In the Bible, hunting is mentioned both directly and metaphorically, often highlighting skills, instincts, and sometimes moral lessons. While hunting as a practice is not the central theme in biblical teaching, it provides insights into historical livelihoods and cultural practices. This collection of Bible verses reflects diverse perspectives on hunting, ranging from literal descriptions of hunting activity to symbolic expressions of spiritual pursuit.
Bible Verses about Hunting
1. Genesis 27:3 – Esau, the Skillful Hunter
“Now then, get your equipment—your quiver and bow—and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me.” – Genesis 27:3
Cross-References
Genesis 27:5 – “Now Rebekah was listening as Isaac spoke to his son Esau. When Esau left for the open country to hunt game and bring it back,”
Genesis 10:9 – “He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; that is why it is said, ‘Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord.'”
2. Proverbs 12:27 – Diligence Needed in Hunting
“The lazy do not roast any game, but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.” – Proverbs 12:27
Cross-References
Proverbs 21:5 – “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”
Proverbs 10:4 – “Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.”
Ecclesiastes 10:18 – “Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks.”
3. Genesis 10:9 – Nimrod, the Mighty Hunter
“He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; that is why it is said, ‘Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord.’” – Genesis 10:9
Cross-References
1 Chronicles 1:10 – “Cush was the father of Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on earth.”
Micah 5:6 – “They will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod with drawn sword.”
Isaiah 14:29 – “Do not rejoice, all you Philistines, that the rod that struck you is broken; from the root of that snake will spring up a viper, its fruit will be a darting, venomous serpent.”
4. Psalm 124:7 – Deliverance from Traps
“We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.” – Psalm 124:7
Cross-References
Psalm 91:3 – “Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.”
Job 18:10 – “The noose is hidden for him on the ground; a trap lies in his path.”
5. Hebrews 12:1 – The Pursuit of Faith
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,” – Hebrews 12:1
Cross-References
1 Corinthians 9:24 – “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”
2 Timothy 4:7 – “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Philippians 3:14 – “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
6. Jeremiah 16:16 – Fishers and Hunters of Men
“But now I will send for many fishermen,” declares the Lord, “and they will catch them. After that I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them down on every mountain and hill and from the crevices of the rocks.” – Jeremiah 16:16
Cross-References
Ezekiel 29:4 – “But I will put hooks in your jaws and cause the fish of your streams to stick to your scales. I will pull you out from your streams, along with all the fish of your streams that stick to your scales.”
Isaiah 62:11 – “The Lord has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: ‘Say to Daughter Zion, “See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.”‘”
7. Psalm 42:1 – The Soul’s Thirst for God
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.” – Psalm 42:1
Cross-References
Psalm 63:1 – “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.”
Psalm 84:2 – “My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.”
Matthew 5:6 – “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
8. Lamentations 3:10 – Symbolic Use of Hunting
“Like a bear lying in wait, like a lion in hiding,” – Lamentations 3:10
Cross-References
Hosea 13:7 – “So I will be like a lion to them, like a leopard I will lurk by the path.”
Job 38:40 – “When they crouch in their dens or lie in wait in a thicket?”
9. Amos 3:5 – Hunting for Cause and Effect
“Does a bird swoop down to a trap on the ground when no bait is there? Does a trap spring up from the ground if it has not caught anything?” – Amos 3:5
Cross-References
Ecclesiastes 9:12 – “Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come: As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so people are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them.””
Psalm 64:5 – “They encourage each other in evil plans, they talk about hiding their snares; they say, ‘Who will see it?'”
10. Job 18:11 – The Anxiety of Being Hunted
“Terrors startle him on every side and dog his every step.” – Job 18:11
Cross-References
Psalm 88:15 – “From my youth I have suffered and been close to death; I have borne your terrors and am in despair.”
Hebrews 10:27 – “But only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.”
11. Proverbs 6:5 – Urgency in Avoiding Snares
“Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.” – Proverbs 6:5
Cross-References
Psalm 124:7 – “We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.”
Proverbs 1:17 – “How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it!”
12. Ezekiel 13:18 – Hunting for Souls in Deception
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Woe to the women who sew magic charms on all their wrists and make veils of various lengths for their heads in order to ensnare people. Will you ensnare the lives of my people but preserve your own?’” – Ezekiel 13:18
Cross-References
Jeremiah 23:14 – “And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen something horrible: They commit adultery and live a lie. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that not one of them turns from their wickedness. They are all like Sodom to me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”
Isaiah 29:16 – “You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘You did not make me’? Can the pot say to the potter, ‘You know nothing’?”
