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About This Quiz
Bible stories are already powerful with their strong characters, moral dilemmas and lessons learned. Once painted on canvas, these Bible stories come to life -- the triumphs and tragedies within the scenes evoke passionate emotions. These feeling are further heightened by the visual interpretations from the artistic masters of the times. From Rembrandt to Chagall to Salvador Dalí, the masters apply light, color, and perspective to draw viewers in and take their breath away.
Historically, these paintings held an important role in society. Biblical images were valued both as lessons for the unlettered and to enhance the experience of the faithful. In a society that laid great emphasis on religion, artists performed an indispensable service. Thankfully, they had many narratives from which to choose. The accounts and testimony from The Old Testament and The New Testament are numerous, with subjects that were as delicate as an angel, or as anguished as Abraham when sacrificing his only son.
It's amazing how some scenes can invoke an entire biblical story -- Noah's Ark, The Crucifixion, Cain and Abel -- to name a few. Test your knowledge and your recall of your favorite Bible stories. You'll also be enchanted at the paintings that depict them. Challenge yourself by taking this quiz right now.
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
Rebecca and Eliezer at the Well
The Blinding of Samson
Rembrandt painted The Blinding of Samson in 1636. It depicts Delilah, who has just cut off Samson’s hair, which makes Samson lose his power. It also shows Delilah's accomplices pouncing on the weakened Samson and blinding him.
The Tribute Money
The Last Supper
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
Bathsheba at Her Bath
The Marriage at Cana
The Wedding Feast at Cana, by the Italian artist, Paolo Veronese, is a representational painting that depicts the biblical story of the Marriage at Cana, at which Jesus converts water to wine.
Tobias and the Angel
L'Archange Raphaël et Tobie
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
Expulsion from the Garden of Eden
The Expulsion from the Garden of Eden is found in the Book of Genesis Chapter 3. The scene depicted is a fresco by the Italian Early Renaissance artist, Masaccio.
The Tribute Money
L'Archange Raphaël et Tobie
Tobias and the Angel
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
Tobias and the Angel
Rebecca and Eliezer at the Well
Bathsheba at Her Bath
Susanna and the Elders
Susanna and the Elders is an oil on panel painting by the Dutch painter, Rembrandt. He represents the story of how a fair Hebrew wife named Susanna was falsely accused by lecherous voyeurs as recounted in the Book of Daniel.
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
Noah's Ark
Bathsheba at Her Bath
According to the Hebrew Bible, Bathsheba is most known for the narrative in which she was summoned by King David who had seen her bathing and lusted after her. She was the mother of Solomon, who succeeded David as king, making her the Queen mother.
Rebecca and Eliezer at the Well
The Last Supper
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
Rebecca and Eliezer at the Well
As told in the Book of Moses, Abraham sent his servant to Mesopotamia in search of a wife for his son, Isaac. When the servant, Eliezer, stopped by a well to refresh himself and his camels, he prayed to God for guidance. God told him to bring home the next woman who demonstrated an act of kindness.
Madonna and Child
Tobias and the Angel
Noah's Ark
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
Tobias and the Angel
The story of Tobias is told in the Book of Tobit in the Old Testament. The book of Tobit (or Tobias) is part of the Catholic Old Testament. The story decribes Tobias the Father, an Israelite of the Northern Kingdom who suffers blindness, and Sara in Medes, who suffers torment. Because of their good life and prayers, God sends the Archangel Raphael to help them.
The Baptism of Christ
Annunciation
The Virgin of the Rocks
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
The Last Supper
The Baptism of Christ
L'Archange Raphaël et Tobie
The Entry of the Animals into Noah’s Ark
In Genesis 6-7, the Bible describes Noah, the ark, and God's command to gather animals in pairs and load them onto the ark before the rains and floods come. This scene depicts the organized and good behavior of the selected pairs.
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
The Virgin of the Rocks
Judith Beheading Holofernes
The Annunciation
The Last Supper
The books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke describe how The Last Supper took place on the first day of Passover. During the meal, Jesus noted that one of the 12 of them would soon betray him. He offered the bread as a symbol of his broken body and the wine as his blood.
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
The Virgin of the Rocks
Judith Beheading Holofernes
This Bible story describes how Nebuchadnezzar sent his general, Holofernes, to subdue his enemies, the Jews. The Jews are besieged in Bethulia and rapidly lose all hope of victory. Judith hears of a possible surrender. She sneaks into the camp, seduces Holofernes with her beauty, waits until he is thoroughly drunk, and cuts off his head.
