Biblical Oddities #40 -- Have You Met Your Match? Quiz

Answer: David

After Jesus, the most common name in the Bible is David, a noted king of Israel.

Using the NKJV, the name Jesus appears 1,043 times while the name David appears 990 times. The figures change depending on the Bible version used, but David`s name always finishes second to Jesus.

Interestingly, David's name appears 56 times in the New Testament, using the NKJV.

The third most commonly-mentioned name in the Bible is Moses which appears 798 times using the NKJV.

Answer: Obadiah

Obadiah was a double agent. Although he served as a palace administrator for the wicked King Ahab and his evil wife Jezebel, he played a key role in helping save the lives of prophets of God.

According to 1 Kings 18:4, Obadiah hid 100 of the LORD'S prophets in two caves while Jezebel was hell-bent to kill them.

Despite serving a corrupt king, Obadiah remained loyal to God. According to notes in the NKJV Study Bible, Obadiah means "servant of Yahweh."

Obadiah in this case is not to be confused with the man called Obadiah who wrote a book that bears his name in the Minor Prophets section of the Old Testament.

Answer: Isaiah

Isaiah is the correct answer. And before we go any further, yes, Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz is the longest name in the NKJV Bible.

According to Scripture, Isaiah received divine instructions to give the unusual name to his son. Notes in the NKJV Study Bible state the name means 'Speed the Spoil, Hasten the Booty'.

Scripture states the name was to foretell of the plunder of Damascus and Samaria by the king of Assyria.

Isaaih 8:3-4 in the NKJV states: "Then I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the LORD said to me, 'Call his name Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz; for before the child shall have knowledge to cry 'My father' and 'My mother,' the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be taken away before the king of Assyria.'"

Answer: Zaphenath-Paneah

Joseph was given the name Zaphenath-Paneah by the Pharaoh of Egypt. At the time, Joseph was the second most powerful man in the country, this even though he started life in Egypt as a slave in the house of Potiphar. Then he was tossed into prison on false charges of attempted rape by Potiphar's unnamed wife.

Things changed dramatically for Joseph, however, when the Pharaoh learned the young Hebrew was highly successful at interpreting dreams.

According to notes in the NKJV Study Bible, Zaphenath-Paneah probably means 'The God Speaks and Lives'.

Genesis 41:45 also states Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, became Joseph's wife. According to Verse 46, Joseph was 30 years old at the time.

Answer: Belteshazzar

Daniel was given the name Belteshazzar by the chief official of Babylon, as per Daniel 1:7.

The same verse tells of Daniel's three friends getting new names. Hananiah was called Shadrach, Mishael was called Meshach and Azariah was called Abednego.

The name Belteshazzar is not to be confused with the name Belshazzar. According to Scripture, Belshazzar was the king of Babylon who saw the fingers of a man's hand write a message on the wall at a gala banquet he hosted. For further information, see the fifth chapter of Daniel.

Answer: Shem

Shem is the correct answer. Noah had three sons --- Shem, Ham and Japheth. However, it was through the lineage of Shem and his offspring Jesus was born.

According to Scripture, it was through Shem the lineage of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was created which eventually led to the birth of the Messiah.

Answer: Esau

Going strictly by Scripture, Esau and Jacob were the first set of twins born with Esau being the first one out of his mother's womb. Details can be found in Genseis 25:25-26.

Their mother was Rebekah and their father was Isaac.

According to Scripture, Isaac preferred Esau while Jacob was Rebekah's favorite and this would lead to problems later in life.

Answer: Zerah

Zerah and Perez were the second set of twins born in the Bible, with their mother being Tamar. Incredibly, the father of the boys was Judah, the father-in-law of Tamar.

According to Scripture, a red thread was tied to Zerah's wrist at birth.

Genesis 38:28-30 in the NKJV explains the highly unusual situation that led to the red thread being applied to Zerah: "And so it was, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, 'This one came out first.' Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, 'How did you break through? This breach be upon you!' Therefore his name was called Perez. Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called Zerah."

Answer: Herod

Herod is the correct answer. According to Acts 12:21-23, Herod was struck dead in a case of divine retribution and he "was eaten by worms."

Scripture tells of Herod accepting the worship of people who proclaimed him to be a god instead of giving the glory to God.

Acts 12:22-23 in the NKJV states: "And the people kept shouting, 'The voice of a god and not of a man!' Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died."

According to various Websites, the Jewish historian Josephus also recorded the sudden and painful death of Herod Agrippa around 44 AD, "noting severe abdominal pain before he died five days later, though written with slightly different narrative details."

Answer: John the Baptist

John the Baptist was quite a character. According to Matthew 3:4, John "was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey."

Scripture goes on to tell of John preaching a message of repentance and baptizing scores of people in the Jordan River, all in the preparation for the arrival Jesus Christ.

Although he is only mentioned in the New Testament, some Christians see John as the last of the Old Testament prophets.