Pets have been a part of human life for centuries, providing companionship, love, and loyalty. But what does the Bible say about pets? Here are some key passages that address the topic of animals in the context of our relationship with God.

What the Bible Says About Pets

The Creation of Animals

In the book of Genesis, we read about the creation of animals. God created animals on the sixth day, after creating humans. He blessed them and gave them the task of filling the earth and multiplying.

1. Genesis 1:20-28: "And God said, 'Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.' So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.' And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day. And God said, 'Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.' And it was so. God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good."

Animals in the Garden of Eden

In the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam and Eve dominion over the animals. They were instructed to name the animals and to care for them.

2. Genesis 1:26-28: "Then 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 birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'"

The Role of Animals in Human Life

Throughout the Bible, animals play a significant role in human life. They provide food, clothing, transportation, and companionship. They are also used for work, such as plowing fields and pulling carts.

3. Proverbs 12:10: "A righteous man has regard for the life of his beast, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel."

The Importance of Treating Animals with Kindness

The Bible teaches that we should treat animals with kindness and compassion. We are called to care for them and to protect them from harm.

4. Exodus 23:12: "Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your maidservant, and the alien, may be refreshed."

Conclusion

The Bible provides a clear message about our relationship with animals. We are to treat them with kindness and compassion, recognizing that they are creatures of God and that they play a valuable role in His creation.