Q 01/05

Genesis is the first book of the Hebrew Bible; what does its Hebrew name 'Bereshit' mean?

A) In the beginning

B) Let there be

C) The first light

D) Heaven and earth

Answer · why

A) In the beginning

In the beginning is the famous rendering of Bereshit, the book's first word, but the Jewish Publication Society's translation opens 'When God began to...

Q 02/05

What did the dove carry back to Noah's ark in its beak?

A) A fig leaf

B) An olive leaf

C) A palm frond

D) A vine leaf

Answer · why

B) An olive leaf

An olive leaf, freshly plucked, so Noah knew the flood waters had gone down; a week later he sent the dove out again.

Q 03/05

In how many days or stages does Genesis 1 say God created the heavens and the earth before resting?

A) Six

B) Twelve

C) Seven

D) Three

Answer · why

A) Six

The rest on the seventh day is the basis of the Sabbath.

Q 04/05

Genesis 1 says God made the birds on the same day as which other animals?

A) Farm animals

B) Sea creatures

C) Wild beasts

D) The first humans

Answer · why

B) Sea creatures

Sea creatures: God blessed the swimmers and fliers with 'Be fruitful, and multiply', the same words he later spoke to the first humans.

Q 05/05

According to Genesis 2, God formed the first man from what?

A) A lump of stone

B) Dust

C) A rib

D) Clay from the river

Answer · why

B) Dust

Dust of the ground, and after the forbidden fruit God told him, 'for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return'.