50 Book of Ezra Bible Quiz Questions

Exiles return home, rebuild the temple and turn back to God's law. How much do you know about the Book of Ezra?

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Easy questions

  1. Question 1Easy

    How did the returning exiles celebrate the dedication of the rebuilt Temple?

    Answer: D. With joyEzra 6:16
    And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy,
  2. Question 2Easy

    While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down, a large crowd of Israelites gathered around him and wept too.

    Answer: TrueEzra 10:1
    Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore.
  3. Question 3Easy

    Who was Ezra?

    Answer: D. A scribe well versed in the Law of MosesEzra 7:6
    This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.
  4. Question 4Easy

    In the book of Ezra, the command not to intermarry was given so that Israel might be strong and eat the good things of the land.

    Answer: TrueEzra 9:12
    Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.
  5. Question 5Easy

    Ezra commanded the people to separate themselves from the peoples around them and from their foreign wives.

    Answer: TrueEzra 10:11
    Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.

Medium questions

  1. Question 6Medium

    Through whose prophesying did the Jewish elders prosper and build the Temple?

    Answer: B. Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of IddoEzra 6:14
    And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
  2. Question 7Medium

    What punishment did Artaxerxes decree for those who did not obey the law of God and the king?

    Answer: B. Death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonmentEzra 7:26
    And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
  3. Question 8Medium

    In the book of Ezra, some men who married foreign women also had children by them.

    Answer: TrueEzra 10:44
    All these had taken strange wives: and some of them had wives by whom they had children.
  4. Question 9Medium

    When the exiles prepared to return to Jerusalem, their neighbors assisted them with silver, gold, goods, and livestock, along with freewill offerings.

    Answer: TrueEzra 1:6
    And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.
  5. Question 10Medium

    In his prayer, Ezra said, 'Our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to...'

    Answer: D. The heavensEzra 9:6
    And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.
  6. Question 11Medium

    Who did Ezra praise after receiving the king's decree?

    Answer: B. The Lord, the God of our ancestorsEzra 7:27
    Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:
  7. Question 12Medium

    Who suggested to Ezra that they should make a covenant to send away all the foreign wives and their children?

    Answer: C. Shecaniah son of JehielEzra 10:2
    And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.
  8. Question 13Medium

    After the return from the Babylonian exile, who built the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings?

    Answer: A. Jeshua the priest and ZerubbabelEzra 3:2
    Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.
  9. Question 14Medium

    Ezra acknowledged that God is righteous and that the people stood before Him in their...

    Answer: A. GuiltEzra 9:15
    O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.
  10. Question 15Medium

    Who sang praises to the Lord when the foundation of the temple was laid, saying 'He is good; his love to Israel endures forever'?

    Answer: B. The priests with trumpets and the Levites (sons of Asaph) with cymbalsEzra 3:10-11
    And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel. And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great …
  11. Question 16Medium

    At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, enemies lodged an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

    Answer: TrueEzra 4:6
    And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
  12. Question 17Medium

    In the letter sent to King Artaxerxes, the accusers claimed that if Jerusalem were rebuilt, the Jews would stop paying tribute, duty, and tolls.

    Answer: TrueEzra 4:13
    Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.
  13. Question 18Medium

    How did Rehum and Shimshai describe Jerusalem in their letter?

    Answer: D. A rebellious and wicked cityEzra 4:12
    Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.
  14. Question 19Medium

    Sheshbazzar brought the exiles and the temple articles from Babylon to where?

    Answer: C. JerusalemEzra 1:11
    All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem.
  15. Question 20Medium

    Who sent Ezra to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem?

    Answer: B. The king and his seven counselorsEzra 7:14
    Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;
  16. Question 21Medium

    What did Darius order Tattenai to use to pay for the temple construction?

    Answer: B. The royal revenues from the Trans-Euphrates taxesEzra 6:8
    Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.
  17. Question 22Medium

    While the people confessed their sin of intermarriage, they trembled because of the matter and because of heavy rain.

    Answer: TrueEzra 10:9
    Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.
  18. Question 23Medium

    How much wine did King Artaxerxes authorize Ezra to receive?

    Answer: A. Up to 100 bathsEzra 7:22
    Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.
  19. Question 24Medium

    Why did the returning exiles rebuild the altar on its foundation despite their fear of the surrounding people?

