{"id":45142,"date":"2020-11-30T08:40:55","date_gmt":"2020-11-30T05:40:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=45142"},"modified":"2025-05-09T14:25:25","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T11:25:25","slug":"45142","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2020\/11\/30\/45142\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does “Wild Animals” Mean in the Bible?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

In <\/span>the <\/span>Bible, <\/span>the <\/span>term “<\/span>wild <\/span>animals” <\/span>often <\/span>refers <\/span>to <\/span>creatures <\/span>that <\/span>live <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>wilderness <\/span>and <\/span>cannot <\/span>be <\/span>tamed <\/span>or <\/span>domesticated <\/span>by <\/span>humans. <\/span>These <\/span>are <\/span>the <\/span>animals <\/span>that <\/span>are <\/span>not <\/span>raised <\/span>by <\/span>humans <\/span>or <\/span>kept <\/span>under <\/span>human <\/span>care, <\/span>like <\/span>sheep, <\/span>goats, <\/span>cattle, <\/span>camels, <\/span>and <\/span>donkeys. <\/span>These <\/span>domesticated <\/span>animals <\/span>are <\/span>created <\/span>to <\/span>live <\/span>in <\/span>harmony <\/span>with <\/span>humans, <\/span>serving <\/span>them <\/span>and <\/span>submitting <\/span>to <\/span>human <\/span>authority. <\/span>In <\/span>contrast, <\/span>wild <\/span>animals\u2014<\/span>such <\/span>as <\/span>lions, <\/span>leopards, <\/span>buffaloes, <\/span>hyenas, <\/span>and <\/span>wolves\u2014<\/span>live <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>wild <\/span>and <\/span>are <\/span>not <\/span>subject <\/span>to <\/span>human <\/span>control. <\/span>They <\/span>cannot <\/span>be <\/span>tamed <\/span>or <\/span>trained <\/span>to <\/span>serve <\/span>humans <\/span>as <\/span>domesticated <\/span>animals <\/span>can.<\/span><\/p>\n

This <\/span>distinction <\/span>is <\/span>clear <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>biblical <\/span>context. <\/span>For <\/span>example, <\/span>in <\/span>Genesis <\/span>3:<\/span>14<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span>after <\/span>the <\/span>fall <\/span>of <\/span>man, <\/span>God <\/span>curses <\/span>the <\/span>serpent, <\/span>saying, “<\/span>Because <\/span>you <\/span>have <\/span>done <\/span>this, <\/span>cursed <\/span>are <\/span>you <\/span>above <\/span>all <\/span>livestock <\/span>and <\/span>all <\/span>wild <\/span>animals. <\/span>You <\/span>will <\/span>crawl <\/span>on <\/span>your <\/span>belly <\/span>and <\/span>you <\/span>will <\/span>eat <\/span>dust <\/span>all <\/span>the <\/span>days <\/span>of <\/span>your <\/span>life” (<\/span>NIV). <\/span>Here, “<\/span>wild <\/span>animals” <\/span>are <\/span>seen <\/span>as <\/span>those <\/span>creatures <\/span>that <\/span>roam <\/span>the <\/span>wilderness, <\/span>untamed <\/span>and <\/span>uncontrollable <\/span>by <\/span>humans.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wild <\/span>Animals <\/span>and <\/span>Their <\/span>Characteristics<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The <\/span>Bible <\/span>often <\/span>contrasts <\/span>domestic <\/span>animals <\/span>with <\/span>wild <\/span>animals <\/span>to <\/span>emphasize <\/span>their <\/span>different <\/span>nature <\/span>and <\/span>roles. <\/span>For <\/span>instance, <\/span>in <\/span>Job <\/span>39:<\/span>9-<\/span>12<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span>God <\/span>asks <\/span>Job <\/span>rhetorical <\/span>questions <\/span>about <\/span>whether <\/span>wild <\/span>animals, <\/span>like <\/span>the <\/span>buffalo (<\/span>nyati), <\/span>can <\/span>be <\/span>tamed <\/span>and <\/span>made <\/span>to <\/span>serve <\/span>human <\/span>needs:<\/span><\/p>\n

“<\/span>Will <\/span>the <\/span>wild <\/span>ox <\/span>consent <\/span>to <\/span>serve <\/span>you? <\/span>Will <\/span>it <\/span>stay <\/span>by <\/span>your <\/span>manger <\/span>at <\/span>night? <\/span>Can <\/span>you <\/span>hold <\/span>it <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>furrow <\/span>with <\/span>a <\/span>harness? <\/span>Will <\/span>it <\/span>till <\/span>the <\/span>valleys <\/span>behind <\/span>you? <\/span>Do <\/span>you <\/span>rely <\/span>on <\/span>it <\/span>for <\/span>its <\/span>great <\/span>strength? <\/span>Do <\/span>you <\/span>leave <\/span>your <\/span>heavy <\/span>work <\/span>to <\/span>it?”<\/span><\/em> (<\/span>NIV).<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>answer, <\/span>of <\/span>course, <\/span>is <\/span>no. <\/span>The <\/span>wild <\/span>ox (<\/span>or <\/span>buffalo) <\/span>cannot <\/span>be <\/span>used <\/span>for <\/span>farming <\/span>work <\/span>like <\/span>domesticated <\/span>animals, <\/span>because <\/span>wild <\/span>animals <\/span>are <\/span>inherently <\/span>untamable.<\/span><\/p>\n

