Pets are companions that offer invaluable emotional support and unconditional love to people in the modern world. These cherished companions are more than just friends; they are indeed part of our families. But what does the Bible say about pets? Does it affirm our relationship with pets, offering wisdom and insight on animal companionship? Let’s explore the topic of pets according to biblical teachings.
Who Recognized Animals in the Bible?
The relationship between humans and animals dates back to the creation story in the Bible. God trusted Adam as the first human to name all the animals, underlining a profound respect and recognition for animals. Also, prominent Bible figures such as Noah, took the responsibility to ensure animal survival during the Biblical flood by ushering them into the Ark. Therefore, the Bible signifies the responsibility of humans towards animals and indirectly guides us about our relationships with pets.
What Pet-like Relationships Existed in Biblical Times?
While the term “pet” may not appear in the Bible, there are widespread examples of deep bonds between humans and animals. The story of Balaam and his donkey is not just a story about obedience and faithfulness, but it also indicates a relationship of mutual understanding between a human and an animal. Prophet Elisha and the ravens, who provided him with food during his desert sojourn, further indicates the harmonious relationship between mankind and animals in the Bible. This hints towards the potential for pet-like relationships even in biblical times.
Where Does the Bible Discuss Care for Animals?
The Bible repeatedly stresses ethical treatment and care for animals. In the Bible, animals are often shown as recipients of human kindness and care. For instance, the law in Deuteronomy instructs not to muzzle an ox while treading grain, thus ensuring it could eat freely during work. Additionally, Proverbs refers to the righteous person as someone who cares for the needs of their animal. These teachings directly translate to modern pet ownership where humane and considerate care is emphasized.
Why Are Pets Important According to the Bible?
Although the Bible does not explicitly dwell on pets per se, the importance of animals and their meaningful relationships with humans is evident throughout biblical narratives. One can interpret from these narratives that just like humans, animals are part of God’s creation and they have a significant role in this ecosystem. Hence, their significance is undeniable. They serve as helpers, companions, and often serve symbolic roles in prophetic visions. They bear witness to the diversity and fullness of life God has created and hence deserve respect and care.
When Should We Show Compassion Towards Pets According to The Bible?
Compassion towards all living beings, including animals, is a recurring theme in the Bible. By biblical teaching, every moment calls for kindness towards our pets and animals. The story of Jonah and Nineveh in the Bible illustrates God’s compassion not just for humans but for animals as well. When the city of Nineveh was spared, God considered “many animals” as part of his merciful calculation. This discourse implies that humans, as stewards of God’s creation, should continuously show compassion towards animals and pets.
In conclusion, while the Bible may not provide explicit verses about pets, it offers rich testament to the profound relationships between humans and animals. It underscores humanity’s responsibility towards animals, highlights the worth of animals, and calls for unrelenting compassion towards them. Therefore, our relationship with pets can find grounding and guidance in these implicit biblical teachings.
Below is our full list of bible verses on pets (King James Version – KJV) provided in ranked order.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Pets
Genesis 1:28
“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 Children Stewardship Creativity Dominion
Proverbs 12:10
“10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.”
Genesis 9:2
“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.”
Luke 12:6
“6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?”
Related Themes: Sovereignty Animals Omnipotence
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: Animals
Psalm 136:25
“25 Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.”
Related Themes: Food
Genesis 2:18-19
“18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.”
Related Themes: Dating Loneliness Marriage Dating Fidelity
2 Samuel 12:1-6
“1 And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:3 But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.4 And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.5 And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”
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.”
Psalm 145:9-10
“9 The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.10 All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.”
Related Themes: Animals
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?”
Related Themes: Animals
Psalm 36:5-6
“5 Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.”
Genesis 1:24-25
“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.25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.”
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
Job 30:1
“1 But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.”
Psalm 145:9
“9 The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.”
Related Themes: Animals
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.”
Psalm 150:6
“6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.”
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 Animals
Job 12:10
“10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.”
Related Themes: Creativity
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?”
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.”
Related Themes: Animals
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 50:10-11
“10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.”
Proverbs 27:23
“23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.”
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.”
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.”
Psalm 104:27-30
“27 These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.28 That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.29 Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.”
Related Themes: Reaping
Genesis 9:9-10
“9 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;10 And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.”
