The Bible’s Teachings

on Protecting
Animals and Nature
Introduction treatment of farmed animals, and who hates you lying under its bur- Forbidding Cruelty
indeed all of God’s creatures, which den, you shall refrain from leaving
were designed to prevent any him with it, you shall help him to
to Animals
T he Bible and the Judaic-
Christian tradition teach unnecessary pain and suffering. lift it up” (Exodus
and command us to treat animals
with kindness and respect. The
Modern day animal agriculture
violates core Christian values. It
23:4-5).
The Ten Com-
T he Bible forbids
cruelty to
domestic animals.
massive abuse and suffering legally wipes out entire populations and mandments specifi-
It would be harsh to
inflicted on billions of animals species of wildlife, confines huge cally mentions that
A righteous man prevent the ox from
every year is a clear violation of numbers of animals in miserable cattle and donkeys
eating while work-
the teachings of our religious faith conditions on factory farms, dam- must not be worked has regard for the life ing, and consequent-
and cannot be justified by any ages the environment, squanders on the Sabbath. In of his beast. ly Deuteronomy
person of faith and decency. scarce resources, and harms the the twenty-third
25:4 reads, “You
The people for whom the Bible health of people. chapter of Exodus, Proverbs 12:10 shall not muzzle
was written thousands of years ago several animal-pro-
an ox when it treads
were intimately familiar with tection statutes are
The Ten Commandments: out the grain.”
wildlife and domestic animals, given by God to
Moreover,
especially the practice of raising Do Not Overwork Moses: “Six days
Deuteronomy 22:10
cattle and other animals. The Bible Animals you shall do your
says, “You shall not plow with an
contains strict rules governing the work, but on the seventh day you
ox and an ass together.” Pairing
shall rest; that your ox and your
T he Mosaic Law in the Hebrew
Scriptures forbids overworking
animals and requires that people
ass may have rest …” (Exodus
23:12). Similarly, “the seventh
animals of different sizes and
strengths would place a strain
on the weaker of them, or perhaps
help stray and lost creatures. Many day is a sabbath to the Lord your
on both.
injunctions are clearly written for God; in it you shall not do any
Contrast these ancient laws
the sake of the creatures work, you, or your son … or your
that sought to reduce animal suf-
and not the owners. ox, or your ass, or any of your
fering with modern-day factory
The Law requires that cattle” (Deuteronomy 5:14).
farming practices. Today, for exam-
one help animals who God also commands that every
ple, farmers take calves raised for
belong to enemies to seventh year one should not sow
veal from their mothers at birth,
whom one owes no obli- or harvest the land, the vineyards,
deny the calves their mother’s
gation, as well as those and the olive groves. They should
milk, and deliberately deprive the
of friends. One may be allowed to “rest and lie fallow”
calves of iron. Farmers often keep
not “pass by” an (Exodus 23:11). God commands
the calves their entire lives in
animal in dis- that what grows naturally in the
crates so narrow that they cannot
tress: “If you fields left fallow in the seventh
turn around. These circumstances
meet your year shall be for oneself, one’s ser-
render the calves’ muscles soft and
enemy’s ox or vants, one’s guests, and “for your
anemic, making the flesh tender
his ass going cattle and also for the beasts that
and lightly colored. Such treat-
astray, you shall are in your land all its yield shall
ment is incompatible with the
bring it back to him. be for food” (Leviticus 25:4-7).
Bible’s teachings.
If you see the ass of one

2 3
A Righteous Man twelve tribes of Israel – to say what
fate would befall them, Simeon and
Has Regard for the Life Levi were castigated and chastised
of His Beast for crippling oxen, among other
things (Genesis 49:6-7).

