Image: Wiki commons
About This Quiz
The Bible holds ancient texts which are held sacred to those of the Jewish and Christian faiths.Â
For Jewish people, the sacred texts includes the first five books of the Bible--Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These books are known as the Pentateuch (which means "five books" in Greek), or the Torah (meaning "law" in Hebrew).Â
Even though the Torah means "law," within these books, and the other 61 books held sacred by Christians, there are great stories of passion, perseverance, betrayal, violence, and ultimately faith in God. Most people were everyday, normal folks who were living their lives and were called into stories bigger than themselves.
The characters that come from these books may seem larger than life now. But before these stories were written down by priests, they were told via the oral tradition. They have been handed down to capture part of the history of the Jewish people as well as new Christians in 1st century Palestine.
So are you ready to test your biblical knowledge of the major characters of the Bible? Go ahead and take this quiz and hopefully you won't need divine intervention.Â
We hope you have a heavenly time! Good luck!
Whose name means "humankind" or "man"?
Adam
The name Adam comes from the root word adamah which means earth. God created Adam from the earth and breathed life into him.
Christopher
Jesus
Paul
Advertisement
What is the name of Adam's wife?
Ruth
Eve
Eve's name means "living one," and she is seen as the mother of all. And yes, she is the one who is first tempted by the serpent to eat fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Her and Adam's disobedience of God caused them to be thrust out of the Garden of Eden.
Hagar
Rebekah
Advertisement
In the Bible, who is seen as the first murderer?
Abel
Judas
Cain
According to the creation myth, Cain was the son of Adam and Eve, so also the first human born. He murdered his brother Abel because he was jealous that God favored Abel's offering over his. God punishes Cain to wander in the land of Nod (which means wandering).
Thomas
Advertisement
Which man lived longer than any other person in the Bible?
Jacob
Methuselah
Methuselah lived to be 969 year old. His name has become synonymous with living into old age.
Enoch
John
Advertisement
Some believe this man, the father of Methuselah, never tasted death.
Abel
Seth
Adam
Enoch
Some take this verse in Genesis about Enoch literally, suggesting that he never died: "And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him." (Genesis 5:24). That claim is supported by this verse in the New Testament book of Hebrews: "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death..." (Hebrews 11:5)
Advertisement
Who was told by God to build a boat large enough to carry all the animals of the world before it was flooded?
Jonah
Noah
Noah is famously known for building the ark, enduring 40 days of rain, and receiving the promise of a rainbow that God would not flood the earth again. But after the flood, Noah grew vineyards and, according to myth, would have been the first person to know what it was like to be drunk.
Daniel
David
Advertisement
Who is known for his deep faith in God and is a key figure in the Jewish, Muslim and Christian faiths?
Abraham
Abraham was told by God many things that were hard to believe but he eventually did: that he needed to move to another land and that he would be the father of many people; that he and his wife would have a son in their old age; that he needed to kill his son as a sacrifice to God. He is seen as a patriarch of the Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Islam and Christianity.
Isaac
Jacob
Jesus
Advertisement
Which woman laughed at the thought of being pregnant in her old age?
Leah
Zipporah
Mary
Sarah
Sarah was in her 80s when God told her and Abraham that she would be pregnant with a child. Sarah thought this would happen through her servant, Hagar, with whom Abraham had his firstborn, Ishmael, who is viewed as the father of Arabs. Sarah eventually had her own son.
Advertisement
Whose name means "He laughs"?
Jacob
Isaac
Isaac was a miracle child for Sarah and Abraham, who both laughed that it was prophesied that he would be their son. Isaac's wife, Rebekah, was thought to be barren, just like his mother. But after Isaac prayed for divine intervention, Rebekah was able to have children.
Jason
Hezekiah
Advertisement
Who was known to have wrestled with an angel to receive a blessing from God?
Meshach
Seth
Jacob
Jacob is the son of Rebekah and Isaac, and younger twin brother of Esau, whom he hustled out of his birthright by pretending to be him. Jacob, whose name later became Israel and is the father of the 12 tribes of Israel through his 12 sons. Rachel, Jacob's second wife, also had fertility issues (just like Rebekah and Sarah), but she finally had two sons of her own.
Paul
Advertisement
Who was known to be a dreamer and had a coat of many colors?
Benjamin
Joseph
Joseph was most famous for having been Jacob's favorite and having a multi-colored coat. His brothers sold him into slavery, but after working his way up and enduring a false accusation and 13 years of prison, he became the second only to the pharaoh. Joseph's prophetic dreams not only saw him rising in power, but they also foreshadowed a famine, which he prepared for and was able to save his family.
