25 Couples in the Bible -- 'A' Through to 'Z' Quiz

Answer: Adam

Adam and Eve, according to Scripture, were the first couple and together they created the first family. Their story is told in Genesis 1 to 5. Adam and Eve were the parents of Cain, Abel and Seth and other unnamed sons and daughters. Genesis 5:4 states: "After he begot Seth, the days of Adam were eight hundred years; and he had sons and daughters." Notes in the New King James Version Study Bible state it is possible "a very large number" of children were born as a result of the world's first marriage.

Answer: Bilhah

Bilhah is the correct answer. According to the Web site Christiananswers.net, Bilhah means 'faltering' or 'bashful'.

In addition to being the mother of Dan and Naphtali, Bilhah is perhaps best known for committing adultery with Reuben, as per Genesis 35:22. Reuben was the son of Jacob and Leah.

Answer: No name is given

No name is given for Chloe's husband. It is assumed by many theologians she was a widow. In fact, Chloe is mentioned in passing reference and little is known about her. Notes in the New King James Study Bible state people in Corinth likely respected her word and that's why Paul included her name in his letter.

Answer: Deborah

Deborah is the correct answer. There's no doubt she was a spark plug who made things happen. Her story is told in the fourth and fifth chapters of Judges. According to Judges 4:2, Jabin king of Canaan ruled over the Israelites, who were cruelly oppressed by Sisera, the commander of his army. Things changed dramatically, however, when Deborah rose to power.

The Israelites, led by Deborah and her general Barak, scored a decisive military victory over Sisera and their freedom was gained. According to Judges 4:16, "all Sisera's troops fell by the sword; not a man was left." Notes in the NIV Study Bible indicate Deborah was the only judge referred to as a prophetess. And according to Wikipedia, she was the "fourth, and the only female, Judge of pre-monarchic Israel in the Old Testament (Tanakh)." Little is known about her husband Lappidoth as he is mentioned in passing reference.

Answer: Elimelech

Her husband was Elimelech. However, not much is known about him as he is mentioned in passing reference in Scripture. According to 1 Ruth, Elimelech died, leaving Naomi a widow. The two sons of Elimelech and Naomi also died, leaving Orpah and Ruth as widows as well. According to Scripture, Orpah opted to return to Moab, her homeland, while Ruth stayed with Naomi.

Answer: Felix

Felix is the correct answer. The 24th chapter of Acts is devoted to the trial of Paul before Felix with charges against him levied by the high priest Ananias. Arguing the case on behalf of Ananias and some of the elders was a lawyer named Tertullus.

Paul appeared to be scoring major points in the trial. Acts 24:25, in the NKJV Bible, states things this way: "Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, 'Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.'"

However, Scripture also indicates Felix was hopeful of being bribed. Verse 26 states: "Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him."

With no bribe money coming his way, Scripture states Felix, "wanting to do the Jews a favor", left Paul bound for two years.

Drusilla was the third and youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa, according to the Web site Christiananswers.net. The same site reports Drusilla and her son perished in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, A.D. 79.

Answer: Gomer

According to Scripture, Gomer became Hosea's wife as a result of instruction from the LORD. Hosea 1:2-3, in the NKJV, states: "When the LORD began to speak by Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea: 'Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry, for the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the LORD.' So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son." Scripture states the son was called Jezreel.

Incidentally, the NIV Bible refers to Gomer as a "promiscuous woman" rather than a harlot.

Answer: Herodias

Matthew 14:6-12 reports Herod hosted a lavish birthday party for himself and when the daughter of his wife Herodias danced at the reception, Herod was so pleased he told the unnamed girl he would give her whatever she asked for. Verse 9, in the NIV Bible, states: "Prompted by her mother, she said, 'Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist'."

Verse 11 goes on to tell of this macabre scene: "His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother."

Herodias was not only conniving, but extremely vindictive. When she left her first husband (Herod Phillip I) and married his half brother Herod Antipas, John the Baptist was disgusted and denounced the union, according to the 14th chapter of Matthew. As a result, Herod ordered the arrest of John the Baptist and from this point on, his fate was sealed as Herodias had him in her evil clutches.

Answer: No name is given

Genesis 21:21 tells of Hagar getting a wife for Ishmael from "the land of Egypt." However, no name is given. According to Genesis 25:13-15, Ishmael was the father of twelve sons. They were Nebajoth, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.

Genesis 21:9 states Ishamel dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran. According to Christiananswers.net, Paran was a region between Canaan and the mountains of Sinai.

