Quotations by Bible Characters Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Inscribed on the marble walls of the lobby of the CIA Headquarters are the words "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.". In which book of the Bible are these words found?

Answer: Gospel of John

The verse is found in John's gospel, chapter 8, verse 32. The CIA HQ building is in Langley, Virginia. In the courtyard there are three original panels of the Berlin wall, covered in anti-communist graffiti.

2. Who wrote that "one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as one day."?

Answer: Peter

See II Peter 3, verse 8. Moses makes a similar observation in Psalm 90, verse 4, when he says "For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past,".

3. Who said "if I perish, I perish."?

Answer: Esther

Esther was preparing to plead for the Jews, following the declaration by King Ahasuerus that they should all be be put to death (Esther 3, verses 12 - 13). She said "and so will I go into the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish." (Esther 4, verse 16).

4. "Am I my brother's keeper?" was said by whom?

Answer: Cain

Cain had murdered his brother Abel because God had respected Abel's offering, but had not respected his own. God asked him where his brother was and he replied "I know not: am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4, verse 9).

5. The folksinger Pete Seeger had a hit record with "To everything (turn, turn, turn)". This included the words "there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven", but who originally said these words?

Answer: Solomon

Someone calling himself the Preacher wrote the Book of Ecclesiastes, which in chapter 3 contains this well known piece of poetry. Some sources claim that Ecclesiastes was written long after Solomon's death, but chapter 1, verse 1 clearly states they are the words of the son of David, and verse 12 states "I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem." so there really isn't much doubt who first spoke the words.

6. Which king saw a disjointed hand write the following words on his palace wall:- "MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN."?

Answer: Belshazzar

This frightening scenario is recorded in Daniel, chapter 5. Daniel interpreted the meaning of the words for the king, advising Belshazzar that his kingdom was about to fall and be divided between the Medes and Persians. Belshazzar was slain that same night. The 17th century painter Rembrandt recorded the scene in his famous painting "Belshazzar's Feast", which can be seen at the National Gallery in London, England.

7. After meeting a Roman centurion, who said, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respector of persons"?

Answer: Peter

Cornelius was both a centurion, and "A devout man, and one that feared God" (Acts 10, verses 1 - 2). Peter was amazed at the faith of Cornelius, and then realised that God was the God of both Jews and Gentiles. The words in the question are in Acts 10, verse 34.

8. A non-English phrase quoted in the King James and other English language versions of the Bible is "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?". Who cried these words?

Answer: Jesus

To many Christians this must be the most profound phrase in the Bible. It appears to be the precise moment when Jesus was for the first time in his life forsaken by God, and took upon himself the sins of all mankind. Jesus said these words from the cross, and they mean "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34).

This is interpreted as being the same phrase by David in Psalms 22:1, though not, of course, in such dramatic circumstances.

9. Who said, "Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God"?

Answer: Ruth

Ruth made this commitment to her mother-in-law Naomi after the deaths of both of their husbands. Ruth went on to marry Boaz, and become the great-grandmother of King David. Her words are recorded in Ruth 1, verse 16.

10. The following words are sung in "Messiah", the famous musical work by George Frideric Handel: "Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Which Old Testament prophet originally said them?

Answer: Isaiah

The words are found in Isaiah 9, verse 6, prophesying the future coming of the Messiah.

11. George Frideric Handel wrote the beautiful air for soprano "I know that my redeemer liveth". The Bible verse from which these words originate is "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:". Which Old Testament character said these words?

Answer: Job

Job was going through a very trying time, losing his wealth, family and health. In spite of this he retains his faith in God, who eventually restores everything to him. Job 19, verse 25 is where this statement is recorded.

12. "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" was said by whom when he was first told about Jesus?

Answer: Nathanael

Nathanael said this when Philip first informed him about Jesus. Jesus, on meeting Nathanael, said, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!". The meeting is recorded in John 1, verses 45 - 47.

13. Who wrote, "He that spareth his rod hateth his son"?

Answer: Solomon

This is clearly a proverb, and is taken from the Old Testament book "Proverbs" (Proverbs 13, verse 24). Most, but not all of the proverbs were written by King Solomon, and the modern saying "spare the rod and spoil the child" comes from this quotation.

14. Who said, "Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts"?

Answer: king Lemuel

Not all of the book of Proverbs is ascribed to Solomon. Chapter 31 records the words of king Lemuel, and verse 6 is where this quotation is recorded.

15. To whom was the apostle Paul writing, when he said, "For the love of money is the root of all evil"?

Answer: Timothy

The words are contained in 1 Timothy 6, verse 10. Paul must have been very fond of Timothy, as he begins this epistle by calling Timothy "my own son in the faith", and in his second epistle to Timothy he calls him "my dearly beloved son". Note that Paul says it is the love of money, not just money itself which is the root of all evil.

Source: Author picqero

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ArleneRimmer before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Even to non-Christians many of the quotes and statements in the Bible are well known, but who actually said or wrote them, or to whom were they first addressed? Quotations where shown are from the King James version of the Bible.

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