Biblical Alphabetics -- The Letter 'I' Quiz

Answer: Isaiah

Isaiah is the correct answer. His father was Amoz and according to Isaiah 1:1 he prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah (or Azariah), Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, the kings of Judah. According to the Web site Biblical-Baby-Names.com, Isaiah means Jehovah has saved.

His prophecies tell of impending judgment on the Israelites followed by better times ahead. Many Christians believe the book of Isaiah contains a number of prophecies pertaining to Jesus Christ, with chapter 53 being an example.

Answer: Isaac

The story of Abraham preparing to sacrifice Isaac is one of the best known stories in the Old Testament. Scripture reports God commanded Abraham to take his son Isaac to a mountain in the region of Moriah and to sacrifice him as a burnt offering. Just as Abraham was preparing to sacrifice Isaac, Scripture reports an angel of the LORD called out and told him to spare his son because it was evident Abraham feared God.

After the angel called out, Abraham spotted a ram in the thicket and used it as his sacrificial offering.

The story is told in the 22nd chapter of Genesis. Many Christians compare this episode to God's sacrifice of His own son, Jesus, in the New Testament.

Answer: Ishmael

Ishmael's mother was Hagar, an Egyptian servant of Sarah. Because Sarah was unable to conceive, she gave permission to her husband Abraham to sleep with Hagar and as a result Ishmael was born. This account can be found in the 16th chapter of Genesis, where Abraham was known as Abram and Sarah was known as Sarai. (Their names were changed to Abraham and Sarah in the 17th chapter.) The account of Hagar and Ishmael being sent away is documented in the 28th chapter of Genesis. Ishmael is considered to be the founder of the Arab nations.

Incidentally, Ishmael is the name of five other men in the Old Testament. For example, 2 Kings 25:25 tells of Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, murdering Gedaliah.

Answer: Issachar

Issachar is the correct answer. The territory in Canaan distributed to the tribe founded by Issachar was also called Issachar. The other sons of Jacob and Leah were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah and Zebulun, as per Genesis 35:23. In the 49th chapter of Genesis, Jacob blesses his various sons, and has this to say about Issachar, as per the NIV Bible: "Issachar is a rawboned donkey lying down among the sheep pens.

When he sees how good is his resting place and how pleasant is his land, he will bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to forced labor."

Answer: Ibzan

Ibzan was the tenth judge of Israel. According to Judges 12:7-11, he was a native of Bethlehem and ruled for seven years after he replaced Jephthtah. Judges 12:9, in the NIV Bible, has this interesting information about Ibzan: "He had thirty sons and thirty daughters.

He gave his daughters away in marriage to those outside his clan, and for his sons he brought in thirty young women as wives from outside his clan." Verse 10 states he was buried in Bethlehem.

Answer: Ichabod

Ichabod is the correct answer. However, the woman's name is not given in Scripture. After the deaths of her husband Phinehas, father-in-law Eli and brother-in-law Hophni as well as the capture of the Ark of God by the Philistines, the woman went into labor. Scripture states she died during childbirth. 1 Samuel 4:21-22, in the NIV Bible, states: "She named the boy Ichabod, saying, 'The Glory has departed from Israel' -- because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. She said, 'The Glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured'."

Little is known about Ichabod as he is mentioned in passing reference. However, according to 1 Samuel 14:3, he had a brother called Ahitub.

Answer: Igal

Igal is one of the 12 spies Moses sent into Canaan to explore the land. All the spies, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb, came back with unflattering reports about the land. Scripture states the ten spies who gave unfavorable reports died of a plague before the LORD. The story of the twelve spies is told in Numbers 13 and 14.

Answer: Irijah

Irijah is the correct answer. According to Jeremiah 37:13, he was a captain of the guard under King Zedekiah of Judah. The same verse states Irijah was a son of Shelemiah and a grandson of Hananiah. He had Jeremiah arrested on the belief the prophet was deserting to the Babylonians.

Jeremiah 37:15-16, in the NIV Bible, states: "They were angry with Jeremiah and had him beaten and imprisoned in the house of Jonathan the secretary, which they had made into a prison. Jeremiah was put into a vaulted cell in a dungeon, where he remained a long time."

Answer: Solomon

According to 1 Kings 10:18, Solomon made "a great throne covered with ivory and overlaid with fine gold."

It seems gold was extremely common in Solomon's days. 1 Kings 10:21-22, in the NIV Bible, states: "All King Solomon's goblets were gold, and all the household articles in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Nothing was made of silver, because silver was considered of little value in Solomon's days. The king had a fleet of trading ships at sea along with the ships of Hiram. Once every three years it returned, carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons."

Answer: God with us

Yes, Immanuel means 'God with us'. According to Isaiah 7:14, Immanuel would be born of a virgin, with many Christians believing this is direct reference to the Virgin Mary giving birth to Jesus. Immanuel is also spelled as Emmanuel in some versions of the Bible. The name Immanuel can be found only in Isaiah in the Old Testament and Matthew in the New Testament.