The Crucifixion
Madonna and Child with Angels
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
The Creation of Adam
The Creation of Adam is a fresco painted by Michelangelo from 1508 to 1512, which forms part of the Sistine Chapel's ceiling. It depicts the Bible story from the Book of Genesis in which God gives life to Adam, the first man.
Christ of St. John of the Cross
The Annunciation
The Tribute Money
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
The Ten Commandments
Jonah and the Whale
The Annunciation
This Bible story is told in Luke's Gospel, 1: 26-38. In this painting created by Fra Angelico, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
Sodom and Gomorrah
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
Sodom and Gomorrah
Sodom and Gomorrah were cities mentioned in the Book of Genesis and throughout the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament. These notoriously sinful cities were destroyed by “sulfur and fire” because of their wickedness.
Cain and Abel
Adam and Eve
The Burning Bush
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
The Good Samaritan is a parable told by Jesus in Luke 10:25–37. It is about a traveler who is stripped of clothing, beaten, and left half dead alongside the road. While others traveling the road avoided him, a Samaritan happens upon the traveler and tends to his injuries.
Jesus Walking on Water
Joseph's Coat of Many Colors
Cain and Abel
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
Joseph Telling his Dreams to his Parents and Brothers
In Genesis 37 the Bible explains how Joseph was the favorite of his father, Jacob. However, he angered his family by reporting dreams indicating that his brothers and his father would all bow down to him. Joseph was thrown in a well by his brothers and sold into slavery.
The Angel Stopping Abraham from Sacrificing Isaac
David and Uriah
Moses Smashing the Tablets of the Law
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem
David Presenting the Head of Goliath to King Saul
Cain and Abel
The Sacrifice of Isaac
The Sacrifice of Isaac was painted by Rembrandt in 1635. It depicts the story of how God tested Abraham by commanding him to sacrifice his only son, Issac. Abraham proved his faith in God and at the last moment, God stopped Abraham from killing Issac. Instead, a ram was sacrificed.
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
The Return of the Prodigal Son
In Luke 15:32, the prodigal son returns and seeks forgiveness and a place in the family from his father. Although the older brother disapproves, the father explains, "But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found." This painting was created by Rembrandt in 1669.
Moses Smashing the Tablets of the Law
David Presenting the Head of Goliath to King Saul
The Tower of Babel
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
Moses and the Burning Bush
Cain Kills Abel
This painting by Bartolomeo Manfredi depicts the action taken by Cain when God favored Abel's sacrificial lamb rather than Cain's grain and fruits. Cain was filled with resentment and killed his brother. God banished Cain and put a mark on him.
The Death of Moses
The Tower of Babel
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
The Lord Calls Samuel
The Lord Appears to Elijah
Moses and the Burning Bush
Marc Chagall painted "Moses and the Burning Bush" from The Story of Exodus. In this Bible story, God speaks to Moses under the guise of a burning bush and gives Moses instructions to write down the Ten Commandments on a tablet.
Daniel in the Den of Lions
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
The Temptation of Jesus
The Calling of the First Disciples
The Baptism of Christ
The Baptism of Christ is a famous painting made by Leonardo da Vinci's master, Andrea del Verrochio. This was early on in Leonardo da Vinci's career so that da Vinci only painted and finished the details of some of this masterpiece, particularly the angel. The rest of the painting was completed by Verrochio.
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
Crossing the Red Sea
Moses held out his staff and God parted the Red Sea. The Israelites crossed on the dry sea floor, followed by the Egyptian army. Moses again moved his staff once the Israelites were safely on land and the sea closed again, drowning the Egyptian army.
The Calling of the First Disciples
The Water in the Wilderness
The Fall of Jericho
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
Jacobs Dream at Bethel
Pharaoh's Dreams
The Ten Plagues
The Tower of Babel
There are many famous paintings that depict the Tower of Babel recounted In Genisis 11:1-9. In the story, God did not like the pride and arrogance in the hearts of the people. God caused the people to suddenly speak different languages so they could not communicate and work together to build the tower that would reach Him.
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
Seventh Plague of Egypt
The Seventh Plague of Egypt by John Martin is displayed in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The painting depicts the seventh plague, "And Moses stretched forward his rod toward heaven, and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire rained down onto the earth.”
