Hunting is an activity with deep historical and cultural roots, and it is mentioned several times in the Bible. These references offer insights into the skills, survival needs, and moral considerations surrounding hunting.
Whether describing the prowess of hunters or using hunting metaphors to convey spiritual truths, these verses help us understand the context and values of hunting in biblical times. Here are 30 Bible verses about hunting, each accompanied by a brief commentary to provide deeper understanding and reflection.
1. Genesis 10:9
“He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, ‘Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.'”
Nimrod is recognized as a powerful hunter, symbolizing strength and leadership. This verse highlights the respect and renown given to skilled hunters in biblical times.
2. Genesis 25:27
“So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents.”
Esau’s identity as a skillful hunter contrasts with Jacob’s quieter life. This verse illustrates the diverse roles and skills within a family, each with its own significance.
3. Proverbs 12:27
“The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, but diligence is man’s precious possession.”
Diligence in utilizing the fruits of one’s labor, such as game from hunting, is praised. This verse underscores the value of hard work and responsibility.
4. Job 38:39
“Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions?”
God’s rhetorical question to Job highlights His provision for all creatures. This verse emphasizes God’s sovereignty and the natural order of hunting in creation.
5. Leviticus 17:13
“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.”
God’s command regarding the handling of blood after hunting reflects respect for life. This verse illustrates the ritual and ethical considerations associated with hunting.
6. Genesis 27:3
“Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me.”
Isaac’s request to Esau underscores the importance of hunting for sustenance and tradition. This verse highlights the role of hunting in family and cultural practices.
7. Ezekiel 13:18
“And say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Woe to the women who sew magic charms on their sleeves and make veils for the heads of people of every height to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of My people, and keep yourselves alive?”
Hunting is used metaphorically to describe deceitful practices. This verse warns against exploiting others, illustrating how hunting can symbolize entrapment and manipulation.
8. 1 Samuel 24:11
“Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it.”
David’s words to Saul use hunting as a metaphor for pursuit and threat. This verse reveals the intensity and danger of being hunted by someone seeking harm.
9. Lamentations 3:52
“My enemies without cause hunted me down like a bird.”
Jeremiah laments the relentless pursuit by his enemies. This verse uses the imagery of hunting to convey feelings of vulnerability and persecution.
10. Psalm 124:7
“Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped.”
God’s deliverance is likened to escaping a hunter’s trap. This verse celebrates liberation from danger, emphasizing God’s protective intervention.
11. Proverbs 6:5
“Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, and like a bird from the hand of the fowler.”
The proverb urges swift action to avoid danger. This verse uses hunting imagery to advise taking decisive steps to secure freedom and safety.
12. Micah 7:2
“The faithful man has perished from the earth, and there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; every man hunts his brother with a net.”
The verse critiques societal corruption, using hunting as a metaphor for betrayal and violence. It highlights the breakdown of moral integrity and communal trust.
13. Hosea 9:8
“The watchman of Ephraim is with my God; but the prophet is a fowler’s snare in all his ways—enmity in the house of his God.”
Prophets are described as traps set for the people. This verse illustrates how religious leaders can become hunters, entrapping those they should guide.
14. Deuteronomy 12:15
“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; the unclean and the clean may eat of it, of the gazelle and the deer alike.”
Hunting and consuming game are permitted, reflecting God’s provision. This verse shows the allowance for hunting within God’s blessings, emphasizing gratitude and lawful practices.
15. Psalm 10:9
“He lies in wait secretly, as a lion in his den; he lies in wait to catch the poor; he catches the poor when he draws him into his net.”
The wicked are likened to hunters trapping the vulnerable. This verse condemns the exploitation of the helpless, using hunting as a powerful metaphor for injustice.
16. Genesis 21:20
“So God was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.”
Ishmael’s growth into a skilled archer highlights survival skills. This verse shows the development of hunting abilities as part of living in the wilderness.
17. Jeremiah 16:16
“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.”
God’s judgment is described using the imagery of hunting and fishing. This verse portrays the thoroughness of divine retribution, leaving no place for hiding.
18. Job 10:16
“If my head is exalted, You hunt me like a fierce lion, and again You show Yourself awesome against me.”
Job feels pursued by God’s overwhelming power. This verse uses hunting to express the intensity of Job’s suffering and sense of being targeted by divine trials.
19. 1 Kings 18:10
“As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to hunt for you; and when they said, ‘He is not here,’ he took an oath from the kingdom or nation that they could not find you.”
Ahab’s relentless search for Elijah is described as hunting. This verse illustrates the determination and extent of efforts to capture the prophet.
20. Proverbs 23:28
“She also lies in wait as for a victim, and increases the unfaithful among men.”
This verse likens the seductress to a hunter lying in wait. It warns against the dangers of falling prey to deceit and temptation.
21. Ezekiel 19:3
“She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a young lion; he learned to catch prey, and he devoured men.”
The lion symbolizes a powerful leader who hunts and devours. This verse reflects the rise of a ruler skilled in conquest and domination.
22. Isaiah 31:4
“For thus the Lord has spoken to me: ‘As a lion roars, and a young lion over his prey (when a multitude of shepherds is summoned against him, he will not be afraid of their voice nor be disturbed by their noise), so the Lord of hosts will come down to fight for Mount Zion and for its hill.'”
God’s protection is likened to a lion over its prey. This verse emphasizes God’s fearless defense of His people, using the imagery of hunting.
23. Ezekiel 13:20
“Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Behold, I am against your magic charms by which you hunt souls there like birds. I will tear them from your arms, and let the souls go, the souls you hunt like birds.'”
God condemns the practice of hunting souls with deceit. This verse highlights divine judgment against those who exploit and manipulate others.
24. Genesis 9:3
“Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.”
God grants permission to eat animals, affirming hunting for sustenance. This verse establishes the provision of animals for food as part of God’s creation order.
25. Micah 7:5
“Do not trust in a friend; do not put your confidence in a companion; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your bosom.”
This verse advises caution in relationships, using hunting metaphors to convey betrayal. It underscores the need for vigilance and wisdom in personal interactions.
26. Isaiah 1:23
“Your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; everyone loves bribes, and follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, nor does the cause of the widow come before them.”
Leaders are criticized for corruption, likened to hunting for personal gain. This verse condemns the neglect of justice and exploitation of the vulnerable.
27. Deuteronomy 14:5
“The deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the mountain goat, the antelope, and the mountain sheep.”
This verse lists permissible game animals, reflecting dietary laws. It highlights the variety of wildlife available for hunting within God’s guidelines.
28. Psalm 91:3
“Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.”
God’s protection is compared to escaping a hunter’s snare. This verse reassures believers of divine deliverance from hidden dangers and traps.
29. Ecclesiastes 9:12
“For man also does not know his time: Like fish taken in a cruel net, like birds caught in a snare, so the sons of men are snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them.”
Human vulnerability is compared to being caught in a hunter’s trap. This verse reflects on the unpredictability of life and the suddenness of misfortune.
30. Isaiah 11:6
“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.”
This vision of peace contrasts the natural hunting instincts of animals. It symbolizes the harmony and reconciliation that will come with God’s kingdom.
These verses about hunting offer a rich tapestry of insights into human nature, morality, and divine provision, reflecting both the practical and symbolic aspects of hunting in biblical times.
Also Read:Bible Verses About Mountains (Bible Explained)
