Will My Pet Go To Heaven:

It is the desire of most pet owners that their pets accompany them in heaven. While this is a pleasant thought, desire does not impose itself upon reality. The Bible offers little insight regarding this matter. Primarily because the Bible was not written with your pet’s eternal soul in mind. To answer this question we must determine two things: Do pets have eternal souls? And, will animals be in heaven?

Do pets have eternal souls:

In English, the word “soul” is typically consistent in meaning and relatively simple to define. However, the Bible was not written in English. Therefore, to clarify the meaning of “soul” in the Bible, we must clarify their Hebrew and Greek translations.

Hebrew word for Soul:

Hebrew offers two words for soul: Ruach, and Nephesh: The word “ruach” is best translated as “spirit” or “life” and does not imply immortality. While the word “nephesh” typically implies an eternal soul. Unfortunately, neither word has a consistent meaning and must be clarified using its context.

Ruach:

Ruach it usually translated as “spirit” and does not typically imply an immortal soul. Ruach more accurately describes that which animates livings beings.

When you hide your face,
[creatures of the sea] are terrified;
when you take away their breath [ruach] ,
they die and return to the dust.

Psalm 104:29

Nephesh:

Nephesh is usually translated as “soul” or “life” and can imply an immortal soul or life continued into the afterlife. However, Nephesh can sometimes only refer to mortal “life.” Meaning, Nephesh sometimes has a meaning similar to that of Ruach.

The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life [nephesh] .”

Job 2:6

Greek word for Soul:

Like Hebrew, Greek offers two words for soul: Pneuma, and Psuche:

Pneuma:

Pneuma is typically translated as “spirit” and is the word used when describing the Holy Spirit. Despite its usage in Holy Spirit, pneuma does not necessarily translate to an eternal soul and can be closely related to the Hebrew word ruach:

As the body without the spirit [pneuma] is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

James 2:26

Psuche:

Psuche is typically translated as “soul.” Like its Hebrew counterpart nephesh, psuche does not always imply an eternal soul and can be translated as “life.” However, when Psuche is used to describe “life,” often the life described includes the afterlife. Meaning, while it translates to life, it often implies this life including its continuation into the afterlife.

The man who loves his life [psuche] will lose it, while the man who hates his life [psuche] in this world will keep it for eternal life [psuche] .

John 12:25

Do animals have eternal souls:

The difficulty in answering this question is, in neither Greek nor Hebrew, is there a specific word to imply eternal life. According to the Bible, the afterlife is only the continuation of life; what we would perceive as temporal life.

As far as animals are concerned, the Bible makes very clear they have life, and this is obvious. However, whether or not, like us, their life continues after the body dies is unclear. All of the various words that can be translated to soul are used when referring to animals:

Pairs of all creatures that have the breath of life [ruach] in them came to Noah and entered the ark.

Genesis 7:15

like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life [nephesh].”

Proverbs 7:23

The word pneuma is never used when referring to animals in the Bible’s original language. However, when the Old Testament was translated into Greek from Hebrew, the word ruach, including its usage in Genesis 7:15, was translated to pneuma

Pairs of all creatures that have the breath of life [pneuma - Greek translation] in them came to Noah and entered the ark.

Genesis 7:15

a third of the living [psuche] creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

Revelation 8:9

None of the examples above indicate the life of the animal continues after death. Every time any of the words for soul are used regarding animals, the context and meaning suggest the Bible is referring to the animal’s life and not necessarily eternal life. Never is an animal’s afterlife mentioned.

This does not mean animals do not have an afterlife, only that the Bible does not mention an afterlife for animals. This omission is perfectly reasonable. The Bible is not concerned with the eternal destination of animals. The Bible is written for Man and is only concerned with Man’s eternal destination.

Will animals be in heaven:

While there are passages in which animals are used in analogies to describe heaven. These passages do not necessarily imply a literal meaning:

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.

Isaiah 11:6

While this may literally be true, the passage is clearly an analogy with a symbolic meaning. We can know the symbolic message is true: heaven is free from hazards. We cannot know if the analogy carries over into reality.

Perhaps the most convincing passage regarding whether or not animals will be in heaven comes from Luke 3:21:

He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.

When God created the world, he created a world with animals. It is reasonable to conclude the restored world, or heaven, will also have animals.

Conclusion: Will my pet go to heaven

While it is reasonable to conclude animals will be in heaven. There is no reason to believe the animals in heaven are the same animals on earth. Meaning, pets may exist in heaven. Whether or not these pets are the same pets we had on earth is unknowable. This does not mean pets will not go to heaven. Only that the Bible is silent on this issue and no one can draw any definitive conclusions.