This <\/span>idea <\/span>is <\/span>consistent <\/span>with <\/span>other <\/span>scriptural <\/span>references <\/span>that <\/span>emphasize <\/span>the <\/span>wildness <\/span>and <\/span>unruliness <\/span>of <\/span>these <\/span>creatures. <\/span>For <\/span>example, <\/span>Psalm <\/span>50:<\/span>10<\/span><\/strong> says, <\/span>“<\/span>For <\/span>every <\/span>animal <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>forest <\/span>is <\/span>mine, <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>cattle <\/span>on <\/span>a <\/span>thousand <\/span>hills.”<\/span><\/em> While <\/span>God <\/span>claims <\/span>ownership <\/span>of <\/span>both <\/span>wild <\/span>and <\/span>domesticated <\/span>animals, <\/span>the <\/span>wild <\/span>animals <\/span>are <\/span>not <\/span>meant <\/span>to <\/span>live <\/span>in <\/span>submission <\/span>to <\/span>human <\/span>authority.<\/span><\/p>\n

Spiritual <\/span>Symbolism <\/span>of <\/span>Wild <\/span>Animals<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

In <\/span>addition <\/span>to <\/span>referring <\/span>to <\/span>literal <\/span>wild <\/span>creatures, <\/span>the <\/span>Bible <\/span>also <\/span>uses “<\/span>wild <\/span>animals” <\/span>as <\/span>a <\/span>symbol <\/span>for <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>oppose <\/span>the <\/span>ways <\/span>of <\/span>God <\/span>or <\/span>live <\/span>in <\/span>rebellion <\/span>to <\/span>His <\/span>authority. <\/span>The <\/span>term <\/span>is <\/span>sometimes <\/span>applied <\/span>to <\/span>false <\/span>prophets <\/span>and <\/span>enemies <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Gospel, <\/span>representing <\/span>people <\/span>or <\/span>forces <\/span>that <\/span>cannot <\/span>be <\/span>tamed <\/span>by <\/span>the <\/span>truth <\/span>of <\/span>God’s <\/span>Word.<\/span><\/p>\n

For <\/span>instance, <\/span>in <\/span>Matthew <\/span>7:<\/span>15<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span>Jesus <\/span>warns <\/span>His <\/span>followers <\/span>to <\/span>be <\/span>on <\/span>guard <\/span>against <\/span>false <\/span>prophets: <\/span>“<\/span>Watch <\/span>out <\/span>for <\/span>false <\/span>prophets. <\/span>They <\/span>come <\/span>to <\/span>you <\/span>in <\/span>sheep\u2019s <\/span>clothing, <\/span>but <\/span>inwardly <\/span>they <\/span>are <\/span>ferocious <\/span>wolves.”<\/span><\/em> (<\/span>NIV). <\/span>Here, <\/span>the <\/span>false <\/span>prophets <\/span>are <\/span>likened <\/span>to <\/span>wild <\/span>wolves\u2014<\/span>deceptive <\/span>and <\/span>dangerous, <\/span>disguised <\/span>as <\/span>harmless <\/span>but <\/span>with <\/span>a <\/span>destructive <\/span>agenda.<\/span><\/p>\n

Similarly, <\/span>in <\/span>1 <\/span>Corinthians <\/span>15:<\/span>32<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span>the <\/span>apostle <\/span>Paul <\/span>uses <\/span>the <\/span>phrase “<\/span>fighting <\/span>wild <\/span>beasts” <\/span>to <\/span>describe <\/span>his <\/span>struggles <\/span>in <\/span>spreading <\/span>the <\/span>Gospel, <\/span>which <\/span>often <\/span>involved <\/span>intense <\/span>opposition: <\/span>“<\/span>If <\/span>I <\/span>fought <\/span>wild <\/span>beasts <\/span>in <\/span>Ephesus <\/span>with <\/span>no <\/span>more <\/span>than <\/span>human <\/span>hopes, <\/span>what <\/span>have <\/span>I <\/span>gained?”<\/span><\/em> (<\/span>NIV). <\/span>This <\/span>metaphor <\/span>highlights <\/span>the <\/span>fierce <\/span>and <\/span>untamable <\/span>nature <\/span>of <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>opposed <\/span>him.<\/span><\/p>\n

