50 free King David trivia questions with answers — trivia quiz, new questions added Aug 2026.
From the shepherd boy with a sling to the old king choosing his heir, David gets more pages in the Bible than almost anyone. These Bible trivia questions about David follow the Books of Samuel, Kings and Chronicles: his anointing, Goliath, his years on the run from Saul, his friendship with Jonathan, Jerusalem and the Ark, Bathsheba and Nathan, Absalom's revolt, and his legacy in the Psalms, in Islam and in art. Good for Sunday school, youth group or a church quiz night. Every answer is sourced, with a short explanation so you learn something even when you miss.
30 of 50 questions with answers and explanations. Play the quiz
Q 01David was the youngest of how many sons of Jesse?
Eight
Both 1 Samuel and 1 Chronicles identify him as the youngest of eight.
Q 02David's father Jesse came from which town?
Bethlehem
Early Christians noted that it was the birthplace of both David and Jesus.
Q 03The Book of Ruth names David as the great-grandson of Ruth and which man?
Boaz
Ruth was a Moabite, making David part-foreign by descent.
Q 04Which prophet was sent by God to anoint the young David as king?
Samuel
Saul had forfeited God's favour by offering an unlawful sacrifice and sparing the Amalekites' property.
Q 05What was David's job before he entered Saul's service?
Shepherd
Tradition says he herded his father's sheep while his brothers were in school.
Q 06David first entered Saul's court to do what?
Play the lyre to soothe him
An evil spirit tormented Saul, and a servant recommended the skilful young musician.
Q 07Which giant Philistine warrior did David kill to become a hero?
Goliath
He felled the champion with a sling stone and then beheaded him with the giant's own sword.
Q 08David refused Saul's armour and faced the Philistine giant with what weapon?
A sling
He had been sent by his father to bring provisions to his brothers in Saul's army.
Q 09How many smooth stones did David pick from the brook before the duel?
Five
Church tradition later read the five stones as symbols of the five wounds of Christ.
Q 10The duel between David and the Philistine giant took place in which valley?
Elah
The Israelites then chased the Philistines "as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron".
Q 11According to the Masoretic Text, how tall was the Philistine giant?
Six cubits and a span
That is about 9 feet 9 inches; the Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint give a more modest four cubits and a span.
Q 12Which son of Saul loved David and warned him of his father's plots?
Jonathan
David later said his friend's love was "sweeter than the love of a woman".
Q 13Which daughter of Saul became David's wife?
Michal
Saul first offered his elder daughter Merab, whom David declined.
Q 14Fleeing Saul, David received the slain giant's sword from the priest Ahimelech at which place?
Q 21After Saul died, in which city was David first anointed king over Judah?
Hebron
Saul's son Ish-bosheth was made king in the north, and civil war followed until his murder.
Q 22Which of Saul's sons was anointed rival king of Israel in the north?
Ish-bosheth
After his murder the elders of Israel came to David and made him king over all the tribes.
Q 23Which city did David conquer from the Jebusites and make his capital?
Jerusalem
He then brought the Ark of the Covenant there, intending to build a temple.
Q 24What sacred object did David bring to his new capital?
Nob
From there he went to Gath, the giant's own city, to seek refuge with King Achish.
Q 15In which cave did David's family join him while he hid from Saul?
Adullam
It became the base where his band of followers gathered.
Q 16In a cave at Ein Gedi, what did David secretly cut from Saul instead of killing him?
A piece of his robe
He used the scrap of cloth to prove he meant the king no harm, and the two were reconciled.
Q 17Sneaking into Saul's camp at night, David took the king's spear and what else?
A jug of water
He refused to "stretch out his hand against the Lord's anointed" despite Abishai's urging.
Q 18Which Philistine king of Gath gave David the town of Ziklag?
Achish
David raided desert tribes while letting Achish believe he was attacking Israelites.
Q 19Psalm 34 is linked to David escaping a king by doing what?
Pretending to be insane
The king asked, "Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here?"
Q 20Which wealthy man's widow, Abigail, became one of David's wives?
Nabal
Nabal the Carmelite had refused David's men provisions before his sudden death.
The Ark of the Covenant
He wanted to build a temple for it, but the prophet forbade him, promising a son would build it instead.
Q 25Why was David denied the chance to build the temple himself?
The bloodshed of his reign
His son would build it instead; the task fell to the future king he chose as heir.
Q 26Which prophet promised that David's "throne shall be established forever"?
Nathan
The same prophet later rebuked David over Uriah's death with a parable about a stolen lamb.
Q 27Which woman did David see bathing from his roof while his army besieged Rabbah?
Bathsheba
She became pregnant, and David arranged her husband's death in battle.
Q 28Uriah the Hittite, the husband sent to die at the front, fought for which side?
Israel's army
David recalled him from the siege hoping he would sleep with his wife; when he would not, David sent him to the front.
Q 29The prophet rebuked David's adultery with a parable about a rich man stealing what?
A poor man's lamb
David condemned the rich man before realising "you are the man".
Q 30What punishment did the prophet pronounce on David after the affair?
"The sword shall never depart from your house"
The child of the affair died and his son Absalom later rebelled.