Unusual Names in the Bible Trivia Quiz

Answer: "Dedicated"

Enoch was dedicated to God. He spent his life honoring God even when many people in his day were very wicked. He walked with God so closely, one day God took him. No one was ever able to find Enoch (Genesis 5:24).

Answer: "When he is dead it shall be sent"

Methuselah was the son of a prophet and the grandfather of Noah. He lived to be 969 years old. During the time he lived, people were so wicked it made God sad that he had ever created humans. Methuselah's descendant Noah, was the only righteous man God could find. Methuselah's name means "When he is dead it shall be sent".

After Methuselah died, God sent the flood that wiped out the world. Because Noah had obeyed God and built the ark, his family were the only humans that were saved (Genesis 5:25-27).

Answer: "son of my sorrow or pain"

Joseph and Benjamin's mother Rachel, died giving birth to Benjamin. Before she died, she named her son Benoni, because of her pain. Some also translate Benoni as meaning "Son of my strength". Rachel's choice for naming her son though would have reminded everyone how she died.

However their father Jacob named him Benjamin, which means "son of my old age" or "son of my right hand". Benjamin was the last son that was born to Jacob (Genesis 35:8).

Answer: "Pleasant"

Naomi's name meant "Pleasant", but she wanted to change it after she had many tragedies in her life. She had to leave her home because of famine, and not long after her family moved to Moab, her husband and sons died. She returned to Israel with her daughter-in-law Ruth, and told everyone to call her "Mirah" or "Mara", which means "sea of bitterness".

However God had a different plan. Naomi adopted Ruth as her own daughter. A man named Boaz showed kindness to Naomi and Ruth by giving them food. Eventually Boaz married Ruth. Together they had a son, and Naomi became a happy grandmother.

The story continues because Ruth became the great grandmother of King David, who was the father of many kings. God took away Naomi's grief and made her "pleasant" once again (Book of Ruth).

Answer: "Shame destroyer"

Mephibosheth had once been part of a royal family. His father, Jonathan, was King Saul's son and David's best friend. However when Saul's family lost their royal position, Mephibosheth was just a small child. His nurse dropped him and it made him crippled for life. King David wanted to show compassion years later to Saul's family.

He found out Mephibosheth was Jonathan's son. He gave him a place to live in the palace and for the rest of his days he got to eat at the king's table. Mephibosheth's shame was destroyed (2 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 9).

Answer: "The glory of God has departed"

Ichabod's father, uncle, and grandfather Eli were priests but did many bad things. God told them they would be judged for the evil they did. When their enemies attacked the Israelites, they got the idea that the ark of the covenant, which represented God's presence, would bring them victory.

However the ark got captured and they were killed. When Eli heard the news, he fell down, broke his neck, and died. Meanwhile Eli's daughter in law was giving birth. She named her son "Ichabod", because the ark had been stolen (1 Samuel 4).

Answer: "Peaceful one"

Solomon's father David, was a great king and man after God's own heart. When David died, God asked Solomon what he wanted most. Solomon asked for wisdom so he could rule the people fairly. God was so pleased He gave Solomon wisdom as well as riches and fame. Later two ladies brought Solomon a baby and Solomon had to decide who the baby belonged to.

He asked for a sword to cut the baby in half. The real mother stopped him and said to give the baby to the other woman. Solomon handed her the child, knowing that a real mother would rather give up her baby than see it killed.

His decision made him very famous (2 Chronicles 1:10-11; 1 Kings 3:16-28). Solomon's kingdom had peace for the majority of his rule, while he had his heart focused on God.

Answer: "pain"

Jabez' mother named him "Jabez" because she bore him with pain. Although birth is usually painful, names were just as important as reputations in Bible times. Every time people saw Jabez, they were reminded he had caused his mother pain. "And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that Thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that Thine hand might be with me, and that Thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested". Jabez's prayer was answered and most scholars believe he became a very respected man during his life (1 Chronicles 4:9-10).

Answer: "Clean and pure"

Ironically Zacchaeus was not living up to the "clean and pure" meaning of his name when Jesus found him. Some have even translated his name into meaning "shameful one". Tax collectors were hated because they made people pay more than they were required and kept the extra money for themselves. Zacchaeus had made himself very rich. Zacchaeus was not very tall though.

When he had heard Jesus was passing by, he climbed up a tree so he could see. Jesus called out to him and told him he would visit his house that day. Zacchaeus was so happy he told Jesus he would give everything he had stolen back to the people and live honestly. Jesus was very happy! Zacchaeus turned his life around into a "pure" and "clean" one (Luke 19).

Answer: "Whom God helps"

Lazarus had been a very close friend of Jesus. Lazarus' sisters told Jesus he was sick, but Jesus arrived four days after Lazarus had died. Martha told Jesus he should have been there sooner but Jesus said it was all part of God's plan. He had them roll the stone away and told Lazarus to come forth! It was quite a shock to everyone there when Lazarus was raised from the dead. God had helped him (John 11).