Bathsheba to persuade King David to allow Solomon to reign after him. Nathan implored Bathsheba to convince the king in order "that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon," according to 1 Kings 1.

Advertisement

Who established the days of Purim?
Sadoc
Esther
Ibzan
Rabbah
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Esther 9:29 maintains that "Esther the queen...wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim." The days of Purim, "after the name of Pur," was to be observed by the Jews so "that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and ... to their appointed time every year."

Advertisement

Who told Job to "curse God and die"?
His uncle
David
His wife
His concubine
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Job 2:9 details Job's wife's explicit command to her husband: "Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die." Job's wife demonstrates frustration with her husband's understanding of his hardships and a perceived lack of mercy.

Advertisement

Who asked, "Have you only one blessing my father?"
Jacob
Cain
Esau
Abel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Esau's words are recorded in Genesis 27:38: "And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father?" Here he refers to the blessing of the firstborn son, a birthright blessing he had squandered and sought to recover.

Advertisement

What mother was paid to raise her own child?
Mary's mother
Moses' mother
Abigail's mother
Saul's mother
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In Exodus 2, Pharaoh's daughter recognizes baby Moses, who was left in a small ark in a river where she had been bathing, as "one of the Hebrews' children." Her maid "went and called the child's mother" to whom Pharaoh's daughter said, "Nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages."

Advertisement

King Hezekiah was sick unto death; what was used to cure him?
Manna
Honey
Figs
Mud
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

According to 2 Kings 20, King Hezekiah "turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the Lord," after prophet Isaiah told him to "set thine house in order; for thou shalt die ..." God then sent healing words through the prophet, who said to the king, "Take a lump of figs."

Advertisement

What did 700 soldiers in the army of Benjamin have in common?
Bloodlines
Birth village
Left-handedness
Fatherlessness
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Judges 20 identifies "twenty and six thousand men that drew sword ... which were numbered seven hundred chosen men." And among these select men were "seven hundred chosen men lefthanded ..."

Advertisement

Who was pictured on a Roman penny during the time of Jesus?
George Washington
Elvis Presley
Caesar
Pontius Pilate
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mark 12 highlights the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the Herodians as Jesus says to them, "... bring me a penny, that I may see it." Jesus then asked of the penny they retrieved, "Whose is this image and superscription?" "And they said unto him, Caesar's."

Advertisement

Do you know the biblical figure told to build 7 altars?
Jacob
Joseph
Balak
Miriam
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Numbers 23 records Balaam's orders to Balak: "Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams." Balak obeyed the command to build the pagan altar. Later, "God met Balaam ... [and] put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak."

Advertisement

Which disciple of Jesus was a tax collector?
Peter
Thomas
Luke
Matthew
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In Mark 2:14 and Luke 5:27, the disciple Matthew is referred to as Levi. Matthew 9:9 indicates that Jesus "saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me."

Advertisement

Guess another name for Zaphnath-Paaneah?
Joseph
David
Solomon
Daniel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A Pharaoh calls Joseph "Zaphnath-Paaneah" in Genesis 41:45. The Egyptians were fond of Joseph for his abilities to interpret dreams and manage affairs of the kingdom during his tenure.

Advertisement

How well do you remember the person who told Moses to select able men to judge small matters of the Israelites?
Abraham
Miriam
Aaron's wife
Moses's father-in-law
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Exodus 18 confirms that "Moses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said," regarding selecting "out of all the people able men, such as fear God ..." These "men of truth" were meant to be "rulers of thousands .. .hundreds ... fifties ... and tens."

Advertisement

Identify the one responsible for causing a three-year famine during David's reign as king?
Hagar
Samuel
Saul
Timothy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Second Samuel 21:1 explains how David "inquired of the Lord" about the famine that lasted "year after year." God responded: "It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites." Saul had broken the treaty that the deceptive Gibeonites had entered with Joshua 400 years prior.

Advertisement

What group of people were made to drink gold dust?
Israelites
Disciples
Apostles
Philistines
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Exodus 32 recounts how the children of Israel reacted when "Moses delayed to come down out of the mount ..." They became discouraged and made up other gods. Upon his return, Moses ground a golden calf to powder "strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it."

Advertisement

Of the ten lepers that Jesus healed, which one came back to say thanks?
Titus
Samaritan
Macedonian
Roman
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

According to Luke, after Jesus healed the lepers, he sent them to the priests to confirm that they'd been healed. The gospel claims that "one of them, when he saw he was healed, turned back ... and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks ..." Luke 17:16 identifies the man as the Samaritan.

Advertisement

Name the man who blessed the child Jesus in the temple?
Ezekiel
Zacharias
Simeon
Rebecca
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Luke 2:26 describes Simeon as one who "should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ." Simeon "came by the Spirit into the temple," where Jesus had been brought, and "took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace ..."

Advertisement

The name of the high priest's servant whose ear Peter cut off is ________?
Ahab
Caesar
Malchus
Gabriel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Simon Peter "smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear" with a sword, according to John 18:10. The gospel establishes that [t]he servant's name was Malchus." Jesus corrected Peter's indignation saying, "Put up thy word ... the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?"

Advertisement

Select the group of people that was compared to "a cake not turned"?
Levi
Ephraim
Reuben
Dan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Hosea 7:8 informs that "Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned." The tribe relied on political alliances formed with neighboring nations rather than depending on God for guidance.

Advertisement

You Got:
/35
Steve Debenport / E+ / Getty Images