Twelve Is a Magic Number Trivia Quiz

Answer: 12 was the number of sons that Jacob had

Jacob was the son of Isaac and Rebekah and grandson of Abraham. He also had at least one daughter. He was renamed Israel by God, a name which can be translated as God contended, God rules, God judges, or as "he fights or struggles with God." This name is an apparent reference to Jacob's wrestling match with an angel. See Genesis 32:24-28 (New International Version):

"24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, 'Let me go, for it is daybreak.'

But Jacob replied, 'I will not let you go unless you bless me.'

27 The man asked him, 'What is your name?'

'Jacob,' he answered.

28 Then the man said, 'Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.'

Answer: Matthias

The decision to choose Matthias was made by the apostles at a meeting attended by the women, the Virgin Mary, and Jesus's brothers. Mattias was chosen instead of Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus. Acts 1:20-26 (New International Version) provides the story of this decision:

"[20]'For,' said Peter, 'it is written in the Book of Psalms:

'"May his place be deserted;
let there be no one to dwell in it,"

and,

'"May another take his place of leadership."

21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.'

23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles."

Strangely, Matthias is never mentioned again. As it becomes clear through the remainder of the Book of Acts, God had already chosen Paul to replace Judas in the leadership of the fledgling Christian Church.

Answer: Duodenum

The duodenum's name likely derives from the Latin term for the number twelve, which was duodecim. The name in German for this part of the intestine is Zwolffingerdarm - which means "twelve-finger bowel".

Answer: The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games trilogy was written by Suzanne Collins and drew upon Greek mythology, reality television, and Roman gladiator games to create the scenarios in the novels. A film adaptation was released in 2012.

Answer: There were twelve pence in a shilling

Pence is a plural term for the word penny. Until the end of 1960, a penny was divided further into four farthings. Until the end of July in 1969, the penny was still divided into halfpennies. Similar monetary systems were used elsewhere in Europe and were remnants of Roman times.

Answer: 12 Drummers Drumming

In the end and considering redundant gives given over the course of the twelve days, the true love in the song gives out 12 partridges in 12 pear trees, 22 turtle doves, 30 French hens, 36 calling birds, 40 gold rings, 42 geese a-laying, 42 swans a-swimming, 40 maids a-milking, 36 ladies dancing, 30 lords a-leaping, 22 pipers piping, and 12 drummers drumming.

Answer: Serving as jurors

The Twelve Angry Men were serving as a jury for a murder case. The original version aired first in 1954. Later versions have been renamed as "Twelve Angry Jurors", "Twelve Angry Men and Women", or "Twelve Angry Women" to reflect changes in the genders of the actors and actresses playing roles in the play.

The deliberations in the movie provide a key insight into what the term "reasonable doubt" means in American jurisprudence.

Answer: Seattle Seahawks

Each of the teams offered as answers has retired the number 12 -- the 49ers retired it for John Brodie, the Jets for Joe Namath, and the Bills for Jim Kelly. Only the Seahawks, however, have retired the number for their "12th man", their fans.

Answer: Magnesium

Magnesium is the eighth most abundant element in the Earth's crust and is the fourth most common element in the Earth as a whole. Magnesium is also easily built up in supernovae.

Answer: dodecahedron

A dodecahedron as a Platonic solid is composed of 12 regular pentagonal faces. A dodecagon is a 12-sided polygon. An icosahedron is a twenty-sided regular polyhedron. An octahedron is a polyhedron with eight faces.