Hunting is one of the oldest human activities, woven into the fabric of survival, stewardship, and even spiritual reflection. In the Bible, hunting is not condemned, nor is it overly glorified. It is presented as a natural part of life, often associated with provision, skill, and the rhythms of creation. From the early stories of Nimrod the mighty hunter, to the use of animals in sacrifices, hunting reflects a deep relationship between humanity and the animal world that God created.
But Scripture also invites us to approach this relationship with reverence and responsibility. God gave humanity dominion over the animals, not to exploit them, but to steward them wisely. Hunting in a biblical context is never about waste or cruelty. It is about provision, balance, and respect for life. God cares for every living creature, and we are called to reflect His heart in everything we do, including how we hunt, fish, gather, and sustain our families.
This list of Bible verses about hunting will help you explore what Scripture says about animals, dominion, provision, and how our physical world reflects spiritual truths.
Bible Verses About Hunting
1. 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
The lazy do not roast any game, but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.
3. Genesis 25:27
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.
4. Proverbs 6:5
Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
5. Leviticus 17:13
Any Israelite or any foreigner residing among you who hunts any animal or bird that may be eaten must drain out the blood and cover it with earth.
6. Job 38:39–40
Do you hunt the prey for the lioness and satisfy the hunger of the lions when they crouch in their dens or lie in wait in a thicket?
7. Psalm 91:3
Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.
8. Ezekiel 13:18
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 the heads of people of every height in order to ensnare lives.
9. Jeremiah 16:16
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.
10. Amos 3:5
Does a bird swoop down into a trap on the ground when no bait is there?
11. Isaiah 11:6–7
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat… and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
12. Psalm 104:21
The lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God.
13. Genesis 9:2–3
The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth… Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you.
14. Deuteronomy 12:15
You may slaughter your animals in any of your towns and eat as much of the meat as you want, as if it were gazelle or deer.
15. Deuteronomy 14:5
The deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope and the mountain sheep.
16. Genesis 27:3
Now then, get your equipment — your quiver and bow — and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me.
17. 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.
18. Psalm 124:7
We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.
19. Ezekiel 19:3
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.
20. Micah 7:2
The faithful have been swept from the land; not one upright person remains. Everyone lies in wait to shed blood; they hunt each other with nets.
21. Psalm 10:9
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.
22. Isaiah 51:20
Your children have fainted; they lie at every street corner like antelope caught in a net.
23. 1 Kings 4:23
Ten head of stall-fed cattle, twenty of pasture-fed cattle and a hundred sheep and goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks and choice fowl.
24. Numbers 11:31–32
Now a wind went out from the Lord and drove quail in from the sea… All that day and night and all the next day the people went out and gathered quail.
25. 1 Samuel 17:34–35
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, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth.”
26. Lamentations 3:52
Those who were my enemies without cause hunted me like a bird.
27. Proverbs 1:17
How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it.
28. 2 Kings 9:36
They went back and told Jehu, who said, “This is the word of the Lord that he spoke through his servant Elijah…”
29. 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.
30. Psalm 22:13
Roaring lions that tear their prey open their mouths wide against me.
31. Job 18:8
His feet thrust him into a net, he wanders into its mesh.
32. Isaiah 7:24
Hunters will go there with bow and arrow, for the land will be covered with briers and thorns.
33. Daniel 6:24
At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den.
34. Lamentations 3:10–11
Like a bear lying in wait, like a lion in hiding, he dragged me from the path and mangled me and left me without help.
35. Psalm 91:13
You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
Our Thoughts On What the Bible Says About Hunting
The Bible acknowledges hunting as a natural and even necessary part of life. It portrays hunting as a means of survival, a way to provide for family, and an expression of dominion given to humanity by God. But this dominion must be balanced with responsibility. God commands reverence for all life, even that which we take for food. The Scriptures challenge us to act with justice and humility in how we interact with animals and the environment. Hunting, when done with respect and purpose, can be a reflection of wise stewardship. It should never be about pride or cruelty, but about the thoughtful use of what God has provided. Through these verses, we are reminded that our actions in the physical world reveal our spiritual posture. A hunter guided by God’s wisdom can be a blessing to his family and community, honoring both creation and Creator.
Say This Prayer
Lord God, thank You for the abundance of the earth and all You have placed in our care. Thank You for the strength, skill, and opportunity to provide. Help me to honor You in every action, especially in how I relate to nature. May I always be mindful of Your presence in creation, treating every living thing with the respect You intend. Let my heart remain humble and grateful for all You give, and may I walk in wisdom as a steward of Your gifts. In Jesus’ name, Amen.