After the flood God said, "Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you" (Genesis 9:3). Isaac told Esau, "take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison" (Genesis 27:3). Proverbs praises the hunter who finishes the job: "the substance of a diligent man is precious" (Proverbs 12:27). And "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God" (Psalm 42:1).
For millions of American families, November means deer season: early alarms, cold tree stands, and long hours of quiet in the woods. The Bible says more about hunting than many people expect. It permits eating meat, names skilled hunters, gives rules that show respect for animal life, and uses the deer as a picture of a soul that thirsts for God. These twelve King James verses are for hunters, their families, and anyone who wants to bring faith into the field. For God's care for all creatures, see Bible verses about animals; for game on the table, see food.
God provides meat from field and forest
1. Genesis 9:3
"Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things."
After the flood, God gave Noah's family every moving thing that liveth as food, even as the green herb. Scripture treats eating meat, game included, as a gift from God to be received with thanks.
2. Deuteronomy 12:15
"Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the roebuck, and as of the hart."
The law let Israel eat meat freely, as of the roebuck, and as of the hart, animals of the deer family taken in the wild. Venison on the table is one of the oldest blessings in the Bible.
3. Psalms 104:21
"The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God."
Even the young lions seek their meat from God. Psalm 104 sees the predator's hunt as part of God's ordered care for creation. Every creature in the woods ultimately depends on Him.
4. Leviticus 17:13
"And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust."
A hunter in Israel was to pour out the blood of what he caught and cover it with dust, because the life of the flesh is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11). The rule taught respect: an animal's life belongs to God and is not to be treated lightly.
Hunters in the Bible
5. Genesis 10:9
"He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD."
Nimrod was a mighty hunter before the LORD, famous enough to become a saying. He also founded Babel (Genesis 10:10), so his story is a reminder that great skill is not the same thing as godliness.
6. Genesis 25:27
"And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents."
Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; cunning here means skilled. His father loved the venison he brought home (Genesis 25:28). Sadly, Esau traded his birthright for a bowl of stew, a warning to value God's gifts above appetite.
7. Genesis 27:3
"Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;"
Isaac sent Esau out with his quiver and his bow to bring home venison. The story that follows is full of family deception, but this verse paints a familiar picture: a father, a son, and the anticipation of a hunt and a shared meal.
8. Proverbs 12:27
"The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious."
The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting. Hunting well means finishing well: field dressing, processing, and using what you take. Diligence honors both the animal and the Giver.
Stewardship, care and quiet in the woods
9. Genesis 1:28
"And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth."
God gave humanity dominion over the fish, the fowl, and every living thing. Dominion is not permission to waste; it is the charge of a steward, caring for creation the way its Owner would.
10. Deuteronomy 22:6-7
"If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young: But thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days."
If you found a bird's nest, you could take the young but had to let the mother go, that it may be well with thee. This ancient rule protected the next generation of wildlife, an early picture of conservation.
11. Psalms 42:1
"As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God."
Many hunters have watched a deer at the water's edge. The psalmist saw the same scene: As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. Let the quiet hours in the woods stir a thirst for Him.
12. Psalms 18:33
"He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places."
He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. A hind, a female deer, is sure-footed on rocky heights. David thanks God for steady feet; anyone climbing a stand before dawn can pray the same (see also Habakkuk 3:19).
A short prayer
Lord of the field and forest, thank You for Your creation and the food it gives. Keep me and everyone in the woods safe this season. Give me patience in the waiting, respect for the life I take, and gratitude at the table. In the quiet, let my soul thirst for You as the deer pants for water. In Jesus' name, amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
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Frequently asked questions
Is hunting a sin according to the Bible?
No. God gave animals as food (Genesis 9:3), and the law regulated hunting rather than forbidding it (Leviticus 17:13; Deuteronomy 12:15). Scripture also calls for kindness: "A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast" (Proverbs 12:10). Hunting with respect, skill and lawful care fits that pattern.
Who was a hunter in the Bible?
Nimrod (Genesis 10:9) and Esau (Genesis 25:27) are the best known. Ishmael grew up to become an archer in the wilderness (Genesis 21:20), and the law gives rules for anyone who "hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl" (Leviticus 17:13).
What is a good Bible verse for a hunter?
Psalm 42:1 is a favorite for its deer imagery, Psalm 18:33 for high places and tree stands, and Genesis 27:3 for the hunt itself. Many hunters also pray Psalm 121:8 for safety: "The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in" (Psalm 121:8).
What if a Christian friend does not hunt?
That is fine too. Paul writes, "Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not" (Romans 14:3). Believers can hold different convictions about hunting and meat while loving one another, and sharing a meal of thanks together.
Hunt safely and lawfully: follow your state hunting regulations and hunter-education rules, wear blaze orange where required, use a full-body safety harness in tree stands, and tell someone where you will be and when you expect to be back.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Bible verses about animals · Bible verses about food · Bible verses about nature · Bible verses about thanksgiving · Bible verses about protection · Bible verses about patience
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