Pick a Prophet Trivia Quiz

Answer: Samuel

Samuel was dedicated to God by his mother Hannah even before he was born. When he was still a little boy, he was sent to live with the priest Eli and eventually grew to become a mighty prophet of God. He anointed Israel's first king, Saul, and later when Saul turned his heart away from God, Samuel anointed his successor, David.

Answer: Jonah

Jonah is better known for having spent three days in the belly of a big fish. The reason that Jonah went in the opposite direction to which God wanted him to, was likely because he had been called to preach to Nineveh, a Gentile nation that was then the enemy of the Israelites. Eventually he did go to Nineveh, by way of the fish, but he preferred that God would destroy the nation for their sins, rather than the nation repent and be saved. God had different plans and when the entire kingdom repented and turned to God, they were spared, an outcome that did not please Jonah.

Answer: Hosea

Hosea is classified among the Minor Prophets in the Old Testament. The name Hosea means "Salvation", but Hosea is often called the "Prophet of Doom" for his prophesies of Israel's forthcoming destruction. Hosea was commanded by God to marry a prostitute called Gomer. This was an illustration of God's continued love for a faithless Israel.

Answer: Elijah

Elijah was a prophet during the reign of King Ahab. Ahab and his queen, Jezebel, are described in the Bible as being evil and persecuting followers of God. God sent Elijah to Ahab with the message that the kingdom would endure a drought due to the king's evil ways.

This angered Ahab and Elijah fled from Israel to Jordan to escape his wrath. While Elijah was hiding out, he was fed by ravens. This Biblical account inspired a painting by Italian artist, Giovanni Lanfranco.

Answer: Haggai

Haggai is another one among the twelve Minor Prophets of the Bible. Zachariah, Malachi, and Haggai are prophets belonging to the post-exile period of the Israelites. Haggai is known for encouraging the Israelites to rebuild the temple of God.

Answer: Elisha

Elisha was a disciple of Elijah and was with him when the latter was taken up into heaven in a whirlwind or chariot of fire. Before Elijah left, he blessed Elisha with a double portion of his own blessings. Naaman was a commander of the Syrian army who was stricken with leprosy.

His wife had an Israelite servant girl who suggested that Elisha may be able to heal Naaman's sickness. Elisha directed Naaman to bathe seven times in the River Jordan, after which he would be cured. Naaman followed these instructions and was healed.

Answer: Jeremiah

The book of Jeremiah is found after Isaiah in the Bible. Jeremiah is one of the Major Prophets. Known as the "weeping prophet", he is also credited with writing the book of Lamentations. At the time of Jeremiah's ministry, the people of Israel had wandered far away from God. He was therefore called to preach repentance to the people, a message that did not make him very popular.

Answer: Nathan

David was called by God as a 'man after his own heart'. Despite his close relationship with God, he fell into sin when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and then had her husband killed in battle. The prophet Nathan was sent by God to rebuke David and show him the error of his ways. David repented and ultimately a son born to him by Bathsheba succeeded him as king.

Answer: Isaiah

Isaiah is believed to have lived and preached during the 8th century BC. At the beginning of the book of Isaiah, an angel touches Isaiah's lips with a burning coal and "purifies him of his sins". Isaiah is known for prophesying the birth of the Messiah. It is in this book that it is first prophesied that the Messiah will be known as Immanuel which means "God with us".

Note that scholars now believe the book of Isaiah to have been written by three separate persons given the time period it spans, which is approximately 200 years.

Answer: John the Baptist

John the Baptist is the last of the prophets and the only one in the New Testament. He was born to Elizabeth, cousin of Mary, when both she and her husband had reached advanced age without bearing any children. John was the forerunner to Christ, calling on the people to repent and turn to the kingdom of God.