Hunting has been a part of human history since the beginning, playing a significant role in survival and providing sustenance. In the Bible, hunting is often referenced in ways that reflect its importance in the lives of ancient people. It is portrayed as a skill, a means of provision, and sometimes a metaphor for spiritual truths.
For believers, hunting reminds us of the balance between God’s creation and our responsibility as stewards of the earth. The Bible gives principles on hunting with integrity, respecting life, and acknowledging God as the ultimate Provider. Through Scripture, we are reminded that all creatures belong to God, and everything we do should glorify Him.
Below are some inspirational quotes from Christian leaders and Bible verses that shed light on hunting.
Preachers Quotes
“God created the wild and the tame, and He gives us the wisdom to interact with both in ways that honor His design.” – John Piper
“The great outdoors declares the glory of God, and every hunt is an opportunity to marvel at His handiwork.” – Billy Graham
“Every pursuit in the wild is a reminder that we are part of something far bigger—God’s magnificent creation.” – Max Lucado
“When we hunt with respect for life, we honor the Creator of all things.” – Charles Spurgeon
“Hunting can teach us patience, perseverance, and reliance on God’s provision.” – Francis Chan
“Even in the pursuit of wild game, let your heart remain thankful, for every good thing comes from the Lord.” – Rick Warren
“The wilderness is not just a place of hunting; it’s a place where we encounter God in the stillness and majesty of His creation.” – AW Tozer
Bible Verses About Hunting
Genesis 10:9 – Nimrod, a mighty hunter.
“He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, ‘Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.’” – Genesis 10:9
Genesis 27:3 – Isaac’s command to Esau.
“Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me.” – Genesis 27:3
Proverbs 12:27 – Diligence in hunting.
“The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, but diligence is man’s precious possession.” – Proverbs 12:27
Job 38:39 – God’s provision for animals.
“Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions?” – Job 38:39
Psalm 104:21 – Lions seeking their food from God.
“The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their food from God.” – Psalm 104:21
Genesis 21:20 – Ishmael’s skill in hunting.
“So God was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.” – Genesis 21:20
Deuteronomy 14:5 – Clean animals for food.
“These are the animals which you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the mountain goat, the antelope, and the mountain sheep.” – Deuteronomy 14:5
Exodus 23:11 – Letting the land rest for animals.
“But the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave, the beasts of the field may eat. In like manner you shall do with your vineyard and your olive grove.” – Exodus 23:11
Leviticus 17:13 – Proper handling of hunted animals.
“Whatever man of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who hunts and catches any animal or bird that may be eaten, he shall pour out its blood and cover it with dust.” – Leviticus 17:13
Psalm 42:1 – The soul’s longing for God.
“As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.” – Psalm 42:1
Luke 12:24 – God provides for all creatures.
“Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?” – Luke 12:24
Proverbs 6:5 – Escaping the hunter’s snare.
“Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, and like a bird from the hand of the fowler.” – Proverbs 6:5
Amos 3:5 – Hunting as a metaphor.
“Will a bird fall into a snare on the earth, where there is no trap for it? Will a snare spring up from the earth, if it has caught nothing at all?” – Amos 3:5
Isaiah 11:6 – Peace in creation.
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.” – Isaiah 11:6
Matthew 10:29 – God’s care for sparrows.
“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.” – Matthew 10:29
Habakkuk 1:15 – Hunting as a metaphor for injustice.
“They take up all of them with a hook, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their dragnet; therefore they rejoice and are glad.” – Habakkuk 1:15
Ecclesiastes 3:19 – Animals and humans share the same breath.
“For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity.” – Ecclesiastes 3:19
Proverbs 30:30 – The lion’s strength.
“A lion, which is mighty among beasts and does not turn away from any.” – Proverbs 30:30
Genesis 49:24 – The mighty bow of Joseph.
“But his bow remained in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob.” – Genesis 49:24
2 Samuel 1:22 – David’s lament for Saul and Jonathan.
“From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.” – 2 Samuel 1:22
Job 39:29 – The hawk’s hunting ability.
“From there she spies out the prey; her eyes observe from afar.” – Job 39:29
Proverbs 17:12 – Avoiding danger.
“Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, rather than a fool in his folly.” – Proverbs 17:12
Psalm 18:34 – Training for battle.
