Skip to main content
Bible Q

What does the Bible say about dogs? Can we care for and love one in our home?

Answered by . December 13, 2009 - 8:43 pm

The Bible does not speak highly of dogs because during the time it was written, dogs were usually scavengers and likely to be disease-carriers. We would think of them as wild dogs. However, in the case of the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:26-27, the dog would have been a pet and was permitted to eat the crumbs at meal-times. In our culture, dogs are most frequently pets and should be treated with kindness and love.

2 Replies to “What does the Bible say about dogs? Can we care for and love one in our home?”

  1. friend, i dont think we ought to be taking tips from the canaanites after all god ordered the extermination of the Canaanites women children and all In 1 Samuel 15:2-3, God commanded Saul and the Israelites, “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.'” also mark 7:27 First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” dont put them on high treat them like dogs that they are put your brotherin on high instead 😉

    • Given the difference in time between the Canaanites of OT times and the Canaanite mentioned in Matthew (different from the Amalekites anyway) it is doubtful whether they were the same nationality. Even if they were, the reason we would keep dogs is because they are viewed as pets now, not because we are “taking tips from the canaanites”.