    Answer: B. To offer burnt offerings to the Lord morning and eveningEzra 3:3
    And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening.
  20. Question 25Medium

    How long did the journey from Babylon to Jerusalem take Ezra?

    Answer: A. Four monthsEzra 7:9
    For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
  21. Question 26Medium

    Ezra asked, 'Shall we break your commands again and intermarry with the peoples who commit such detestable practices? Would you not be angry enough with us to...'

    Answer: C. Destroy us, leaving no remnant or survivor?Ezra 9:14
    Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?
  22. Question 27Medium

    In which year of King Darius was the temple completed?

    Answer: B. Sixth yearEzra 6:15
    And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
  23. Question 28Medium

    Ezra came up from Babylon during the reign of which Persian king?

    Answer: B. ArtaxerxesEzra 7:1
    Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
  24. Question 29Medium

    Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.

    Answer: TrueEzra 7:10
    For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
  25. Question 30Medium

    In the book of Ezra, what was the penalty for any returned exile who failed to assemble in Jerusalem within three days of the leaders' proclamation?

    Answer: D. Forfeiture of all property and expulsion from the assemblyEzra 10:8
    And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.
  26. Question 31Medium

    In King Darius's decree regarding the rebuilding of the temple, what was the punishment for anyone who altered the edict?

    Answer: A. A beam would be pulled from their house and they would be impaled on itEzra 6:11
    Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this.
  27. Question 32Medium

    When Artaxerxes' letter was read, Rehum and Shimshai went immediately to Jerusalem and compelled the Jews by force to stop building.

    Answer: TrueEzra 4:23
    Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.
  28. Question 33Medium

    Cyrus ordered that the neighbors of the returning exiles should help them with silver, gold, and goods.

    Answer: TrueEzra 1:4
    And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.
  29. Question 34Medium

    Which priestly family had the largest number of people return from the Babylonian exile?

    Answer: D. The sons of PashhurEzra 2:36-39
    The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three. The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two. The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven. The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.
  30. Question 35Medium

    According to the book of Ezra, how many people were in the whole assembly that returned from the Babylonian exile (not counting servants)?

    Answer: B. 42,360Ezra 2:64
    The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,

Hard questions

  1. Question 36Hard

    How many gold dishes were in the inventory of items King Cyrus returned to the temple?

    Answer: C. 30Ezra 1:9
    And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives,
  2. Question 37Hard

    Which Persian king issued the decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple?

    Answer: C. CyrusEzra 1:1-2
    Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at …
  3. Question 38Hard

    Which group of people is NOT listed as joining Rehum and Shimshai in the letter to Artaxerxes?

    Answer: D. The HittitesEzra 4:9
    Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,
  4. Question 39Hard

    In the time of Ezra, who were the only ones who opposed the plan to separate from foreign wives?

    Answer: D. Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of TikvahEzra 10:15
    Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah were employed about this matter: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.
  5. Question 40Hard

    According to the book of Ezra, how many darics of gold did some of the heads of families give to the treasury for the work?

    Answer: A. 61,000Ezra 2:69
    They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work threescore and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pound of silver, and one hundred priests' garments.
  6. Question 41Hard

    To which priestly line did Ezra belong?

    Answer: A. AaronEzra 7:5
    The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:
  7. Question 42Hard

    Who was the man of insight brought to Ezra by the hand of God?

    Answer: C. SherebiahEzra 8:18
    And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;
  8. Question 43Hard

    Where did Ezra gather the exiles before their journey to Jerusalem?

    Answer: D. By the canal that flows toward AhavaEzra 8:15
    And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.
  9. Question 44Hard

    Upon returning from Babylon with Ezra, how many bulls did the exiles sacrifice as a burnt offering to the God of Israel?

    Answer: D. 12Ezra 8:35
    Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD.
  10. Question 45Hard

    How many servants accompanied the exiles returning from Babylon?

    Answer: D. 7,337Ezra 2:65
    Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women.
  11. Question 46Hard

    During the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, who was the governor of Trans-Euphrates who challenged the Jews' right to do so?

    Answer: C. TattenaiEzra 5:3
    At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?
  12. Question 47Hard

    Who was the descendant of Phinehas listed among the heads of families who returned with Ezra?

    Answer: B. GershomEzra 8:2
    Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush.
  13. Question 48Hard

    In the book of Ezra, which leaders are listed as returning from exile alongside Zerubbabel?

