Answers about animals

Why did the people not eat the lifestock in the wilderness?

The focus here is on the people’s dissatisfaction with the manna that God had miraculously provided. They remembered the very interesting diet when they were in Egypt of fish and vegetables of leeks, onions and garlic. “Why couldn’t God give us something more pleasant?” Whether they had enough livestock for meat is less important in [...]

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How could Noah have put every animal on the Ark?

Noah did not take every species of animal on board the Ark. Animals designated using the Hebrew words basar, behema, hayya, nephesh, op, remes, and sippor are used to describe the animals which were taken aboard (the common theme is land based oxygen breathing animals with blood).[1] Animals designated using the Hebrew words sheres and [...]

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What animal heard the announcement of the birth of Jesus?

Sheep. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I [...]

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Why are large animals used symbolically in Daniel and Revelation?

Daniel uses animals such as a lion, bear, leopard, dragon, goat and ram to refer to nations that controlled large parts of the area around the Middle East. The lion (Dan 7:4) symbolised the Babylonians, the bear (Dan 7:5) symbolised the Medo-Persian empire, the leopard (Dan 7:6) symbolised the Greek empire, and so on. In [...]

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Was the serpent in Eden (Gen. 3) an animal or a supernatural being?

The serpent in Eden was not a supernatural being (often called the devil, or Satan), it was an animal. Genesis 3:1 says the following about the serpent: …the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made…. Here the serpent is identified as simply one of the [...]

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Is a puffer fish ‘kosher’?

(Before answering this question, it’s worth noting that “kosher” rules — which are part of the Law of Moses — do not apply to Christians. For more on this, see the answer to ‘Is it okay for Christians to eat pork and shellfish?‘.) The Law of Moses said: “Of all that are in the waters [...]

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How is it that fishing and hunting is not a sin, when it really hurts the animals?

God has given us animals as a source of food. The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered. Every [...]

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Will pets be in the Kingdom of God?

The Bible says that you need to believe to be saved (e.g. Eph. 2:8). Animals are not able to believe, so animals cannot be saved. However, there will be animals in God’s kingdom. The prophet Isaiah has several description of God’s kingdom that include animals: 6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the [...]

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How many of each animal did Noah take into the ark?

The relevant verses are given below. And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing [...]

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Who were cowboys in the Bible?

The biblical equivalent of a cowboy was possibly a herdsman who was responsible for managing and caring for animals (often cattle, but sometimes pigs). Herdsmen are mentioned in Genesis 13:7-8; 26:20; 1 Samuel 21:7; 2 Chronicles 14:15; Matthew 8:33; Mark 5:14 and Luke 8:34. A closely related role was that of shepherd (who cared for the sheep [...]

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