Animals of the Bible · Hills · Wild
The Gazelle
The Gazelle — a wonderful creature of Scripture and of the Bible world
Discovered in your collection
- Key verse
- Deuteronomy 12:15
- Where it lived
- The “hills” habitat in the Bible lands: the valleys and hills of the Holy Land
- What it reminds us of
- The Gazelle in Scripture
Stories from Scripture
The Gazelle in the stories of the Bible
People of faith
The Gazelle in Scripture
“…the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the roebuck, and as of the hart.” In the wilderness and in the Promised Land, the gazelle (the “roebuck” of the King James Bible) was a clean food and a proof of the blessing and purity of the creatures in nature.
Deuteronomy 12:15The prophets and the wise
What the Bible teaches about the gazelle
The law includes the gazelle among the clean animals, reminding us that God made a wonderful variety of living things and wants His people to treasure a clean life.
Deuteronomy 14:5
Wonders of Creation
Did you know?
Gazelles can run at speeds of up to 80 km/h and make spectacular leaps; in the Bible they are a symbol of beauty, grace and freedom.
In Bible times, the gazelle was part of the everyday scenery of the lands of the ancient East.
Every feature of this creature shows the order and care of the Creator for all the living things on earth.
From the Holy Scriptures
What do we read in the Bible about the gazelle?
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.
5 The hart, and the roebuck, and the fallow deer, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois.
Verses are quoted from the King James Version (KJV). Read each passage in the context of its chapter in the Bible.
What the gazelle teaches us
The Gazelle in Scripture
The gazelle was one of the clean animals of Israel. Graceful and swift, it appears in Scripture as a picture of beauty and pure joy. God made the world with an amazing richness of living things, and the gazelle is a proof of His skill.
How we can live this out today
Look at nature and thank God for the care He gives to every creature, big or small!
Mini-Quiz
What did you learn about the gazelle?
In which book of the Bible do we find references to the gazelle?
For parents and children
At home and in Sunday school
A question for parents and children
What can we learn from the way God takes care of the animals in nature? How does the Bible show us His love for us?
“Lord, thank You for the wonderful world You made and for Your care every day. Teach me to love Your creation and to follow You with a thankful heart! Amen.”