False <\/span>Prophets <\/span>and <\/span>Hypocrites <\/span>as <\/span>Wild <\/span>Animals<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The <\/span>Bible <\/span>also <\/span>uses <\/span>the <\/span>term “<\/span>wild <\/span>animals” <\/span>to <\/span>describe <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>appear <\/span>outwardly <\/span>righteous <\/span>but <\/span>are <\/span>inwardly <\/span>corrupt <\/span>and <\/span>wicked. <\/span>In <\/span>Titus <\/span>1:<\/span>12<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span>Paul <\/span>quotes <\/span>a <\/span>prophet <\/span>from <\/span>Crete, <\/span>saying, <\/span>“<\/span>Cretans <\/span>are <\/span>always <\/span>liars, <\/span>evil <\/span>brutes, <\/span>lazy <\/span>gluttons.”<\/span><\/em> (<\/span>NIV). <\/span>The <\/span>term “<\/span>evil <\/span>brutes” <\/span>here <\/span>is <\/span>similar <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>concept <\/span>of <\/span>wild <\/span>animals, <\/span>indicating <\/span>their <\/span>unruly, <\/span>destructive <\/span>nature. <\/span>Such <\/span>people <\/span>are <\/span>described <\/span>as <\/span>having <\/span>characteristics <\/span>akin <\/span>to <\/span>untamable <\/span>animals\u2014<\/span>deceptive, <\/span>selfish, <\/span>and <\/span>corrupt.<\/span><\/p>\n

Theological <\/span>Implications<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Theologically, <\/span>the <\/span>concept <\/span>of <\/span>wild <\/span>animals <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>Bible <\/span>serves <\/span>as <\/span>a <\/span>metaphor <\/span>for <\/span>spiritual <\/span>rebellion. <\/span>Just <\/span>as <\/span>wild <\/span>animals <\/span>resist <\/span>human <\/span>authority, <\/span>so <\/span>too <\/span>do <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>reject <\/span>God’s <\/span>sovereignty <\/span>resist <\/span>His <\/span>will. <\/span>The <\/span>contrast <\/span>between <\/span>domesticated <\/span>and <\/span>wild <\/span>animals <\/span>reflects <\/span>the <\/span>difference <\/span>between <\/span>living <\/span>in <\/span>submission <\/span>to <\/span>God\u2019s <\/span>rule <\/span>and <\/span>living <\/span>in <\/span>defiance <\/span>of <\/span>it.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>Bible <\/span>teaches <\/span>that <\/span>true <\/span>followers <\/span>of <\/span>Christ <\/span>are <\/span>like <\/span>the <\/span>domesticated <\/span>animals\u2014<\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>submit <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>Shepherd, <\/span>Jesus <\/span>Christ, <\/span>and <\/span>live <\/span>according <\/span>to <\/span>His <\/span>will. <\/span>In <\/span>contrast, <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>oppose <\/span>the <\/span>Gospel, <\/span>whether <\/span>through <\/span>false <\/span>teaching <\/span>or <\/span>hypocritical <\/span>living, <\/span>are <\/span>like <\/span>wild <\/span>animals\u2014<\/span>untamed <\/span>and <\/span>dangerous.<\/span><\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

In <\/span>summary, <\/span>the <\/span>Bible <\/span>uses <\/span>the <\/span>term “<\/span>wild <\/span>animals” <\/span>both <\/span>literally <\/span>and <\/span>metaphorically. <\/span>Literally, <\/span>it <\/span>refers <\/span>to <\/span>creatures <\/span>that <\/span>cannot <\/span>be <\/span>domesticated <\/span>and <\/span>live <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>wild. <\/span>Metaphorically, <\/span>it <\/span>is <\/span>used <\/span>to <\/span>describe <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>reject <\/span>God\u2019s <\/span>authority, <\/span>whether <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>form <\/span>of <\/span>false <\/span>prophets, <\/span>unrighteous <\/span>people, <\/span>or <\/span>hypocrites. <\/span>As <\/span>believers, <\/span>we <\/span>are <\/span>called <\/span>to <\/span>be <\/span>among <\/span>the “<\/span>flock” <\/span>of <\/span>God\u2019s <\/span>people, <\/span>submitting <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>guidance <\/span>of <\/span>Jesus, <\/span>our <\/span>Good <\/span>Shepherd, <\/span>and <\/span>avoiding <\/span>the <\/span>ways <\/span>of <\/span>the “<\/span>wild <\/span>animals” <\/span>who <\/span>live <\/span>in <\/span>rebellion <\/span>against <\/span>Him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let <\/span>us, <\/span>therefore, <\/span>examine <\/span>ourselves <\/span>to <\/span>ensure <\/span>we <\/span>are <\/span>living <\/span>as <\/span>obedient <\/span>followers <\/span>of <\/span>Christ <\/span>and <\/span>not <\/span>as <\/span>wild, <\/span>untamable <\/span>creatures <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>world.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n