‘Dog’ is Used As An Insult in the Bible

In ancient Israel, dogs were not esteemed like they are today in Western nations. For example, in the Bible, dogs were described as scavengers (Exod 22:31; 2 Kgs 9:10) that lick sores (Luke 16:21) and blood (1 Kgs 21:19, 22:38). To be compared to or labeled a ‘dog’ in the Bible associates the human with low status or evil. This claim is evidenced by how the Bible frequently uses ‘dog’ as an insult. For instance, calling a human a ‘dog’ could be referring to them as insignificant (1 Sam 17:43; 2 Kgs 8:13), a fool (Prov 26:11), an evildoer (Ps 22:16, 22:20), a Christian apostate (2 Pet 2:20–22), a gentile (Matt 15:22–27; Mark 7:26–28), a male prostitute (Deut 23:18), an unreceptive gospel hearer (Matt 7:6) or a Judaizer (Phil 3:2). In conclusion, ‘dog’ is used as an insult in the Bible.