What does the Bible say about whales, dolphins, and other sea creatures?

The Bible mentions a number of sea creatures, including whales, dolphins, and fish. While these animals are not central to the Christian faith, they are mentioned in various passages of the Bible and offer insight into God’s creation and the natural world.

One of the most famous references to whales in the Bible is the story of Jonah and the whale. In this story, God commands Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach to its people, but Jonah disobeys and tries to flee on a ship. God sends a great storm that threatens to sink the ship, and Jonah is thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish. After three days, the fish vomits Jonah onto the shore, and Jonah goes on to preach in Nineveh.

Dolphins are not specifically mentioned in the Bible, but they are likely included in the broader category of sea creatures. In several passages, sea creatures are described as part of God’s creation and are praised for their beauty and majesty. For example, Psalm 104:25-26 says, “There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number— living things both large and small. There the ships go to and fro, and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.”

Fish are also mentioned in several passages of the Bible, most notably in the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 with just five loaves of bread and two fish. In this story, Jesus performs a miracle by multiplying the loaves and fish to feed the large crowd that had gathered to hear him speak.