Dan
Jesus
Advertisement
Which person lead the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery?
Moses
Moses' story is full of drama: adoption, murder, a burning bush, 10 plagues with an angel of death, the parting of the Red Sea, the creation of the 10 Commandments, manna from heaven. Moses is probably most famous for delivering the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. He helped to shape much of the religious beliefs and practices of the Israelites, including writing the Torah, or the first five books of the Bible.
Nathan
Obed
Joseph
Advertisement
Which person took over leadership of the Israelites from Moses and lead the Battle of Jericho?
Joshua
Joshua's main mission was to secure the land of Canaan for the Israelites. The Battle of Jericho is famous for Joshua leading the Israelites to march around the city's thick walls for seven days, and then blowing horns and yelling, and the city's walls crumbling.
Jacob
David
Esau
Advertisement
This Canaanite prostitute helped the 12 spies of Israel and is listed in the book of Matthew as one of Jesus' descendants.
Rahab
"Rahab the harlot" is how she is commonly known in the Bible, but it's most likely that her prostitute services were of a religious manner. She housed the 12 spies of Israel which included Joshua, who came to see if Canaan could be conquered. She is revered as a woman of virtue.
Martha
Mary
Naomi
Advertisement
Who slayed a giant with a slingshot and eventually became the king of Israel?
Herod
Saul
Jonathan
David
David killed Goliath the Philistine with just one stone in his slingshot, which caused the other Philistines to flee. Besides being fierce in battle, David is also known for his intimate friendship with King Saul's son, Jonathan. One significant event in the history of the Israelites: David conquered Jerusalem and made it his capital.
Advertisement
Which king was known for his riches, wisdom, and many wives and concubines?
David
Saul
Herod
Solomon
Solomon is known as the author of several books of the Bible including Song of Solomon, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. Solomon would be the last king of a unified Israel due to his drifting away from the monotheistic faith.
Advertisement
Known as one of the greatest prophets of Israel, who threw down a challenge to the worshippers of Baal and won?
Elisha
Elijah
Elijah is known to have done many miracles including resurrecting a widow's son, praying for rain to stop, and praying for rain to come. He is also known to have left Earth in a fiery chariot that ascended to heaven. Like Enoch, it was fabled that he never tasted death.
Nathan
Ezekiel
Advertisement
Which prophet became Elijah's successor?
Jesus
Elisha
Elijah prophesied that Elisha would have a double portion of his anointing as a prophet. Elisha performed double the miracles Elijah had done. Even a dead man who was touched by his bones was resurrected.
David
Seth
Advertisement
Which woman was a prophet and judge who ruled Israel?
Deborah
Deborah is the only female judge mentioned in the Bible, and her rule brought 40 years of peace. Most notably, she prophesied a victory for Barak over Canaan's army. when the female Jael was able to give the final death blow to Sisera, Canaan's general, by driving a tent peg through the temple of his head as he slept.
Esther
Mary
Ruth
Advertisement
Which prophet prophesied about the Messiah?
Isaiah
Isaiah was a counselor and adviser to the kings of Judah. His prophecies not only have great significance to Christians, but they also have literary importance. The Book of Isaiah has vivid, memorable imagery, foreseeing a restoration of peace on earth.
Ezekiel
Jeremiah
Joel
Advertisement
As Israel was in exile in Babylon, which man was known for his steadfast faith and his ability to interpret dreams?
David
Daniel
After the sacking of Jerusalem, Daniel, a young Jewish nobleman, found himself in the courts of the King Nebuchadnezzar. He refused to eat Babylonian food (only eating vegetables), was thrown in the lions' den, and his friends, known by their Babylonian names Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were thrown in a fiery furnace. Neither Daniel nor his friends were harmed.
Joshua
Isaiah
Advertisement
Which prophet is swallowed by a whale or gigantic fish after disobeying God's command to go to Nineveh?
Jacob
Jonah
Jonah is famous for his three-day odyssey in the belly of a big fish after disobeying God. He eventually made it to Nineveh, told people to repent (which they did), but Jonah was not pleased--he wanted their destruction. He sat and sulked under a plant while God chided him for lacking compassion.
Jeremiah
Joseph
Advertisement
Who lost everything but his faith in God and has a book in the Bible named after him?
Moses
David
Job
The Book of Job is about a wager between God and Satan--will this man give up his faith if everything is taken from him? At the end of his trial, Job remains firm (despite friends tell him to curse God and die) and is given more than what he had before.
