Introduction: The Noahic Covenant in Genesis 9:8–17 and the Messianic Covenant in Hosea 2:18 demonstrate that God's covenants extend beyond humanity to encompass all living beings. These passages provide theological support for the idea that animals are neither food nor machines nor puppets for human use but are beloved creatures included in God's divine plan and love.
1. The Noahic Covenant
1.1. Never Exterminate Sentient Beings Again!
Prof. Andrew Linzey (1995:34) emphasises that the Noahic Covenant is a reminder of God's assurance never to exterminate “all living creatures” again (Gen. 9:8–17 NIV). Importantly, the covenant’s main focus extends beyond humans to include “every living creature that was with you”—explicitly mentioning “the birds, the livestock, and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you” (Gen. 9:10 NIV). To stress this, God reiterates this detail five times (Gen. 9:10, 12, 15, 16, 17 NIV), underscoring His enduring commitment to all life.
1.2. God Never Gave Noah the Permission to Eat Animals!
The Noahic Covenant with animals also refutes the notion that God ever gave Noah and his offspring the permission to kill and eat animals. Pastor William Metcalfe (1840: Ch. 13) interpreted “Every moving thing that lives” (Gen. 9:3 ESV) as referring not to animals but to “every creeper plant.” This is supported by:
A. The Exegeses Companion Bible (ECB) – A literal translation states, “Every living creeper…” (Jahn 1992: Col.11), which would mean plant life, not animals.
B. The Genesis Apocryphon (Dead Sea Scrolls) – This ancient text translates it simply as “vegetables and plants” (Reeves 2014).
C. The prohibition against eating creeping animals – Leviticus 11:41–42 forbids eating reptiles and creeping creatures. If “moving thing” meant all creatures, it would contradict this later commandment.
Furthermore, Noah and his sons immediately engaged in planting a vineyard (Gen. 9:20 KJV), reinforcing the idea that their sustenance was still plant-based.
1.3. God Will Require a Reckoning If You Shed Animals' Blood!
Meanwhile, this Covenant justifies the reading of Gen. 9:5 as the banning of killing animals. “And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man” (Gen. 9:5 ESV) could mean:
A. “I will require you to pay for shedding animals’ blood with your own lifeblood” (i.e., killing animals leads to divine judgment).
B. “If your lifeblood is shed, I will require the killer, be it a human or an animal, to pay for it.”
The Noahic Covenant with animals supports the first interpretation—a prohibition on the slaughtering of innocent animals rather than a sanctioning of it.
2. The Messianic Covenant
Hosea’s prophetic vision expands on the Noahic Covenant, envisioning a future covenant of peace where God will abolish violence between humans and animals. This prophecy resonates with Isaiah 11:6–9, where predators and prey coexist peacefully, restoring the Edenic harmony.
Other biblical passages which support this include:
Psalm 36:6 (NRAV) – “You save humans and animals alike, O Lord.”
Jonah 4:11 – God expresses concern for the animals in Nineveh alongside its human inhabitants.
Job 12:7–10 – Animals possess wisdom and are under God’s care.
3. A Call for Ethical Living
In conclusion, these covenants provide a foundation for an ethic of compassion and nonviolence toward animals. If God covenants with animals, how can humans justify exploiting and killing them? Should we not align ourselves with God's vision of peace, where “the bow, the sword, and war” are abolished (Hosea 2:18)?
The Noahic Covenant reminds us that animals are recipients of divine mercy, while Hosea’s vision of a harmonious future calls us to move toward a world where humans and animals coexist without suffering. These covenants encourage believers to reflect God’s love for all creatures, particularly by embracing a vegan lifestyle that honours this divine peace. #VeganChrist #VeganGod #VeganChurch
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