Answer: Jezebel

The correct answer is Jezebel. She is regarded by many as the most wicked woman in the Bible and according to the website Meaning-of-names.com, Jezebel means 'impure'. She is despised in Scripture because she convinced her husband Ahab to worship false gods and persecute God's prophets.

Her life ended when she was thrown out of a window by her aides and she was trampled by horses, as per 2 Kings 9:30-37.

Answer: Keturah

According to the Web site Christiananswers.net, Keturah means 'incense'. She bore six sons for Abraham. The six sons were sent away by Abraham to "the country of the east."

Genesis 25:1-6, in the NKJV, explains things this way: "Abraham again took a wife, and her name was Keturah. And she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan begot Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. And the sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abidah, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac. But Abraham gave gifts to the sons of the concubines which Abraham had; and while he was still living he sent them eastward, away from Isaac his son, to the country of the east."

Answer: Leah

Leah was the first wife of Jacob and there is no disputing the fact she lived in a marriage with little, or no love. It seems the only reason Jacob married her is the fact he was tricked into doing so, as per Genesis 29.

Jacob agreed to work for seven years for Laban if he could marry his younger daughter Rachel. However, at the end of seven years, Laban gave Jacob his older daughter Leah in marriage, saying "it is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one." So, Jacob agreed to work an additional seven years for Rachel's hand.

Genesis 29:31-32, in the NKJV Bible, states Leah was part of a loveless marriage. The passage states: "When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, 'The LORD has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.'" It was wishful thinking by Leah that she would be loved by Jacob after giving birth to Reuben. Scripture indicates nothing changed at all.

Answer: Michal

The correct answer is Michal. She pulled off the ruse when her father Saul had devoted his life to killing David simply because he was deeply jealous of him. It appears her actions saved David's life. 1 Samuel 19:11-18 in the NKJV describes what happened: "Saul also sent messengers to David's house to watch him and to kill him in the morning. And Michal, David's wife, told him, saying, 'If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.' So Michal let David down through a window. And he went and fled and escaped. And Michal took an image and laid it in the bed, put a cover of goats' hair for his head, and covered it with clothes. So when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, 'He is sick.' Then Saul sent the messengers back to see David, saying, 'Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.' And when the messengers had come in, there was the image in the bed, with a cover of goats' hair for his head.

Then Saul said to Michal, 'Why have you deceived me like this, and sent my enemy away, so that he has escaped?' And Michal answered Saul, 'He said to me, 'Let me go! Why should I kill you?'' So David fled and escaped, and went to Samuel at Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and stayed in Naioth."

Answer: Naamah

The correct answer is Naamah. Not much is known about her, however, as she is mentioned in passing reference. She is described as an Ammonite in 1 Kings 14:21 and 2 Chronicles 12:13. The same verses report she was the mother of Rehoboam who became king, replacing his father Solomon after his death.

Christiananswers.net reports Naamah was the daughter of the king of Ammon. The same Web site reports Naamah means 'the beautiful'.

There is a second woman known as Naamah in Scripture. The other woman was the daughter of Lamech and Zillah, as per Genesis 4:22.

Answer: Orpah

Orpah was the sister-in-law of Ruth and she was married to Chilion. (In the NIV, Chilion is called Kilion.)

Not much is known about her, however. After her father-in-law (Elimelech) died and her husband died, Orpah, a Moabite, opted to return to her homeland, according to the first chapter of Ruth.

Mahlon's widow was Ruth and she opted to stay with her mother-in-law, even though Naomi suggested it would be best for her to return to her home in Moab.

According to Ruth 1:16-18, in the NIV Bible, Ruth replied: "'Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.' When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her."

Answer: Priscilla

Make no mistake about it. Priscilla was a dynamic person in the early church. Her husband Aquila is never mentioned without her and often her name appears before her husband's name in the books the apostle Paul is credited with writing. And this at a time when women were regarded as grossly inferior and not even included in census figures!

In Romans 16:4, Paul writes Priscilla and Aquila risked their lives for him and "all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them."

The exploits of Priscilla and Aquila are reported in the 18th chapter of Acts. Paul also mentions the dynamic duo in 1 Corinthians 16:19 and in 2 Timothy 4:19. (Feel free to play another Bible quiz I have posted at FunTrivia about the couple. It's called 'The Dynamic Duo -- Priscilla and Aquila'.)