    Answer: A. Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, MordecaiEzra 2:2
    Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
  14. Question 49Hard

    In the book of Ezra, which groups were found to have married foreign women?

    Answer: C. Priests, Levites, and other IsraelitesEzra 10:18-25
    And among the sons of the priests there were found that had taken strange wives: namely, of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren; Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah. And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass. And of the sons of Immer; Hanani, and Zebadiah. And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah, and …
  15. Question 50Hard

    Following the return from exile, why were the descendants of Barzillai excluded from the priesthood?

    Answer: A. They could not find their family recordsEzra 2:61-62
    And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name: These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.

Answer key

  1. D. With joy (Ezra 6:16)
  2. True (Ezra 10:1)
  3. D. A scribe well versed in the Law of Moses (Ezra 7:6)
  4. True (Ezra 9:12)
  5. True (Ezra 10:11)
  6. B. Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo (Ezra 6:14)
  7. B. Death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment (Ezra 7:26)
  8. True (Ezra 10:44)
  9. True (Ezra 1:6)
  10. D. The heavens (Ezra 9:6)
  11. B. The Lord, the God of our ancestors (Ezra 7:27)
  12. C. Shecaniah son of Jehiel (Ezra 10:2)
  13. A. Jeshua the priest and Zerubbabel (Ezra 3:2)
  14. A. Guilt (Ezra 9:15)
  15. B. The priests with trumpets and the Levites (sons of Asaph) with cymbals (Ezra 3:10-11)
  16. True (Ezra 4:6)
  17. True (Ezra 4:13)
  18. D. A rebellious and wicked city (Ezra 4:12)
  19. C. Jerusalem (Ezra 1:11)
  20. B. The king and his seven counselors (Ezra 7:14)
  21. B. The royal revenues from the Trans-Euphrates taxes (Ezra 6:8)
  22. True (Ezra 10:9)
  23. A. Up to 100 baths (Ezra 7:22)
  24. B. To offer burnt offerings to the Lord morning and evening (Ezra 3:3)
  25. A. Four months (Ezra 7:9)
  26. C. Destroy us, leaving no remnant or survivor? (Ezra 9:14)
  27. B. Sixth year (Ezra 6:15)
  28. B. Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:1)
  29. True (Ezra 7:10)
  30. D. Forfeiture of all property and expulsion from the assembly (Ezra 10:8)
  31. A. A beam would be pulled from their house and they would be impaled on it (Ezra 6:11)
  32. True (Ezra 4:23)
  33. True (Ezra 1:4)
  34. D. The sons of Pashhur (Ezra 2:36-39)
  35. B. 42,360 (Ezra 2:64)
  36. C. 30 (Ezra 1:9)
  37. C. Cyrus (Ezra 1:1-2)
  38. D. The Hittites (Ezra 4:9)
  39. D. Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah (Ezra 10:15)
  40. A. 61,000 (Ezra 2:69)
  41. A. Aaron (Ezra 7:5)
  42. C. Sherebiah (Ezra 8:18)
  43. D. By the canal that flows toward Ahava (Ezra 8:15)
  44. D. 12 (Ezra 8:35)
  45. D. 7,337 (Ezra 2:65)
  46. C. Tattenai (Ezra 5:3)
  47. B. Gershom (Ezra 8:2)
  48. A. Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai (Ezra 2:2)
  49. C. Priests, Levites, and other Israelites (Ezra 10:18-25)
  50. A. They could not find their family records (Ezra 2:61-62)
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What is the Book of Ezra about?

Ezra is the fifteenth book of the Bible. It begins with Cyrus king of Persia proclaiming that the Jews may go up to Jerusalem and rebuild the house of the Lord (Ezra 1:1–3). Led by Zerubbabel and the priest Jeshua, a large group returns. When the foundation of the temple is laid, many shout for joy while older men who remember the first house weep aloud (Ezra 3:11–12).

Enemies oppose the work and it stops for years, until the prophets Haggai and Zechariah stir the people to build again. A search of the royal records finds Cyrus's decree, and the temple is finished in the reign of King Darius (Ezra 6:15). Later, Ezra the scribe comes from Babylon, a man who had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, to do it and to teach it (Ezra 7:10). He leads the people in confessing their unfaithfulness in marrying foreign wives (Ezra 10:1–3).

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