Human and Animal Equality

Several situations and passages in the Bible imply that humans and animals are intrinsically equal.

What Humans and Animals Share

Common Origin: The Lord created both humans and animals from the dust (Ecc 3:18–20) of the ground (Gen 1:24–25, 2:7, 2:19–20). Though God made the birds, fish, and great sea creatures on the fifth day (1:20–23), the Lord formed humans and land animals on the sixth day (1:24–31).

Common Substance: Humans and animals are made of flesh (1 Cor 15:39) and blood (Lev 17:11, 17:14), and both possess an eternal spirit (Ecc 3:18–21, 12:7), an immortal soul and are defined as ‘persons’ in the Bible.

Common Destiny: Humans and animals die (Ecc 3:18–20). Nevertheless, humans (Rev 7:9–10, 20:4) and animals (5:13, 8:13) are both present in heaven. Furthermore, both humans and animals will be liberated from harm and death and live in resurrected everlasting bodies (1 Cor 15:20–57) on the eternal New Earth (Isa 11:6–9, 65:25; Hos 2:18; Rom 8:18–25; Rev 21:1–4).

Common Treatment from God: Human and animal life depend on the hand of the Lord (Job 12:7–10). Also, God’s protection (Ps 36:6), compassion (Jonah 4:10–11), mercy, and goodness (Ps 145:9) are shown to humans and animals. Furthermore, humans (Job 36:31; Ps 146:5–7; Acts 14:15–17) and animals depend on God for food (Ps 104:20–21, 104:24–28, 136:25–26, 145:14–16, 147:7–9; Matt 6:25–26; Luke 12:22–24). Additionally, God makes covenants with both humans and animals (Gen 8:20–9:17; Job 5:22–23; Ezek 34:25–31; Hos 2:18).

Common Behavior: Birds create nests (Ps 104:17) just like humans build houses (Deut 8:12). Similarly, humans dwell in houses (Hag 1:4) just like storks live in trees (Ps 104:17), rock badgers live amongst the cliffs, and wild goats live in the mountains (104:18). Furthermore, humans and animals both praise the Lord (150:6).

The Binding of Isaac Shows Human and Animal Equality

An event known as “The Binding of Isaac” occurs in Genesis 22:1–14. God instructed Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac for a burnt offering (22:1–2). After Abraham bound Isaac, the father was ready to kill his son before God’s angel stopped him (22:9–12). Instead of his son, Abraham sacrificed a nearby ram for the burnt offering (22:13). This event displays Abraham’s faith in God (22:8, Heb 11:17–19) even in the worst circumstances, as well as a foreshadowing of Jesus’ sacrifice (Eph 5:2) in place of sinners (Rom 5:6–8). Additionally, the Binding of Isaac (Gen 22:1–14) displays the intrinsic equality between animals and humans, as the ram was deemed a worthy sacrificial substitute for Abraham’s son (22:13).

Guilt and Sin Offerings Show Intrinsic Equality Between Humans and Animals

Based on the penal substitution theory of the atonement, humans who sin are punished by God with death (Gen 2:16–17; Ezek 18:3–4; Rom 6:23). God forgives human sin by bloodshed (death) (Heb 9:22). The seriousness of sin is seen in the Bible, as the human who transgressed was required to die (Rom 6:23). In the human’s place an unblemished animal was sacrificed for the guilt (Lev 6:1–7, 7:1–7) and sin (6:24–30) offerings and considered a suitable, and theoretically equivalent, substitution. The animal died in place of the human, who was required to perish. Therefore, the human’s sin was temporarily (Heb 10:4) forgiven (Lev 6:1–7, 6:24–30, 7:1–7). Importantly, Jesus permanently ended animal sacrifices for guilt (6:1–7, 7:1–7) and sin (6:24–30) offerings (Heb 10:10–18), as he was unblemished (1 Pet 1:19) and sacrificially killed (Eph 5:2) as a substitute for sinners instead (Rom 5:6–8). Regarding intrinsic equality between animals and humans, biblical commentator Martin V. Cisneros similarly concluded, “Ecclesiastes chapter 3:19-21 says that animals are equal with humans. Otherwise, how could they have atoned for man, for a season (until Jesus came, who's blood is superior in TOTALLY redeeming animal, man, and angel) in the Old Testament blood sacrifices.”

Biblical Sabbath Laws Suggest Intrinsic Equality Between Humans and Animals

Equivalent treatment implies equality between individuals. The Bible suggests an intrinsic equality between humans and animals through a few instances of Sabbath laws that apply to both. For example, in Luke 14:3–5 and Matthew 12:9–12, Jesus implies that a human or an animal who happens to fall into a well on the Sabbath should be lifted out immediately. Additionally, Sabbath rest must be given to both humans and animals (Exod 20:8–11). The Bible implies intrinsic equality between humans and animals through these Sabbath laws.