The Horse in the Bible

Did you know that the horse is mentioned many times in the Bible? This animal took part in many stories, such as the exodus of the people of Israel from Egypt or the arrival of the horsemen of the Apocalypse.

In Christianity, the horse is a very prominent figure . But the exact position of this religion towards this creature is not yet very precise.

Let’s discover together in this article:

• The horse: a symbol with many facets
• The horse in the Old Testament
• The Horse in the New Testament

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Without further ado, let's see what the horse represents in Christianity.

The horse: a symbol with many facets

The horse is mentioned repeatedly in the Old and New Testaments. It is often presented as a symbol of war and conquest. Even outside of Christianity, the animal is often represented in this way. In Greek mythology, for example, it is this animal that was at the origin of the myths about the Centaurs. Among the Gauls, it is believed that the goddess Epona was able to acquire her place in the pantheon thanks to her transformation into a horse .

The horse is a majestic creature. Nowadays, owning such an animal is a sign of prestige and distinction. Humans have coexisted with horses for a very long time. Very ancient civilizations already lived alongside and tamed these animals.

Christianity has a rather ambiguous position towards this animal. In any case, the horse has a significant presence in several biblical stories.

The horse in the Old Testament

In the Old Testament, the horse is primarily spoken of as an instrument of power . The mere mention of this animal brings to mind war and destruction.

If we refer to the episode of the Exodus, we know that horses were a symbol of hostility for the people of Israel . Indeed, when they were finally able to leave Egypt, the Pharaoh decided to deploy all his warriors, chariots and horses to pursue them. The pursuers did not hesitate to pursue them to the middle of the sea. But once the people of Israel had passed, the waters receded, covering all the horses and warriors who had ventured into the middle of the ocean. In the Bible, we even speak of "divine anger" to describe this event.

The horse thus became a warlike symbol . Even though the prophet Elijah rose to the heavens on horses of fire, this negative representation of the horse persisted for a long time.

The Horse in the New Testament

In the New Testament, the horse is no longer considered an enemy, but a precious ally of God. Indeed, it is said that the four knights of the Apocalypse will come to accomplish their missions on magnificent horses. The book of Revelation even gives details on the color of their coat (white, red, black and pale). These four horses would be in some way instruments that God would use to put us on the right path.

However, the horse was not always shown in a favorable light in the New Testament. While kings made triumphant entries into cities on the back of a horse, Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. This gesture made the animal lose all its prestige and it is mainly on this that Christianity has formed its opinion.