Taming the Beast
Human–Animal Encounters in the Bible
- Biblical Studies & Commentaries
- Publisher: Wipf and Stock
- Published: 2026
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Publisher's Description
Discover the compelling exploration of humanity's role as the Bible's supreme predator: the only species God describes as “prone to evil from youth” and not as “the Crown of Creation.” Yet humans continue today—as in biblical days—to attribute unrivaled human ferocity to the way of predatory animals. Taming the Beast illustrates how the Bible seeks to tame and curb these human destructive tendencies, while highlighting the collateral damage biblical animals suffer due to human corruption. At the same time, Taming the Beast unveils the Bible's view of the essential equality between humans and animals, spotlighting how animal motherhood has a human quality and how animals often act as inspiring role models for humans. This book examines humanity’s irrational fear of wild animals and delves into God's controversial permission for post-flood meat consumption, even as the Bible discourages making meat a staple food. With innovative perspectives and fresh interpretations, Taming the Beast invites readers to reconsider iconic and familiar stories through its innovative approach and to gain a deeper understanding of the biblical animal kingdom. Isaiah's daring vision of restored and improved human-animal harmony, existing from creation through the flood, beckons the reader for a grand finale.
Endorsements (4)
“In Taming the Beast, Feintuch offers a provocative and innovative re-examination of the biblical relationship between humans and animals. By correcting the misconception that the Bible views animals as ‘beasts’ or ‘evil,’ he skillfully demonstrates that the biblical record often portrays animals as partners—not subordinates—to humanity. This refreshing study challenges long-held interpretations, making it essential reading for anyone interested in the ethical and scriptural foundations of our perception and treatment of animals.”
“Human tolerance for the mistreatment of animals seems as boundless as the human appetite for eating them, and these unfortunate human characteristics exact a terrible price. The answer to it is in this remarkable book. Drawing on an exploration of the past, it shines a light on an optimistic future. When we arrive at a more peaceable coexistence with those with whom we share this planet, we will all be better off.”
“In Taming the Beast, Yossi Feintuch proves himself a powerful writer and thinker. His ‘new tweak’ on the biblical status of animals is morally refreshing and deeply necessary. This book is for anyone seeking to align their biblical values with a genuine, active commitment to animal appreciation and welfare.”
“...The framing you're working with stayed with me after I read it. There's a quality to naming humans as the Bible's supreme predator rather than the crown of creation that I don't often encounter in biblical interpretation. You let that unsettling truth sit before moving toward anything hopeful. That sounds simple, but it's rare. I kept thinking about the way you explore animal motherhood having human quality and animals acting as inspiring role models even as you hold space for human ferocity. The tenderness of that dual vision, the refusal to make animals merely symbolic or humans merely fallen. You don't make it sentimental in the telling. You just show the complexity of these encounters. That honesty in your approach gives the work its weight before I've even read a page.”
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