Bible Names Linked with Placenames Quiz

Answer: Moab

Moab is the correct answer. On five different occasions, Ruth is described as a Moabitess in the Book of Ruth, using the NKJV. On top of this, on eight different occasions, mention is made events in the book had taken place in the land of Moab. To sum things up, the words 'Moab' and 'Moabitess' appear a total of thirteen times in the Book of Ruth. This even though the book, using Bible versions such as the KJV, NKJV and NIV, contains only four chapters.

The fact Ruth was a Moabitess is significant. It means she was a Gentile, or non-Jewish. Nevertheless, she ended up marrying Boaz, a Jewish gentleman, and gave birth to Obed, the grandfather of King David. As a result, Ruth's name appears in Matthew 1:5, part of the genealogy of Christ.

Answer: Tishbite

Elijah is identified as Elijah the Tishbite on six different occasions, using the KJV, NKJV and NIV. The references can be found in 1 Kings 17:1; 21:17; 21:28, 2 Kings 1:3; 1:8 and 9:36.

According to tradition, Elijah came from Tishbe, with residents of the community referred to as Tishbites. Various Websites state Tishbe was in Gilead, a historical region east of the Jordan River and in present-day Jordan.

Elijah, of course, was a prophet of God, who is known for many things, including winning a dramatic duel with four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.

Answer: Hittite

Using Bible versions such as the KJV, NKJV and the NIV, Uriah is identified as Uriah the Hittite eight different times. The references can be found in
2 Samuel 11:13; 11:6; 11:17; 11:21; 11:24; 12:9; 12:10 and 23:39.

The Hittites were descendants of Heth, who was the son of Canaan and the grandson of Noah, as per Genesis 10. The Hittites are mentioned numerous times in the Old Testament. For example, Abraham bought a family burial ground from Ephron the Hittite (Genesis 23) and Esau married Hittite women while Isaac and
Rebekah despised them (Genesis 26:34-35). On top of this, King Solomon had Hittites among his many wives (1 Kings 10:29-11:2; 2 Chronicles 1:17).

When it comes to Uriah's name in Scripture, he is often referred to as a Hittite. It's almost as if Uriah's nationality is part of his name.

For the record, Uriah was the husband of Bathsheba, the woman with whom David had an adulterous affair. When Bathsheba became pregnant, David ended up pulling strings behind the scenes to have Uriah the Hittite killed.

Answer: Tekoa

Although the woman is not identified by name, three different times in 2 Samuel 14 it is stated she is from Tekoa. (Verses 2, 4 and 9.)

According to Smith's Bible Dictionary, Tekoa was a town in the area belonging to the tribe of Judah, situated on a range of hills which rise near Hebron and stretch toward the Dead Sea.

In addition to the unnamed wise woman, 2 Samuel 23:26 tells of Ira being the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite. Ira was one of David's Thirty Mighty Men.

The wise woman from Tekoa was successful in convincing David to welcome Absalom back into the fold. The two had a falling out after Absalom killed Amnon after the sexual assault of Tamar. Amnon was Absalom's half brother and Tamar was his full sister. David was the father of all three.

Answer: Cyrene

Simon was from Cyrene, a city in northern Africa. In Biblical times, it was a Greek city in what is now eastern Libya. Because a number of men in the New Testament are called Simon, he is generally referred to as Simon of Cyrene to avoid confusion.

(Mark 15:21 and Luke 23:36 in the NKJV refers to him as "Simon, a Cyrenian".)

Answer: True

There is no way of knowing for certain, but many Bible scholars believe Mary came from Magadala, a community on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, hence the name Mary Magdalene. Magdala is mentioned in Matthew 15:39 in the KJV and the NKJV, but the NIV uses the placename Magadan.)

Because a number of other women were called Mary in the New Testament, she is called Mary Magdalene to avoid confusion.

Scripture tells of Jesus driving seven demons out of Mary. Later she would be the first person to see Jesus after His resurrection.

Answer: Joseph

Details about Joseph of Arimathea providing his tomb for Christ's body after the crucifixion can be found in all four Gospels -- Matthew 27:57-61, Mark 15:42-47, Luke 23:50-56 and John 19:38-42.

In the accounts in Mark and John, he is referred to as "Joseph of Arimathea" to avoid confusion with other men in the New Testament with the same name. The accounts in Matthew and Luke make mention he is from Arimathea, but they do not describe him as 'Joseph of Arimathea'.

In the Gospels, Joseph is described as being rich, and a member of the Pharisees who had become a disciple of Jesus.

Answer: Paul

Paul, originally known as Saul, came from Tarsus, a community in present-day Turkey. Acts 9:11 tells of Ananias receiving divine instructions to visit Paul after his dramatic encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. In the verse, Ananias is told: "Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying."

In Acts 21:39 and 22:3, Paul makes mention he is from Tarsus while addressing people in Jerusalem.

Often in today's secular world, he is described as "Saul of Tarsus" or "Paul of Tarsus". Books have been written with the two titles as well.

Answer: Lucius

Simon of Cyrene is well known but such isn't the case with Lucius of Cyrene. He's mentioned in Acts 13:1 as part of a group of prophets and teachers at Antioch. The verse in the NKJV states: "Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul."

It appears he was called Lucius of Cyrene to differentiate himself from another man called Lucius in Romans 16:21. However, some people believe they are one and the same.

Answer: Nazareth

Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem, however, Nazareth was his hometown. Scripture states His parents Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem to take part in a census and that's where He was born.

Often when Jesus is mentioned in Scripture reference is made to His hometown. For example, using the NKJV, the title "Jesus of Nazareth" appears eighteen times in the four Gospels and the Book of Acts. John 19:19 states that a sign put on the cross on which He was crucified proclaimed: "JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS".