Mom's the Word -- Match the Characters, #1 Quiz

Answer: Eve

Eve, of course, is the correct answer. She was the mother of Cain, Abel and Seth and other unnamed sons and daughters. It is not known, however, how many children she had. The implication in Scripture is it could have been a large number of children as Genesis 5:4-5 states that after the birth of Seth, Adam lived to be nine hundred and thirty years old and had other sons and daughters. No information is given about how long Eve lived.

In addition to being the first mother mentioned in the Old Testament, Genesis 3:20 states Adam named her Eve because she would become "the mother of all the living".

Answer: Sarah

Sarah, the wife of Abraham, was the mother of Isaac. According to Scripture, she was unable to conceive until the LORD blessed her with a child. This even though Sarah was ninety years old and Abraham was one hundred, as per Genesis 17:17. Scripture goes on to tell of Sarah giving birth to Isaac. Isaac would marry Rebekkah and they would have two sons.

Sarah was originally known as Sarai until the LORD changed her name. (See Genesis 17:15)

Answer: Rebekah

Rebekah was the mother of Jacob and Esau, the first documented twins in the Bible. The account of her giving birth to twin boys 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 Scripture Rebekah favored Jacob while her husband Isaac favored Esau and this resulted in major problems for the family.

Answer: Naomi

Mahlon and Chilion were sons of Naomi and were married to Orpah and Ruth, two Moabite women. (In the NIV, Chilion's name appears as Kilion.) According to Ruth 4:10, Ruth was married to Mahlon.

Scripture states the two sons died and Orpah opted to return to her homeland, but Ruth decided to stay by the side of Naomi, who was also a widow.

Answer: Hannah

Hannah was the wife of Elkanah and, like several other women in the Old Testament, she was distraught because she was unable to conceive. According to Scripture, she fervently prayed to the LORD and she was finally able to conceive, giving birth to Samuel.

1 Samuel 1:27-28, in the NKJV, quotes Hannah as stating: "For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD."

After the miraculous birth of Samuel, Scripture tells of Hannah giving birth to other sons and daughters. See 1 Samuel 2:21.

Answer: Bathsheba

Bathsheba, arguably the best known wife of David, was the mother of Solomon. She was originally the wife of Uriah and became David's wife after they had an adulterous affair and David orchestrated her husband's death. The adulterous affair led to Bathsheba giving birth to a baby boy.

However, the baby died shortly after birth and was not named. For details, see the 11th and 12th chapters of 2 Samuel.

Answer: Ruth

The birth of Obed is recorded in Ruth 4:13-17. Ruth's husband was Boaz and much of the book of Ruth in the Old Testament is devoted to their romance. Obed would become the father of Jesse, who would become the father of eight sons, with David being the youngest.

Scripture states Ruth and Orpah, two Moabite women, were both married to sons of Naomi. All three women became widows with Orpah returning to her home country and Ruth opting to stick things out with her mother-in-law. Ruth's name is listed in Matthew 1:5 as part of the genealogy of Christ.

Answer: Elizabeth

Elizabeth (also referred to as Elisabeth in the KJV) is the correct answer. Her story is told in the first chapter of Luke. Elizabeth's husband was Zacharias, who served as a priest. According to Luke 1:5, she was a descendant of Aaron. (In the NIV, Zacharias is referred to Zechariah.) Luke 1:18, in the NKJV, states Elizabeth was "well advanced in years" when she became pregnant.

Her son John would go on to prepare the way for Christ, Scripture states.

Answer: Mary

Mary is the correct answer. However, not much is known about her as Mary, the mother of John Mark, is mentioned in passing reference. She is not to be confused with several other women who were called Mary in the New Testament. The women include Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene.

Acts 12:12 confirms John Mark's mother was Mary. He was a worker in the early church and tradition holds he wrote the Gospel of Mark.

Answer: Eunice

Eunice was the mother of Timothy, as per 2 Timothy 1:5. However, little is known about her as she is mentioned in passing reference. According to Acts 16:1, she was a Jewish woman who was married to a Greek man, but his name is not given.

Timothy was a young and timid worker in the early church who labored alongside Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles.