Animals are a recurring theme in the Bible, serving various roles and representing different aspects of life and spiritual understanding. In many of these cases, the Bible employs animals to deliver powerful messages about the human experience, our relationship with nature and the divine, and moral and ethical teachings.
What Roles Do Animals Play in the Bible?
In diverse stories across the Bible, animals are used symbolically, allegorically, and sometimes literally to depict both human qualities and divine principles. They appear as faithful companions, offerings to God, symbols of nations, and messengers of divine revelations. Animals not only have roles to play in the practical lives of biblical characters but also have meaningful impacts on the stories’ spiritual lessons. Consequently, animals serve as significant teaching tools in the Bible, guiding individuals in understanding divine messages more clearly and profoundly.
How Do Specific Animals Represent Different Meanings?
The Bible introduces several types of animals, each symbolizing something unique. For instance, sheep are frequently depicted as symbols of believers who follow their divine Shepard, highlighting the principles of trust, submission, and dependence on God. Similarly, the lion in the Bible represents various characteristics, including strength, nobility, courage, and sometimes, destructive power, emphasizing the necessity of balance and control in using our abilities. Also, the dove, representing the Holy Spirit, signifies peace, purity, and divine presence, reminding believers of the constant, calming, and guiding presence of the divine in their lives.
Why is the Relationship Between Humans and Animals Important in the Bible?
The Bible underscores the essential relationship between humans and animals. This bond initially established in the Book of Genesis, where animals are created by God for humans to oversee and care for, points to the human responsibility to steward God’s creation wisely and compassionately. Furthermore, the Bible articulates that just as they are a part of God’s creation, animals should be treated with respect and care, suggesting that humans’ approach towards animals reflects their attitudes towards God’s creation and their understanding of divine stewardship.
When Do Animals Appear in Major Biblical Events?
Animals feature prominently in several significant biblical episodes. For instance, in the story of Noah’s Ark, animals of every kind are saved from the great flood, emphasizing the universality of God’s care and the human role in preserving creation. In the Book of Exodus, the final plague involves the death of the firstborn animals along with human children, denoting the severe consequences of disobedience to God. Also, in the New Testament, Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey crystallizes his humility and approachability, despite being the Messiah. Hence, the presence of animals in such key events adds an additional layer of symbolism and interpretation, enriching the understanding of these biblical narratives.
Below is our full list of bible verses on animals (King James Version – KJV) provided in ranked order.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Animals
Proverbs 12:10
“10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.”
Matthew 6:26
“26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?”
Genesis 9:2-3
“2 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.”
Genesis 1:26-28
“26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
Related Themes: Earth Omnipotence Earth Greatness Creativity
Ecclesiastes 3:18-21
“18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?”
Job 35:11
“11 Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?”
Job 12:7-10
“7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.9 Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.”
Related Themes: Earth Creativity Nature
Isaiah 65:25
“25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.”
Genesis 1:30
“30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.”
Related Themes: Food
Genesis 1:21
“21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.”
Related Themes: Earth Creativity Creation Water
Psalm 145:9
“9 The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.”
Isaiah 11:6
“6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.”
Isaiah 11:6-9
“6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”
Proverbs 27:23
“23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.”
Luke 12:6
“6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?”
Related Themes: Sovereignty Pets Omnipotence
Luke 3:6
“6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
Luke 12:24
“24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?”
Related Themes: Reaping What You Sow Reaping
Deuteronomy 25:4
“4 Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.”
Related Themes: Earth
James 3:7
“7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:”
Psalm 36:6
“6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.”
Related Themes: Pets
Matthew 10:29
“29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.”
Related Themes: Omnipotence Sovereignty Omnipotence Omnipresence Earth
Psalm 8:6-9
“6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!”
Genesis 1:24
“24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.”
Revelation 5:13
“13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.”
Related Themes: Creation
Job 12:7
“7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:”
Related Themes: Earth Creativity Nature
Genesis 1:26
“26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”
Related Themes: Earth Omnipotence Earth Greatness Creativity
Ecclesiastes 3:21
“21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?”
Psalm 150:6
“6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.”
Psalm 147:9
“9 He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.”
Proverbs 6:6-8
“6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.”
