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# God's Best Friend?
- URL: https://thesparrowpress.com/gods-best-friend/
- Published: 2026-05-16T15:00:52.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-30T10:58:25.000Z
- Author: Caleb Swenson
- Tags: Newsletter, #Migrated-1793357894408, #Import 2026-10-30 10:58

Our days take many forms as we step out of bed. We stick to our routine the best we can but there will always be something that doesn't go as planned. You wake up twenty minutes late so you’re rushing around and *bang*, you stub your toe. As you’re looking for a bandaid under the bathroom sink you find a puddle of water accompanied by a steady stream. You’ve been awake for four minutes and your toe’s bleeding, you're late for work, your house is leaking, and you're still in your underwear. 

All the while you’re in full panic mode, you’ve had a four legged helper just watching you. They have no idea what's going on but they’re absolutely pumped to be assisting you. You finally glance at that happy curious face and just like that you slow down. You smile a second, take a deep breath and continue. Your energy is different in the same exact setting. Why?

Your dog. 

Our dogs offer a simple reminder that everything's going to be just fine. We don’t think twice about loving our dogs, they’re family. What if two of the things we hold closest don’t align? 

Family and Faith.

“Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil…” - Philippians 3:2

“Save me from the sword; spare my precious life from these dogs.” - Psalms 22:20

“They come out at night, snarling like vicious dogs as they prowl the streets.” - Psalms 59:6

“Like greedy dogs, they are never satisfied. They are ignorant shepherds, all following their own path and intent for personal gain.” - Isaiah 56:11

These are a few of the 41 times dogs are mentioned in the Bible. Almost every single one is negative. Used to paint a picture of the unclean and the scavenger. Only referencing them to drive home the fact that they were evil, greedy animals. So where's the discrepancy? Why are the pets we love so dearly today recognized mostly as vicious street animals in the Bible?

Culture and Context.

Modern culture has a simple definition of domesticated animals, our pets. Ancient Middle Eastern culture, the culture that these books are based on, had a different definition. A domesticated dog had a task, he had been trained to herd livestock and be a hunting companion. But that didn’t mean he was welcomed into the home, or had a spot in the bed. It wasn’t until the 19th century that dogs became house pets. This is a key piece of context. If dogs weren’t working in the ancient Middle East, and they weren’t culturally accepted into homes yet, what other option did they have but to fend for themselves? So it's less about how the Bible refers to dogs, and more about when.

The Bible's relationship with dogs might be a product of its time, and not a theological stance on the animal itself. Though this is a slippery slope to stand on as it can be applied to most everything in the Bible. The danger is that we can start trying to believe in our own interpretation or dismiss scripture because it's “outdated”. The opportunity is digging deeper and asking more questions to understand it.

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” - Matthew 7:7

 Evil, vicious, shepherd or hunter:

“The Godly care for their animals, but the wicked are always cruel.” - Proverbs 12:10

Perhaps if dogs were welcomed into our homes hundreds of years sooner we would be reading biblical stories about a good boy who kept his owner warm, maybe even healed a toe, or fixed a leak.