Animal Rights and the Bible

2022-12-19

What does the Bible say about the importance of animals? There are those who go to extremes on the issue. Let us look at some Scriptures.

People Are More Important Than Animals

Animals are not considered more important than people. Human beings were created in the image of God, and animals were not. “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” (Genesis 1:26). People are to rule over animals.

If an animal kills a person, the animal is to die, but the converse is not true. “And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man” (Genesis 9:5-6).

Vegetarianism

Vegetarianism may have been an antediluvian practice, but since then there was nothing wrong with eating meat. “Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things” (Genesis 9:3).

Our Lord Jesus Christ ate meat. “And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them” (Luke 24:42-43). And again, “As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread” (John 21:9).

Some refrained from eating meat because they were connected to pagan sacrifices. They did not want to be connected to the pagan gods even though the meat is not literally contaminated. “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself” (Daniel 1:8). There may be other reasons. “For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs” (Romans 14:2). Whatever your diet, you do not condemn the other who eats differently from you. However, there is no command to refrain from eating meat.

Care for Animals

However, does this mean we consider animals unimportant? We read to the contrary in some places. “A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel” (Proverbs 12:10). We see that righteous people who have animals will care for them. Reading the second half of the verse, the implication is that wicked people will be cruel to animals. There are those who torture animals. These are evil people.

When God spared Nineveh, and Jonah was disappointed, we read, “And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?” (Jonah 4:11). Sparing the city was not for the people alone, but also the animals that lived in there.

Many people thumb their noses at people who love their animals like children. The Scriptures say, not so fast. While people are more important than animals, consider this parable or metaphor Nathan used to David to expose his sin:

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. 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. 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 (2 Samuel 12:3-5)

This was a mere story to make a point. However, notice David’s reaction to what he heard that someone’s animal was heartlessly killed. He did not respond, “Well, it is only a sheep. The poor guy needs to get over it. The story is a little far-fetched.” Rather, we read, “As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die.” This would be a normal reaction for David, who spent his younger years defending his sheep from lions and bears. Animals are important to people.

Conclusion

There are two extremes that can trap us. There is a position where we can place animals before people. We also can undermine the importance of animals in our own lives or in the lives of others. Keep the balance.