Obadiah Bible Trivia: 20 Questions and Answers for Kids

These 20 Obadiah Bible trivia questions cover the shortest book in the Old Testament -- just 21 verses -- with answers and verse references included after every question. They're sorted into easy (ages 5-8), medium (ages 9-12), and hard (teens and adults) rounds, so the whole family can play together.

Obadiah is the book almost nobody can find, let alone quiz on -- which makes it a secret weapon for family trivia night. Master these 20 questions and your kids will know a corner of the Bible that stumps most adults.

What Is the Book of Obadiah About?

The book of Obadiah is a prophecy announcing God's judgment on the nation of Edom for the way it treated Judah when Jerusalem was attacked. Instead of helping their relatives, the Edomites stood by, gloated, looted, and even captured people trying to escape (Obadiah 1:11-14) -- and Obadiah declares that God saw all of it.

The book was written by a prophet named Obadiah, whose name means "servant of the LORD" -- and that's genuinely all we know about him, since the book tells us nothing else about his life. Most scholars place the book shortly after Babylon destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC, though the exact date is debated. At only one chapter, it's the shortest book in the Old Testament, but it carries a big message: pride comes before a fall, cruelty gets repaid, and in the end "the kingdom will be the LORD's" (Obadiah 1:21).

Why Was God Angry at Edom?

God was angry at Edom because the Edomites committed "violence against your brother Jacob" (Obadiah 1:10) -- and the word "brother" is literal. The Edomites were descended from Esau, and the Israelites from his twin brother Jacob (Genesis 25:24-26, 36:1). Their feud started before the twins were even born, and if your kids know the story of Jacob and Esau, Obadiah reads like the final chapter of that family drama, a thousand years later.

The Edomites lived in rocky mountain strongholds south of the Dead Sea -- carved-out cliff homes so high they felt untouchable. So when Babylon came and Jerusalem fell, Edom watched from the heights and cheered. Obadiah's answer is one of the sharpest lines in the prophets: "Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down" (Obadiah 1:4). No fortress is high enough to hide from God.

One more detail kids find fascinating: those "clefts of the rocks" (the Hebrew word is sela) point to Edom's famous rock strongholds -- the same region where the carved cliff city of Petra later stood, the one many families recognize from photos and movies. When you show kids a picture of Petra and then read verse 3, the whole book suddenly has a movie set. And history backed Obadiah up: Edom faded from the map in the centuries that followed, exactly as the prophet said, while Israel survived exile and returned home.

Easy Obadiah Trivia Questions (Ages 5-8)

1. How many chapters does the book of Obadiah have? One -- it's the shortest book in the Old Testament (Obadiah 1)

1. What does the name Obadiah mean? "Servant of the LORD"

1. Which nation is the book of Obadiah mostly about? Edom (Obadiah 1:1)

1. The Edomites were the descendants of which man, the twin brother of Jacob? Esau (Obadiah 1:6, Genesis 36:1)

1. Where did the Edomites build their homes to feel safe? High up in the clefts of the rocks (Obadiah 1:3)

1. Whose kingdom does the very last verse of Obadiah say it will be in the end? The LORD's (Obadiah 1:21)

Medium Obadiah Trivia Questions (Ages 9-12)

1. What sin does Obadiah say deceived the Edomites? The pride of their heart (Obadiah 1:3)

1. What two things does God say Edom soars and nests like -- right before promising to bring them down? An eagle and the stars (Obadiah 1:4)

1. What did Edom do wrong on the day strangers carried off Jerusalem's wealth? They stood aloof and acted like one of the enemies (Obadiah 1:11)

1. What does Obadiah say Edom should NOT have done over their brother's misfortune? Gloated (Obadiah 1:12)

1. Where did the Edomites wait so they could capture God's people trying to escape? At the crossroads (Obadiah 1:14)

1. Complete the verse: "As you have done, it will be done to ___." You (Obadiah 1:15)

1. On what mountain does Obadiah say there will be deliverance? Mount Zion (Obadiah 1:17)

Hard Obadiah Trivia Questions (Teens and Adults)

1. What "day" does Obadiah say is near for all nations? The day of the LORD (Obadiah 1:15)

1. In Obadiah's fire picture, the house of Jacob is a fire and the house of Joseph is a flame -- what is the house of Esau? Stubble (Obadiah 1:18)

1. According to verse 7, who would deceive and overpower Edom? Their allies -- their friends (Obadiah 1:7)

1. Obadiah says even thieves and grape pickers leave a little behind -- but what will happen to Esau? He will be completely ransacked, his hidden treasures pillaged (Obadiah 1:5-6)

1. What food-related trick did Esau's story begin with, back in Genesis? Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a pot of red stew -- which is how he got the name Edom, meaning "red" (Genesis 25:30-34)

1. Which enemy empire actually destroyed Jerusalem while Edom watched? Babylon (2 Kings 25:8-10)

1. How many verses does Obadiah have, and what book beats it as the shortest in the whole Bible by word count? 21 verses -- and 3 John is the Bible's shortest book by word count (Obadiah 1; 3 John)

How to Use These Questions

Start with the easy round at the dinner table and let younger kids rack up points -- with only 21 verses, you can read the entire book of Obadiah out loud in about three minutes first, which turns the quiz into a memory game instead of a stumper. For a bigger event, mix these into a family Bible trivia night as the "mystery book" round, or pair them with our Old Testament trivia questions for a full evening.

Obadiah also works great as a "books of the Bible" teaching moment -- kids love that they can finish an entire book of Scripture in one sitting. If yours get hooked, our video lessons at Faithful Kids pair each Bible story with a quiz, so the trivia habit keeps going all week. For a map of where Obadiah fits among the twelve Minor Prophets, see our guide to the books of the Bible for kids.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who wrote the book of Obadiah?

The book was written by a prophet named Obadiah, and the Bible tells us nothing else about him -- no father's name, no hometown, no dates. His name means "servant of the LORD," and at least a dozen other men in the Old Testament share it, which is why scholars can't link him to any of them with certainty.

How many chapters does Obadiah have?

Obadiah has exactly one chapter with 21 verses, making it the shortest book in the Old Testament. That's why citations are usually written "Obadiah 1:4" or simply "verse 4." Only 3 John is shorter by word count in the whole Bible.

What is the main message of Obadiah?

The main message is that God judges pride and cruelty -- especially cruelty toward family. Edom felt safe in its mountain fortresses and gloated when Jerusalem fell, and God promised that "as you have done, it will be done to you" (Obadiah 1:15). The book ends with hope: deliverance on Mount Zion and God's kingdom winning in the end.

Who were the Edomites?

The Edomites were the descendants of Esau, Jacob's twin brother, which made them blood relatives of the Israelites (Genesis 36:1). They lived in the rocky highlands south of the Dead Sea, in the region where the famous cliff city of Petra later stood. Despite the family connection, Edom and Israel were rivals for centuries.

Where is Obadiah in the Bible?

Obadiah is the fourth of the twelve Minor Prophets, tucked between Amos and Jonah near the end of the Old Testament. "Minor" refers to the books' length, not their importance -- Obadiah is short, not small.

What age can kids start learning the book of Obadiah?

Kids around 8 and up can handle Obadiah well, especially if they already know the Jacob and Esau story that sets up the family feud. Younger kids can still enjoy the vivid pictures -- eagles, stars, and mountain hideouts -- while the judgment themes land better with upper-elementary kids and teens.