Old Testament Quiz: 39 Questions with Answers

Most people know the Old Testament through a handful of famous stories: Creation, Noah, Moses, David and Goliath, Daniel and the lions. This quiz takes you through all 39 books, one question each, so you meet the prophets, poets and kings in between.

Each question comes from a well-known chapter of its book, such as Exodus 14 (the Red Sea), 1 Kings 18 (Mount Carmel), Isaiah 6 or Ezekiel 37 (the valley of dry bones). Score yourself out of 39.

The Old Testament at a glance

Section	Books	Count
Law (Pentateuch)	Genesis to Deuteronomy	5
History	Joshua to Esther	12
Poetry and Wisdom	Job to Song of Solomon	5
Major Prophets	Isaiah to Daniel	5
Minor Prophets	Hosea to Malachi	12

The Law: Genesis to Deuteronomy

Genesis 6 — What did God see about the thoughts of man's heart?
1. They were mostly good
2. Every intent was only evil continually
3. They were set on building the ark
4. They were full of praise
Show answer
Answer: Every intent was only evil continually (Genesis 6:5)
God saw that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Exodus 14 — What happened when Moses stretched his hand over the sea the second time?
1. The sea froze
2. Manna fell
3. A path opened
4. The waters returned and covered Pharaoh's army
Show answer
Answer: The waters returned and covered Pharaoh's army (Exodus 14:26-28)
The waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen and all Pharaoh's army. Not one remained.
Leviticus 19 — Complete the command: "You shall love your neighbor as..."
1. yourself
2. your brother
3. your father
4. the LORD
Show answer
Answer: yourself (Leviticus 19:18)
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD." Jesus called this the second great commandment.
Numbers 22 — How many times did Balaam strike his donkey?
1. Three times
2. Once
3. Seven times
4. Twice
Show answer
Answer: Three times (Numbers 22:28)
The donkey said, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?"
Deuteronomy 34 — Why was Joshua full of the spirit of wisdom?
1. He had studied in Egypt
2. Moses had laid his hands on him
3. He had fasted forty days
4. He was the oldest
Show answer
Answer: Moses had laid his hands on him (Deuteronomy 34:9)
Joshua was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; the children of Israel heeded him.

History: Joshua to Esther

Joshua 6 — What curse did Joshua pronounce about Jericho?
1. Whoever entered it would die
2. Whoever rebuilt it would lose his firstborn and youngest son
3. It would never have rain
4. It would become a lake
Show answer
Answer: Whoever rebuilt it would lose his firstborn and youngest son (Joshua 6:26)
This was fulfilled in the days of Ahab (1 Kings 16:34).
Judges 16 — How did Samson die?
1. He pushed down the pillars of Dagon's temple
2. In battle
3. He was stoned
4. He drowned
Show answer
Answer: He pushed down the pillars of Dagon's temple (Judges 16:29-30)
The dead he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life.
Ruth 1 — What name did Naomi want to be called when she returned?
1. Mara
2. Hephzibah
3. Jemimah
4. Ichabod
Show answer
Answer: Mara (Ruth 1:20)
"Call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me."
1 Samuel 3 — What did all Israel from Dan to Beersheba come to know?
1. That Eli was king
2. That the ark was lost
3. That Saul would reign
4. That Samuel had been established as a prophet of the LORD
Show answer
Answer: That Samuel had been established as a prophet of the LORD (1 Samuel 3:19-20)
The LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.
2 Samuel 11 — How does 2 Samuel 11 end?
1. David was praised
2. Joab was punished
3. Bathsheba left
4. The thing David had done displeased the LORD
Show answer
Answer: The thing David had done displeased the LORD (2 Samuel 11:27)
God saw everything.
1 Kings 18 — What did Elijah's servant see from Carmel after the seventh look?
1. A great army
2. A cloud as small as a man's hand
3. Fire in the sky
4. Ships on the sea
Show answer
Answer: A cloud as small as a man's hand (1 Kings 18:44)
Soon the sky became black with clouds and there was a heavy rain.
2 Kings 5 — What happened to Gehazi for his greed?
1. Naaman's leprosy clung to him
2. He became rich
3. He was made a prophet
4. He was forgiven
Show answer
Answer: Naaman's leprosy clung to him (2 Kings 5:26-27)
He went out from Elisha leprous, as white as snow.
1 Chronicles 29 — How did David die?
1. In battle
2. In a good old age, full of days and riches and honor
3. Suddenly as a young man
4. In exile
Show answer
Answer: In a good old age, full of days and riches and honor (1 Chronicles 29:28)
Solomon his son reigned in his place.
2 Chronicles 7 — For how long did Solomon keep the feast?
1. Seven days
2. One day
3. Forty days
4. Three days
Show answer
Answer: Seven days (2 Chronicles 7:8-9)
Then seven more days for the dedication of the altar.
Ezra 3 — What did the people sing when the foundation of the temple was laid?
1. "Woe to Babylon!"
2. "For He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel."
3. "Holy, holy, holy."
4. "Hosanna!"
Show answer
Answer: "For He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel." (Ezra 3:11)
They sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD.
Nehemiah 6 — What did the enemies realize when the wall was finished?
1. This work was done by God
2. The Jews had cheated
3. The wall was weak
4. The king had paid for it
Show answer
Answer: This work was done by God (Nehemiah 6:16)
They were very disheartened.
Esther 4 — What did Esther say about going to the king?
1. "I will wait until he calls."
2. "If I perish, I perish!"
3. "Send Mordecai instead."
4. "It is too dangerous."
Show answer
Answer: "If I perish, I perish!" (Esther 4:16)
To go in uninvited could mean death.

