New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996

Verses about animals

Animals are presented across Scripture as distinct, valuable creations of God that declare His creativity and remain under His constant providential care. From the opening chapters of Genesis, animals are created good, blessed by God, and placed on earth as part of a balanced ecosystem. Scripture repeatedly highlights that God knows every creature, providing food, shelter, and water for wildlife across mountains, forests, and oceans. The Law of Moses explicit instructs humans to treat domestic animals with compassion?demanding rest for working beasts on the Sabbath, gentle handling during labor, and relief for animals in distress. In the teachings of Jesus, the care God shows for small creatures like sparrows is highlighted to demonstrate divine attentiveness to all creation. Furthermore, these verses about animals underline prophetic visions that describe a restored future where harmony is renewed between humans and wildlife, illustrating that animals share in the broader story of creation's peace and renewal.

God said, "Let the waters be filled with living things. Let birds fly above the earth across the huge space of the sky."
Genesis 1:20

So God created the great creatures of the ocean. He created every living and moving thing that fills the waters. He created all kinds of them. He created every kind of bird that flies. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:21

God said, "Let the land produce all kinds of living creatures. Let there be livestock, and creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals. Let there be all kinds of them." And that's exactly what happened.
Genesis 1:24

God made all kinds of wild animals. He made all kinds of livestock. He made all kinds of creatures that move along the ground. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:25

God blessed them. He said to them, "Have children and increase your numbers. Fill the earth and bring it under your control. Rule over the fish in the waters and the birds of the air. Rule over every living creature that moves on the ground."
Genesis 1:28

The Lord God had formed all of the wild animals. He had also formed all of the birds of the air. He had made all of them out of the ground. He brought them to the man to see what names he would give them. And the name the man gave each living creature became its name.
Genesis 2:19

So the man gave names to all of the livestock. He gave names to all of the birds of the air. And he gave names to all of the wild animals. But Adam didn't find a helper that was right for him.
Genesis 2:20

"All of the land animals will be afraid of you. All of the birds of the air will fear you. Every creature that moves along the ground will fear you. Every fish in the oceans will also be afraid of you. Every living thing is put under your control.
Genesis 9:2

"Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. I have already given you the green plants for food. Now I am giving you everything.
Genesis 9:3

"I am now making my covenant with you and with all of your children who will be born after you.
Genesis 9:9

I am making it also with every living thing that was with you in the ark. I am making my covenant with the birds, the livestock and all of the wild animals. I am making it with all of the creatures that came out of the ark with you. I am making it with every living thing on earth.
Genesis 9:10

"Suppose you see that the donkey of someone who hates you has fallen down under its load. Then do not leave it there. Be sure you help him with it.
Exodus 23:5

But during the seventh year do not plow your land or use it. Then the poor people who are among you can get food from it. The wild animals can eat what is left over. Do the same thing with your vineyards and your groves of olive trees.
Exodus 23:11

"Do all of your work in six days. But do not do any work on the seventh day. Then your oxen and donkeys can rest. The slaves who are born in your house can be renewed. And so can the outsiders.
Exodus 23:12

"When a calf, lamb or goat is born, it must remain with its mother for seven days. From the eighth day on, I will accept it as an offering that is made to me with fire.
Leviticus 22:27

Do not kill a cow and its calf on the same day. Do not kill a female sheep and its lamb on the same day.
Leviticus 22:28

But the seventh day is a Sabbath in honor of the Lord your God. Do not do any work on that day. The same command applies to your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your oxen, your donkeys and your other animals. It also applies to any outsiders who live in your cities. I want your male and female servants to rest, just as you do.
Deuteronomy 5:14

Suppose you see your neighbor's donkey or ox that has fallen down on the road. Then don't act as if you didn't see it. Help him get it up on its feet again.
Deuteronomy 22:4

Suppose you happen to find a bird's nest beside the road. It might be in a tree or on the ground. And suppose the mother bird is sitting on her little birds or on the eggs. Then don't take the mother along with the little ones.
Deuteronomy 22:6

You can take the little ones. But make sure you let the mother go. Then things will go well with you. You will live for a long time.
Deuteronomy 22:7

Don't stop an ox from eating while you use it to separate grain from straw.
Deuteronomy 25:4

"But ask the animals what God does. They will teach you. Or ask the birds of the air. They will tell you.
Job 12:7

Or speak to the earth. It will teach you. Or let the fish of the ocean educate you.
Job 12:8

Are there any of those creatures that don't know what the powerful hand of the Lord has done?
Job 12:9

He teaches more to us than to wild animals. He makes us wiser than the birds of the air.'
Job 35:11

