1 Kings 22:38 “Then someone washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood while the harlots bathed”

Dogs are mentioned about 40 times throughout Scripture, mostly in unfavorable contexts. Today dogs are known as “man’s best friend“, but in Scripture they are often associated with uncleanness, both physical and spiritual. The Hebrew word for dogs are KELEB H3611 – keleḇ, also meaning contempt, pagan sacrifice, male cult prostitute. Also meaning to yelp or attack. This can be a very hard concept to grasp, since dogs today are like some people’s children! They are companions to the lonely, help for disabled, saves peoples lives, detect drugs and criminals, teach people empathy and responsibility. They are always happy to see their owners, extremely loyal and will follow you and take care of you.

However, it seems that in those days of Scripture, people didn’t keep dogs for pets. Rather they were more wild creatures that roamed the streets scavenging for anything to eat. They weren’t as wild as bears and wolves that were kept far away from people and their livestock, they were allowed to roam among people – but people obviously didn’t take them into their homes. They were dirty and would eat anything for survival. That is probably why pagan and prostitutes were compared with them. Dirty, full of diseases, and would scavenge and do anything for survival. People don’t want them there, but they endure them among society.

Scripture even uses the image of dogs to convey ideas of aggression and danger. We see this in the Psalms, where the psalmist speaks of being surrounded by dogs, representing his enemies. This portrayal taps into the fear that many in ancient times had of wild or feral dogs. Psalm 22:20, “Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. H3611″. But then there are a few instances where dogs are mentioned in a more neutral or even positive light, like in Job 30:1, “But now they mock me, men younger than I, whose fathers I would have disdained to put with my sheep dogs.” This is the one hint we have that dogs were in some instances more than scavengers, but were trained and kept to help with guarding.

When one reads the Scriptures about dogs, in most cases it will be easy to get offended. Rather, change the way you view those verses:

• In the book of Exodus, we find an interesting reference to dogs. When describing the night of the Passover, it is said that not even a dog would bark against the Israelites. This suggests that even these animals recognized the divine protection over YHWH’s people. Exo 11:7, “But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog H3611 move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that YHWH doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.”
• In the new testament, we encounter a powerful story in the Gospel of Matthew. A Canaanite woman approaches Yeshua, begging for her daughter’s healing. Yeshua initially responds that it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs. The woman’s humble reply, that even dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table, moves Yeshua to grant her request (Matthew 15:21-28). This exchange teaches us about faith, humility, and the expansive nature of YHWH’s love. Yeshua uses this encounter to challenge and ultimately overturn this prejudice. The woman’s faith and humility lead Yeshua to heal her daughter, showing that YHWH’s love extends beyond cultural boundaries. This transformative moment highlights the power of faith and the breaking down of societal barriers
• One of the most notable instances where Yeshua mentions dogs is in the Sermon on the Mount. He instructs His disciples, “Do not give dogs what is holy” (Matthew 7:6). This statement, at first glance, might seem harsh. But we must understand it in its proper context. Yeshua is not speaking against dogs as animals, but using them as a metaphor for those who might reject or profane sacred truths. He is teaching us to be discerning in how we share spiritual wisdom.
• The parable of the rich man and Lazarus also features dogs in a poignant way. Although the poor man Lazarus lies at the rich man’s gate, it is the dogs who come and lick his sores (Luke 16:19-31). This detail emphasizes the depth of Lazarus’ poverty and suffering, while also hinting at the compassion that even animals can show.
• Here in the book of 1 Kings (1 Kings 22:38) tells us how dogs licked up the blood of the wicked King Ahab, fulfilling a prophecy of divine judgment. This grim image serves as a warning about the consequences of turning away from YHWH’s path.
• In the book of Tobit, a dog accompanies Tobias on his journey (Tobit 6:1; 11:4). Though a minor detail, it adds a touch of everyday life to this tale of faith and family.

These stories, show us that even humble creatures like dogs can play a role in YHWH’s plan. They remind us to look for spiritual lessons in all aspects of creation. The Bible uses dogs to teach about faith, judgment, compassion, and divine protection. Yeshua never speaks negatively about dogs as animals. His use of dog imagery is always in service of a larger spiritual lesson. He employs the cultural understandings of His time to communicate deeper truths about faith, humility, and the kingdom of YHWH.

Yeshua’ teachings remind us to look beyond surface appearances. Just as He used the image of dogs to convey spiritual lessons, we too are called to see the sacred in the ordinary. Every aspect of creation, even those we might consider lowly, can reveal something of YHWH’s wisdom and love.

2 Samuel 9:8 “And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a H3611 dead dog H3611 as I am?”

Psalm 22:16  “For dogs H3611 have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.”

Ecc 9:4  “For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a H3611 living dog H3611 is better than a dead lion.“