Human and Animal Relationships in the Bible
The Bible presents a multifaceted view of human and animal relationships, ranging from practical utility and stewardship to symbolic representation and eschatological harmony. Animals are frequently mentioned in Scripture, serving various roles in daily life and religious understanding [1, 3].
From the earliest accounts, animals are depicted as part of God's creation, with humanity given a role of dominion over them (Genesis 1:26-28). This dominion is not absolute license but implies a responsibility, as Proverbs 12:10 states, "A righteous man respects the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel" [7]. Animals were essential for sustenance, labor, and property, with examples including sheep, cattle, donkeys, and camels mentioned as possessions [4, 5].
However, the relationship is not always benign. Wild and semi-wild dogs, for instance, were known to roam cities, devouring offal and dead bodies, leading to their association with uncleanness and reproach [1, 3]. Terms like "dog" or "dead dog" were used as insults [3]. The prophet Isaiah even refers to watchmen as "dogs" who are "greedy" and "never have enough" (Isaiah 56:10).
Symbolically, animals often represent human characteristics or spiritual states. In Ezekiel's vision, living creatures have the "likeness of a man" [6]. Daniel 4:16 describes a change where a man's heart is replaced with an "animal's heart," signifying a loss of human reason [8]. Paul refers to "false apostles" as "dogs" in Philippians 3:2, using the term pejoratively [3].
The Bible also looks forward to a future state of peace where the natural order of predator and prey will be transformed. Isaiah 11:6 famously prophesies, "The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat" [2]. This passage is interpreted by some as a literal change in the animal kingdom, restoring an Edenic state, while others see it as a metaphor for peace among people of different dispositions [9, 10]. John Calvin understood this prophecy to mean that Christ would "drive away everything hurtful out of the world, and to restore to its former beauty the world which lay under the curse," suggesting that in a world unmarred by sin, no animal would prey on blood [11]. Similarly, Hosea 2:18 speaks of God making a covenant with the beasts for the benefit of humanity, ensuring they will no longer harm people [12]. This eschatological vision underscores a hope for renewed harmony between humanity and the animal world.
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Dog — an animal frequently mentioned in Scripture. It was used by the hebrews as a watch for their houses, (Isaiah 56:10) and for guarding their flocks. (Job 30:1) Then also, as now troops of hungry and semi-wild dogs used to wander about the fields and the streets of the cities, devouring dead bodies and other offal, (1 Kings 14:11; 21:19,23; 22:38; Psalms 59:6) and thus became so savage and fierce and such objects of dislike that fierce and cruel enemies are poetically styled dogs in (Psalms 22:16,20) moreover the dog being an unclean animal, (Isaiah 66:3) the epith”
- Isaiah “The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat; The calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf together; and a little child will lead them. -- Isaiah 11:6”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Dog — Frequently mentioned both in the Old and New Testaments. Dogs were used by the Hebrews as a watch for their houses (Isa. 56:10), and for guarding their flocks (Job 30:1). There were also then as now troops of semi-wild dogs that wandered about devouring dead bodies and the offal of the streets (1 Kings 14:11; 16:4; 21:19, 23; 22:38; Ps. 59:6, 14). As the dog was an unclean animal, the terms "dog," "dog's head," "dead dog," were used as terms of reproach or of humiliation (1 Sam. 24:14; 2 Sam. 3:8; 9:8; 16:9). Paul calls false apostles "dogs" (Phil. 3:2). Those ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Beast — This word is used of flocks or herds of grazing animals (Ex. 22:5; Num. 20:4, 8, 11; Ps. 78:48); of beasts of burden (Gen. 45:17); of eatable beasts (Prov. 9:2); and of swift beasts or dromedaries (Isa. 60:6). In the New Testament it is used of a domestic animal as property (Rev. 18:13); as used for food (1 Cor. 15:39), for service (Luke 10:34; Acts 23:24), and for sacrifice (Acts 7:42). When used in contradistinction to man (Ps. 36:6), it denotes a brute creature generally, and when in contradistinction to creeping things (Lev. 11:2-7; 27:26), a four-footed ”
- Genesis “He dealt well with Abram for her sake. He had sheep, cattle, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels. -- Genesis 12:16”
- Ezekiel “et in medio ejus similitudo quatuor animalium. Et hic aspectus eorum, similitudo hominis in eis. -- Ezekiel 1:5”
- Proverbs “A righteous man respects the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. -- Proverbs 12:10”
- Daniel “let his heart be changed from man’s, and let an animal’s heart be given to him; and let seven times pass over him. -- Daniel 4:16”
- Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 11:6: wolf . . . lamb--Each animal is coupled with that one which is its natural prey. A fit state of things under the "Prince of Peace" (Isa 65:25; Eze 34:25; Hos 2:18). These may be figures for men of corresponding animal-like characters (Eze 22:27; Eze 38:13; Jer 5:6; Jer 13:23; Mat 7:15; Luk 10:3). Still a literal change in the relations of animals to man and each other, restoring the state in Eden, is a more likely interpretation. Compare Gen 2:19-20, with Psa 8:6-8, which describes the restoration to man, in the person of "the Son of man," of the lost ”
- Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 11:6: And the wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,.... This, and the three following verses Isa 11:7, describe the peaceableness of the Messiah's kingdom; and which the Targum introduces in this manner, "in the days of the Messiah of Israel, peace shall be multiplied in the earth.'' The wild and tame creatures shall agree together, and the former shall become the latter; which is not to be understood literally of the savage creatures, as if they should lose their nature, and be restored, as it is said, to their paradisiacal estate, which is supposed to be the time of th”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 1, section 17.16: 1:10 ; Colossians 1:20 .) It may be thus summed up: “Christ will come to drive away everything hurtful out of the world, and to restore to its former beauty the world which lay under the curse.” For this reason, he says, that straw will be the food of the lion as well as of the ox ; for if the stain of sin had not polluted the world, no animal would have been addicted to prey on blood, but the fruits of the earth would have sufficed for all, according to the method which God had appointed. ( Genesis 1:30 .) Though Isaiah says that the wild a”
- Hosea (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Hosea 2:18: With the complete abolition of idolatry and false religion, the church of the Lord will attain to the enjoyment of undisturbed peace. Hos 2:18. "And I make a covenant for them in that day with the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and the moving creatures of the earth: and I break in pieces bow, and sword, and battle out of the land, and cause them to dwell securely." God makes a covenant with the beasts, when He imposes the obligation upon them to hurt men no more. "For them:" lâhem is a dat. comm., for the good of the favoured ones. The three clas”