Jeopardy! remains one of television’s most beloved quiz shows, where sharp-minded contestants tackle questions that leave many viewers scratching their heads.
Recently, however, a seemingly straightforward clue about the Lord’s Prayer left all three contestants stumped on an episode, much to the shock of numerous Christian fans.
During the June 13 episode, host Mayim Bialik presented the $200 clue—the smallest, and typically the easiest, amount in the category “Dadjectives.”
The clue was: “Matthew 6:9 says, ‘Our Father Which Art In Heaven’, This ‘Be Thy Name.’”
For those who learned the Lord’s Prayer in Sunday school, the answer “hallowed” (or “what is hallowed,” in Jeopardy! style) would be quite familiar.
However, sometimes even the simplest questions on Jeopardy! can trip up contestants. In this instance, many viewers, especially those of the Christian faith, were particularly baffled by the contestants’ inability to answer a question about one of Christianity’s most well-known prayers.
“Not one contestant on Jeopardy last night knew the answer to this…Are you waking up yet?” tweeted one puzzled viewer.
Another tweet observed, “The Lord’s Prayer growing up was like knowing The Pledge of Allegiance. You just did.”
“While it may not be a sign of the end times, it DEFINITELY speaks volumes about Americans and their faith…or lack of,” commented another user.
While some interpreted this as a reflection of declining religious knowledge in the US, others were simply astonished that such a familiar phrase went unrecognized by the contestants.
One Twitter user even quipped, “I’m an atheist and even I knew the answer to that Lord’s Prayer question.”
Another noted, “My four-year-old niece got the answer right. Maybe the contestants never heard about The Lord’s Prayer?”
Bringing a touch of humor, a user remarked, “How can those Jeopardy! nerds not know this answer? Have they never listened to Iron Maiden?” referencing the song “Hallowed Be Thy Name.”
While many were surprised that each contestant missed what seemed like an easy question, some offered a more measured perspective. Given their low scores, two contestants may have opted to hold back rather than risk losing more points.
It’s worth noting that Jeopardy! frequently includes questions about Christianity and the Bible. Often, contestants correctly answer questions that even devout churchgoers might find challenging. Some viewers have even suggested that the show asks too many questions related to Christianity.
Moreover, Jeopardy! welcomes contestants from a wide array of backgrounds and religious beliefs. It’s quite possible that the contestants in this episode did not share the same Christian upbringing as many of the viewers.
For the final Jeopardy! question, the clue was: “He starred in the 2 films whose soundtracks were the top 2 bestselling albums of 1978.” Though they stumbled on the Lord’s Prayer, the contestants fared better with this ’70s movie question.
The correct response? “Who is John Travolta?” (The soundtracks were Grease and Saturday Night Fever). Contestant Suresh Krishnan came out on top, extending his winning streak to six games.
What are your thoughts on the Jeopardy! contestants not recognizing the Lord’s Prayer? Share your opinions on this story!
