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Quizzes > Society & Culture

Hard Bible Trivia: 25 Tough Scripture Questions

Quick, free difficult Bible quiz to test your knowledge. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Makwena Phillipus RammutlaUpdated Aug 24, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for a challenging Bible trivia quiz on a coral background

This hard Bible trivia quiz helps you test your grasp of tricky verses and lesser-known stories. Tackle 25 tough questions, see your score instantly as you go, and explore more with New Testament trivia, King James Bible trivia, or warm up with a free Bible quiz.

Who is traditionally credited with writing the Pentateuch?
Isaiah
Solomon
David
Moses
Jewish and Christian tradition attributes the first five books of the Bible - the Pentateuch - to Moses. Modern scholarship debates this view, but the tradition remains strong in most denominations. This attribution is based on internal biblical references and ancient testimonies.
What is the shortest verse in the King James Version of the Bible?
Jesus wept.
Rejoice evermore.
Pray without ceasing.
Vanity of vanities.
"Jesus wept." is John 11:35 and is famously the shortest verse in KJV. It records Jesus' compassion at Lazarus's death. Other short verses exist in other translations, but KJV John 11:35 is unique.
Which Old Testament book immediately follows Psalms?
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Job
Proverbs
In the traditional Christian ordering, Psalms is followed by Proverbs. The Hebrew Bible treats the Writings differently, but most English Bibles list Proverbs after Psalms. This ordering highlights wisdom literature.
How many days and nights did it rain during the flood in Noah's time?
120
7
150
40
Genesis 7:12 records that rain fell for forty days and forty nights. This event is central to the Noah's Ark narrative. The flood itself lasted much longer, but the continuous rain was 40 days.
Which prophet confronted King Ahab and Queen Jezebel about their sins?
Isaiah
Elisha
Jeremiah
Elijah
Elijah famously confronted Ahab and Jezebel over Baal worship in Israel (1 Kings 18). He challenged Baal's prophets on Mount Carmel. This showdown established Yahweh's supremacy over Baal.
What is the first miracle attributed to Jesus in the Gospel of John?
Feeding the 5,000
Turning water into wine
Walking on water
Healing the sick
John 2:1 - 11 recounts Jesus turning water into wine at Cana as his first sign. This miracle reveals his glory and manifests his messianic identity. It sets the tone for John's theme of signs.
Which disciple doubted Jesus' resurrection until he saw the wounds?
James
John
Thomas
Peter
Thomas is known as 'Doubting Thomas' because he insisted on seeing Jesus' wounds (John 20:24 - 29). This account emphasizes faith despite lack of sight. Jesus' response blesses those who believe without seeing.
Which Old Testament book records the story of Esther?
Esther
Ruth
Judith
Nehemiah
The Book of Esther recounts her rise to become queen of Persia and the deliverance of Jews from Haman's plot. It is part of the Writings in the Hebrew Bible. Purim commemorates this event.
What is the first commandment with a promise in the New Testament?
Remember the Sabbath
Honor your father and mother
You shall not steal
You shall not covet
Ephesians 6:2 quotes Exodus 20:12, 'Honor your father and mother,' as the 'first commandment with a promise.' The promise is long life. This illustrates New Testament appropriation of the Decalogue.
Which Gospel is written by a doctor?
Matthew
Mark
John
Luke
Luke is described as the beloved physician in Colossians 4:14. His Gospel emphasizes medical terminology and healing narratives. He also wrote Acts.
In which language was much of the Old Testament originally written?
Latin
Greek
Aramaic
Hebrew
Most of the Old Testament was written in Biblical Hebrew. Portions of Daniel and Ezra are in Aramaic. Greek is the language of the Septuagint translation.
Who was the first king of Israel?
Rehoboam
Saul
David
Solomon
1 Samuel 9 - 10 narrates Saul's anointing as the first king. He reigned before David. His reign ended in tragedy after disobedience.
Which New Testament letter is addressed to 'the elect lady'?
3 John
1 John
2 John
Jude
2 John opens, 'The elder to the elect lady and her children.' Scholars debate whether this is literal or figurative. It addresses false teaching and love.
