Genesis Bible Quiz: 50 Questions with Answers (Ch. 1

Genesis is the book of beginnings: the creation of the world, the first family, the flood, the call of Abraham, and the long story of Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. It is also one of the most popular books for Bible quiz bees and reading challenges.

This quiz has one question for every chapter, so you can use it as a chapter-by-chapter reading check, split it into reviewers for Genesis 1–25 and 26–50, or play it in four rounds.

Genesis 1–11: Creation, the fall and the flood

Genesis 1 — On which day did God create light?
1. The fourth day
2. The first day
3. The second day
4. The seventh day
Show answer
Answer: The first day (Genesis 1:3-5)
God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. He called the light Day and the darkness Night — the first day.
Genesis 2 — From what did the LORD God form man?
1. A rib
2. Water from the river
3. Clay from the sea
4. The dust of the ground
Show answer
Answer: The dust of the ground (Genesis 2:7)
God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.
Genesis 3 — Which creature deceived Eve in the garden?
1. The serpent
2. A lion
3. A raven
4. A goat
Show answer
Answer: The serpent (Genesis 3:1-6)
The serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field. It questioned God's word and Eve ate the forbidden fruit.
Genesis 4 — What work did Abel do?
1. He was a tiller of the ground
2. He was a hunter
3. He built a city
4. He was a keeper of sheep
Show answer
Answer: He was a keeper of sheep (Genesis 4:2)
Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Genesis 5 — How long did Methuselah live?
1. 777 years
2. 969 years
3. 930 years
4. 365 years
Show answer
Answer: 969 years (Genesis 5:27)
All the days of Methuselah were 969 years — the longest life recorded in the Bible.
Genesis 6 — From what wood did God tell Noah to build the ark?
1. Cedar wood
2. Gopherwood
3. Acacia wood
4. Olive wood
Show answer
Answer: Gopherwood (Genesis 6:14)
God said, "Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch."
Genesis 7 — For how long did it rain on the earth in the flood?
1. Seven days and seven nights
2. One hundred and fifty days
3. A whole year
4. Forty days and forty nights
Show answer
Answer: Forty days and forty nights (Genesis 7:12)
The rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights (the waters then prevailed 150 days, 7:24).
Genesis 8 — Where did the ark come to rest?
1. On the mountains of Ararat
2. On Mount Sinai
3. On Mount Zion
4. On Mount Carmel
Show answer
Answer: On the mountains of Ararat (Genesis 8:4)
In the seventh month, on the seventeenth day, the ark rested on the mountains of Ararat.
Genesis 9 — What did God set in the cloud as the sign of His covenant never to flood the earth again?
1. A star
2. A pillar of fire
3. A dove
4. A rainbow
Show answer
Answer: A rainbow (Genesis 9:13-15)
"I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth."
Genesis 10 — Who is described as "a mighty hunter before the LORD"?
1. Esau
2. Ishmael
3. Lamech
4. Nimrod
Show answer
Answer: Nimrod (Genesis 10:8-9)
Nimrod began to be a mighty one on the earth; he was a mighty hunter before the LORD.
Genesis 11 — Why was the city in Genesis 11 called Babel?
1. It was built by a man named Babel
2. Because the LORD confused the language of all the earth there
3. Because it had a tower of gold
4. Because it was near the river Babel
Show answer
Answer: Because the LORD confused the language of all the earth there (Genesis 11:7-9)
The LORD confused their language there and scattered them abroad, so its name is called Babel.

