The Bible is a treasure trove of wisdom, spiritual guidance and… well, some seriously strange tales. Sure, everyone knows about David and Goliath or Noah’s Ark, but if you dive a bit deeper, you’ll find some stories that make you go, “Wait, what?”
Here are the top 10 weirdest stories from the Bible that will have you doing a double take:
10. Lot’s Wife Turns into a Pillar of Salt (Genesis 19:24-26)
When escaping the doomed city of Sodom, Lot’s wife made the mistake of looking back. Instantly, she turned into a pillar of salt. The lesson? Always follow instructions, especially if it involves not glancing at impending divine destruction. But we guess that’s not always easy to follow.
9. Jacob’s Wrestling Match (Genesis 32:24-32)
Jacob, the patriarch, found himself in a midnight wrestling match with what turned out to be God. They grappled until dawn, and Jacob wouldn’t let go until he got a blessing. He walked away with a new name, Israel, and a limp. Who knew God was into WWE?
8. The Sun Stands Still (Joshua 10:12-14)
Joshua was in a fierce battle and needed more daylight to secure victory. So he prayed, and God made the sun stand still for about a day. It’s like asking your boss for an extension on your deadline and getting it – times a thousand.
7. The Prophet Who Ate a Scroll (Ezekiel 3:1-3)
When God tells you to eat something, you do it – even if it’s a scroll. Ezekiel was instructed to eat a holy document, which he said tasted as sweet as honey. We’ll have to take his word for it.
6. Elijah’s Fiery Chariot (2 Kings 2:11-12)
When it was time for Elijah to leave the earth, he didn’t just die peacefully in his sleep. Oh no, he got a dramatic exit via a chariot of fire that whisked him away to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha is left gobsmacked and probably wondered if he would ever get to witness such an unbelievable moment again (spoiler: scroll down to No. 2 for the answer).
5. Jesus and the Temple Tax Fish (Matthew 17:24-27)
When it came time to pay the temple tax, Jesus had a, um, unique solution. He told Peter to catch a fish, and inside its mouth, Peter found a coin to cover the tax for both of them. If we knew that happened more often, we’d all be fishermen.
4. Jonah and the Big Fish (Jonah 1:17)
Jonah tried to run from God’s mission, but after a stormy sea adventure, he ended up in the belly of a whale/giant fish (debate amongst yourselves, theologians) for three days and nights. Once Jonah repented, the fish spat him out, giving him a second chance – and quite the story to tell.
3. The Plagues of Egypt (Exodus 7-12)
From rivers of blood to frogs, gnats, and locusts, the plagues that God sent upon Egypt to convince Pharaoh to let the Israelites go are both terrifying and bizarre. The grand finale? The death of the firstborns, prompting the institution of Passover. Talk about a memorable moment.
2. Elisha and the Bald-Headed Bears (2 Kings 2:23-25)
Prophets can be sensitive about their hair. When a group of boys mocked Elisha, calling him “Baldy,” he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Two bears came out of the woods and mauled 42 of the kids. Moral of the story: Respect your elders, especially if they’re follicly challenged.
1. Balaam’s Talking Donkey (Numbers 22:21-39)
Imagine heading down the road, minding your own business, when your donkey suddenly turns to you and says, “Hey, why are you hitting me?” That’s basically what happened to Balaam. His donkey saw an angel blocking the path, and when Balaam couldn’t see it, he started beating the poor animal. The donkey had enough and started a conversation that Balaam probably never forgot.