P roverbs 12:10 declares, “A right-

eous man has regard for the life
of his beast, but the mercy of the The Beasts of the Field
wicked are cruel.” This important Shall Be at Peace
verse suggests a Biblical division of
people into two distinct types –
with Thee
those who are “righteous” and just
are kind to their animals, and those
who are “wicked” and are cruel to
T he Book of Psalms relates that
God’s goodness and compas-
sion are not reserved just for
creatures under their care.
humans but extend to all of God’s
The story of Rebekah at the
creatures. Psalm 36:6-7 praises
well stresses the importance of
God, saying “man and beast thou
kindness to animals as a personal
savest, O Lord. How precious is
attribute. In this account, the
thy steadfast love, O God! The
patriarch Abraham,
children of men
seeking a wife for
take refuge in the
his son Isaac, sends
shadow of thy
his trusted servant
wings.”
out to search for a
suitable woman.
Psalm 145 reiter- God’s Ideal Includes Peace as an ideal a day when humankind
The Lord is good to all, will be at peace with nature: “For
The servant chooses
ates this theme of with Animals you shall be in league with the
Rebekah after she
and his compassion is over God’s concern for
all God’s creatures: stones of the field, and the beasts
demonstrates a kind
disposition by draw-
all that he has made.
Psalm 145:9
“The Lord is good
to all, and his com-
T he book of Hosea (2:18) sug-
gests that God would make a
pact with the animals to give them
of the field shall be at peace with
you.”
ing water not just Isaiah 11:6-9 eloquently depicts
passion is over all safety from being hunted and per-
for him but also for how the animal kingdom will be
that he has made. secuted by abolishing the instru-
his camels included in the blessings of peace
… thou satisfiest ments of their destruction: “And I
(Genesis 24:19). on earth when it is achieved: “The
the desire of every will make for you a covenant on
Similarly, 2 Samuel wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
living thing” (9, 16). that day with the beasts of the
Chapter 12, God and the leopard shall lie down
Similarly, God’s explanation to field, the birds of the air, and the
uses the sad story of the inexcus- with the kid, and the calf and the
Jonah for why God elected not to creeping things of the ground; and
able killing of a family’s beloved young lion … and the lion shall eat
destroy Nineveh reflected God’s I will abolish the bow, the sword,
pet lamb to show King David the straw like the ox. … They shall
concern for animals. The “great and war from the land; and I will
error of his ways. not hurt nor destroy in all my holy
city” contained 120,000 people make you lie down in safety.”
When Jacob called together his mountain: for the earth shall be
“and also much cattle” (Jonah The Book of Job 5:23 describes
twelve sons – representing the full of the knowledge of the Lord”.
4:11).

4 5
Reverence for Life day?” (14:5) And in the Sermon on ness, and docility. through, and the
the Mount, Jesus speaks of “the He often represent- lowing of cattle is
in the New Testament birds of the air”, saying that “your ed animals as being not heard; for both
heavenly Father feeds them” under God’s provi- the birds of the air
T he New Testament contains
many references favorable to
protecting animals and nature. In
(Matthew 6:26).
Interestingly, the New
dence, and Jesus’
repeated statements
I desire mercy
and not sacrifice.
and the beasts of
the field are gone”
Testament never depicts Jesus eat- to practice love, (9:10). Similarly,
Luke (12:6), Jesus stresses that God Matthew 9:13, 12:7
ing meat in his lifetime, not even mercy, and compas- Habakkuk predicts
loves even the lowliest of crea-
at the Last Supper, although on sion are consistent “… the destruction
tures: “Are not five sparrows sold
two occasions after his death and with, and indeed of the beasts will
for two pennies? And not one of
resurrection the Bible describes his fundamental to, the terrify you, for the
them is forgotten before God.”
eating fish. humane and preser- blood of men and
Matthew 10:29 also reports Jesus’
Many Christians see deep sig- vation ethic. violence to the
belief that God cares for all God’s
nificance in the story of Jesus earth, to cities and all who dwell
creatures, even those of little mon-
beginning his life among the ani- therein” (2:17). In both cases,
etary value to The Bible’s Conservation
mals (Luke destroying the land – much as we
us. In teaching
God’s infinite
2:7). Denied Message are doing today to farmland and
shelter and the wilderness – brings misery.
