The Bible is filled with rich symbolism, and animals are no exception. From the serpent in the Garden of Eden to the four beasts in Revelation, these creatures often represent deeper spiritual truths.
However, not all animal symbolism in the Bible is positive. Many animals are used to convey themes of sin, judgment, and even Satan himself. Here are the 16 animals and what they represent in the Bible.
1. Serpent (Snake)
The serpent is perhaps the most infamous animal in the Bible, first appearing in the Garden of Eden as the tempter who deceived Eve.
Throughout Scripture, the serpent symbolizes sin, deception, and the devil himself. In Revelation, Satan is referred to as “that ancient serpent.”
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Interestingly, the Hebrew word for serpent, “nachash,” can also mean “shining one.” This highlights the deceptive nature of sin, which often appears attractive on the surface but leads to destruction.
2. Lion
The lion is a complex symbol in the Bible, representing both good and evil. On one hand, Jesus is called the “Lion of the tribe of Judah”, symbolizing His strength, courage, and kingship. However, the devil is described as a “roaring lion” seeking someone to devour.
In a negative sense, the lion represents ferocity, destructiveness, and God’s judgment.
The prophet Hosea compares God’s wrath to a lion, writing, “For I will be like a lion to Ephraim and like a young lion to the house of Judah.”
3. Bear
Like the lion, the bear is a positive and negative symbol in Scripture. David boasted of killing both a lion and a bear while protecting his sheep, demonstrating courage and God’s protection. However, more often, the bear represents evil, cruelty, and God’s wrath.
In the book of Revelation, the beast of Persia is likened to a bear, symbolizing this kingdom’s evil and destructive nature.
The bear’s ferociousness is also used to describe God’s anger, such as when Hosea writes, “I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs.”
4. Donkey
The donkey is generally a positive symbol in the Bible, representing peace, humility, and service. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9 and emphasizing the peaceful nature of His kingdom.
However, the donkey is also used as a symbol of stubbornness and foolishness.
The prophet Jeremiah compares Israel’s waywardness to a wild donkey, writing, “A wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness, that sniffs the wind in her passion—in her time of heat, who can turn her away?”
5. Dog
In modern Western culture, dogs are often seen as loyal companions. However, in biblical times, dogs were largely viewed as unclean scavengers. They were rarely kept as pets and were more associated with violence and uncleanliness.
The Bible often uses dogs as a metaphor for evil people or Gentiles. In Revelation 22:15, evildoers are called “dogs” who are excluded from the heavenly city.
However, Jesus also used dogs in a positive light, commending the faith of a Canaanite woman by comparing it to the humble persistence of a dog begging for crumbs.
6. Raven
In the Bible, ravens are often associated with death and destruction. They are described as unclean birds that feed on carrion. In the story of Noah’s Ark, a raven was the first bird Noah sent out to see if the floodwaters had receded, but it failed to return.
However, ravens also play a positive role in some biblical accounts. God commanded the ravens to bring food to the prophet Elijah during the famine.
This highlights God’s providential care and ability to use even unlikely means to provide for His people.
7. Pigs
Pigs were considered unclean animals in Jewish law and were prohibited as food. They came to symbolize uncleanness, filth, and even paganism. In the New Testament, Jesus cast out a legion of demons from a man and allowed them to enter a herd of pigs, which then drowned in the sea.
The prodigal son’s degrading job of feeding pigs in a far country symbolizes the depths he had sunk.
Pigs also represent the foolishness of returning to sin, as Peter writes, “The dog returns to its vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”
8. Fox
The Bible depicts Foxes as cunning, destructive, and deceptive creatures. In the Song of Solomon, the foxes that ruin the vineyards represent the subtle threats that can destroy a relationship.
Jesus referred to Herod Antipas as a fox, highlighting the king’s crafty and manipulative nature.
Ezekiel also used the metaphor of a fox to describe false prophets, writing, “Your prophets have been like foxes among ruins, O Israel.”
9. Scorpion
Scorpions are used in the Bible to symbolize evil, pain, and torment. In Revelation 9, scorpion-like creatures are released from the abyss to torture those who do not have the seal of God.
Jesus also used the metaphor of a scorpion to emphasize the loving character of God in contrast to evil.
He said, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
10. Leopard
The leopard symbolizes swiftness, ferocity, and even the Antichrist in the Bible. In the book of Daniel, a beast with leopard-like qualities represents the rapid conquests of Alexander the Great.
In Revelation 13, the beast that rises from the sea is described as having leopard-like spots, symbolizing the Antichrist’s deceptive and destructive nature.
The prophet Jeremiah also compares the inescapable judgment of God to a leopard lying in wait.
11. Goat
Goats are often used in the Bible to symbolize the wicked and those who reject God. In the parable of the sheep and the goats, Jesus uses goats to represent those who fail to serve others and will be separated from God’s presence in the final judgment.
The scapegoat ritual on the Day of Atonement involved sending a goat into the wilderness to symbolically carry away the sins of the people.
However, this ritual pointed forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who bore the world’s sins on the cross.
12. Wolf
Wolves are used in the Bible to symbolize false teachers, deception, and the enemies of God’s people.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”
The apostle Paul also used the wolf metaphor to describe the savage false teachers who would arise within the church, saying, “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.”
13. Hyenas
Hyenas are mentioned in a few Bible passages, often representing impurity, ferocity, and God’s judgment. They are listed among the unclean animals that the Israelites were prohibited from eating.
In Jeremiah 12:9, God compares his inheritance (Israel) to a hyena’s den, highlighting how the nation had become defiled.
The hyena’s reputation as a grave-robbing, bone-crushing scavenger made it a fitting symbol for the spiritual uncleanness and apostasy of God’s people.
14. Grasshoppers & Locusts
Grasshoppers and locusts are closely related insects that appear frequently in the Bible. They often represent destruction and judgment, as swarms of locusts could quickly devour crops and bring famine.
In the book of Exodus, one of the ten plagues God sent upon Egypt was a swarm of locusts that consumed all the vegetation in the land. This demonstrated God’s power and judgment against Pharaoh’s hardened heart.
However, locusts symbolize human frailty and insignificance compared to God’s greatness. In Isaiah 40:22, people are likened to grasshoppers in God’s sight, emphasizing His transcendence.
15. Flies
In the Bible, flies are often associated with pestilence, rottenness, and death. In the book of Exodus, one of the plagues unleashed on Egypt was a swarm of flies that filled the houses of Pharaoh and his officials.
The Hebrew word for “flies” used here is ‘arob, which can also mean “swarms of insects.” This highlights the flies’ ability to multiply rapidly and become an overwhelming nuisance. The flies signified the pervasiveness of sin and its corrupting influence.
In Ecclesiastes 10:1, dead flies are said to make a perfumer’s ointment stink, symbolizing how a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. Just as a few dead flies can ruin an entire batch of perfume, foolishness, and sin can corrupt one’s character.
16. Frogs
Frogs are mentioned prominently in the second plague God sent upon Egypt (Exodus 8:1-15). The frogs came up from the Nile River and infested the entire land, from Pharaoh’s palace to the ovens and kneading bowls of the people.
The frogs represented the fertility of the Nile and the supposed power of Egypt’s frog-headed goddess, Heqet. By sending the frogs and then causing them to die in heaps, God was demonstrating His supremacy over Egypt’s gods.
More broadly, the frogs symbolize the uncleanness and chaos that sin brings into our lives. Like the flies, their ability to multiply rapidly showed how quickly sin can spread and contaminate everything it touches.
Davin is a jack-of-all-trades but has professional training and experience in various home and garden subjects. He leans on other experts when needed and edits and fact-checks all articles.