Which prophet had a vision of dry bones coming to life?
Jeremiah
Isaiah
Daniel
Ezekiel
Ezekiel 37 describes the valley of dry bones vision symbolizing Israel's restoration. God commands the bones to live. This emphasizes hope for exile.
Which psalm begins with 'The LORD is my shepherd'?
23
24
22
121
Psalm 23 opens, 'The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.' It's one of the most beloved psalms. It portrays God's guidance and care.
Who is called the 'weeping prophet'?
Daniel
Ezekiel
Jeremiah
Isaiah
Jeremiah is known as the 'weeping prophet' due to his laments over Jerusalem's destruction. His book records emotional laments and calls for repentance. He wept for his people's sin.
Which minor prophet has a book that features a locust plague symbolizing Israel's sin?
Hosea
Micah
Amos
Joel
The Book of Joel uses a devastating locust plague as an image of judgment for sin (Joel 1 - 2). It calls for national repentance. Joel also promises future restoration under the Spirit.
In Revelation, how many churches are addressed in the letters?
Twelve
Five
Ten
Seven
Revelation 2 - 3 records letters to seven churches in Asia Minor. These letters contain commendations and rebukes. They frame the book's prophetic message.
Which Old Testament law code is found in Exodus 21 - 23?
The Covenant Code
The Deuteronomic Code
The Holiness Code
The Levitical Code
Exodus 21 - 23 contains the Covenant Code, addressing personal injury, property rights, and social justice. It predates Deuteronomic and Priestly laws. Scholars study its relationship to ANE law collections.
Who succeeded Moses as leader of Israel?
Eleazar
Joshua
Aaron
Caleb
Joshua 1:1 - 9 records God commissioning Joshua after Moses' death. Joshua leads Israel into the Promised Land. His name means 'The LORD saves.'
Which Gospel uniquely records Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan?
Luke
John
Mark
Matthew
Luke 10:25 - 37 contains the parable of the Good Samaritan. It illustrates neighborly love across ethnic divides. No other Gospel includes this story.
What instrument did David play to soothe Saul's spirit?
Flute
Trumpet
Lyre
Harp
1 Samuel 16:23 describes David playing a harp (or lyre) to calm Saul's tormented spirit. Musical therapy emerges in this narrative. David's skill won him favor in Saul's court.
Which New Testament epistle focuses on justification by faith apart from works?
1 Corinthians
James
Hebrews
Romans
Romans 3 - 5 extensively teaches justification by faith, not works. Paul contrasts law and grace. This doctrine is central to Protestant theology.
In Revelation, what color is the horse whose rider is named Death?
White
Black
Red
Pale
Revelation 6:8 describes the fourth horse as pale (Greek chloros), and its rider is Death. Hades follows him. This symbolizes widespread death in the seals.
Which New Testament letter quotes Jesus as calling Peter 'Satan'?
Matthew
John
Luke
Mark
In Matthew 16:23, Jesus says to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan,' because Peter opposed the cross. This shocking rebuke underscores the necessity of divine purposes.
What is the Aramaic word that Jesus uses on the cross, meaning 'My God, my God'?
Hosanna, Hosanna
Abba, Abba
Eli, Eli
Maranatha
Jesus quotes Psalm 22:1 in Aramaic, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?' meaning 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' This cry connects to messianic suffering.
Which book ends with the line, 'The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all. Amen.'?
Jude
Revelation
3 John
Philemon
Revelation 22:21 closes the Bible with that benediction. It caps the prophetic visions with a pastoral blessing. No other book ends with the same phrasing.
In Acts, who is struck blind on the road to Damascus?
Peter
Philip
Stephen
Saul
Acts 9:3 - 9 describes Saul's encounter with Christ and his temporary blindness. This marks his conversion to Paul. Ananias later restores his sight.
Which Old Testament book contains the 'Song of the Vineyard' allegory?
Micah
Isaiah
Zechariah
Hosea
Isaiah 5:1 - 7 presents the Song of the Vineyard, symbolizing Israel's unfruitfulness. It uses vineyard imagery from ancient Near Eastern poetry. The allegory pronounces judgment for neglect.
Who is the only non-Israelite judge mentioned in Judges?