Micah 3:11 – “Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the Lord’s support and say, ‘Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us.'”
13. Genesis 25:27 – Esau’s Lifestyle
“The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents.” – Genesis 25:27
Cross-References
Hebrews 12:16 – “See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.”
Genesis 27:39 – “His father Isaac answered him, ‘Your dwelling will be away from the earth’s richness, away from the dew of heaven above.'”
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14. Isaiah 51:20 – The Youth Hunted in Anguish
“Your children have fainted; they lie at every street corner, like antelope caught in a net. They are filled with the wrath of the Lord, the rebuke of your God.” – Isaiah 51:20
Cross-References
Lamentations 2:11 – “My eyes fail from weeping, I am in torment within; my heart is poured out on the ground because my people are destroyed, because children and infants faint in the streets of the city.”
Lamentations 4:1 – “How the gold has lost its luster, the fine gold become dull! The sacred gems are scattered at every street corner.”
Isaiah 9:17 – “Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men, nor will he pity the fatherless and widows, for everyone is ungodly and wicked, every mouth speaks folly. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.”
15. Judges 14:8 – Samson’s Encounter with a Lion
“Some time later, when he went back to marry her, he turned aside to look at the lion’s carcass, and in it he saw a swarm of bees and some honey.” – Judges 14:8
Cross-References
Judges 14:5 – “Samson went down to Timnah together with his father and mother. As they approached the vineyards of Timnah, suddenly a young lion came roaring toward him.”
1 Samuel 17:36 – “Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.”
16. Psalm 10:9 – Lying in Wait
“Like a lion in cover he lies in wait. He lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.” – Psalm 10:9
Cross-References
Psalm 17:12 – “They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a fierce lion crouching in cover.”
Habakkuk 1:15 – “The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks, he catches them in his net, he gathers them up in his dragnet;”
Hosea 13:8 – “Like a bear robbed of her cubs, I will attack them and rip them open; like a lion I will devour them—a wild animal will tear them apart.”
17. 2 Samuel 23:20 – Benaiah’s Brave Feats
“Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.” – 2 Samuel 23:20
Cross-References
1 Chronicles 11:22 – “Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.”
1 Kings 2:34 – “So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up and struck Solomon’s enemies, killing them and buried them.”
Proverbs 28:1 – “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.”
18. 1 Samuel 17:34 – David’s Experience with Wild Animals
“But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock,’” – 1 Samuel 17:34
Cross-References
1 Samuel 17:35 – “I went after it, struck it, and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it, and killed it.”
Amos 3:12 – “This is what the Lord says: ‘As a shepherd rescues from the lion’s mouth only two leg bones or a piece of an ear, so will the Israelites living in Samaria be rescued, with only the head of a bed and a piece of fabric from a couch.'”
Psalm 91:13 – “You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.”
19. Isaiah 11:6 – A Time of Peace
“The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.” – Isaiah 11:6
Cross-References
Hosea 2:18 – “In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the creatures that move along the ground. Bow and sword and battle I will abolish from the land, so that all may lie down in safety.”
Romans 8:19-21 – “For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.”
Isaiah 65:25 – “The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the Lord.”
20. Genesis 21:20 – Ishmael and the Wilderness
“God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer.” – Genesis 21:20
Cross-References
Genesis 16:12 – “He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.”
Genesis 25:18 – “His descendants settled in the area from Havilah to Shur, near the eastern border of Egypt, as you go toward Ashur. And they lived in hostility toward all the tribes related to them.”
Psalm 127:4 – “Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.”
21. Genesis 49:27 – Benjamin as a Ravenous Wolf
“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder.” – Genesis 49:27
Cross-References
Judges 20:25 – “This time, when the Benjamites came out from Gibeah to oppose them, they cut down another eighteen thousand Israelites, all of them armed with swords.”
Deuteronomy 33:12 – “About Benjamin he said: “Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.”
22. Proverbs 17:12 – The Danger Awaiting
“Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool bent on folly.” – Proverbs 17:12
Cross-References
Jeremiah 5:6 – “Therefore a lion from the forest will attack them, a wolf from the desert will ravage them, a leopard will lie in wait near their towns to tear to pieces any who venture out; for their rebellion is great and their backslidings many.”
2 Samuel 17:8 – “You know your father and his men; they are fighters, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Besides, your father is an experienced fighter; he will not spend the night with the troops.”
23. Ezekiel 19:3 – The Lioness’ Cubs
“She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he became a man-eater.” – Ezekiel 19:3
Cross-References
Isaiah 5:29 – “Their roar is like that of the lion, they roar like young lions; they growl as they seize their prey and carry it off with no one to rescue.”
