25 Women of the Bible -- 'A' through to 'Z' Quiz

Answer: Asenath

The correct answer is Asenath, but not much is known about her as she is mentioned in passing reference. According to Genesis 46:20, she was the mother of Manasseh and Ephraim. At this time, Joseph was the second most powerful man in Egypt, surpassed by only the Pharaoh. As a result, Asenath would have been one of the most influential women in Egypt.

Answer: Bathsheba

Bathsheba, of course, is the correct answer. She is perhaps best remembered for having an adulterous affair with David while her husband Urriah, a soldier, was off in battle. In addition to being beautiful, it's apparent Bathsheba knew how to be a powerbroker.

It was largely because of her intervention that Solomon became king, beating out his half brother Adonijah, the son of Haggith. Batsheva's intervention, with the help of Nathan the prophet, is told in the first chapter of 1 Kings. With Solomon as king, Bathsheba would become the most powerful woman in the land.

Answer: Chloe

Chloe is the correct answer. However, little is known about her as she is mentioned in passing reference. In 1 Corinthians 1:11, Paul, in the NIV, writes: "My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you." Paul then goes on to exhort the believers at Corinth to end their bickering.

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)." Her husband's name was Lappidoth, but little is known about him as he is mentioned in passing reference.

Answer: Elizabeth

Elizabeth gave birth to John the Baptist even though she and her husband were both "very old", according to the first chapter of Luke. Luke 12:5 states Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron. Meanwhile, Luke 1:39-45 tells of Elizabeth meeting with Mary, the teenage virgin girl who was pregnant with Jesus. The two were relatives and their offspring would change the course of history.

Answer: Faithful

No one can accuse Anna of not being faithful. In fact, she was apparently as reliable as the world-famous geyser Old Faithful. Luke 2:37, in the NKJV Bible, states Anna "did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day." According to verse 37, she was the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher, and was of "great age" and a widow.

After Jesus was presented as an infant at the temple by his parents Mary and Joseph, Scripture states Anna "gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem." Incidentally, according to Wikipedia there is no woman's name in the Old Testament or the New Testament that starts with the letter 'F'.

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: Hadassah

Esther's original name was Hadassah and she was raised by her cousin Mordecai, Esther 2:7, in the NIV, states: "Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died." Esther, of course, would go on to become queen and play a pivotal role in derailing a diabolical scheme by Haman to exterminate the Jewish population in the vast area ruled by the man who is known as Xerxes in the NIV. (In the KJV and the NKJV, he's known as Ahasuerus.)

Answer: Insightful

Mary would be best described as insightful while Martha would be described as industrious and irritable. The two sisters earned such a reputation as per the events in Luke 10:38-42. Scripture tells of Mary sitting at Jesus' feet listening to Him while Martha was busy preparing food for the guests. As a result, Martha became annoyed with the situation and requested Jesus to order her sister to lend a helping hand.

Luke 10:38-42, in the NKJV, reports things this way: "Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, 'Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.' And Jesus answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.'"

Answer: Jael

With Sisera's troops being wiped out in a lop-sided battle with the Israelites, he had no choice but to run -- and run fast. Scripture states he fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. Sisera's acceptance of Jael's offer of hospitality would prove to be a deadly mistake.

Judges 4:18-21, tells what happened: "Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, 'Come, my lord, come right in. Don't be afraid.' So he entered her tent, and she covered him with a blanket. 'I'm thirsty,' he said. 'Please give me some water.' She opened a skin of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him up. 'Stand in the doorway of the tent,' he told her. 'If someone comes by and asks you, 'Is anyone in there?' say 'No.' But Jael, Heber's wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died."

Answer: Keturah

Keturah is the correct answer. According to Genesis 25:2, she was the mother of five sons. Their names were Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. According to verses 5 and 6, Abraham "left all he had" to Isaac, but while he was still living he gave gifts to the sons of Keturah and other concubines.

Then he "sent the sons eastward, away from Isaac his son," Scripture states.

Answer: Lydia

Lydia played a major role in the development of the early church at Philippi. Her conversion to Christianity is told in the 16th chapter of Acts. According to Scripture, after Lydia became a believer in a resurrected Jesus Christ, her entire household believed. Lydia's step of faith was followed in the same chapter by the conversion of the Philippian jailer and his household. Incidentally, many theologians believe Lydia was a dynamic and wealthy woman. According to Acts 16:14, she was a seller of purple cloth, an item that only the very wealthy could afford in Biblical times.

Notes in the NKJV Study Bible explain things this way: "Purple dye had to be gathered drop by drop from a certain shellfish. Because it was so expensive purple dye was used on garments worn by royalty. As an artisan in purple dyes, Lydia was a wealthy woman who came to Philippi to practice her trade."

Answer: Mary

Mary, of course, is the correct answer. Details about her becoming pregnant while still a virgin are given in the first chapter of Matthew as well as the first and second chapters of Luke. While pregnant, she became the wife of Joseph. Although no information is given as to how old Mary was at the time, many theologians believe she may have been fifteen years old, or younger, as it was the custom of the day for females to marry extremely young.