None, all were Israelite
Jethro's son-in-law
Abimelech
Deborah
All judges in Judges 2 - 16 are Israelites. Some, like Deborah, were women, but none were foreigners. The metric emphasizes God raising deliverers from among Israel.
Which Psalm is an acrostic poem using the Hebrew alphabet for each stanza?
Psalm 119
Psalm 51
Psalm 104
Psalm 23
Psalm 119 has 22 stanzas, each beginning with a successive Hebrew letter. It extols the law of the LORD. It's the longest psalm and chapter in the Bible.
What is the Greek term Paul uses for 'gospel' in Romans 1:1?
Kerygma
Evangelion
Logos
Charis
Romans 1:1 uses the Greek word 'euangelion' (??????????), meaning 'good news.' Kerygma refers to preaching. Logos means 'word.' Charis means 'grace.'
Which New Testament letter refers to Melchizedek as a type of Christ?
James
1 Peter
Hebrews
Revelation
Hebrews 7 discusses Melchizedek's priesthood as a foreshadowing of Christ's eternal priesthood. It draws on Genesis 14. This theology is unique to Hebrews.
In Daniel's vision, how many beasts emerge from the sea?
Three
Four
Ten
Seven
Daniel 7:1 - 7 describes four great beasts rising from the sea, symbolizing successive empires. The imagery parallels Revelation. Their identities are interpreted later in the chapter.
Which prophet's wife is named Gomer?
Hosea
Nahum
Amos
Micah
Hosea 1 - 3 tells of Hosea's marriage to Gomer, symbolizing Israel's unfaithfulness. Their relationship models God's covenant love and judgment. It's one of the most dramatic prophetic enactments.
Who in the New Testament is noted as having his body carried off by vultures?
Peter
James (son of Zebedee)
Stephen
John the Baptist
Matthew 14:10 - 12 records that after Herod beheaded John the Baptist, his disciples took his body and buried it, then told Jesus. "Carried off by vultures" actually describes Jezebel in 2 Kings 9:30 - 37. But the only NT martyr described similarly is John in Herod's palace context.
Which priestly tribe guarded the temple according to 1 Chronicles?
Benjamin
Manasseh
Ephraim
Levi
1 Chronicles 23 - 26 details Levitical duties and temple guard by the Levites. The other tribes had no official temple role. Levi's descendants served priests and musicians.
In Paul's letters, what term does he use for the resurrected body?
Eternal body
Glorious body
Heavenly body
Spiritual body
1 Corinthians 15:44 contrasts 'natural body' and 'spiritual body.' The resurrected body is transformed and animated by the Spirit. It's imperishable and powerful.
Which book mentions the 'Valley of Achor' as a door of hope?
Hosea
Micah
Amos
Obadiah
Hosea 2:15 calls the Valley of Achor the 'door of hope' for Israel after judgment. Achor was where Achan's sin brought defeat (Joshua 7). This redefines a place of trouble into restoration.
Which letter is the only one addressed to an individual rather than a church or audience?
Philemon
Titus
Timothy
Jude
Philemon is addressed to Philemon, a house-church leader, about his runaway slave Onesimus. It's personal and appeals for forgiveness. None of Paul's other letters are so directly personal.
What is the Hebrew term for the 'broken cisterns' Jeremiah condemns in chapter 2?
meribah
borot
shachaq
ne'eman
Jeremiah 2:13 uses 'borot' (plural of 'bor'), meaning 'cisterns.' The prophet scorns Israel for seeking broken cisterns that cannot hold water. The term emphasizes futility of idolatry.
Which Gospel contains the highest number of unique Greek words not found in other New Testament books?
John
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John's Gospel has over 450 hapax legomena - words appearing only once in the NT. This reflects his distinctive theological vocabulary. Scholars analyze these for Johannine themes.
In the Masoretic Text, how many times does the divine name YHWH appear?
4,500
6,828
5,600
7,200
The tetragrammaton YHWH appears 6,828 times in the Masoretic Text. It's replaced by 'LORD' in many English translations. This count varies slightly by manuscript.
Which Dead Sea Scroll contains the War Scroll describing eschatological battles?
4QDeut
1QM
1QIsa
11QMelch
The War Scroll (Mil?amah) is 1QM (Community Rule and War Scroll) from Qumran Cave 1. It outlines the battle of the 'Sons of Light' vs. 'Sons of Darkness.' It's key for Second Temple eschatology.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Obscure Scripture References -

