This Genesis 38 Quiz covers nearly every detail of the chapter with challenging, tricky questions and comprehensive answers based on the KJV text.
Bible Trivia Quiz Questions
Let’s see how well you know Genesis 38!
Genesis 38 quiz with Answers and Explanations
Question No. 1
Who did Judah marry in Genesis 38?
- A. A daughter of Canaan
- B. A daughter of an Amorite
- C. A daughter of Abraham’s servant
- D. A daughter of Ishmael
- E. A daughter from Edom
Answer: A. A daughter of Canaan
Explanation: Judah took a wife from Canaan as recorded in Genesis 38:2, where it states, “And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her.”
Question No. 2
What was the name of Judah’s firstborn son?
- A. Onan
- B. Er
- C. Shelah
- D. Zerah
- E. Perez
Answer: B. Er
Explanation: Judah’s firstborn son was named Er, as mentioned in Genesis 38:3, “And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er.”
Question No. 3
Why did the Lord slay Er, Judah’s firstborn?
- A. He was disobedient to Judah
- B. He married a Canaanite
- C. He refused to marry Tamar
- D. He refused to follow the family’s customs
- E. None of the above
Answer: E. None of the above
Explanation: Genesis 38:7 explains that “Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord slew him.”
Question No. 4
Who did Judah instruct to marry Tamar after Er’s death?
- A. Shelah
- B. Perez
- C. Onan
- D. Zerah
- E. Amnon
Answer: C. Onan
Explanation: After Er’s death, Judah instructed his second son Onan to marry Tamar, as described in Genesis 38:8: “And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and marry her.”
Question No. 5
What did Onan do that displeased the Lord?
- A. Refused to marry Tamar
- B. Took another wife
- C. Lied to Tamar
- D. Married Tamar’s sister
- E. None of the above
Answer: E. None of the above
Explanation: Onan displeased the Lord by refusing to fulfill his duty to Tamar, “And it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground,” as seen in Genesis 38:9.
Question No. 6
After Onan’s death, what did Judah tell Tamar?
- A. Remain a widow until Shelah grows up
- B. Marry a Canaanite man
- C. Return to her father’s house
- D. Wait until Judah can arrange another husband
- E. Live in his household
Answer: A. Remain a widow until Shelah grows up
Explanation: Judah tells Tamar to wait for Shelah, his younger son, as recorded in Genesis 38:11: “Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father’s house, till Shelah my son be grown.”
Question No. 7
What disguise did Tamar use when she met Judah?
- A. A beggar’s cloak
- B. A widow’s garment
- C. A veil
- D. A Canaanite’s attire
- E. A noblewoman’s robe
Answer: C. A veil
Explanation: Tamar covered herself with a veil to disguise her identity, as described in Genesis 38:14: “And she put her widow’s garments off from her, and covered her with a veil.”
Question No. 8
What did Judah offer Tamar as a pledge for payment?
- A. A piece of gold
- B. His ring and staff
- C. A goat from the flock
- D. Silver coins
- E. A portion of his land
Answer: C. A goat from the flock
Explanation: Judah offered Tamar a young goat as payment, as shown in Genesis 38:17: “And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock.”
Question No. 9
What items did Tamar demand from Judah as collateral?
- A. His robe and sandals
- B. His seal, cord, and staff
- C. His gold bracelet and staff
- D. His sword, cord and shield
- E. His signet ring only
Answer: B. His seal, cord, and staff
Explanation: Tamar asked Judah for his signet, bracelets, and staff as collateral, seen in Genesis 38:18: “She said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff.”
Question No. 10
What was the reaction of Judah when Tamar was found pregnant?
- A. He was pleased
- B. He wanted her stoned
- C. He sought to kill her
- D. He commanded she be burnt
- E. He disowned her
Answer: D. He commanded she be burnt
Explanation: Judah ordered that Tamar be burned for her perceived sin, as recorded in Genesis 38:24: “And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.”
Question No. 11
What saved Tamar from punishment when Judah confronted her?
- A. The signet, bracelets, and staff
- B. A witness testimony
- C. Judah’s compassion and kindness
- D. Judah’s wife’s intervention
- E. Tamar’s repentance
Answer: A. The signet, bracelets, and staff
Explanation: Tamar presented Judah’s items as proof, which stopped her punishment, as shown in Genesis 38:25: “Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff.”
Question No. 12
How did Judah respond when he recognized his possessions?
- A. He was silent
- B. He repented openly
- C. He punished her further
- D. He married her
- E. None of the above
Answer: E. None of the above Explanation: Judah acknowledged Tamar’s actions were more justified, as recorded in Genesis 38:26: “She hath been more righteous than I.”
Question No. 13
Who were Tamar’s twin sons?
- A. Er and Onan
- B. Shelah and Zimri
- C. Perez and Zerah
- D. Zerah and Ephron
- E. Perez and Shobal
Answer: C. Perez and Zerah
Explanation: Tamar bore twin sons, Perez and Zerah, as noted in Genesis 38:29-30.
Question No. 14
What happened during the birth of Tamar’s twins?
- A. Zerah was born first
- B. Perez was born first
- C. Zerah’s hand appeared first
- D. Both twins were stillborn
- E. Perez had a deformity
Answer: C. Zerah’s hand appeared first
Explanation: Zerah’s hand came out first, marked by a scarlet thread, then Perez was born, as detailed in Genesis 38:28-29.
Question No. 15
What symbol was tied to Zerah’s hand during birth?
- A. A piece of cloth
- B. A golden ring
- C. A scarlet thread
- D. A seal
- E. A bracelet
Answer: C. A scarlet thread
Explanation: Zerah’s hand was marked with a scarlet thread, mentioned in Genesis 38:28: “And bound upon his hand a scarlet thread.”
Question No. 16
Who actually came out first among Tamar’s twins?
- A. Zerah
- B. Perez
- C. Onan
- D. Shelah
- E. Er
Answer: B. Perez
Explanation: Despite Zerah’s hand appearing first, Perez ultimately came out before him, as recorded in Genesis 38:29.
Question No. 17
How did Judah initially describe Tamar’s situation after Er and Onan’s deaths?
- A. She should be blamed
- B. She was cursed
- C. She was unlucky
- D. She should be exiled
- E. She should remain a widow
Answer: E. She should remain a widow
Explanation: Judah told Tamar to live as a widow until Shelah matured, as stated in Genesis 38:11.
Question No. 18
What was Tamar’s status in Judah’s household after Onan’s death?
- A. A servant
- B. An exile
- C. A widow
- D. A prisoner
- E. Judah’s advisor
Answer: C. A widow
Explanation: After Onan’s death, Tamar remained a widow in Judah’s household, awaiting Shelah, as indicated in Genesis 38:11.
Question No. 19
What action led Judah to see Tamar in a new light?
- A. Her widowhood
- B. Her veil
- C. Her offering
- D. Her righteousness
- E. Her faithfulness
Answer: D. Her righteousness
Explanation: Judah acknowledged her righteousness over his own decisions, as described in Genesis 38:26.
Question No. 20
How does Genesis 38 conclude regarding Judah and Tamar’s relationship?
- A. Judah married Tamar
- B. Tamar left Judah’s household
- C. Judah never knew her again
- D. Tamar became his wife
- E. Judah continued to support her
Answer: C. Judah never knew her again
Explanation: Genesis 38:26 concludes with, “And he knew her again no more,” indicating Judah did not continue a relationship with Tamar after their encounter.