Cat
The Cat in Biblical Literature
The domestic cat appears by name only once in the biblical corpus, in the Apocryphal book of Baruch. In Baruch 6:22 (also known as the Letter of Jeremiah), the text describes pagan idols as powerless objects upon which "cats" (Greek: ailouroi) freely climb and perch, alongside bats, swallows, and other birds. This vivid image is part of a broader satirical polemic against idolatry, emphasizing that these man-made gods cannot even shoo away common animals.
No explicit mention of the domesticated cat occurs in the canonical Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) or the New Testament. Some scholars, like the 17th-century naturalist Samuel Bochart, have suggested that the Hebrew word tsiyim (צִיִּים), translated as "wild beasts of the desert" or "hyenas" in passages like Isaiah 13:21, Isaiah 34:14, Jeremiah 50:39, and Psalm 74:19, could potentially refer to wildcats. However, this identification remains uncertain, and modern translations consistently favor "desert creatures" or "hyenas."
Historical and Cultural Context
Despite its near-invisibility in the biblical text, the cat was a familiar animal in the ancient Near East, particularly in Egypt, Israel's frequent neighbor and sometimes oppressor. Egyptian culture famously revered cats, associating them with the goddess Bastet. Cats were protected by law, mourned when they died, and often mummified. This Egyptian veneration stands in stark contrast to the cat's neutral or utilitarian role in other contemporary cultures.
In the Greco-Roman world of the New Testament era, cats were primarily valued as pest controllers. The single classical Latin reference noted in the original ISBE article (Martial, Epigrams 13.69) humorously describes a cat as a hunter of mice. This practical role is likely the one most familiar to people in the Hellenistic and Roman periods, including the Jewish diaspora.
The Cat in Baruch: A Symbol of Idol Powerlessness
The sole biblical reference in Baruch 6:22 is deeply theological. The book, set during the Babylonian exile, is a meditation on faithfulness. The Letter of Jeremiah (incorporated as Baruch 6) is a sustained attack on idolatry. The cat's inclusion is deliberate: it is a mundane, unremarkable animal. That such a creature can treat a revered idol as mere furniture, a perch or a scratching post, utterly deflates the idol's supposed divinity and power. The cat, acting on its natural instincts, becomes an unwitting agent of divine satire, demonstrating that idols are "nothing in the world" (1 Corinthians 8:4).
Feline Imagery and Biblical Metaphor
While the domestic cat is not named, the biblical authors did employ metaphors of stealth, predation, and lurking danger that align with feline behavior. The lion, a member of the same family (Felidae), is used extensively as a symbol of strength, royalty (Genesis 49:9), threat (1 Peter 5:8), and even God Himself (Hosea 11:10). The prophet Isaiah uses the imagery of a wildcat or hyena (tsiyim) inhabiting desolate ruins as a symbol of divine judgment and abandonment (Isaiah 34:14). This creates an interesting contrast: the majestic, fearsome lion is a frequent biblical symbol, while its smaller, domestic relative goes virtually unmentioned, perhaps due to its association with pagan Egyptian religion or its simply being an unremarkable part of daily life.
Biblical Context
The cat is mentioned explicitly only in Baruch 6:22 (Apocrypha). It is listed among birds and bats that perch on the silent, immobile idols of Babylon, highlighting their impotence. No mention is made in the 66-book Protestant canon. Potential allusions to wildcats may exist where the Hebrew tsiyim is used (Isaiah 13:21; 34:14; Jeremiah 50:39; Psalm 74:19), but these are uncertain and typically translated as "desert creatures" or "hyenas."
Theological Significance
The cat's sole appearance serves a profound theological purpose: to deconstruct idolatry. Its mundane behavior, perching on a statue, reveals the idol's complete lack of life, power, or holiness. This aligns with the consistent biblical theme that the Lord alone is God (Isaiah 44:6-20). The cat, as a creature simply following its nature, becomes a testament to the absurdity of worshiping created things (Romans 1:25). Its absence from the rest of Scripture may also subtly distance Israel's worship from the feline-centric idolatry of Egypt.
Historical Background
Archaeology confirms cats were domesticated in the Near East by the biblical period, primarily for pest control. In Egypt, they were sacred animals associated with the goddess Bastet, often mummified. This cultural context makes their absence in Israelite texts notable, possibly reflecting a conscious cultural distinction. Greco-Roman sources confirm the cat's role as a household mouser. The animal was likely known in Israel but carried cultural baggage from Egypt, potentially explaining its lack of mention in law, narrative, or poetry.