Answer: Hadad

Hadad is the correct answer. 1 Kings 11:19-20, in the NKJV Bible states: "And Hadad found great favor in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him as wife the sister of his own wife, that is, the sister of Queen Tahpenes. Then the sister of Tahpenes bore him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house. And Genubath was in Pharaoh's household among the sons of Pharaoh."

According to 1 Kings 11:14, Hadad, a descendant of the king in Edom, was raised up by the LORD as an adversary to Solomon.

Not much is known about Queen Tahpenes' sister as she is mentioned in passing reference.

Answer: Rebekah

Rebekah is the correct answer. The account of her giving birth to twin boys (Esau and Jacob) is found in the 25th chapter of Genesis. According to Scripture, Esau became a skillful hunter while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents.

According to Genesis 25:26, Isaac favored Esau while Rebekah favored Jacob.

Answer: Salmon

Salmon is the correct answer. The genealogy of Christ as documented in Matthew makes mention of Salmon and Rahab being the parents of Boaz. Boaz, of course, would go on to become the husband of Ruth. Matthew 1:5 states: "Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse."

Others, however, dispute the claim it was the same Rahab who hid the Jews at Jericho. They point out the time frame simply doesn't add up. (Grateful to FunTrivia member Globalworld for input on this one.)

Answer: Tamar

Tamar is the correct answer and her story is told in Genesis 38:1-30. It's another one of those long stories, but Tamar was the daughter-in-law of Judah and was married to Judah's sons Er and Onan.

However, after the two sons died, Judah apparently thought Tamar was a prostitute when he met up with her along the side of a road and as a result of the union, she gave birth to twins Perez and Zerah. (Scripture reports her face was covered during intercourse.) About three months later, when it was reported Tamar was pregnant and she was proclaimed a prostitute, Judah announced she should be brought out and "burned to death."

However, Judah had to do some serious backpedaling when Tamar was able to prove he was actually the man who had impregnated her. (Genesis 38:18 states Judah had given Tamar his "seal and its cord, and the staff in his hand" as a pledge before he slept with her. When she was about to be put to death, she was able to produce Judah's pledge to her and her life was spared.)

Answer: Uriah

Yes, Uriah was the first husband of Bathsheba, David's most famous wife. After David learned Bathsheba was pregnant through an adulterous affair he had with her, he ended up conspiring to have Uriah murdered. The adultery took place while Uriah, a soldier, was in battle.

After plotting and scheming, David eventually ordered Uriah to be placed in the front line where the fighting was fiercest and then had all the men withdraw, as per 2 Samuel 11:15. True to plan, Uriah was killed.

Answer: Vashti

Vashti is the correct answer. There's no mistaking the fact she was independent minded and believed in taking a stand -- regardless of the consequences. In fact, she could very well have been the world's first women's libber.

Queen Vashti was deposed after she refused to obey a request of King Xerxes. In Esther 1:10, it states the king asked Queen Vashti to wear her royal crown and come before him to "display her beauty" to the people and the nobles. Esther 1:12, in the NIV Bible, states: "But when the attendants delivered the king's command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger." It was the end for her and a new beginning for Esther who would become queen.

Esther, of course, would play a major role in preventing a diabolical plan by Haman to exterminate the Jews from coming to fruition.

Meanwhile, there is no further mention of Vashti in Scripture.

Answer: True

True. In the NIV Bible, King Ahasuerus is known as Xerxes. According to Esther 1:1, Ahasuerus/Xerxes ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush. The book of Esther begins with the account of the king making Esther his queen during the third year of his reign.

It would put things in motion for Esther to become queen and play a pivotal role in preventing the extermination of Jews in the immense area ruled by Ahasuerus/Xerxes.

Answer: True

There is no smoking gun, but it is generally assumed Mary was incredibly young by today's standards when she gave birth to Jesus. The general assumption is she was anywhere from age 12 to 15 when she gave birth to Jesus while she was still a virgin.

Just go to Google and type 'How old was Mary when she gave birth to Jesus?' and you'll get tons of hits. The common consensus, however, is she was 15 years or younger as it was part of the culture of that era for girls to marry as soon as they entered their child-bearing years.

Answer: Zipporah

Zipporah is the correct answer. According to the Web site Christiananswers.net, Zipporah means 'female bird'.

She was the daughter of Reuel, who is also known as Jethro in Scripture. According to Exodus 2, Moses met Zipporah in Midian where he had fled after killing an unnamed Egyptian man.