Genesis 12–25: Abraham

Genesis 12 — How old was Abram when he departed from Haran?
1. 50 years old
2. 99 years old
3. 100 years old
4. 75 years old
Show answer
Answer: 75 years old (Genesis 12:4)
Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and he was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.
Genesis 13 — Which land did Lot choose when he parted from Abram?
1. The land of Canaan
2. The plain of Jordan
3. The hill country of Bethel
4. The land of Egypt
Show answer
Answer: The plain of Jordan (Genesis 13:10-11)
Lot saw that the plain of Jordan was well watered everywhere, and chose it for himself.
Genesis 14 — Melchizedek was king of which city?
1. Salem
2. Sodom
3. Gerar
4. Ur
Show answer
Answer: Salem (Genesis 14:18)
Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.
Genesis 15 — Abram believed in the LORD. How did the LORD count it to him?
1. As righteousness
2. As a debt
3. As a sacrifice
4. As a vow
Show answer
Answer: As righteousness (Genesis 15:6)
"He believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness."
Genesis 16 — Who was Hagar?
1. Abram's niece
2. Lot's wife
3. Sarai's Egyptian maidservant
4. A princess of Canaan
Show answer
Answer: Sarai's Egyptian maidservant (Genesis 16:1)
Sarai had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar.
Genesis 17 — God changed Abram's name to Abraham. What does it mean?
1. Friend of God
2. Man of faith
3. Father of many nations
4. Prince of peace
Show answer
Answer: Father of many nations (Genesis 17:5)
"No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations."
Genesis 18 — How did Sarah react when she heard she would have a son?
1. She wept
2. She sang a song
3. She ran to tell Hagar
4. She laughed within herself
Show answer
Answer: She laughed within herself (Genesis 18:12)
Sarah laughed within herself, since she and Abraham were old.
Genesis 19 — What happened to Lot's wife when she looked back?
1. She became blind
2. She became a pillar of salt
3. She fell asleep
4. She was taken by angels
Show answer
Answer: She became a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26)
His wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
Genesis 20 — Abimelech was king of which place?
1. Salem
2. Gerar
3. Egypt
4. Moab
Show answer
Answer: Gerar (Genesis 20:2)
Abraham said of Sarah, "She is my sister," and Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took her.
Genesis 21 — How old was Abraham when Isaac was born?
1. 75 years old
2. 100 years old
3. 86 years old
4. 99 years old
Show answer
Answer: 100 years old (Genesis 21:5)
Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.
Genesis 22 — Where did God tell Abraham to go and offer Isaac?
1. The land of Moriah
2. Mount Sinai
3. The plain of Jordan
4. Mount Ararat
Show answer
Answer: The land of Moriah (Genesis 22:2)
"Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah."
Genesis 23 — How old was Sarah when she died?
1. 100 years
2. 90 years
3. 175 years
4. 127 years
Show answer
Answer: 127 years (Genesis 23:1)
Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years.
Genesis 24 — How did Abraham's servant know Rebekah was the one chosen?
1. She wore a golden ring
2. She was the tallest at the well
3. An angel pointed to her
4. She offered to draw water for his camels too
Show answer
Answer: She offered to draw water for his camels too (Genesis 24:14,19)
The servant prayed that the right young woman would offer to water his camels as well — and Rebekah did exactly that.
Genesis 25 — For what did Esau sell his birthright?
1. A bag of silver
2. A new coat
3. A flock of sheep
4. Bread and a stew of lentils
Show answer
Answer: Bread and a stew of lentils (Genesis 25:29-34)
Esau came in weary; Jacob gave him bread and lentil stew, and Esau despised his birthright.

Genesis 26–36: Isaac and Jacob

Genesis 26 — Like his father, what did Isaac say about Rebekah to the men of Gerar?
1. That she was his daughter
2. That she was his sister
3. That she was a servant
4. That she was a widow
Show answer
Answer: That she was his sister (Genesis 26:7)
He said, "She is my sister"; for he was afraid to say, "She is my wife."
Genesis 27 — How did Jacob make his hands feel like Esau's?
1. He wore Esau's gloves
2. He rubbed them with sand
3. He wrapped them in wool
4. He was covered with skins of young goats
Show answer
Answer: He was covered with skins of young goats (Genesis 27:16)
Rebekah put the skins of the kids of the goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck.
Genesis 28 — What did Jacob see in his dream at Bethel?
1. A burning bush
2. Seven cows
3. A ladder reaching to heaven with angels on it
4. A rainbow over a mountain
Show answer
Answer: A ladder reaching to heaven with angels on it (Genesis 28:12)
A ladder was set up on the earth, its top reached to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
Genesis 29 — How many years did Jacob first agree to serve for Rachel?
1. Three years
2. Five years
3. Fourteen years
4. Seven years
Show answer
Answer: Seven years (Genesis 29:18-20)
Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed but a few days because of his love for her.
Genesis 30 — What was the name of Rachel's first son?
1. Benjamin
2. Joseph
3. Judah
4. Reuben
Show answer
Answer: Joseph (Genesis 30:22-24)
God remembered Rachel; she bore a son and called his name Joseph.
Genesis 31 — What did Rachel steal from her father Laban?
1. His coat
2. His silver
3. His household idols
4. His staff
Show answer
Answer: His household idols (Genesis 31:19)
Rachel had stolen the household idols that were her father's.
Genesis 32 — After Jacob wrestled all night, what new name was he given?
1. Israel
2. Abraham
3. Judah
4. Edom
Show answer
Answer: Israel (Genesis 32:28)
"Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed."
Genesis 33 — How did Esau greet Jacob when they met again?
1. He attacked him with 400 men
2. He ran to meet him, embraced him and kissed him
3. He refused to speak to him
4. He demanded the blessing back
Show answer
Answer: He ran to meet him, embraced him and kissed him (Genesis 33:4)
Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
Genesis 34 — Which daughter of Jacob is at the centre of Genesis 34?
1. Dinah
2. Leah
3. Rachel
4. Tamar
Show answer
Answer: Dinah (Genesis 34:1-2)
Dinah, the daughter of Leah, went out to see the daughters of the land, and Shechem took her.
Genesis 35 — Who died while giving birth to Benjamin?
1. Leah
2. Rebekah
3. Deborah
4. Rachel
Show answer
Answer: Rachel (Genesis 35:16-19)
Rachel had hard labour; as her soul was departing she named him Ben-Oni, but his father called him Benjamin.
Genesis 36 — Esau is also known by which name?
1. Israel
2. Edom
3. Moab
4. Seir
Show answer
Answer: Edom (Genesis 36:1)
This is the genealogy of Esau, who is Edom.