Poetry and Wisdom: Job to Song of Solomon

Job 1 — What did Job say after losing his children and possessions?
1. "The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."
2. "Why me?"
3. "I curse this day."
4. "God has forgotten me."
Show answer
Answer: "The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." (Job 1:21)
In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.
Psalm 23 — Where will the psalmist dwell forever?
1. In the house of the LORD
2. In a palace
3. In a green valley
4. In Jerusalem only
Show answer
Answer: In the house of the LORD (Psalm 23:6)
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life."
Proverbs 3 — What should you not withhold?
1. Your opinion
2. Your anger
3. Good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power
4. Your time
Show answer
Answer: Good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power (Proverbs 3:27)
Do good when you can.
Ecclesiastes 3 — Which pair is in the "time for" list?
1. A time to be rich and a time to be poor
2. A time to weep and a time to laugh
3. A time to fly and a time to swim
4. A time to read and a time to write
Show answer
Answer: A time to weep and a time to laugh (Ecclesiastes 3:4)
"A time to mourn, and a time to dance."
Song of Solomon 2 — What charge is given to the daughters of Jerusalem?
1. To come quickly
2. Do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases
3. To sing loudly
4. To leave the city
Show answer
Answer: Do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases (Song of Solomon 2:7)
Love should not be rushed.

Major Prophets: Isaiah to Daniel

Isaiah 6 — What did Isaiah answer when God asked, "Whom shall I send?"
1. "Send my brother."
2. "I am too young."
3. "Here am I! Send me."
4. "Not now."
Show answer
Answer: "Here am I! Send me." (Isaiah 6:8)
A willing servant.
Jeremiah 1 — What did the almond branch vision mean?
1. A famine is coming
2. Israel will grow rich
3. God is ready (watching) to perform His word
4. A king will be born
Show answer
Answer: God is ready (watching) to perform His word (Jeremiah 1:11-12)
The Hebrew words for almond and watching sound alike.
Lamentations 3 — How often are God's compassions new?
1. Once a year
2. Every Sabbath
3. Every hundred years
4. Every morning
Show answer
Answer: Every morning (Lamentations 3:23)
"Great is Your faithfulness."
Ezekiel 37 — What did Ezekiel join together as a sign?
1. Two sticks, for Judah and for Joseph
2. Two stones
3. Two scrolls
4. Two crowns
Show answer
Answer: Two sticks, for Judah and for Joseph (Ezekiel 37:16-17)
They became one in his hand: one nation, one king.
Daniel 6 — What did King Darius decree afterward?
1. Men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel
2. Everyone must worship the king
3. Daniel must leave
4. No one may pray
Show answer
Answer: Men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel (Daniel 6:26)
"For He is the living God."