wisdom and
lodging by the The Bible accords special rever-
love for
mankind,
humans of
Bethlehem in
T he obligation of humans to
respect and protect the natural
environment is a theme that
ence for trees and forests, and one
of the first things the Israelites
Matthew
Judea, Mary appears throughout the Bible. were commanded to do when they
quotes Jesus as
and Joseph Frequently, the mandate directly “came into” the Promised Land
saying: “Are
were forced to relates to the problems we face was to plant trees and allow them
not two spar-
use a manger today – cruelty to farmed animals, to mature before eating their fruits
rows sold for a penny? And not
for Jesus’ birthplace. There, Jesus destruction of wildlife and habitat, (Leviticus 19:23).
one of them will fall on the ground
was born, presumably in the com- and pollution of the land, water, The Mosaic Law contains a
without your Father’s will.”
pany of such creatures as donkeys, and air. remarkable nature-protection regu-
In Luke (13:15), Jesus uses the
oxen, cows, and sheep. Perhaps the world’s first anti- lation that forbids the destruction
Biblical laws of humane treatment
Jesus’ appreciation for animals pollution law is found in of fruit-bearing trees when waging
of animals to justify healing a crip-
is demonstrated by the repeated Deuteronomy (23:13-15), which war against a city (Deuteronomy
pled woman on the Sabbath, say-
analogies and references to ani- forbids contaminating the land 20:19). Elsewhere the Mosaic Law
ing, “Does not each of you on the
mals that he used in his teachings. with human waste. In the books sets forth strict and detailed rules
sabbath untie his ox or his ass
He referred to his followers, and of Jeremiah (9:9-11) and Habakkuk regarding caring for trees. For
from the manger, and lead it away
those who worship God, as sheep, (2:17), God warns against destroy- example, Leviticus (19:23-25)
to water it?” Again in Luke, Jesus
and he compared God’s care for ing nature and wildlife. In orders that fruit trees be left wild
similarly justifies healing a man
Jerusalem with a hen’s concern for Jeremiah, God describes “weeping and unpicked for the first few
on the Sabbath, saying, “Which of
her brood. Often in his teachings, and wailing for the mountains, and years in order to give them
you having a son or an ox that has
Jesus compared himself to such a lamentation for the pastures of strength and increase their yield.
fallen into a well, will not immedi-
animals as the lamb and the dove, the wilderness, because they are Throughout the Bible, in stress-
ately pull him out on a sabbath
known for their innocence, meek- laid waste so that no one passes ing the reverence humans should

6 7
have toward the land, the Some Biblical scholars see sig- In the Book of Deuteronomy know that the hand of the Lord
Scriptures impart a strong conser- nificance in the fact that God pro- (8:7-9), Moses describes the has done this?” (Job 12:7-9).
vation message, warning against nounced each thing God created – Promised Land as an ecological
over utilizing and wearing out nat- the whales, birds, cattle, “every- paradise, noting its rich and beau-
ural resources. In Leviticus (25:4), thing that creeps upon the tiful environment and its “foun- Human-Stewardship
God commands that: “in the sev- ground,” and the other “beasts of tains and springs, flowing forth in Responsibilities
enth year there shall be a sabbath the earth” – as “good” in itself valleys and hills …” Moses stress-
of solemn rest for the land, a sab- (Genesis 1:21, 25). And when God es to the
bath rest for the Lord; you shall
not sow your field or prune your
reviewed the entire Creation, God
declared it “very good” (Genesis
Israelites the
sanctity of the
N ot only
does the
Bible stress
vineyard.” 1:31), perhaps because God had land: “a land that nature
Also Leviticus (26:3-6) describes created a universe of harmony. which the Lord reflects
God’s appreciation for the land by Psalm 104 eloquently sums up your God cares God’s glory
promising the Israelites that, if they the theme of God’s concern for for, the eyes of and great-
obey God’s commandments, the Creation, praising God for provid- the Lord your ness, but the
land will reward them: “If you walk ing for all of God’s creatures. It God are always Scriptures
in my statutes and observe my com- notes how we all depend on the upon it, from the assert that
mandments and do ecological system beginning of the humans have
them, then I will that God has estab- year to the end of been given a
give you your rains lished, proclaiming: the year” special responsibility to protect
in their season, and “O Lord, how mani- (Deuteronomy 11:12). and care for the natural environ-
the land shall yield
its increase, and the
For every beast of the forest fold are thy works!
