Biblical Alphabetics -- The Letter 'N' Quiz

Answer: Nehemiah

Not much is known about the personal life of Nehemiah, apart from the fact he had a brother called Hanani and their father was Hacaliah, as per Nehemiah 1:1-2. Facing gigantic odds, Nehemiah successfully rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem. In Biblical times, walls around cities were a common feature as they were used to keep occupants safe from intruders.

Although Nehemiah rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem, it is not unanimous he wrote the Old Testament book that bears his name. Some believe Ezra wrote the book, relying on Nehemiah's memories. Those who believe Ezra wrote the book point out Nehemiah 7:5-73 and Ezra 2:1-70 are almost identical.

Answer: Nebuchadnezzar

Nebuchadnezzar was burning with uncontrollable rage after he learned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had refused to bow down and worship an image of gold he had made that measured 90 feet high and 9 feet wide, according to the third chapter of Daniel. So he ordered the three Jewish men to be bound and thrown into a fiery furnace. According to Scripture the furnace was so hot the flames killed the soldiers who were attempting to take Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to their doom.

However, the trio was not harmed by the immense heat and Nebuchadnezzar, after seeing a fourth men in the furnace who looked like "the Son of God" ordered their release.

The story ends with the king singing the praises of "the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants!" The three men, according to Scripture, were subsequently promoted by the king.

Answer: Naaman

The story of Naaman is found in the 5th chapter of 2 Kings. After coming down with leprosy, Naaman followed the advice of a Jewish slave girl who served his wife. In 2 Kings 5:23, she told him to see the "prophet in Samaria." The end result is this: Elisha the prophet told Naaman to bathe himself seven times in the Jordan River.

Afterward, he was cleansed of the dread disease. 2 Kings 5:15, in the NIV Bible, states: "Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, 'Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.'" Elisha, however, refused to accept any gift.

Answer: Nimrod

According to Scripture, the father of Nimrod was Cush. Nimrod was also a grandson of Ham and a great-grandson of Noah. Genesis 10:9 describes him as "a mighty hunter before the LORD". According to Wikipedia, tradition has it Nimrod was the leader of the group of people who built the Tower of Babel.

Answer: Nathan

The account of Nathan confronting David is found in the 12th chapter of 2 Samuel. He used a parable to make David aware of the seriousness of his sinning when he had an adulterous affair with Bathsheba and than made arrangements for the murder of her husband. Nathan than made the pronouncement that the child who would be born as a result of the adulterous affair would die, and sure enough it came to pass.

Incidentally, it was Nathan who told an elderly and frail David of the plot of Adonijah to become king.

The end result is that Solomon became king, as per 1 Kings 1:8-45.

Answer: Noah

Noah was the father of Shem, Ham and Japheth, as per Genesis 5:32. According to Scripture, the three sons and their wives were taken aboard the ark and survived a massive flood that covered the world. The account of the flood is found in the seventh and eighth chapters of Genesis.

Answer: Naomi

Naomi was the mother-in-law of Ruth and Orpah, two Moabite women who were married to her two sons. After the deaths of the three men, Orpah decided to return to her homeland but Ruth opted to remain with Naomi. The book of Ruth is basically a report about the romance between Ruth and her eventual husband, Boaz.

Answer: Nathanael

Many theologians believe Bartholomew and Nathanael are the same person. When a list of the names of the disciples is given in Matthew, Mark and Luke, it contains the name Bartholomew, but not Nathanael (the name Bartholomew is also mentioned in Acts). However, in John there is mention of Nathanael, but no mention of Bartholomew.

Answer: Nicodemus

There is considerable conjecture as to why Nicodemus visited Jesus at night. One school of thought has it that Nicodemus didn't want it to be known that as a teacher of the law, he had any interest in Jesus' teachings as Christ was often surrounded by tax collectors and the dregs of society.

Another school of thought has it Nicodemus had no choice but to visit Jesus at night if he wanted a one-on-one meeting because Christ was always surrounded by large crowds in the day time. In John 3:3, Jesus tells Nicodemus no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.

Then in verse 16, Jesus makes the famous declaration: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." It's that statement which has become a pillar of the evangelical Christian movement.

Answer: New Jerusalem

According to Wikipedia, New Jerusalem is also known as The Tabernacle of God, Holy City, City of God, Celestial City and Heavenly Jerusalem in the Book of Revelation, as well as Jerusalem Above, Zion and shining city on a hill in other books of the Bible. The New Jerusalem is first mentioned in Revelation 3:12. Much of the 21st chapter of Revelation is devoted to details about the New Jerusalem.