Can You Give Us the Biblical Pair If We Give You a Hint?

RELIGION

By: Brittany Rowland

7 Min Quiz

Image: duncan1890/ DigitalVision Vectors/ Getty Images

About This Quiz

There's an old Chinese saying, "Good things come in pairs," and that rule seems to apply to the Bible, too. Many of the most memorable figures in the Bible appear in pairs. After all, you can't talk about Adam without bringing up his wife, Eve! And Samson's story isn't complete if Delilah isn't in there, too!

Many biblical pairs are related in some way, either as spouses, siblings or parent and child. That's because the Bible is as much about the relationships between people as it is about the relationship between God and humankind. And relationships between people are often flawed or tested by adversity. Take Joseph and his brothers, for example. Joseph was his father's favorite son, and his brothers despised him for it — so much so that they sold Joseph into slavery and told their father he was dead. If that's not a troubling story of sibling rivalry, we don't know what is! And yet, Joseph forgave his brothers, showing that redemption is always possible, even in the unlikeliest of situations. 

So, let's see how well you fare at identifying these pairs. We'll be mightily impressed if you can get more than 20 correct! 

They were brothers, until one murdered the other. Do you remember this pair?

The first brother relationship in the Bible didn't turn out so well! Cain killed Abel out of jealousy and gave God an insolent reply: "Am I my brother's keeper?" His punishment was a lifetime of wandering.

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These twins had their differences. Then one stole the birthright from the other. What are their names?

Jacob was born second, but he used some deceptive tactics to steal his brother's birthright as the firstborn son. He put lamb's skin on his arms to trick his blind father, Isaac, into thinking he was Esau!

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This married couple could have used some counseling! The wife betrayed her husband by revealing the source of his power. Who are they?

According to the Book of Judges, Samson was a judge who possessed superhuman strength as long as he never cut his hair. But he told Delilah his secret, and she promptly betrayed him to the Philistines.

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This married couple raised Jesus to be a carpenter before he went on to other things. What are their names?

Joseph and Mary were engaged when Mary had a visit from an angel who told her she would bear the son of God. Joseph had his own heavenly messenger tell him not to abandon Mary, but to take care of her and Jesus.

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These two disciples of Jesus were brothers nicknamed the "sons of thunder." Who are they?

When Jesus recruited James and John to be among his disciples, he nicknamed them the "sons of thunder" ⁠— suggesting something about their personalities! Yes, they could be brazen, but they were faithful, too.

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These brothers had the same father (Abraham) but different mothers (Sarah and Hagar). Can you name them?

At Sarah's urging, Abraham had a son with Hagar, Sarah's servant. But when Ishmael was a teenager, Sarah had her own son, Isaac, and told Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away. Talk about family drama!

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Can you name this couple, the parents of John the Baptist?

When an angel told Zechariah that he and his wife Elizabeth would have a son, Zechariah couldn't believe it ⁠— they were both old! Because Zechariah doubted the angel's message, God rendered him mute until his son was born. Zechariah named him John.

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Everyone expected the Philistine giant to win, not the shepherd boy ⁠— but they were in for a surprise! Who is this pair?

When David volunteered to fight Goliath, a fearsome giant in the Philistine army, no one thought he had a chance. But the boy, armed only with a slingshot, took down the giant thanks to his faith in God.

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Hark! These two angels of God have a lot to do in the Bible ⁠— one as a messenger and one as a warrior. Can you name them?

Although angels appear throughout the Bible, Gabriel and Michael are two primary ones who have names. Gabriel is the messenger who tells Mary she will bear Jesus, and Michael fights for God with his flaming sword.

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This widow and her mother-in-law kept a special bond. Who are they?

After Ruth's husband died, she refused to leave her mother-in-law, Naomi, insisting that Naomi's people and God would become her own. For her faithfulness, God protected her and helped her find a new husband.

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Although this king enjoys the harp player's music, he throws a spear at the man three times! Can you name this pair?

King Saul and David had a complicated relationship! While David served faithfully in Saul's army and won the hand of Saul's daughter, Saul kept attempting to kill him, apparently jealous of his power.

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Can you name these two sisters, who both married Jacob?

Jacob, who tricked his brother Esau out of his birthright, gets his comeuppance. Laban tricks Jacob into marrying Leah instead of Rachel and then offers Rachel, too, if Jacob will work for him.

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This pair had it good in the Garden of Eden until they got kicked out! Can you name them?

God created Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, in the Book of Genesis and gave them dominion over the Garden of Eden. But, of course, they couldn't resist eating that forbidden fruit!

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Moses had two siblings. Can you identify them?

Although Moses is a central figure in the Book of Exodus, his siblings, Aaron and Miriam, also had their special roles. Aaron was a high priest who helped Moses lead his people, and Miriam was a prophetess.

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These two sisters of Lazarus had different ideas when it came to hosting Jesus. Who are they?

When Jesus came to stay at Mary and Martha's house, Martha stayed busy cleaning and cooking, while Mary just sat and listened to Jesus' words. Martha scolded her sister, but Jesus gently defended Mary.

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God promised this married couple a son, even though they were both advanced in age. Can you name them?

Sarah laughed in disbelief when she overheard a man tell Abraham that they would have a son. And lo and behold, when she did give birth to a son, they named him Isaac, which means "laughter."

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Which married couple had twin sons?

Abraham sent out a servant to find a woman worthy of his son, Isaac. The servant knew Rebekah was the one when she offered water to both him and his camels. She and Isaac then had twins, Jacob and Esau.

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Jacob had 12 sons total, but two were with his wife, Rachel. What are their names?

