What Are Some Bible Questions? A Cross-Religious Look

In the Hebrew Bible, asking questions — of God, of prophets, and of scripture itself — is a foundational religious act. King Josiah's command in 2 Kings is a classic example of royal inquiry directed toward divine will 2 Kings 22:13. The same episode is echoed in 2 Chronicles, where the king urges his officials to 'inquire of GOD' regarding a newly discovered scroll 2 Chronicles 34:21. This reflects the broader Jewish tradition of derash, or interpretive inquiry, which became the engine of Talmudic discourse.

Jeremiah 23:37 models a specific form of prophetic questioning — asking what God has actually said, rather than assuming Jeremiah 23:37. This is significant: the tradition doesn't just permit questions, it demands precision in them. Scholars like Abraham Joshua Heschel (20th century) emphasized that Judaism is a religion of 'divine pathos and human response,' and that response is often a question.

Some classic Bible questions that Jewish study circles explore include: What does the Torah demand of us today? Why do the righteous suffer? What is the meaning of the covenant? These aren't rhetorical — they're expected to generate ongoing debate.

The New Testament is saturated with questions. Jesus frequently answered questions with questions, and the Gospels record him engaging scribes, Pharisees, and disciples in pointed dialogue. Mark 9:16 captures one such moment, where Jesus asks directly: What question ye with them? Mark 9:16 — stepping into a dispute and demanding clarity before offering resolution.

Christian theologians from Origen (3rd century) to N.T. Wright (contemporary) have noted that scripture itself models a questioning posture toward God. The Psalms are full of 'Why?' questions directed at God. Job's entire book is structured around unanswered divine questions.

Some classic Bible questions Christians wrestle with include: Who is my neighbor? (Luke 10:29), What must I do to be saved? (Acts 16:30), and What is truth? (John 18:38). These questions aren't merely historical curiosities — they remain live theological issues in Christian communities today. The tradition of lectio divina and catechism both rely on structured questioning of the biblical text.

It's worth noting that Deuteronomy 28:67 captures a different kind of question — the anguished cry of a suffering people Deuteronomy 28:67, which Christian theologians like Walter Brueggemann have called 'the lament tradition,' equally valid as praise.

While 'Bible questions' as a category is specific to Jewish and Christian scripture, the Qur'an does speak directly to the practice of consulting earlier scriptures. In Surah Yunus 10:94, God instructs the Prophet: ask those who have been reading the Scripture before you Quran 10:94, acknowledging the Bible's relevance as a reference point for truth-seeking.

Furthermore, the Qur'an in Surah Al-Hijr 15:92 issues a striking divine declaration: We will surely question them all Quran 15:92, suggesting that divine questioning is universal — not limited to any one tradition. Islamic scholars like Ibn Kathir (14th century) interpreted this verse as a reminder of eschatological accountability.

So while Islam doesn't have 'Bible questions' in the same catechetical or Talmudic sense, it affirms the legitimacy of scriptural inquiry and divine questioning as shared Abrahamic values.

The Tanakh preserves moments when Israel is told exactly what to ask and how, modeling faithful inquiry rather than silence Jeremiah 23:37.

• “What did GOD answer you?”—a prescribed way to test a prophetic message responsibly Jeremiah 23:37.
• “What did GOD speak?”—another formula centering God’s own word over human opinion Jeremiah 23:37.
• “Go, inquire of GOD… concerning the words of this scroll”—royal instruction in crisis, seeking divine guidance through authorized intermediaries 2 Kings 22:13 2 Chronicles 34:21.
• “Would God it were evening/morning!”—anguished questioning that names fear and uncertainty before God Deuteronomy 28:67.

Some read these lines as firm guardrails against false claims; others hear pastoral invitation to bring anxiety and doubt into the covenant conversation, and the verses hold space for both readings Jeremiah 23:37 Deuteronomy 28:67.

The New Testament shows Jesus engaging active disputes, and that very engagement becomes a model for Christians to ask, test, and clarify teaching Mark 9:16.

• “And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?”—a prompt that surfaces issues publicly rather than letting confusion fester Mark 9:16.
• Within the Christian Bible’s Old Testament, disciples also revisit Israel’s questions in times of reform: “Go, inquire of GOD… concerning the words of this scroll” 2 Kings 22:13 2 Chronicles 34:21.
• In seasons of distress, Scripture gives voice to the believer’s cry, “Would God it were morning/evening!”—lament that God can transform into trust Deuteronomy 28:67.

Readers differ on whether such questions primarily confront error, invite learning, or express lament; the texts display all three modes and so encourage patient, truth-seeking dialogue under Scripture’s authority Mark 9:16 2 Kings 22:13 Deuteronomy 28:67.

Not applicable. Concerns biblical scripture/practice; no direct counterpart is required for a Bible-specific catalog of questions.