In wisdom hast
God’s love of the land for its
own sake, not just for humans’
ment. Yet ironically, this Biblical
mandate has often been used as a
trees of the field is mine, and the cattle thou made them all; benefit, is apparent when God license to despoil and destroy
shall yield their fruit. upon a thousand hills. the earth is full of speaks to Job from the whirlwind, instead of an obligation to protect
… And I will give thy creatures. telling him how God does “bring and preserve.
peace in the land …”
I know all the fowls of the Yonder is the sea, rain on a land where no man is, on Probably no passage in the Bible
mountains: and the wild great and wide, the desert in which there is no has been so misunderstood and
God’s Love beasts of the field are mine. which teems with man; to satisfy the waste and deso- misinterpreted as Genesis 1:26,
things innumerable, late land, and to make the ground where God gives humankind
for Nature Psalm 50:10-11 (KJV) living things both put forth grass” (Job 38:26-27). “dominion” over nature and ani-
small and great. … The Book of Job tells us that mals. This has often been mistak-
T hroughout the
Book of
Genesis, God looks
thou openest thy
hand, they are filled
with good things. …
humans must live in harmony
with nature and seek to learn from
its wise and mysterious ways: “But
enly interpreted as a synonym for
ownership, giving humans the
right to treat nature and animals
with special favor on “the swarms thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they ask the beasts, and they will teach as they see fit. However, since
of living creatures.” God created are created; and thou renewest the you; the birds of the air, and they there was no violence in the
them, blessed them, and com- face of the ground. May the glory will tell you; or the plants of the Garden of Eden and since God
manded them to “be fruitful and of the Lord endure for ever, may earth, and they will teach you; and described all of Creation as “very
multiply,” repeatedly characteriz- the Lord rejoice in his works …” the fish of the sea will declare to good,” it is much more reasonable
ing their creation as “good.” (Psalm 104:24-31). you. Who among all these does not to regard human “dominion” as a

8 9
sacred responsibility to be good vain to believe that their destinies of the ark, even every beast of the the thesis that God cares deeply
stewards of the natural world. In differ from those of animals: “For earth.” Indeed, God makes no dis- about animals. The ostensible pur-
addition to caring for and protect- the fate of the sons of men and the tinction between people and ani- pose of the sacrifices was to atone
ing the earth, Genesis 1:28 com- fate of beasts is the same; as one mals in establishing God’s for sin, so it is reasonable to regard
mands humankind to “replenish dies, so dies the other. They all covenant “between me and the animal sacrifices as a necessary
the earth.” have the same breath, and man has earth” (Genesis 9:12- step away from the
In contrast to those who hold no advantage over the beasts; for 17). practice of human
that the earth belongs to humans, all is vanity. All go to one place; Many people sacrifice (Numbers
in Leviticus (25:23), God pro- all are from dust, and all turn to regard God’s giving 31:30, 40) on the
claims, “the land is mine; for you dust again. Who knows whether Noah permission to road to abolition of
are strangers and sojourners with the spirit of man goes upward and eat animals as vali- What does the Lord require all sacrifice.