    Recall and pinpoint lesser-known verses, characters, and events from both the Old and New Testaments to sharpen your memory of difficult bible questions.

  2. Analyze Contextual Significance -

    Interpret the historical and theological background of challenging passages to deepen your understanding of scripture meaning.

  3. Apply Cross-Reference Skills -

    Connect related verses and themes across books to see how scripture interweaves complex narratives and teachings.

  4. Evaluate Theological Concepts -

    Assess nuanced doctrinal points and hidden meanings to build confidence in handling extremely hard bible trivia.

  5. Strengthen Bible Study Techniques -

    Learn strategies for tackling tough bible quiz questions in group or solo sessions, enhancing your overall study approach.

  6. Challenge Your Scriptural Mastery -

    Measure your proficiency with difficult bible trivia and identify areas for further growth in your biblical knowledge.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Original Languages Proficiency -

    Review key Hebrew and Koine Greek terms to sharpen answers on hard bible trivia questions that hinge on nuanced meanings. For example, Hebrew "hesed" (חסד) conveys covenantal loyalty beyond simple "love," while Greek "agape" differs from "philia" in New Testament usage (Yale Divinity School Lexicon). Using Strong's Concordance (G26, H2617) helps you quickly identify word roots during extremely hard bible questions.

  2. Historical-Cultural Context -

    Contextualize passages by studying ancient Near Eastern customs through resources like the Anchor Yale Bible Commentary (Anchor Yale University Press). Understanding Israelite sacrificial laws or Greco-Roman patronage systems gives you an edge on difficult bible trivia, especially when questions probe societal norms behind texts.

  3. Textual Criticism & Manuscript Families -

    Familiarize yourself with major manuscript traditions - Alexandrian (Codex Vaticanus), Western (Codex Bezae), and Byzantine - using the Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece (27th ed.). Recognize famous variants such as the Comma Johanneum (1 John 5:7-8) to answer extremely hard bible trivia about textual discrepancies. Consulting United Bible Societies' critical apparatus trains you to spot divergences in challenging questions.

  4. Thematic Cross-Referencing Techniques -

    Use a concordance or Bible software (e.g., Logos, Blue Letter Bible) to trace motifs like "covenant" from Genesis 15 through Hebrews 8. Linking thematic threads helps you tackle hard bible questions by unveiling how ideas like "faith" (pistis) evolve across both Testaments.

  5. Mnemonic Devices & Memory Palaces -

    Create acronyms for the Minor Prophets - "HOM ‑A ‑ JJB ‑ZMH" (Hosea, Amos, Micah… Zechariah, Malachi) - to recall order under pressure. Build a mental "Temple of Knowledge" room for genealogies: picture Adam handing a scroll to Seth, Seth to Enosh, and so on (Journal of Experimental Psychology). Memory palaces speed recall and boost confidence when facing difficult bible trivia.

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