Answer: Naomi

Naomi it seemed had everything going against her. According to Ruth 1:3, she was left a widow when her husband Elimelek died. Then things got worse when according to verse 5, in the NIV, her two sons Mahlon and Kilion both died. (In the KJV and the NKJV, Kilion is called Chilion.)

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."

Ruth was true to her words and according to Scripture ended up marrying Boaz. Their marriage resulted in the birth of Obed, according to Ruth 4:17. The same verse states Obed would become the grandfather of King David.

On top of this, Ruth's name is mentioned in Matthew 1:5, as part of the genealogy of Jesus.

Answer: Orpah

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

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

As explained in the answer to Question 14, Ruth decided to remain with her mother-in-law Naomi. Ruth would go onto marry Boaz and her name is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus, as per Matthew 1:5.

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: Queen of Sheba

The visit by the Queen of Sheba is recalled in the 10th chapter of 1 Kings and the 9th chapter of 2 Chronicles. Scripture reports she arrived in Jerusalem with "a very great caravan" carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones. Scripture also reports she was "overwhelmed" with Solomon's wisdom and his immense wealth. According to notes in the NKJV Study Bible, Sheba was located in southwestern Arabia, present-day Yemen.

Answer: Rachel

Rachel, the daughter of Laban and the sister of Leah, who was also married to Jacob, is the correct answer. According to Scripture, Rachel's father tricked Jacob into working for him for 14 years to win her hand, as per the 29th chapter of Genesis. Rachel was unable to conceive for a number of years, but due to divine intervention, ended up given birth to Joseph, as per Genesis 30:22-25.

She died giving birth to a second son, Benjamin. Her death is recorded in the 35th chapter of Genesis.

Answer: Sarah

Sarah, who was originally known as Sarai, is the correct answer. She was the wife of Abraham, who was originally known as Abram, according to Scripture.
As per Genesis 21:5, she was the mother of Isaac.

In Genesis 17:16, Scripture states Sarah would be blessed "and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her."

In verse 19, God is quoted, in the NKJV, as stating the following to Abraham: "Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him."

According to Genesis 23:1, Sarah was 127 years old when she died. This is the only case in the Bible where a woman's age is given at time of death. Luke 2:37 states the prophetess Anna was a widow of about 84 years old but no details are given about her age when she died.

Answer: Tamar

The births of Perez and Zerah are told in Genesis 38:29-30. They are the second set of twins mentioned in the Old Testament. The first set was Esau and Jacob, the sons of Isaac and Rebekah.

Tamar experienced many things in her lifetime, not the least of which were the deaths of her first two husbands, Er and Onan, who were struck down by the LORD, as per Genesis 38:6-10. The two men were sons of Judah.

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 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.)

According to Wikipedia, Tamar means 'date palm' in Hebrew and is the original form of the names Tamara and Tammy.

Answer: Unloved

Leah might have been Jacob's first wife, but it's apparent he didn't have the feelings for her as he had for her younger sister, Rachel. After all, the only reason he married her was because he was tricked into doing so by Laban, the father of Leah and Sarah, as per the 29th chapter of Genesis.

Genesis 29:17, in the NIV Bible, states Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful.

According to Genesis 29:31-32 in the NKJV, the LORD intervened to help Leah because she was "unloved". 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.'"

According to Genesis 35:23, Leah was the mother of six sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. In Genesis 34:21, it states she was also the mother of Dinah.

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: Wise

Abigail was "intelligent and beautiful" according to 1 Samuel 25:3 in the NIV Bible. (In the NKJV, she is described as being a woman of "good understanding and beautiful appearance.") The same passage, in the NIV, states her husband Nabal was "surly and mean".

Nabal would be later struck dead by the LORD, as per 1 Samuel 25:38. The chapter ends with Abigail becoming David's wife. Incidentally, according to Wikipedia, there is no woman in the Old Testament or the New Testament that has a name starting with the letter 'W'.

Answer: Young

Abishag could very well have been the world's first nurse. In 1 Kings 1:3, she is described as "young" and "beautiful" and was found after an extensive search was conducted for a woman to care for King David who was elderly and frail at the time. According to 1 Kings 1:1, David was "very old" and he "could not keep warm even when they put covers over him."

1 Kings 1:2, in the NIV, states: "So his attendants said to him, 'Let us look for a young virgin to serve the king and take care of him. She can lie beside him so that our lord the king may keep warm.'"

According to 1 King 1:4, Abishag "took care of the king and waited on him, but the king had no sexual relations with her."

Incidentally, according to Wikipedia, there is no woman in the Old Testament or the New Testament that has a name starting with the letter 'Y'.

Answer: Zipporah

Zipporah was the mother of two sons, Gershom and Eliezer. According to the second chapter of Exodus, Moses met Zipporah after he fled to Midian. He fled there after he killed an unnamed Egyptian man who was beating a Hebrew. According to the Web site Christiananswers.net, Zipporah means a female bird in Hebrew.