Names, Numbers and Nephews Trivia Quiz

Answer: Noah

In the genealogies of Genesis, Nimrod - described as a mighty hunter and early ruler - is placed within the line descending from Noah after the Flood. The key passage is found in Genesis 10, often called the "Table of Nations," which traces how Noah's descendants spread across the earth.

Verse 1: "This is the account of Shem, Ham and Japheth, Noah's sons, who themselves had sons after the flood."
Verse 6: "The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put and Canaan."
Verses 8-9: "Cush was the father of Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; that is why it is said, 'Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the LORD.'"

This makes Noah the great‑grandfather of Nimrod.

Answer: Nadab and Aaron

Not every nephew and uncle relationship is highlighted in the Bible, even though lineages make it evident what some of them are.

Lot and Abraham is the first nephew/uncle relationship that receives attention in Genesis, with Lot being the son of Abraham's brother Haran. Their story is found in Genesis chapters 11 through 19.

Another famous nephew/uncle story in the Bible is Jacob staying with his mother Rebekah's brother Laban for fourteen years in order to marry Rachel and Leah (his cousins). This convoluted tale takes place in Genesis chapters 28 through 31.

Jacob eventually came to be known as Israel, and he fathered twelve sons (and a daughter) from four different women. As Esau was Jacob/Israel's brother, all twelve of the sons were his nephews, including Naphtali (the sixth son). Genesis 35:25 states, "The sons of Rachel's servant Bilhah: Dan and Naphtali."

The last option presented - Nadab and Aaron - are son and father. Aaron was famously the supportive brother to Moses during the Exodus from Egypt, but Nadab was not a child of Moses. Exodus 6:23 explains, "Aaron married Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar."

Answer: Numbers

The descriptions of Nephilim in the Bible are cryptic, at best. In the first passage in Genesis, their existence is noted in passing, as though this was something known by all:

Genesis 6:4 - "The Nephilim were on the earth in those days - and also afterward - when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown."

In the other passage Nephilim are mentioned, there is some question as to whether they were really there, or only fabricated in the report by the spies who were afraid of the people of Canaan:

Numbers 13:30-33 - "Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, 'We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.' But the men who had gone up with him said, 'We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are.' And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, 'The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.'"

Biblical scholars have different theories about the Nephilim, from being fallen angels to giants, or just a series of ancient, tyrannical rulers, albeit human ones.

Answer: Nun

There is little actually said of Joshua's father Nun, apart from where he is in the lineage from the Patriarchs. Specifically, Chronicles 7 notes that Joshua and his father Nun are from the line of Ephraim, son of Joseph (son of Israel).

Beyond that, Joshua is almost always referred to as 'son of Nun' when mentioned, dozens of times through multiple books of the Bible. Joshua is a very common - even popular - Jewish name, and the distinction of the patronymic would ensure future generations would know which Joshua it was, while also solidifying his lineage and legitimacy as a leader.

Numbers 32:28 - "Then Moses gave orders about them to Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun and to the family heads of the Israelite tribes."

Joshua (son of Nun) is significant as the divinely appointed successor to Moses and the leader who completed Israel's transition from wilderness wandering to settled nationhood in the Promised Land (Canaan). As Moses' servant and later commander, Joshua embodies faithful obedience and continuity, most clearly seen when he and Caleb alone trusted God's promise after the spying of Canaan. His leadership during the conquest - especially the fall of Jericho - symbolizes the fulfillment of God's covenant promises to Abraham and the establishment of Israel in the land.

Answer: Naomi

Naomi is central to the book of Ruth as the figure through whom themes of loss, faith, redemption, and restoration are most clearly revealed. At the beginning, she embodies deep grief and bitterness after losing her husband and sons, even telling the women of Bethlehem, "Don't call me Naomi, call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter" (Ruth 1:20). Yet, despite her suffering, she becomes the guiding force in Ruth's life, instructing her in how to seek provision and ultimately directing her toward Boaz, the kinsman-redeemer.

Naomi's transformation from despair to renewed hope is completed in the birth of Obed, when the women proclaim, "He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age" (Ruth 4:15). Through Naomi, the narrative highlights God's providence working through ordinary lives, showing how faithfulness and wise guidance can lead from emptiness to fullness, not only restoring an individual but also advancing the lineage that will lead to King David.