Amos 3:4 – “Does a lion roar in the thicket when it has no prey? Does it growl in its den when it has caught nothing?”
24. Isaiah 31:4 – God’s Determination
“This is what the Lord says to me: ‘As a lion growls, a great lion over its prey—and though a whole band of shepherds is called together against it, it is not frightened by their shouts or disturbed by their clamor—so the Lord Almighty will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and on its heights.’” – Isaiah 31:4
Cross-References
Isaiah 42:13 – “‘The Lord will march out like a champion, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies.'”
Psalm 46:10 – “‘He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'”
Revelation 5:5 – “Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.'”
25. Jeremiah 12:9 – A Treacherous Prey
“Has not my inheritance become to me like a speckled bird of prey that other birds of prey surround and attack? Go and gather all the wild beasts; bring them to devour.” – Jeremiah 12:9
Cross-References
Jeremiah 7:33 – “Then the carcasses of this people will become food for the birds and the wild animals, and there will be no one to frighten them away.”
Deuteronomy 28:26 – “Your carcasses will be food for all the birds and the wild animals, and there will be no one to frighten them away.”
Jeremiah 50:39 – “So desert creatures and hyenas will live there, and there the owl will dwell. It will never again be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation.”
26. Ezekiel 19:6 – The Growth in Wild Skills
“He prowled among the lions, for he was now a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he became a man-eater.” – Ezekiel 19:6
Cross-References
Psalm 22:13 – “Roaring lions that tear their prey open their mouths wide against me.”
27. Hosea 5:14 – God’s Powerful Presence
“For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a great lion to Judah. I will tear them to pieces and go away; I will carry them off, with no one to rescue them.” – Hosea 5:14
Cross-References
Hosea 6:1 – “Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.”
Jeremiah 50:17 – “Israel is a scattered flock that lions have chased away. The first to devour them was the king of Assyria; the last to crush their bones was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.”
28. Proverbs 28:15 – Cruel Rulers as Predators
“Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.” – Proverbs 28:15
Cross-References
Proverbs 29:2 – “When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.”
Ezekiel 22:25 – “There is a conspiracy of her princes within her like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, take treasures and precious things and make many widows within her.”
Proverbs 19:12 – “A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.”
29. Romans 8:36 – The Persecution of Believers
“As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’” – Romans 8:36
Cross-References
Psalm 44:22 – “Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
Romans 8:37 – “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
2 Corinthians 4:9 – “Persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
30. 1 Peter 5:8 – Vigilance against Spiritual Hunting
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” – 1 Peter 5:8
Cross-References
James 4:7 – “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Ephesians 6:11 – “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
2 Timothy 4:17 – “But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.”
31. Matthew 4:19 – Fishers of Men
“’Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’” – Matthew 4:19
Cross-References
Mark 1:17 – “‘Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.'”
Luke 5:10 – “And so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.'”
John 21:6 – “He said, ‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.’ When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.”
32. Ezekiel 38:12 – Gathering as Prey
“I will plunder and loot and turn my hand against the resettled ruins and the people gathered from the nations, rich in livestock and goods, living at the center of the land.” – Ezekiel 38:12
Cross-References
Isaiah 10:6 – “I send him against a godless nation, I dispatch him against a people who anger me, to seize loot and snatch plunder, and to trample them down like mud in the streets.”
Jeremiah 49:32 – “Their camels will become plunder, and their large herds will be spoils of war. I will scatter to the winds those who are in distant places and will bring disaster on them from every side,” declares the Lord.”
Zechariah 2:8 – “For this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘After the Glorious One has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye.'”
Final Thoughts
Hunting, as depicted in the Bible, serves not only as a historical touchpoint but also as a metaphor for human striving and spiritual pursuit. Whether it speaks to the diligence required in the chase, the dangers and consequences of being the hunted, or the ultimate shepherding by divine powers, these verses provide a complex tapestry of meanings.
From Nimrod’s prowess and Esau’s lifestyle to metaphoric references by the prophets, hunting is portrayed in ways that transcend mere physical endeavor. Such tales draw parallels between ancient practices and the spiritual journeys of individuals, underscoring the persistence required to achieve divine goals.
As with many biblical narratives, these stories and symbols encourage reflection on broader themes of life and faith—serving as a reminder that humanity’s pursuits must align with a righteous path. Whether through the lens of history, morality, or faith, the concept of hunting invites readers to explore the deeper messages within these seemingly simple acts.