Minor Prophets: Hosea to Malachi

Hosea 1 — What does the name Lo-Ammi mean?
1. Not My people
2. No mercy
3. God will sow
4. My strength
Show answer
Answer: Not My people (Hosea 1:9)
"For you are not My people, and I will not be your God."
Joel 2 — On whom did God promise to pour out His Spirit?
1. Only on priests
2. Only on kings
3. On all flesh
4. Only on prophets
Show answer
Answer: On all flesh (Joel 2:28)
Peter quoted this at Pentecost (Acts 2:17).
Amos 7 — How did Amos describe himself?
1. A prophet's son
2. A priest
3. No prophet nor son of a prophet, but a sheepbreeder and tender of sycamore fruit
4. A king's adviser
Show answer
Answer: No prophet nor son of a prophet, but a sheepbreeder and tender of sycamore fruit (Amos 7:14-15)
The LORD took him from following the flock.
Obadiah 1 — Why was Edom condemned?
1. For helping Judah
2. For violence against its brother Jacob
3. For building a temple
4. For keeping the law
Show answer
Answer: For violence against its brother Jacob (Obadiah 1:10)
Edom stood aloof on the day strangers carried Judah away.
Jonah 1 — What prepared by God swallowed Jonah?
1. A great fish
2. A dolphin
3. A sea serpent
4. A crocodile
Show answer
Answer: A great fish (Jonah 1:17)
He was in its belly three days and three nights.
Micah 6 — What wicked tools did merchants use?
1. Honest weights
2. Measuring rods
3. Sickles
4. Wicked scales and a bag of deceitful weights
Show answer
Answer: Wicked scales and a bag of deceitful weights (Micah 6:11)
God cannot justify dishonest trading.
Nahum 1 — Whose feet are on the mountains bringing good tidings?
1. The Assyrian army
2. The merchants
3. The false prophets
4. Him who brings good tidings, who proclaims peace
Show answer
Answer: Him who brings good tidings, who proclaims peace (Nahum 1:15)
"O Judah, keep your appointed feasts."
Habakkuk 2 — What will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea?
1. The knowledge of the glory of the LORD
2. Armies
3. Darkness
4. Gold
Show answer
Answer: The knowledge of the glory of the LORD (Habakkuk 2:14)
A promise amid the woes on the proud.
Zephaniah 3 — What is the LORD in the midst of Zion?
1. A stranger
2. A guest
3. The Mighty One, who will save
4. A judge only
Show answer
Answer: The Mighty One, who will save (Zephaniah 3:17)
"The LORD your God in your midst."
Haggai 1 — What was the people's response to Haggai's message?
1. They ignored him
2. They obeyed and feared the presence of the LORD, and began work on the house
3. They stoned him
4. They went back to Babylon
Show answer
Answer: They obeyed and feared the presence of the LORD, and began work on the house (Haggai 1:12-14)
God stirred up their spirit.
Zechariah 9 — What city built herself a tower and heaped up silver?
1. Sidon
2. Damascus
3. Tyre
4. Gaza
Show answer
Answer: Tyre (Zechariah 9:3)
The Lord would cast her out.
Malachi 3 — What did God promise if they brought all the tithes into the storehouse?
1. A new king
2. Victory over Edom
3. A new temple
4. To open the windows of heaven and pour out blessing
Show answer
Answer: To open the windows of heaven and pour out blessing (Malachi 3:10)
"Try Me now in this."

How did you do?

30 or more: You know your Old Testament well, prophets and all.
20–29: Strong on the stories; time to read a few minor prophets.
Under 20: A great reason to start a reading plan. See our Bible reading plans for groups.

Next, try the New Testament quiz (one question from each of its 27 books), or go deep on one book with the Genesis quiz or the Daniel quiz. You can play any of these live on phones with MyBibleQuiz.

Frequently asked questions

How many books are in the Old Testament?

The Old Testament has 39 books in most Protestant Bibles: 5 books of the Law, 12 of history, 5 of poetry and wisdom, 5 major prophets and 12 minor prophets.

What are good Old Testament quiz questions?

Good questions come from across the whole Old Testament, not just Genesis and Exodus. Ask about key events, people and promises, and give a reference so players can read the passage.

Is this Old Testament quiz good for a group?

Yes. Play it in five rounds that follow the sections of the Old Testament. With MyBibleQuiz you can run it on a big screen while players answer on their phones.

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