me.” Similarly, the Twenty-fourth the spirit of the beast goes down to dating humankind’s The later
Psalm relates that the world the earth?” entitlement to treat of you but to do justice, prophets, including
belongs not to humankind but to In numerous places in the animals as we please. and to love kindness, Isaiah, Hosea,
God: “The earth is the Lord’s and Bible, God acts toward humans However, killing and and to walk humbly Amos, Micah, and
the fullness thereof, the world, and and animals in an equitable way. eating animals came Jeremiah, con-
they who dwell therein … “ Also, When God saved Noah and his with a curse – where- with your god? demned animal
Deuteronomy 10:14 proclaims, family from destruction, God as previously people sacrifice. For exam-
“Behold, to the Lord your God treated the animals in a similar and animals had
Micah 6:8 ple, Isaiah (1:11-13)
belong heaven and the heaven of manner: “And God remembered lived in harmony, describes how God
heavens, the earth with all that is Noah and every living thing, and now “the fear of you told the Israelites
in it …” All living things belong to all the cattle that were with him and the dread of you to bring no more
God, and God declares in Psalm in the ark” (Genesis 8:1). shall be upon every sacrifices since
50:10-11, “For every beast of the Genesis 9:8-10 relates that, beast of the earth …” (Genesis they were “an abomination.” In
forest is mine, the cattle on a after the waters of the great flood 9:2). Enmity with God’s animals Isaiah 66:2-3, God compared the
thousand hills. I know all the receded, God promised a flood is a great price to pay for the gusta- killing of an animal with the mur-
fowls of the mountains: and the would never again destroy the tory satisfaction of eating them. der of a human: “He who slaugh-
wild beasts of the field are mine” earth. God made this covenant not And there is another curse – the ters an ox is like him who kills a
(KJV). only with Noah and his descen- fat, cholesterol, and harmful chem- man …”
dants but also with “every living icals and other substances that Similarly, Hosea wrote, “For I
creature that is with you, the fowl, promote heart disease, diabetes, desire steadfast love and not sacri-
Into Your Hand the cattle, and every beast of the certain cancers, and other degener- fice, the knowledge of God, rather
Are They Delivered earth with you; of all that go out ative diseases that kill or disable than burnt offerings” (6:6). In
millions of Americans each year. Jeremiah, God declared “Your
burnt offerings are not acceptable,
T he Bible contains
numerous strictures
against wanton or cruel Animal Sacrifices
nor your sacrifices pleasing to me”
(6:20). Jeremiah also related for
killing of wildlife and God, “For in the day that I brought
domestic animals.
Ecclesiastes (3:19-21) S ome people ask how the ritual
sacrifices of animals described
in Leviticus can be reconciled with
them out of the land of Egypt, I did
not speak to your fathers or com-
asserts that humans are mand them concerning burnt offer-

10 11
ings and sacrifices” (7:22). drove out the merchants selling are based on
King David wrote, “Sacrifice animals for sacrifice, those chang- the principle
and offering thou dost not desire” ing money for the purchase of ani- that animals
(Psalm 40:6). Amos, speaking for mals, and the animals themselves are part of
God, related that God strongly (John 2:15). God’s cre-
condemns sacrifices: “I hate, I ation toward
despise your feasts, … Even though which man
you offer me your burnt offerings Religion and Protection bears respon-
and cereal offerings, I will not of Animals sibility.
accept them” (5:21-22). Laws and
Micah similarly described God other indica-
rejecting sacrifices: “With what
shall I come before the Lord, and
T hese conservation and humane
precepts of the Scriptures were
well understood by the early lead-
tions in the
… Bible
bow myself before God on high? ers of Judaism and the Christian make it clear
Shall I come before him with Church. For the first thousand not only that
burnt offerings, with calves a year years or so, numerous stories and cruelty to
old? Will the Lord legends depict the animals is
be pleased with forbidden but also that compassion fit from it. A truly religious man
Christian saints as does not ask how far this or that
thousands of rams, having close and and mercy to them are demanded of
with ten thousands man by God. … In later rabbinic lit- deserves sympathy … to him, life
friendly relation- as such is sacred.”
of rivers oil? Shall I ships with wild and erature … great prominence is also
give my first-born given to demonstrating God’s mercy Another leading Christian the-
And God said, “Behold, domestic creatures, ologian, Rev. Norman Vincent
for my transgres- including such to animals, and to the importance of
sion, the fruit of my I give you every plant not causing them pain.” Peale, has stated, “I do not believe
revered saints as a person can be a true Christian
body for the sin of yielding seed which is upon Giles, Jerome, Dr. Albert Schweitzer, a med-
my soul?’ He has ical missionary and Nobel Peace and at the same time deliberately
the face of all the earth, Benedict, Meinrad, engage in cruel or inconsiderate
showed you, O man, Columba, Cuthbert, Prize recipient, wrote that humans
what is good; and and every tree with seed were “compelled by the command- treatment of animals.”
