Biblical Oddities #35 - Have You Met Your Match? Quiz

Answer: Abraham

Going strictly by Scripture, the first uncle mentioned by name in the Bible is Abraham. We know Abraham was an uncle because of information contained in Genesis 11:27 and 31 and Genesis 12:4. (At the time, Abraham was known as Abram. His name would be changed by God at a later date.)

The passages tell of Lot being Abram's nephew. In other words, Lot is the first nephew mentioned in Scripture.

(Grateful to FunTrivia quiz player Reedy who posted information along this line in a recent quiz.)

Answer: Nun

Nun is referred to by name thirty different times using the NKJV. However, practically nothing is known about him as in every case it states he was the father of Joshua. Or to be precise, when Joshua is mentioned by name in the Old Testament, it usually states "Joshua son of Nun."

It is my belief there is no one else in Scripture who has their name mentioned more times than Nun and is not part of any story or event. If anyone knows of a character who surpasses Nun in the number of times their name is mentioned in Scripture and is not part of any story or event please message me.

Answer: Delilah

Delilah became incredibly rich after she betrayed her Jewish lover, Samson.

According to Scripture she received a total of 5,500 pieces of silver from five Philistine lords. Each lord had assured Delilah they would give her 1,100 pieces of silver if she could reveal the the secret for Samson's supernatural strength.

After it was learned Samson's long hair was the secret for his phenomenal strength, his locks were cut while he was sleeping. (See Judges 16 for complete details.)

In today's money, 5,500 pieces of silver would be worth about $15 million US according to the Website Jessejoyner.com. (This quiz was compiled in 2026.)

Answer: Samson

When it comes to colorful and sordid stories in the Bible, Samson's name is often mentioned.

According to Scripture, Samson, a noted judge of Israel, was slated to be married to an unnamed Philistine woman. However, things fell apart during the wedding feast when Samson became infuriated when his new wife gave away the answer to a riddle he had been posing.

According to the account in Judges 14, Samson left the week-long wedding celebration in a huff when his wife disclosed the answer to his riddle. The bride's father in turn gave his daughter to Samson's companion, "who had been his best man." No name is given for the man.

As if this is not enough, the chapter tells of Samson going to Ashkelon and killing thirty men, taking their apparel, and giving the changes of clothing to those who had successfully answered the riddle.

As part of the riddle, Samson was to be awarded thirty changes of clothing if there was no correct answer. However, if there was a correct answer, Samson was to give thirty changes of clothing.

And people say the Bible is boring!

Answer: Gomer

Prostitutes are referred to a number of times in Scripture but only two are named -- Gomer and Rahab.

According to Hosea 1:1-8, Gomer was a harlot who was the daughter of Diblaim. She became the wife of Hosea after the prophet received divine instructions to marry a harlot to illustrate how far Israel had distanced itself from God.

Rahab, of course, was a prostitute in Jericho who gave safe haven to two Israelite spies

It should be pointed out Tamar posed as a prostitute to become impregnated by her father-in-law Judah. Incredibly, Judah thought he had sex with an unnamed prostitute and did not realize he had been intimate with his daughter-in-law.

However, there is no indication in Scripture Tamar was a prostitute in the truest sense of the word. In other words, Gomer and Rahab are the only prostitutes who are named in the Bible.

Answer: Peter

Acts 5:15-16 tell of the sick being healed by simply touching the shadow of Peter, one of the original Twelve Disciples.

The verses in the NKJV explain things this way: "...so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed."

The verses coincide with Acts 19:11-12 which tell of items like handkerchiefs that touched Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, used to heal the sick and expel evil spirits.

Answer: Ezekiel

Ezekiel is the correct answer. According to Ezekiel 4:4-8, the prophet received divine instructions to lay on his left side for 390 days and then on his right side for another 40 days.

According to Scripture, the 390 days represented Israel's iniquity and the 40 days represented Judah's iniquity.

Ezekiel 4:8 explains that Ezekiel would be restrained so that he would be unable to turn from one side to the other till he had completed his assignment.

Answer: Woman at well

The Samaritan woman at the well has the distinction of being the woman with the most husbands in the Bible.

According to John 14:6-8, Jesus correctly pointed out the woman had five husbands and the man she was living with was not her husband.

It was during the conversation with the woman Jesus made the proclamation in John 4:14 which states: "...whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."

Scripture goes on to tell of the unnamed Samaritan woman telling people in her village she had met the Messiah and many people believed in Him.

Answer: John

John was one of three disciples who fell asleep while Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. The two other disciples were Peter and John's older brother James. The three disciples were part of Christ's inner circle.

According to Scripture, the three disciples were asked by Jesus to keep watch with Him while He was fervently praying just prior to His arrest and crucifixion.

Scripture tells of Jesus returning to the three disciples on three different occasions and each time they had fallen asleep.

See Matthew 26:36-46 for details.

Answer: No name is given

No name is given in Scripture for the man who ran away naked when Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Scripture tells of the young man being grabbed by soldiers while wrapped in a linen cloth, but he slipped out of the garment and ran away naked.

Mark 14:51-52 in the Easy to Read Version explains things this way: "One of those following Jesus was a young man wearing only a linen cloth. When the people tried to grab him, he left the cloth in their hands and ran away naked."

There is no way of knowing the identity of the naked man, but many scholars believe he was none other than John Mark, the author of the Gospel of Mark.