Paul
Advertisement
Who saved her fellow Jews in Persia from genocide?
Esther
Esther becomes the queen of Persia because of her beauty and overhears an order by King Ahasuerus' adviser, Haman, to kill all Jews in Persia. She was able to convince the king to reverse the order, and he gives her permission to allow Jews to defend themselves from anyone who attacks them. In Judaism, this event is celebrated as the holiday Purim.
Ruth
Mary
Zipporah
Advertisement
Who was a Jewish preacher and religious leader and is seen as the Son of God by his followers?
Job
Jesus
Jesus, also known as Jesus of Nazareth, was a polarizing figure in first century Palestine, especially within his own family and with the Jewish scholars and rulers of the day. Jesus was known for his relatable story-like teachings (parables), his miracles and healings, and for being resurrected from the dead after being crucified. By his followers, called Christians, Jesus is seen as the Christ (Messiah)--a path to salvation and eternal life.
Elijah
Paul
Advertisement
Who was the mother of Jesus?
Ruth
Elizabeth
Dorcas
Mary
Mary, also known as the Virgin Mary, was Jesus's teenage mother who had been betrothed to Joseph, Jesus's father. The Immaculate Conception and the Virgin Birth are cornerstones to the Christian faith, affirming Jesus's divinity. In the Catholic Church, Mary is highly revered as the Mother of God.
Advertisement
Who was known to be the beloved disciple of Jesus?
James
Peter
John
John is the writer of some of the epistles of the Bible including the Gospel of John, the First, Second, and Third Epistles of John and, possibly, the Book of Revelation. John is considered be one of the founders of the early Christian church.
Paul
Advertisement
A relative of Jesus, Christians believe that this man prophesied that Jesus was the Messiah.
James
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was known to wear camel hair and ate locust and honey. In the Gospel of Mark, John the Baptist is connected to the prophecy of Isaiah as "a voice crying in the wilderness," and in Christianity, he is seen as Jesus' predecessor.
Peter
John
Advertisement
Which disciple of Jesus denied knowing him three times?
James
Peter
Peter, also known as Simon Peter, was one of Jesus's first disciples. He was also the first disciple to enter Jesus's empty tomb after the resurrection. Even after denying knowing Jesus, Peter became an integral part of the early Christian church and is seen in the Catholic Church as the first Pope.
Paul
Luke
Advertisement
Which disciple of Jesus was known to doubt Jesus's resurrection?
Thomas
This disciple has the nickname "Doubting Thomas" because he wanted to feel the wounds of Jesus after his resurrection. Thomas became an apostle and preacher and went as far as India to preach the Gospel. He became a martyr in 72 A.D.
Peter
Jude
Matthew
Advertisement
Which woman was the first to see Jesus's empty tomb and was a financial supporter of Jesus's ministry?
Rachel
Abigail
Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene traveled with Jesus and has many mentions in the Gospels, more than most of his disciples. Mary Magdalene witnessed Jesus's crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. Her witness is one of the cornerstones of the Christian faith--the resurrected Christ.
Tabitha
Advertisement
Which Roman governor was responsible for Jesus's crucifixion?
Herod
Pontius Pilate
Pontius Pilate was the prefect or regional governor for Roman Judea. Possibly unconvinced that Jesus was any threat, Pilate was wary of crucifying him and hoped that the crowd during Passover would choose to release him. Instead they chose Barabbas, and Jesus was crucified with the placard "Jesus of Nazareth, The King of the Jews."
Tiberius
Silas
Advertisement
Who was raised from the dead by Jesus?
Paul
Simon
Silas
Lazarus
Lazarus was a follower of Jesus and brother to Mary and Martha--two other followers. The death of Lazarus and grief of his sisters evoked the famous pithy line in the Bible: "Jesus wept."
Advertisement
Who is known as the first martyr of the early Christian church?
Jesus
Paul
Peter
Stephen
Stephen was a deacon in the early Church who taught and performed miracles--and his growing fame stirred up concerns about heresy. He was brought before the Sanhedrin and gave a long speech. He angered the rulers and the crowd and was stoned to death as he prayed for forgiveness for those who were stoning him.
Advertisement
Who was a Jewish scholar who persecuted the early Christians and became one of the most prolific apostles?
James
Silas
Paul
Saul (also known as Paul) of Tarsus had a dramatic conversion, typically called a "road to Damascus" experience. He became an apostle and missionary, traveling across Asia Minor and in the Mediterranean as far west as Spain. His letters to the various churches comprise a large portion of the New Testament.
Peter
Advertisement
You Got:
/35
