Why is there no mention of dogs in the Bible?

1. 78

   rafkenposted 13 years ago

   Why is there no mention of dogs in the Bible?
   
   For thousands of years, it has been thought, that dogs are mans' best friends. Yet, in the Bible many animals are mentioned, including cats. Why not dogs?

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2. 78

   workingmomwmposted 13 years ago

   Actually, dogs are mentioned several times in the Bible:
   
   1. Exodus 11:7
   2. Exodus 22:31
   3. Judges 7:5
   4. 1 Samuel 17:43
   5. 1 Samuel 24:14
   6. 2 Samuel 3:8
   7. 2 Samuel 9:8
   8. 2 Samuel 16:9
   9. 1 Kings 14:11
   10. 1 Kings 16:4
   11. 1 Kings 21:19
   12. 1 Kings 21:23
   13. 1 Kings 21:24
   14. 1 Kings 22:38
   15. 2 Kings 8:13
   16. 2 Kings 9:10
   17. 2 Kings 9:36
   18. Job 18:11
   19. Job 30:1
   20. Psalm 22:16
   21. Psalm 22:20
   22. Psalm 59:6
   23. Psalm 59:14
   24. Psalm 68:23
   25. Proverbs 26:11
   26. Proverbs 26:17
   27. Ecclesiastes 9:4
   28. Isaiah 56:10
   29. Isaiah 56:11
   30. Isaiah 66:3
   31. Jeremiah 15:3
   32. Matthew 7:6
   33. Matthew 15:26
   34. Matthew 15:27
   35. Mark 7:27
   36. Mark 7:28
   37. Luke 16:21
   38. Philippians 3:2
   39. 2 Peter 2:22
   40. Revelation 22:15

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3. 78

   rafkenposted 13 years ago

   It would appear that I was Wrong and I am very impressed with both the accuracy and speed of your response. I think that what I am really asking is, is there any mention that they were kept as pets? There seems to be no indication that at that time, they were mans best friend. In fact, they seem to be looked on poorly.

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   1. 52

      Norine Williamsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      The "Western Civilization" continues to turn everything that is right into wrong w/o considering bible! My sentiments are as the Jews!
      
      Genesis said we have "dominion" but US have laws?
      
      I'm not 1 to be cruel to anything, but "love?"
      
      I Cor 15:39

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4. 67

   Abbasangelposted 13 years ago

   I don't think that the people who wrote the bible were concerned about the value of the animals as pets however the dogs were there pretty quick to clean up, Jezebel (one of the 1 Kings references)

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5. 56

   fallsfellaposted 13 years ago

   You don't know your Bible very well or have not read it very closely because dogs are mentioned in several passages in the Bible.  Get a concordance and look up the word "dog" and it will give you all of the passages in the Bible where dogs are mentioned..................................................................................

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6. 62

   HOOWANTSTONOposted 13 years ago

   There is mention
   Ecc 9:4     For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
   
   Pro 26:11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, [so] a fool returneth to his folly.
   
   Psa 59:6     They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.

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7. 60

   SOKCGOLDposted 13 years ago

   The reason that dogs don't figure prominently is that they were ceremonial unclean to the Jews, who were used to write the Bible. Just like pigs. Just as being a swineherd was considered a repulsive occupation (the prodigal son parable), dogs were a symbol of moral corruption. The Biblical phrase, "just like a dog returning to its vomit," denotes people who return to their bad course of life after learning how immoral it is.
   
   Dogs were generally carrion eaters - living garbage removal. Even as someone who really knows and loves dogs, I would never let one of them lick MY face! I know where that tongue has been!
   
   Given all that, the Jews - a people long known as sheep herders - didn't even use dogs with their flocks, let alone let them into the house as best friends.

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   1. 52

      Norine Williamsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Don't "love" any beast but agree w/ the rest!
      
      Anyone that "loves" beasts should seek God!  Does one need a "pet" when they have God?

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8. 59

   Digital Friendposted 13 years ago

   I don't think having a pet is a "positive" thing in the Bible, Quran and the Torah.
   
   Basically dogs should be used for hunting, and when you come to think of it they aren't really ideal pets. They molt, smell, and want to go out all the time.
   
   However, the fact that people easily fall in love in them has made them an ordinary pet in the western world.

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9. 69

   onegoodwomanposted 13 years ago

   But there are.........many......
   
   "dog" was once an Israelite slur or slang, much like we would say, " foul", " no good" or "worthless" today.

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10. 0

    reeltaulkposted 13 years ago

    maybe cause it was irrelevant to add to all the story telling.  Whats so exciting about telling a tale about a dog when there is so much more exciting things to talk about.  People killing and be killed, magic, prostitution, betrayal, killing giants, psychic readings, beheading, people dying and coming back to life and all that destruction and stuff in revelation.  Where would one find space to fit a story about a dog in all that story telling!

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11. 60

    pisethzposted 13 years ago

    that's cool workingmomwm has the answer. I just checked and reading through some of the verses. Will read more tonight with the rest of the verse. thks

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12. 71

    Titen-Sxullposted 13 years ago

    As others have pointed out there are plenty of dogs in the Bible. There aren't any talking dogs as far as I know which kinda bums me out because the Bible has a talking donkey and a talking snake and a talking bush.

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    1. 52

       Norine Williamsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Eli: Numbers 22:28 My bible says "ass!"

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13. 60

    Jaymeyarochposted 13 years ago

    In the Bible, God is man's best friend.  Dogs are kind of, well, just dogs.  Uncivilized.
    
    According to the authors of the Bible, birds were the clean animals.
    
    Kogome62, we had pets before we had cattle.

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14. 61

    Kimberly Bunchposted 13 years ago

    I guess you must go back and study your holy book.
    
    

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15. 60

    QudsiaP1posted 13 years ago

    Even though the dog may have been mentioned several times in practically all the books, yet, you would observe, it was used as an offensive curse word.
    
    Dog bark away the angels.

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16. 65

    SPIRIT n TRUTHposted 12 years ago

    Yes, they are mentioned, multiple times in the word. Jesus Himself used the word dogs, interestingly.

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    1. 52

       Norine Williamsposted 7 years agoin reply to this

       Negatively first off until HE saw her "FAITH" (Matt15:21-28)! 
       "No respect of persons" (Acts10:34;Rm2:11)!

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17. 64

    CaravanDrifterposted 12 years ago

    23 verces talk about dogs and no verces talk about cats have a look in a concordance :-)

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18. 61

    bscott4388posted 12 years ago

    I believe It says somewhere in the bible you should not throw food to the dogs.  I think you can feed your dog people food, such as chicken or wild rice.  However, I don't think it is good to feed the dogs when you are eating at the dinner table.  It should be a separate experience.

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19. 62

    creativearts2009posted 11 years ago

    I thought of Bible texts regarding dogs immediately - however, where are the cat verses? There are lions - but when I use a concordance to search, it goes to cattle not cats.

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20. 52

    flashcraftposted 10 years ago

    You have it backwards, rafken. It's domesticated cats that are not mentioned in the (Hebrew?) bible. Dogs are mentioned many times.

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