“He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.” – Psalm 18:34
Isaiah 41:15 – God empowers His people.
“Behold, I will make you into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth; you shall thresh the mountains and beat them small, and make the hills like chaff.” – Isaiah 41:15
Genesis 10:8 – Nimrod, a mighty hunter.
“Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, ‘Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.’” – Genesis 10:8
Exodus 12:9 – Instructions for the Passover lamb.
“Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire—its head with its legs and its entrails.” – Exodus 12:9
Deuteronomy 12:15 – Animals for food.
“However, you may slaughter and eat meat within all your gates, whatever your heart desires, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you.” – Deuteronomy 12:15
Proverbs 19:2 – Knowledge and haste in hunting.
“Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, and he sins who hastens with his feet.” – Proverbs 19:2
Psalm 104:20 – The cycles of nature.
“You make darkness, and it is night, in which all the beasts of the forest creep about.” – Psalm 104:20
Ecclesiastes 3:4 – A time to hunt.
“A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” – Ecclesiastes 3:4
Isaiah 65:25 – Peaceful coexistence in the future.
“The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, 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 the Lord.” – Isaiah 65:25
Matthew 7:7 – Seeking and finding.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” – Matthew 7:7
Luke 15:4 – The parable of the lost sheep.
“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?” – Luke 15:4
Mark 1:16 – Jesus calls His disciples.
“And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.” – Mark 1:16
Jeremiah 16:16 – God will bring His people back.
“Behold, I will send for many fishermen, says the Lord, and they shall fish them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill and out of the holes of the rocks.” – Jeremiah 16:16
Revelation 6:8 – The pale horse and its rider.
“So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.” – Revelation 6:8
Psalm 18:34 – Training hands for battle.
“He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.” – Psalm 18:34
Psalm 74:19 – God’s compassion for animals.
“Oh, do not deliver the life of Your turtledove to the wild beast; do not forget the life of Your poor forever.” – Psalm 74:19
Proverbs 24:30-31 – A lazy man’s neglect of his field.
“I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; and there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down.” – Proverbs 24:30-31
Isaiah 44:15 – The use of wood for crafting.
“Then it shall be for a man to burn; for he will take some of it and warm himself; yes, he kindles it and bakes bread; indeed, he makes a god and worships it; he makes it a carved image and falls down to it.” – Isaiah 44:15
What does the Bible say about Hunting
The Bible includes many references to hunting, often illustrating both the physical and spiritual significance of it. In biblical times, hunting was not just a way to gather food but also a skill, a way of survival, and at times, a metaphor for spiritual lessons. From the mighty hunter Nimrod in Genesis to the use of hunting as a symbol of God’s power and provision, hunting holds a place in both practical life and scripture.
In the Old Testament, hunting is often associated with individuals who were skilled in providing for their families and communities. Nimrod, one of the descendants of Noah, is described as “a mighty hunter before the Lord” (Genesis 10:9), illustrating how hunting was seen as an important and respected skill. Similarly, when Isaac tells his son Esau to go out hunting for wild game (Genesis 27:3), it shows that hunting was a significant way of acquiring food in the ancient world.
In addition to being a means of survival, the Bible uses hunting to speak about spiritual matters. Proverbs 12:27 compares the lazy man to someone who does not roast what he catches in hunting, highlighting the importance of diligence and effort in all endeavors, including hunting. Hunting can be seen as a metaphor for the pursuit of righteousness, with the need for perseverance and reliance on God’s strength. Just as one must be skilled and patient in hunting, Christians are called to pursue godliness and spiritual growth with dedication.
The Bible also uses animals and hunting as metaphors for God’s relationship with His creation. Psalm 104:21 speaks of God providing for the lions as they hunt for their food, reminding us that God is the ultimate provider for all creatures. In the same way, humans are dependent on God for their sustenance. Additionally, the Bible teaches us to respect God’s creatures and the environment. Deuteronomy 14:5, for example, lists clean animals that could be eaten, emphasizing God’s care for His creation and the responsibility of humans to treat animals with respect.
Ultimately, hunting in the Bible is more than just an activity for survival. It speaks to the spiritual life, reflecting God’s care for creation and the need for diligence, patience, and respect for life in all pursuits. Through hunting, we are reminded of the broader truths of God’s provision and our role as stewards of His creation.