Explain Bible

What does the Bible say about dogs going to heaven?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible does not explicitly say whether individual dogs or other pets go to heaven, so Christians should speak with humble hope rather than certainty. Scripture teaches that animals are God’s creatures, sustained by his care and included in his covenant concern for the earth (Genesis 9:9-10; Job 12:10; Psalm 36:6). Ecclesiastes 3:19-22 stresses humanity’s shared creatureliness and does not reveal the final destiny of animals. Yet Isaiah 11:6-9 and 65:25 portray God’s renewed peace with animal imagery, pointing to the goodness of his coming restoration. Believers may trust God’s wisdom and kindness, while resting their sure hope in Christ’s resurrection and the new creation.

Top passages, ranked by readers

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

  • Ecclesiastes 3:19-22

    [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. [20] All go to one place. All are from the dust, and all turn to dust again. [21] Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?" [22] Therefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who can bring him to see what will be after him?

  • Isaiah 11:6

    The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.

  • Job 12:10

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

  • Psalms 36:6

    Your righteousness is like the mountains of God. Your judgments are like a great deep. Yahweh, you preserve man and animal.

  • Ecclesiastes 3:19-20

    [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. [20] All go to one place. All are from the dust, and all turn to dust again.

  • Isaiah 11:6-9

    [6] The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. [7] The cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. [8] The sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. [9] They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Yahweh, as the waters cover the sea.

  • Isaiah 65:25

    The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, says Yahweh.

  • Revelation 22:15

    Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

  • Genesis 9:9-10

    [9] "As for me, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your offspring after you, [10] and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the cattle, and every animal of the earth with you. Of all that go out of the ark, even every animal of the earth.

  • Luke 12:6

    "Aren't five sparrows sold for two assaria coins? Not one of them is forgotten by God.

Related topics

Go deeper

Ask Explain Bible AI about dogs going to heaven and get a fuller answer from a Reformed theological perspective.

Ask what the Bible says about dogs going to heaven