The Calling of the First Disciples
Jesus Calms the Storm
Jesus Turns Water into Wine
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
The Transfiguration
The Raising of Lazarus
The Raising of Lazarus, painted by Rembrandt with oil on panel, can be found at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The painting shows Lazarus re-awakening from death. He begins to rise from his tomb as Christ calls him, while Mary watches in awe.
The Widow's Offering
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
The Burial of Jesus
The Resurrection
Christ of St. John of the Cross
Christ of Saint John of the Cross is a painting by Salvador Dalí finished in 1951. It depicts Jesus Christ on the cross in a darkened sky, floating over a body of water with a boat and fishermen.
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
William Brassey Hole was the artist who created this painting of Jesus appearing to the disciples after his resurrection. According to Luke 24:35-48, Jesus said, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.”
The Burial of Jesus
Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven
Jesus Reinstates Peter
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
The Resurrection
The Ascension Of Christ
Rembrandt painted The Ascension Of Christ with oil on canvas in 1636. The painting depicts Christ rising into the heavens.
The Transfiguration
Jesus Calms the Storm
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
The Water in the Wilderness
The Adoration of the Golden Calf
The Adoration of the Golden Calf painted by Nicolas Poussin depicts the story of how the Israelites built an idol and worshiped it during Moses' absence. On his return, Moses was so angered by this that he smashed the tablets containing the Ten Commandments.
Balaam's Donkey
The Death of Moses
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
Balaam and the Ass
Balaam and the Ass is a 1626 painting by the Dutch artist, Rembrandt, and can be seen in the Musée Cognacq-Jay in Paris. The painting depicts the biblical account of the talking donkey debating with diviner, Balaam. Balaam was sent to curse the Israelites and God stopped him and his donkey.
Manna and Quail
The Fall of Jericho
Saul Tries to Kill David
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
Isaac and Rebekah
Jacob and Esau
The Visit of the Magi
David with the Head of Goliath
Baroque painter Caravaggio, who was accused of murder, painted David with the Head of Goliath and used his self-portrait as Goliath's head. The biblical story demonstrates that character and courage are most important when choosing a leader for the Israelites against their enemies.
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
Rahab and the Spies of Jericho
Marc Chagall painted Rahab and the Spies of Jericho in 1960. The Bible story revolves around Rahab and how she hides the Israeli spies from the King of Jericho. She feels she must do that, as well as protect them, because the Lord has given Israel the land of Canaan.
Isaac and Rebekah
Deborah
Naomi and Ruth
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
A Wise Ruling
At the Home of Mary and Martha
The Trinity
The Trinity was created by Russian painter Andrei Rublev in the 15th century. It depicts the three angels who visited Abraham at the Oak of Mamre, but the painting is interpreted as the Holy Trinity.
The Widow's Offering
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
Jesus Changes Water to Wine
The Baptism of Jesus
Jesus Walks on the Water
This painting illustrates the story of Jesus walking on the water. In the story, Peter tries to walk on the water but when he takes his eyes off Jesus and worries about the water he begins to drown. Although Jesus saves Peter, the story is a powerful reminder that we need to have faith in life's storms and trust that Jesus is enough.
Parting of the Red Sea
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
The Baptism of Jesus
The Birth of Christ
Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. This nativity scene by Fra Angelico shows the birth of Christ, the manger and the three wise men.
The Boy Jesus at the Temple
The Widow's Offering
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
The Temptation of Christ
The Temptation of Christ was Botticelli's trial fresco for the Sistine Chapel. After being baptized, Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights in the Judaean Desert. During this time, Satan appeared to Jesus and tried to tempt Him. The painting shows three different ways the devil tempted Him.
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
Eating With Sinners and Tax Collectors
The Transfiguration
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
The Transfiguration
The Transfiguration by Raphael shows how Christ's personal appearance changed into a glorified form, and His clothing became dazzling white. The purpose of the transfiguration of Christ, at least in part, was so that the “inner circle” of His disciples could believe it had happened.
The Fall of Jericho
The Healing of an Epileptic Boy
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What Bible Story Is Represented in This Famous Painting?
The Boy Jesus at the Temple
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
In this painting Jesus faces the skeptical townsfolk of Nazareth. They took exception to one of their own making such grandiose claims that Jesus was the One anointed with the Spirit.
The Healing of an Epileptic Boy
A Wise Ruling
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