Patrick, and hun- The Rev. Dr. Billy Graham has
what does the Lord in its fruit; you shall dreds of others. The ment of love … proclaimed by
require of you but to Jesus” to respect all forms of life. noted, “The Bible teaches that we
have them for food.” best known, of are not to abuse or punish animals
do justice, and to course, is the He taught that one should avoid
love kindness, and “carelessly cutting off the head of in a cruel way. God has created
Genesis 1:29 patron saint of ani- them, and while mankind is given
to walk humbly mals, Francis of a single flower growing on the edge
with your God ? ” of the road, for in doing so (would dominion over the animals, we are
Assisi. not to treat them cruelly.”
(6:6-8). Similarly, be to) injure life without being
Jesus’ ministry forced to do so by necessity.” Rev. Lloyd Putman has warned
Judaism has a long against practicing “religious
reflected the teachings of the later tradition of reverence for animals Schweitzer wrote eloquently of the
prophets, and Matthew relates that need to show reverence for all myopia,” saying that “we have a
and nature based on Biblical teach- small religion if it has no room for
twice Jesus echoed Hosea, saying, ings. The Jewish Encyclopedia forms of life: “A man’s religion is
“I desire mercy and not sacrifice” of little value unless even seem- the rest of God’s creatures.” The
notes, “Moral and legal rules con- famous English theologian
(9:13, 12:7). In the Temple, Jesus cerning the treatment of animals ingly insignificant creatures bene-

12 13
 miscarriages, and issue, since
birth defects. humankind is
Huge amounts of overwhelming the
water, energy, and Are not five sparrows earth’s ability to
grain are being used, support not just
and largely wasted, sold for two pennies? wildlife but human
raising cattle, pigs, And not one of life as well. What
chickens and other them is forgotten greater sin can
animals. These ani- there be than to
mals emit enormous before God. destroy future gen-
amounts of gases erations’ ability to
Luke 12:6
that cause or exacer- live on our planet?
bate global warming Fortunately, the
and depletion of the solution to many
planet’s stratospheric of these problems
ozone layer that pro- may be found in
tects all life on earth from deadly the doctrines of the Bible. If
radiation. adhered to, these teachings, which
The growing environmental cri- promote a reverence for the earth
sis has become one of the great and its creatures, might prevent
Cardinal John Henry Newman The Devastation Caused political issues of our day. What many of the threats to the environ-
(1801- 1890) once wrote that “cru- many people fail to realize is that ment and could ensure a secure
elty to animals is as if a man did
by Factory Farming it is also a moral and spiritual future for humanity.
not love God.”
Pope John Paul II has stated
that Christians have a moral obli-
T he authors of the Bible could
hardly have foreseen the suf-
fering and devastation of animals
gation to protect the environment,
caused by modern-day society,
saying in a homily that “respect
which clearly violate the spirit and
for natural resources of our planet”
letter of the Biblical laws. In facto-
must be a part of everyone’s con-
ry farming, for example, crowding
science. He has also said that “To
together billions of animals in
repair … and to prevent … damage
thousands of such facilities is
inflicted on nature” is a “grave
causing massive damage to the
moral obligation.”
environment. Manure, chemical
In the final analysis, perhaps
pesticides, and fertilizers are pol-
the strongest argument for kind-
luting our rivers, lakes, streams,
ness to animals can be made on
aquifers, and other drinking water
the grounds of equity. How, some
sources, killing off fish and
have asked, can people ask for
wildlife, and causing tragic human
mercy from above unless they are
health problems such as cancer,
merciful to those at their mercy?

14 15
Prepared by Lewis Regenstein,
president of the Interfaith Council
for the Protection of Animals and
Nature (ICPAN), an affiliate of The
Humane Society of the United
States. The HSUS (www.hsus.org) O Lord, how manifold
provides many resources for
humane living.
are thy works!
In wisdom hast thou
©2006 ICPAN
[email protected] made them all;
Front and back cover paintings the earth is full
by Ed King, Spotsylvania, VA.
of thy creatures.
Thanks to: HSUS, Center for
Respect of Life and Environment, Psalm 104:24
Dawnwatch.com, Christian
Vegetarian Association, Stephen
Kaufman, M.D., Rev. Linda
McDaniel, and Helga Jervis.