Bible Passages for When a Pet Dies | LoveToKnow (2024)

Psalm 22:24

For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.

This Bible verse about losing a pet talks about the comforting presence of God and emphasizes that He cares about all of creation. Since pets are part of that creation, they are included in this care and attention. This can be reassuring for pet owners who weren't able to be with a pet during its last moments.

This verse also applies to grieving pet owners after the loss of their pet. The loss of a furry family member can cut very deep, and the intensity of grief may surprise those who are not pet-lovers. It can take a long time to work through the sadness of a pet's death.

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Peace is usually in short supply in times of grief. This verse implies that death is not to be feared and that looking for peace in the midst of pain is a worthy and reasonable goal. Finding peace may mean taking a day or two off of work to work through the immediate grief, or simply keeping evenings quiet if full days of rest are impossible. Pets who have passed away are finally at peace, and that thought may give a newly bereaved pet parent a bit of comfort. It isn't the simple peace of having enough to eat, a warm place to sleep, and plenty of affection, but a deeper and more permanent peace.

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

This verse reminds those who are Christian that it is God who should be the source of strength, and only He can fully support us. It also reminds pet owners that there is nothing to fear, not even death and that they will get through the intensity of the loss. Prayer can be a great way to work through the sharp sadness of the first few days without a beloved companion.

Luke 12:6

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.

This verse directly speaks to God's love for His creation, even the small and inexpensive birds sold for pennies in the ancient markets. God cares about the suffering and life of every animal in his creation and loves also the pet's owner. God remembers each moment of a pet's life, and delights in the beauty of each part of his created world, no matter how small. This is one of the most comforting Bible verses when a pet dies.

Genesis 1:20-25

And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky." So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth."

These verses describe the beginning of Earth's existence, in which God paused all the other work in order to create animals. He deemed them "good" and urged them to increase in number.

Isaiah 11: 6-9

The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra's den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper's nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

These verses from the Old Testament paint a picture of a harmonious existence in which animals of all types live together happily in peace alongside humans; it references a world not burdened with sin.

Bible Verses About Pets in Heaven

There are not ample Bible verses to choose from that indicate pets will join people in Heaven, but there are some verses that point toward the idea of animals having souls, and therefore, perhaps eligible to spend eternity in Heaven.

Genesis 1:30

And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground-everything that has the breath of life in it-I give every green plant for food. And it was so.

This is God speaking in this verse about creation, and how He granted "the breath of life" to animals - the same "breath of life" He grants Adam in Genesis 2:7.

Revelation 5:13

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!"

This beautiful verse paints a picture of all creatures of the Earth - both humans and animals - praising God together.

Ecclesiastes 3:18-20

I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return.

This verse may be the most appropriate when attempting to ensure a grieving pet-parent that their pet is in Heaven, as it plainly states, "all go to one place."

Bible Verses for Pet Loss Can Bring Comfort

Friends who are religious will welcome these verses, and may even be somewhat comforted by them. Be careful not to offend friends who have different religious beliefs, and offer comfort to these friends in ways that soothe them. Don't try to push specific beliefs on someone who is hurting from a new loss, but do help spiritual friends with grieving for a pet from a Christian perspective.