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What does the Bible say about animals having a soul?

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The Bible teaches that animals are living creatures sustained by God, yet it distinguishes them from human beings, who alone bear God’s image and are called to eternal accountability before him. Genesis 1:24 and 1:30 describes animals as living creatures, and Job 12:10 says that the life of every creature is in God’s hand. Ecclesiastes 3:19-21 observes that humans and animals share earthly breath and death, while humbly acknowledging limits to our knowledge of their final destiny. Scripture calls God’s people to righteous care for animals (Proverbs 12:10) and pictures all creation praising its Maker (Revelation 5:13). The Bible does not clearly teach that animals possess immortal souls as humans do.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Ecclesiastes 3:21

    Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?"

  • Ecclesiastes 3:19

    For that which happens to the sons of men happens to animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the animals: for all is vanity.

  • Genesis 1:30

    To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food." And it was so.

  • Job 12:10

    In whose hand is the life of every living thing, The breath of all mankind?

  • Psalms 74:19

    Don't deliver the soul of your dove to wild beasts. Don't forget the life of your poor forever.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:42-44

    [42] So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption. [43] It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. [44] It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is also a spiritual body.

  • Revelation 5:13

    I heard every created thing which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever! Amen!"

  • Job 12:7-10

    [7] "But ask the animals, now, and they shall teach you; The birds of the sky, and they shall tell you. [8] Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you; The fish of the sea shall declare to you. [9] Who doesn't know that in all these, The hand of Yahweh has done this, [10] In whose hand is the life of every living thing, The breath of all mankind?

  • Proverbs 12:10

    A righteous man regards the life of his animal, But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

  • Genesis 1:24

    God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind, cattle, creeping things, and animals of the earth after their kind," and it was so.

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