No, No, Bad Dog: Dogs in the Bible
Israelite attitudes toward dogs
Dogs in the Bible were not well loved. To be called a dog was to be associated with evil and low status. Therefore it is surprising that Caleb, one of the great Hebrew spies, means “dog” in Hebrew. Pictured is a stone relief created in 1958 by sculptor Ferdinand Heseding. The relief, which appears on a fountain in Dusseldorf, Germany, depicts the Biblical spies Joshua and Caleb carrying a cluster of grapes back from the Promised Land (Numbers 13:1-33).
Everyone loves dogs—don’t they? Dogs—or celeb in Hebrew—are humanity’s best friends. We welcome them into our homes, we walk them, feed them, clean up after them and excuse their bad behavior. But in ancient Israel, people had an entirely different view of dogs.
Of the more than 400 breeds of dogs around today, all came from the same ancestor—ancient wolves. Dogs were first domesticated perhaps as far back as 12,000 years ago. Because dogs are the only animals with the ability to bark, they became useful for hunting and herding. Dogs in the Bible were used for these purposes (Isaiah 56:11; Job 30:1).
There is evidence in the Bible that physical violence toward dogs was considered acceptable (1 Samuel 17:43; Proverbs 26:17). To compare a human to a dog or to call them a dog was to imply that they were of very low status (2 Kings 8:13; Exodus 22:31; Deuteronomy 23:18; 2 Samuel 3:8; Proverbs 26:11; Ecclesiastes 9:4; 2 Samuel 9:8; 1 Samuel 24:14). In the New Testament, calling a human a dog meant that the person was considered evil (Philemon 3:2; Revelation 22:15).
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Some scholars hypothesize that the negative feelings expressed in the ancient Near East toward dogs was because in those days, dogs often ran wild and usually in packs. Dogs in the Bible exhibited predatory behavior in their quest for survival, which included the eating of dead bodies (1 Kings 14:11; 16:4; 21:19, 23-24; 22:38; 2 Kings 9:10, 36; 1 Kings 21:23).
There is archaeological evidence, such as figurines, pictures and even collars, that demonstrates that Israel’s neighbors kept dogs as pets, but from the skeletal remains found within the Levant, the domestication of dogs did not happen until the Persian and Hellenistic periods within Israel.
The word for dog in Hebrew is celeb, from which the name Caleb derives. Due to the negative attribution of dogs for the ancient Israelites, it is surprising that one of the great Hebrew spies bears this name. As the Israelites were preparing to enter the land of Canaan, Moses called a chieftain from each tribe to go before them and scout the land. Caleb was the representative of the tribe of Judah. When these spies returned, they reported that the land surpassed expectation but that the people who live there would be mighty foes. The Israelites did not want to go and face the peoples of Canaan, but Caleb stepped forward and urged them to proceed. After more exhortation from Moses, Aaron and Joshua, the people relented. Caleb was rewarded for his faith: Joshua gave him Hebron as an inheritance (Numbers 14:24; Joshua 14:14).
Ellen White, Ph.D. (Hebrew Bible, University of St. Michael’s College), was the senior editor at the Biblical Archaeology Society. She has taught at five universities across the U.S. and Canada and spent research leaves in Germany and Romania. She has also been actively involved in digs at various sites in Israel.
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This Bible History Daily feature was originally published on January 26, 2015.
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It’s about what the dog symbolizes. The dog is unclean, revealing what makes us spiritual unclean, and spiritually stink. The cat does not have this offensive odor. Cat and Dog: Spirit and Word, represented by Moses and Aaron (which is why Aaron spoke for Moses, who was “slow of speech”), and Joshua and Caleb. Aaron was directly related to the sin of the children of Israel at Mt. Sinai, the word “Caleb” meaning “dog,” which you mention in your insightful article. It is our word (the dog) that makes us spiritually unclean, not our spirit (the cat). Our word is the culmination of ALL of our false beliefs (religious and personal). Truth is good. Lies are evil. They (like the dog in ancient days) are not to dwell in our spiritual house!
It is hard to give credence to your words when you cite entering into someone’s else’s fight as foolish as grabbing a dogs ears as “evidence” condoning physical violence towards dogs (your words) . If that is how you interpret bible passages I am no longer interested in any of your biblical conclusions on anything else.
If the Dog was biting at the feet LIKE a Lion. Ps 22:16, yet the Lion is used to represent Judah and many other aspects of religion, how do you explaine the comparison. I see a reference to both of these animals at his feet. It seems to me that this reference gave the dog the power of the Lions mouth. If the Lion is no longer feared, no doubt he will send the dogs.
The only slaves who were released in the seventh year were the Israelites who put themselves into servitude. The slaves who were bought from neighboring peoples could be kept forever and passed down to heirs.
Thank you for your explanation. Sice some time ago, I was wondering about this specific topic.
dogs are not descended from wolves. They descend from a common ancestor.
The author’s information is out of date. Scientists USED to believe they were descended from wolves. No longer.
Dogs are NOT descended from wolves. They descend from a common ancestor who is extinct.
The author needs to correct her misinformation. Alot of harm has been done to dogs in part because of this misconception.
dog is God spelled backward
“humanity’s best friend”
A completely disingenuous statement. It’s Man’s best friend and the word Man and human are not synonyms. Look into the etymology.
Gen 5:1 proves this. look at Amos 3:2.
Christ referred to the Canaanite women as a dog.
Dogs that were,feral, pariah, wild, lost, with out owner, were hated among the Jews, however, they had dogs that were allowed in the house as pets.
Mat_15:27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their MASTER’S table