FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!

Ecclesiastes Trivia Quiz

Herman Melville said in "Moby Dick" that Ecclesiastes was the truest of all books. See how much you know about it in this 15 question quiz.

A multiple-choice quiz by skylarb. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
skylarb

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
111,986

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
8 / 15

Plays
1806

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Last 3 plays: bradez (2/15), Guest 137 (12/15), Guest 73 (10/15).

This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a or as shown below.
Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key.

1. Who is traditionally attributed with writing Ecclesiastes? Hint

David

Solomon

Samuel

Lemeul

NEXT>

2. To what genre of literature does Ecclesiastes belong? Hint

Epistle

History

Wisdom

Prophecy

NEXT>

3. True or False: The term Qoheleth, translated preacher in the KJV, appears only in Ecclesiastes, and not in any other canonical Jewish writings.

True

False

NEXT>

4. Complete this quote: "Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher, vanity of vanities; ____________." (KJV)

Answer: (Three Words, KJV)

NEXT>

5. What does the Hebrew word translated vanity in the KJV literally mean? Hint

breath/vapor

pride

nothing

hollowness/emptiness

NEXT>

6. Which of the following verses does NOT come from Ecclesiastes? Hint

That which is crooked cannot be made straight

The crooked shall be made straight

Who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?

All of these can be found in Ecclesiasties

NEXT>

7. Complete this verse: "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven . . . A time to mourn, and a time to ____." Hint

dance

love

cry

rejoice

NEXT>

8. Complete this verse: "He hath made everything beautiful in his ____" Hint

way

time

world

creation

NEXT>

9. Which of the following should every man do, according to Ecclesiastes 3:13? Hint

sin

drink

pray

fast

NEXT>

10. True or False: This quote comes from Ecclesiastes--"All are of the dust, and all turn to dust again."

True

False

NEXT>

11. To what does Ecclesiastes say there is no end? Hint

the corruption of man

the love of a friend

the anger of God

the making of books

NEXT>

12. What is "the whole duty of man," according to Ecclesiastes? Hint

Fear God

Both of these

Keep his commands

Neither of these

NEXT>

13. Ecclesiastes is written in: Hint

1st person

2nd person

1st and 3rd person

3rd person

NEXT>

14. The author to whom Ecclesiastes is attributed is also thought to have written Proverbs and what other book?

Answer: (Three Words)

15. In the 12th chapter of Ecclesiastes, the preacher uses an extended metaphor to describe the decay associated with old age. According to Jewish tradition, what are the "keepers of the house" in this metaphor? Hint

hands and arms

the eyes

the teeth

the legs

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

Select a User ID:

Choose a Password:

Your Email:

Most Recent Scores

Sep 28 2023 : bradez: 2/15
Sep 27 2023 : Guest 137: 12/15
Sep 26 2023 : Guest 73: 10/15
Sep 24 2023 : Guest 74: 11/15
Sep 23 2023 : Guest 172: 14/15
Sep 23 2023 : Guest 92: 9/15
Sep 22 2023 : Guest 166: 11/15
Sep 21 2023 : Guest 2: 8/15
Sep 17 2023 : Guest 103: 7/15

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who is traditionally attributed with writing Ecclesiastes?

Answer: Solomon

The speaker calls himself "Son of David, King in Jerusalem," which, if believed, can only mean Solomon. Some scholars, however, argue that the author is only using Solomon as a persona, and that the work actually belongs to another, anonymous author.

2. To what genre of literature does Ecclesiastes belong?

Answer: Wisdom

Other works of Wisdom literature include the Psalms, Job, and Proverbs.

3. True or False: The term Qoheleth, translated preacher in the KJV, appears only in Ecclesiastes, and not in any other canonical Jewish writings.

Answer: True

The word is used seven times in Ecclesiastes. Martin Luther was perhaps the first to translate into a word which, in German, means the equivalent of "the preacher."

4. Complete this quote: "Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher, vanity of vanities; ____________." (KJV)

Answer: all is vanity

Ecclesiastes 1:2 states the theme of the book. All is vanity, Solomon concludes after a long life of sampling all the world has to offer. The only thing that remains, therefore, is to fear God and obey his commands. "This," he concludes, "is the whole duty of man."

5. What does the Hebrew word translated vanity in the KJV literally mean?

Answer: breath/vapor

"Hebel" is the Hebrew word used. It is repeated over 30 times in this book. The NIV translates the word as "meaningless."

6. Which of the following verses does NOT come from Ecclesiastes?

Answer: The crooked shall be made straight

"The crooked shall be made straight" comes from Isaiah 40:4. The other verses are both in Ecclesiastes (1:15, 7:13).

7. Complete this verse: "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven . . . A time to mourn, and a time to ____."

Answer: dance

See Ecclesiastes 3:1-4. The Byrds made a popular song out of this passage.

8. Complete this verse: "He hath made everything beautiful in his ____"

Answer: time

Ecclesiastes 3:11.

9. Which of the following should every man do, according to Ecclesiastes 3:13?

Answer: drink

"...every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour; it is the gift of God."

10. True or False: This quote comes from Ecclesiastes--"All are of the dust, and all turn to dust again."

Answer: True

This verse (3:20) is similar to the verse in Genesis 3:19.

11. To what does Ecclesiastes say there is no end?

Answer: the making of books

Ecl. 12:12: "Of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh."

12. What is "the whole duty of man," according to Ecclesiastes?

Answer: Both of these

This is the "conclusion of the whole matter." (12:13)

13. Ecclesiastes is written in:

Answer: 1st and 3rd person

The preacher speaks of himself in both first person (i.e. "I the Preacher was King") and in third person (i.e. "Moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught...").

14. The author to whom Ecclesiastes is attributed is also thought to have written Proverbs and what other book?

Answer: Song of Songs

Two books that faced serious opposition before the Hebrew canon was solidified were Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes.

Answer: hands and arms

12:3: "In the day when the keepers of the house [hands and arms] shall tremble, and the strong men [legs] shall bow themselves, and the grinders [teeth] cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows [eyes] be darkened." According to the KJV Parallel Bible Commentary (Ed. Edward E. Hindson), this explanation can be found in the Talmud, B. Shad., 152 A; Midrash; Ibn Exra.

Source: Author skylarb

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

Related Quizzes

This quiz is part of series From Judges to Ecclesiastes:

My quizzes on Old Testament books from Judges to Ecclesiastes.

  1. Judges Tough
  2. Ruth: A Touching Love Story Average
  3. Delving into Esther Average
  4. Job Average
  5. About the Psalms Tough
  6. Ecclesiastes Tough
  7. Which Happened First? Tough