Bible crossword puzzle: Israel looks at the beginning -- Genesis

TL;DR
A crossword puzzle based on the Genesis material in Discovering the Bible. The puzzle helps people review key people and events—creation, the fall, the flood, the patriarchs, and God’s covenant with Abraham. A brief synopsis and an acrostic highlight the book’s major themes: God as Creator, eternal promises, sin, faith, divine sovereignty, humanity in God’s image, and foreshadowed salvation. The page also includes a photo of an egg with Genesis 1 written on it in Hebrew.

Hebrew letters completely covering a chicken egg — The first chapter of Genesis written in Hebrew on an egg, Israel Museum, Jerusalem | Image source

Classic art masterpieces used as illustrations

Crossword puzzle from Scripture: Genesis

Draws on material in chapter 4 of Discovering the Bible by Alex Varughese, the textbook for Introduction to Biblical Literature.

Challenge: Can you solve this crossword puzzle even if you do not have the textbook?

crossword puzzle grid of letters

"This was a nice change of pace. I was surprised that I recalled more than I thought I would." — Angela B., Nazarene Bible College student

Across

3 -- Son born to Abraham and Hagar, Sarah's Egyptian slave
5 -- First woman
7 -- Central figure of the Genesis flood story
8 -- Jacob's fourth son whose name means "praise" or "praised"
10 -- Murdered his brother
11 -- Wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau
13 -- God promised that all peoples on earth would be blessed through him
14 -- First murder victim

Down

1 -- The shepherd boy who rose to importance in the Egyptian government
2 -- Oldest man who ever lived
4 -- Adam and Eve's third son
6 -- A man who walked faithfully with God and did not experience an ordinary death
9 -- Abraham's wife
12 -- First man
15 -- Abraham's nephew

Bible reading for this assignment: Genesis 1–9, 11–12, 15, 17, 21–22, 24, 37–45, and 48–50 (plus textbook chapter 4)

This crossword puzzle was created for use in the course Introduction to Biblical Literature. The words and clues come from the textbook Discovering the Bible: Story and Faith of the Biblical Communities, edited by Alex Varughese and published by Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, now The Foundry Publishing.

— Howard Culbertson, hculbert@snu.edu

Afterword: Synopsis of Genesis

The book of Genesis is the first book of the Bible. It narrates the origins of the world, humanity, and the Hebrew people. It begins with the creation of the universe. The narrative then shifts to Adam and Eve, the first humans, and their fall from grace in the Garden of Eden. Genesis continues with accounts of Cain and Abel, the great Flood, and the Tower of Babel.

Beginning in chapter 12, the narrative introduces Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, detailing their relationships with God and the establishment of God's covenant with Abraham and his descendants. The book concludes with the migration of Jacob's family to Egypt. That sets the stage for the events of Exodus. Themes of obedience, faith, and divine providence appear throughout Genesis. In its fifty chapters, Genesis offers insights into the human condition and provides foundational material for Judeo-Christian theology.

Acrostic: Genesis -- What It Can Teach Us

G — God as Creator: We learn that God is the origin of all things, bringing order from chaos.
E — Eternal Promises: God's covenants with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob show His faithfulness through generations.
N — Nature of Sin: The human fall reveals how sin entered the world and its ongoing impact.
E — Example of Faith: Figures like Abraham demonstrate what it means to trust God fully.
S — Sovereignty of God: Even amid human failings, God continues to accomplish His purposes, as Joseph’s story illustrates.
I — Image of God: Humanity is created with value and purpose, made in God’s own image.
S — Salvation Foreshadowed: Early glimpses of God's redemptive plan appear, pointing forward to Christ.