Are You Worth Your Salt? Try This Quiz

Answer: Lot's wife

Lot's wife is the correct answer. One of the best known stories in the Old Testament involves the LORD bringing down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah because of its wickedness, with Lot and his family fleeing. However, Genesis 19:26 states Lot's wife (no name is given) was turned into a pillar of salt because she looked back, contrary to the LORD'S command.

The question reminds me of a bit of humorous banter that took place on our FunTrivia team's message board a while back. One member wanted to know if Lot had difficulty putting salt on his food after leaving Sodom and Gomorrah. Another member responded: "Can't understand that, his wife was a pillar of the community."

Answer: True

True. Leviticus 2:13 in the NKJV Bible states: "And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt."

Notes in the NKJV Study Bible have this to say about the verse: "The salt of the covenant of your God was to be used in every grain offering. Every such offer was a reminder of the covenant God had made with Israel at Sinai and of the worshipper's obligation and privilege to remain faithful to God and God's covenant. Jesus may have had covenant faithfulness in mind when He told followers 'You are the salt of the earth' (Matthew 5:13)."

Answer: Abimelech

Abimelek was one of the most wicked men in the Bible. In fact, according to Judges 9:5, he even killed 70 of his brothers as part of his insatiable desire for power.

By sowing Shechem with salt, it became a barren and uninhabitable desert, according to notes in the NKJV Study Bible.

Scripture states Ambimelek's downfall happened when he went to Thebez and attempted to overtake a tower in which a number of men and women had taken refuge. Abimelek decided to set the tower on fire and, while he was approaching the structure, Scripture states an unnamed woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull. Judges 9:54-55 states Abimelek requested that his armor-bearer draw his sword and kill him so that no one could claim he was killed by a woman. The servant obliged and Abimelek, who had ruled Israel for three years, died on the battlefield. According to Judges 9:56, his death was divine retribution.

Answer: True

True. According to Scripture, tens of thousands of soldiers were killed at the Valley of Salt over the years.

2 Samuel 8:13 tells of David "making a name for himself" when he returned from killing eighteen thousand Syrians in the Valley of Salt.

2 Kings 14:7 tells of Amaziah killing ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt while 1 Chronicles 18:12 reports about Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, killing eighteen thousand Edomites in the same valley.

In other words, the Israelites killed 46,000 enemy soldiers at the Valley of Salt.

According to the Web site Christiananswers.net, the Valley of Salt is south of the Dead Sea, between Judah and Edom.

Answer: Elisha

Elisha is the correct answer. The miracle of Elisha purifying the water is told in 2 Kings 2:19-23.

The passage in the NKJV Bible states: "Then the men of the city said to Elisha, 'Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.' And he said, 'Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.' So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, 'Thus says the Lord: 'I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.' So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke."

According to Wikipedia, Jericho is one of the longest continually inhabited cities in the world.

Answer: Jeremiah

The verse comes from Jeremiah 17:5-6. Verses 7-8 go on to state the opposite will be the case for those who trust in the LORD:
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
And whose hope is the LORD.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit."

Answer: False

False. The statement was made by Jesus inside a house at Capernaum, according to Mark 9:33.

The ninth chapter of Mark states the disciples had a discussion among themselves about who was the greatest and once inside the house, Jesus used the occasion to invite a little child to stand among Him and the disciples.

Mark 9:37, in the NKJV, quotes Jesus as saying: "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me."

Answer: Sermon on the Mount

The quote is part of the Sermon on the Mount with the sermon running from Matthew 5:1 through to 7:28.

The verse in question follows The Beatitudes.

Notes in the NKJV Study Bible have this to state about Matthew 5:13
"Pure salt maintains its flavor. In Israel, some salt was mixed with other ingredients. When it was exposed to the elements, the salt would be 'leached out'. Such leached-out salt was used for coating pathways."

Answer: Colosse

The correct answer is Colosse, a community in present day Turkey. The passage in question is Colossians 4:6.

To put the verse in context, here's how Colossians 4:2-6, reads: "Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one."

Answer: James

The verse is question comes from James 3:12.

Although the book is named after James, no one knows for sure who he was. Some believe the book was written by the half-brother of Jesus while others insist the brother of John was the author. Other possibilities are James, the son of Alphaeus and James the father of the apostle called Judas.

Notes in the NKJV Study Bible also state James was a common name in the days of the early church. The beginning sentence in the book says "James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ." With that claim, James could have been practically any Christian with such a name.