"Do you hunt for food for mother lions? Do you satisfy the hunger of their cubs?
Job 38:39

Who provides food for ravens when their babies cry out to me? They wander around because they do not have anything to eat.
Job 38:41

"Job, do you know when mountain goats have their babies? Do you watch when female deer give birth?
Job 39:1

"Look at the behemoth. It is a huge animal. I made both of you. It eats grass like an ox.
Job 40:15

You are as holy as the mountains are high. You are as honest as the oceans are deep. Lord, you keep people and animals safe.
Psalm 36:6

Every animal in the forest already belongs to me. And so do the cattle on a thousand hills.
Psalm 50:10

I own every bird in the mountains. The creatures of the field belong to me.
Psalm 50:11

The springs give water to all of the wild animals. The wild donkeys satisfy their thirst.
Psalm 104:11

The birds of the air build nests by the waters. They sing among the branches.
Psalm 104:12

You make grass grow for the cattle and plants for people to take care of. That's how they get food from the earth.
Psalm 104:14

The high mountains belong to the wild goats. The cliffs are a safe place for the rock badgers.
Psalm 104:18

The lions roar while they hunt. All of their food comes from God.
Psalm 104:21

Lord, you have made so many things! How wise you were when you made all of them! The earth is full of your creatures.
Psalm 104:24

Look at the ocean, so big and wide! It is filled with more creatures than people can count. It is filled with living things, from the largest to the smallest.
Psalm 104:25

All of those creatures depend on you to give them their food when they need it.
Psalm 104:27

When you give it to them, they eat it. When you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.
Psalm 104:28

The Lord is good to all. He shows deep concern for everything he has made.
Psalm 145:9

Every living thing looks to you for food. You give it to them exactly when they need it.
Psalm 145:15

You open your hand and satisfy the needs of every living creature.
Psalm 145:16

He provides food for the cattle. He provides for the young ravens when they cry out.
Psalm 147:9

Praise him, all you wild animals and cattle. Praise him, you small creatures and flying birds.
Psalm 148:10

You people who don't want to work, think about the ant! Consider its ways and be wise!
Proverbs 6:6

Those who do what is right take good care of their animals. But the kindest acts of those who do wrong are mean.
Proverbs 12:10

"Four things on earth are small. But they are very wise.
Proverbs 30:24

The first are ants. They aren't very strong. But they store up their food in the summer.
Proverbs 30:25

The second are rock badgers. They aren't very powerful. But they make their home among the rocks.
Proverbs 30:26

The third are locusts. They don't have a king. But they all march forward in ranks.
Proverbs 30:27

And the fourth are lizards. Your hand can catch them. But you will find them in kings' palaces.
Proverbs 30:28

Wolves will live with lambs. Leopards will lie down with goats. Calves and lions will eat together. And little children will lead them around.
Isaiah 11:6

Cows will eat with bears. Their little ones will lie down together. And lions will eat straw like oxen.
Isaiah 11:7

A baby will play near a hole where cobras live. A young child will put his hand into a nest where poisonous snakes live.
Isaiah 11:8

None of those animals will harm or destroy anything or anyone on my holy mountain of Zion. The oceans are full of water. In the same way, the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord.
Isaiah 11:9

Wolves and lambs will eat together. Lions will eat straw like oxen. Serpents will not bite anyone. They will eat nothing but dust. None of those animals will harm or destroy anything or anyone on my holy mountain of Zion," says the Lord.
Isaiah 65:25

Nineveh has more than 120,000 people. They can't tell right from wrong. Nineveh also has a lot of cattle. So shouldn't I show concern for that great city?"
Jonah 4:11

"Look at the birds of the air. They don't plant or gather crops. They don't put away crops in storerooms. But your Father who is in heaven feeds them. Aren't you worth much more than they are?
Matthew 6:26

"Aren't two sparrows sold for only a penny? But not one of them falls to the ground without your Father knowing it.
Matthew 10:29

So don't be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.
Matthew 10:31

"Aren't five sparrows sold for two pennies? But God does not forget even one of them.
Luke 12:6

"Think about the ravens. They don't plant or gather crops. They don't have any storerooms at all. But God feeds them. You are worth much more than birds!
Luke 12:24

Everything God created looks forward to the time when his children will appear in their full and final glory.
Romans 8:19

The created world was bound to fail. But that was not the result of its own choice. It was planned that way by the One who made it. God planned
Romans 8:20

to set the created world free. He didn't want it to rot away completely. Instead, he wanted it to have the same glorious freedom that his children have.
Romans 8:21

We know that all that God created has been groaning. It is in pain as if it were giving birth to a child. The created world continues to groan even now.
Romans 8:22

New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996

Verses about animals

📍 Location