Answer: Nathan

The prophet Nathan plays a crucial role in the reign of King David as a messenger of God who both affirms and confronts the king. Initially, Nathan delivers God's covenant promise to David, declaring that the Lord will establish his dynasty:

2 Samuel 7:16 - "Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever."

Later, however, Nathan courageously rebukes David after his sin with Bathsheba by telling a parable that exposes the king's guilt, culminating in the direct accusation, "You are the man!" (2 Samuel 12:7). Through Nathan, God pronounces both judgment and mercy, assuring David of forgiveness while warning of consequences: "Then David said to Nathan, 'I have sinned against the Lord.' Nathan replied, 'The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord, the son born to you will die'" (2 Samuel 12:13-14).

Nathan also continues to act in an advisory role, helping secure Solomon's succession to the throne (1 Kings 1). Overall, Nathan's actions highlight the role of a true prophet as one who faithfully delivers God's word-encouraging, correcting, and guiding even the most powerful leaders.

Answer: False

False. Nebuchadnezzar and John the Baptist lived in completely different times and contexts.

Nebuchadnezzar II was the king of Babylon in the 6th century BC, best known for conquering Jerusalem and exiling the Israelites. He is closely associated with the prophet Daniel, whom he consulted to interpret dreams, such as the great statue vision (Daniel 2). Nebuchadnezzar also appears in episodes like the fiery furnace (Daniel 3) and is later humbled by God, ultimately acknowledging divine sovereignty: "His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation" (Daniel 4:34).

In contrast, the beheading of John the Baptist occurs in the New Testament during the time of the Roman Empire, about 600 years later. The responsible ruler was Herod Antipas, not Nebuchadnezzar. According to Scripture, Herod had John imprisoned because John rebuked him for marrying Herodias, his brother's wife: "For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had married. For John had been saying to Herod, 'It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife'" (Mark 6:17-18). At a banquet, Herod made a rash oath, and at the prompting of Herodias, her daughter requested John's execution: "The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her" (Mark 6:26). He then ordered that John be beheaded: "So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head" (Mark 6:27).

Answer: Nazareth

In John 1:43-51, Nathanael (later known as Bartholomew) is introduced when Philip, having just been called as a disciple by Jesus, eagerly tells him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote - Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph" (v. 45). Nathanael responds skeptically, "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" (v. 46), reflecting a common attitude of the time - Nazareth was an insignificant and somewhat disrespected town in Galilee, not associated with messianic expectations, which were often linked to Bethlehem or more prominent centers.

Philip simply replies, "Come and see" (v. 46), inviting Nathanael to encounter Jesus personally. When Nathanael does meet Him, Jesus reveals supernatural knowledge of him, saying, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you" (v. 48). This convinces Nathanael, who then confesses, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel" (v. 49).

Answer: True

Nicodemus is introduced as a Pharisee and "a member of the Jewish ruling council" (John 3:1), indicating that he was a respected religious leader and part of the Sanhedrin. He first appears when he comes to Jesus at night, acknowledging, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God" (John 3:2). In this private encounter, Jesus teaches him about the necessity of spiritual rebirth: "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again" (John 3:3). Nicodemus struggles to understand this teaching, revealing both his genuine curiosity and the limits of his spiritual perception at the time.

Later, Nicodemus shows a gradual shift in his stance. When the religious leaders argue about Jesus, he cautiously defends Him by appealing to the law: "Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?" (John 7:51). His final appearance shows a much more open commitment, as he helps prepare Jesus' body for burial, bringing costly spices: "He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes" (John 19:39). This act publicly associates him with Jesus at great personal risk. Taken together, Nicodemus' story traces a quiet but meaningful progression from hesitant inquiry to respectful defense and ultimately to courageous devotion.

Answer: Nard

The scene in John 12:1-8 takes place in Bethany at a dinner in Jesus' honour, where Mary expresses deep devotion through an extravagant act. John records that she took "about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume... poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair" and that "the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume" (John 12:3). This was not a small gesture - nard was a luxury item imported from India, and the quantity Mary used was large.

Judas Iscariot immediately objects, saying, "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages" (John 12:5). This indicates that the perfume could have equaled the income of a full year's labour, making Mary's act extraordinarily costly.

Her action was both deeply personal and symbolically significant. By anointing Jesus' feet and wiping them with her hair - a humble and intimate act - Mary demonstrates reverence, sacrifice, and love. Jesus defends her, saying, "It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial" (John 12:7), connecting her act to His approaching death. The episode highlights the contrast between true devotion and self-interest: while Judas sees wasted money, Jesus recognizes a sincere act of worship. Mary's use of the expensive nard underscores that genuine faith often involves costly, wholehearted giving in response to Christ.