Genesis 37–50: Joseph

Genesis 37 — What special gift did Jacob make for Joseph?
1. A golden ring
2. A tunic of many colors
3. A silver cup
4. A shepherd's staff
Show answer
Answer: A tunic of many colors (Genesis 37:3)
Israel loved Joseph more than all his children and made him a tunic of many colors.
Genesis 38 — What were the names of the twins born to Tamar?
1. Jacob and Esau
2. Ephraim and Manasseh
3. Perez and Zerah
4. Er and Onan
Show answer
Answer: Perez and Zerah (Genesis 38:27-30)
The first was named Perez and the second Zerah. Perez is an ancestor of King David and of Jesus (Matthew 1:3).
Genesis 39 — In whose house did Joseph serve in Egypt?
1. Potiphar's
2. Pharaoh's
3. The chief baker's
4. Laban's
Show answer
Answer: Potiphar's (Genesis 39:1)
Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, bought Joseph from the Ishmaelites.
Genesis 40 — In the butler's dream, what did the three branches mean?
1. Three years
2. Three sons
3. Three days
4. Three kings
Show answer
Answer: Three days (Genesis 40:12-13)
Joseph said, "The three branches are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you."
Genesis 41 — What did Pharaoh's seven gaunt cows mean?
1. Seven wars
2. Seven years of famine
3. Seven plagues
4. Seven bad kings
Show answer
Answer: Seven years of famine (Genesis 41:26-30)
The seven good cows were seven years of plenty, and the seven gaunt cows seven years of famine.
Genesis 42 — Which brother did Jacob keep at home when the others went to Egypt for grain?
1. Reuben
2. Judah
3. Benjamin
4. Simeon
Show answer
Answer: Benjamin (Genesis 42:4)
Jacob did not send Joseph's brother Benjamin, for he said, "Lest some calamity befall him."
Genesis 43 — At Joseph's meal, how much bigger was Benjamin's portion?
1. Twice as much
2. Ten times as much
3. Five times as much
4. The same as the others
Show answer
Answer: Five times as much (Genesis 43:34)
Benjamin's serving was five times as much as any of theirs.
Genesis 44 — What was found in Benjamin's sack?
1. Stolen grain
2. A golden crown
3. Joseph's silver cup
4. Pharaoh's ring
Show answer
Answer: Joseph's silver cup (Genesis 44:12)
The cup was found in Benjamin's sack.
Genesis 45 — What did Joseph tell his brothers about why he was sent to Egypt?
1. "Pharaoh called me to be his son."
2. "I ran away to find riches."
3. "I came to punish you."
4. "God sent me before you to preserve life."
Show answer
Answer: "God sent me before you to preserve life." (Genesis 45:5)
"Do not be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life."
Genesis 46 — In which region of Egypt did Jacob's family settle?
1. Memphis
2. Sinai
3. Thebes
4. Goshen
Show answer
Answer: Goshen (Genesis 46:28,34)
Jacob sent Judah ahead to point out the way to Goshen, and they came to the land of Goshen.
Genesis 47 — How old was Jacob when he stood before Pharaoh?
1. 100 years
2. 130 years
3. 147 years
4. 175 years
Show answer
Answer: 130 years (Genesis 47:9)
Jacob said, "The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years."
Genesis 48 — Which of Joseph's sons did Jacob bless with his right hand?
1. Ephraim
2. Manasseh
3. Benjamin
4. Perez
Show answer
Answer: Ephraim (Genesis 48:14,19)
Jacob crossed his hands, putting his right hand on Ephraim, the younger, saying he would be greater.
Genesis 49 — Jacob said, "The scepter shall not depart from..." which son?
1. Joseph
2. Reuben
3. Levi
4. Judah
Show answer
Answer: Judah (Genesis 49:10)
"The scepter shall not depart from Judah... until Shiloh comes." Israel's kings, and Jesus, came from Judah.
Genesis 50 — Complete Joseph's words: "You meant evil against me; but God meant it for..."
1. good
2. justice
3. a lesson
4. judgment
Show answer
Answer: good (Genesis 50:20)
"God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive."

How to use this as a reviewer

Read first, then quiz. Read five chapters, then answer those five questions without looking.
Ask a follow-up. For each question, add one of your own from the same chapter.
Play it live. Run each part as a round with your youth group or quiz bee team on MyBibleQuiz. The full Genesis question bank in the app has several questions for every chapter.

For contest rules and scoring, see our Bible quiz bee guide. To test the rest of the Old Testament, try the Old Testament quiz with a question from every book.

Frequently asked questions

How many chapters are in Genesis?

Genesis has 50 chapters. Chapters 1–11 cover creation to Babel, chapters 12–25 Abraham, chapters 25–36 Isaac and Jacob, and chapters 37–50 Joseph.

What are good Genesis quiz questions?

Good questions follow the story: what God made on each day, why the flood came, what God promised Abraham, how Jacob got the birthright, and how Joseph came to rule in Egypt. Each should have one clear answer with a chapter reference.

Is this a good reviewer for a Genesis quiz bee?

Yes. It covers every chapter once. For a full contest, add two or three more questions per chapter from the same passages, and mix in some harder detail questions.

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