Joseph and Benjamin were Jacob's two youngest sons. Joseph's older brothers sold him into slavery, but he soon became Pharaoh's right-hand man. Joseph was later reunited with his brothers, whom he forgave.

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God destroyed this pair of cities with fire and brimstone because of their wickedness. Do you remember their names?

Abraham asked God to spare Sodom and Gomorrah if there were at least 10 good people living there. But apparently the cities didn't pass this test because they were both destroyed.

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One led his people to freedom, and the other was his wife. Who are they?

After Moses fled Egypt, he wound up in Midian, where he met Jethro, a priest and shepherd. Because Moses defended Jethro's daughters from other shepherds, Jethro gave Moses his daughter Zipporah as a wife.

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A woman welcomed a Canaanite commander into her tent, but as he slept, she drove a nail into his head. Who is this pair?

According to the Book of Judges, King Jabin of Canaan was at war with the Israelites. Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, took refuge with Heber the Kenite, but Heber's wife, Jael, killed him in his sleep.

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What pair of missionaries were imprisoned in Philippi ⁠— until God sent an earthquake?

In Acts of the Apostles, Paul and Silas were falsely imprisoned in Phililppi for causing a public scene. However, at midnight, an earthquake shook the jail and broke the prisoners' chains.

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When Jesus' parents presented him at the Temple as an infant, this pair recognized him as the Messiah. Who are they?

It was Jewish tradition for parents to present their firstborn sons at the Temple. Simeon and Anna were two devout Jews, and when they saw the infant Jesus, they thanked God for showing them the Messiah.

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This married couple served as missionaries with the Apostle Paul. Can you name them?

Priscilla and Aquila were mentioned as a couple several times in the New Testament. They were friends of St. Paul and appeared to hold equal status as important missionaries of Christianity.

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A Persian king married a Jewish woman, making her queen. Who is this couple?

Esther was a Jewish woman who kept her background a secret until Haman threatened her people. Esther then appealed to her husband, Ahasuerus, to spare her people. He obliged and had Haman killed instead.

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Can you name the pair of midwives who disobeyed Pharaoh's orders to kill the Hebrews' baby boys?

Puah and Shiphrah refused to kill newborn baby boys as Pharaoh commanded. So they concocted a lie, saying that Hebrew women delivered their babies quicker than Egyptian women, before the midwives could arrive.

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These two Israelite men had faith that God would lead them into the Promised Land after their escape from slavery in Egypt. Who are they?

Joshua and Caleb were among the scouts who explored Canaan. While the other scouts feared that Canaan was too heavily fortified, Joshua and Caleb believed that God would bring them into the Promised Land.

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To feed a large crowd of followers, Jesus multiplied these two types of food. What are they?

According to the Gospels, a multitude of 5,000 people came to hear Jesus speak. Jesus wished to feed the people but only had five loaves and two fish. After some prayers to God, though, the food was enough!

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Joseph, the son of Jacob, had two sons of his own. What are their names?

Joseph had two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, with his Egyptian wife, Asenath. Later, Joseph's father, Jacob, adopted Manasseh and Ephraim and shared his inheritance with them as well as with his own sons.

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While imprisoned, Joseph interpreted the dreams of these two fellow prisoners. Who were they?

Joseph had a knack for interpreting dreams. He told the cup-bearer he would be restored to his former position in three days. The baker, though, would be executed in three days. Joseph was right, as always.

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After the Great Flood, Noah sent out which two types of birds?

After the ark rested on Mount Ararat, Noah needed to know whether the flood had subsided enough for him to leave the boat. So he sent out first a raven, then a dove, to "test the waters."

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In the Gospel of Matthew, these two people walk on water. Who are they?

The disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee on a boat when it started to storm. They were afraid but then saw Jesus walking on the water toward them. Jesus even encouraged Peter to try walking himself!

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While the Israelites wandered the desert, God provided them with which two types of food?

Have you heard of the expression "manna from heaven"? The Lord heard the Israelites grumbling about being hungry, so he sent down manna and quail for them to eat. They ate that for 40 years in the desert!

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These two prophets appear with Jesus on the mountain during the Transfiguration. Do you remember who they are?

The Transfiguration is a major event in the New Testament, during which Jesus climbs a mountain to pray and becomes radiant with light. Moses and Elijah appear with him, and God calls him "Son."

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One prophet was taken away in a chariot of fire, and the other prophet became his successor. Who are they?

The time came for Elijah to go to heaven, but Elisha didn't want to leave his side. So Elisha was there when a chariot of fire took Elijah away, and Elisha asked for Elijah's powers, which he received.

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The Promised Land is also called the land of these two foods. What are they?

When God appeared to Moses in the form of a burning bush, he promised to lead the Hebrews to a land flowing with milk and honey. This was the Promised Land that God had first promised to Abraham.

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This married couple withheld money from the apostles and were struck down dead. What are their names?

In Acts of the Apostles, Ananias and Sapphira sold their land to give the money to the apostles. However, they secretly withheld a portion for themselves. Peter called them on it, and God struck them down dead.

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Jesus performs his first miracle at a wedding, turning this substance into another substance. Can you name them?

Jesus, his mother and his disciples were at a wedding in Cana when Mary told Jesus that the host was out of wine. So Jesus performed his first miracle, changing water into a fine wine.

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This king had an affair with a married woman and later marries her. Can you identify them?

David impregnated a married woman, Bathsheba, and then conspired to have her husband, Uriah, killed in battle. David's sins came back to haunt him when his favorite son, Absalom, was killed.

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There are dozens of books in the Bible, but only two are named after women. Can you identify them?

The Protestant Bible features many notable women, but only two had books named after them in the Old Testament: Ruth and Esther. The Catholic Bible, however, also features the Book of Judith.

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