The donkey is mentioned several times in the Bible in connection with Jesus Christ. Most significantly, Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem during what is now celebrated as Palm Sunday. This fulfilled a prophecy in Zechariah 9:9 which stated that the Messiah would come “gentle and riding on a donkey.” The donkey thus came to be associated with humility, service, and Christ’s entry into Jerusalem. Beyond this event, donkeys appear in other biblical stories involving Jesus and are seen as humble, hard-working animals that exemplified virtues Christ wanted to promote.
Donkeys in the Bible
Donkeys are mentioned over 130 times in the Bible, far more than horses. They were a common mode of transportation in biblical times. Several prophets and kings rode donkeys, including Moses, Saul, David, and Solomon. Jesus and his disciples also used donkeys for travel. Here are some of the main biblical passages involving donkeys:
Jesus’ Triumphal Entry
The most famous mention of a donkey in the Bible is when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey as crowds welcomed him by laying down cloaks and palm branches (Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, John 12:12-19). This event is now celebrated annually on Palm Sunday. The Synoptic Gospels quote Zechariah 9:9, showing that Jesus was fulfilling prophecy by coming to Jerusalem mounted on a donkey, emphasizing his humility and peacefulness as the promised Messiah.
The Donkey Speaking to Balaam
In Numbers 22, the prophet Balaam is riding a donkey to go curse the Israelites, but the donkey sees an angel standing in the road with a drawn sword and stops three times. Miraculously, God allows the donkey to speak to Balaam and explain why she stopped. This story shows that God can speak through humble means like a donkey.
Saul Searching for His Father’s Donkeys
1 Samuel 9 relates the story of Saul searching for his father Kish’s lost donkeys. Saul later encounters the prophet Samuel who anoints Saul as the first king of Israel. This story marks a transition in leadership from the period of the judges to the Israelite monarchy. The donkeys represent Saul’s humble beginnings.
Jesus Entering Jerusalem on a Colt
In his version of the triumphal entry, John specifies that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a young colt that had never been ridden (John 12:14). The colt symbolizes that Jesus is the Messiah coming humbly, not on a war horse, and also signifies sacredness and purity.
Symbolic Meaning of Donkeys in the Bible
Donkeys held several symbolic meanings in the Bible:
Humility
Donkeys represented humility and service. Christ rode a donkey into Jerusalem rather than a horse to show his humility. Donkeys were the mount of common people, not the wealthy. They symbolized that Jesus identified with the poor and humble.
Peace
In contrast to powerful war horses, donkeys were regarded as more peaceful animals. Jesus rode a donkey to emphasize he came in peace, not as a military conqueror. Donkeys symbolized the Prince of Peace.
Submission
Donkeys are obedient, submissive animals, easily controlled by their masters. As Jesus rode the donkey into Jerusalem, this portrayed his willingness to submit to God’s will.
Sacredness
The donkey colt Jesus rode was unused, emphasizing its sacred purpose of carrying the Messiah. Donkeys were humble but could be purified and set apart for holy purposes.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Humility | Donkeys represented humility and service |
| Peace | Donkeys symbolized the Prince of Peace |
| Submission | Donkeys represented obedience and submission |
| Sacredness | The unused colt was set apart for a holy purpose |
Why Jesus Chose to Ride a Donkey
Jesus deliberately chose to ride into Jerusalem on a donkey to evoke certain themes and fulfill prophecy:
Identification with the Poor
The donkey showed Jesus’ identification and solidarity with the poor and humble classes. He did not come as an earthly king with wealth.
Prince of Peace
The donkey represented his peaceful and gentle reign. He did not come to wage war or conquer through force.
Fulfilling Messianic Prophecy
Jesus rode a donkey to intentionally fulfill the Old Testament prophecy in Zechariah which foretold the Messiah would come gently riding on a donkey.
Reversing Roman Symbolism
In contrast to conquering Roman generals who rode horses in triumphal processions, Jesus asserted his counter-cultural kingdom.
Redefining Majesty
Jesus demonstrated that true greatness comes through humility and service, not power, riches and force. The donkey was a picture of this upside-down kingdom.
The Historic Christian Significance of Donkeys
Beyond the biblical accounts, the donkey has held an important place in Christian thought and tradition over church history:
A Common Christian Symbol
The donkey became a common Christian symbol in art and iconography. It represented humility, service, and Christ’s entry into Jerusalem.
Featured in Palm Sunday Traditions
Donkeys play a prominent role in the celebration of Palm Sunday when churches commemorate Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
Signifying the Peaceful Nature of Christ
Christian writings and theology emphasized the donkey as representing the peaceful, gentle nature of Christ, contrasted with the warrior power of the horse.
Appearing in Nativity Scenes
Donkeys are included in many depictions of the nativity scene to show the humble circumstances of Christ’s birth.
Representing the Suffering Christ
In medieval art, the donkey was shown bearing Christ’s weight, symbolizing the suffering servant who bore humanity’s sins.
Associated with Ordinary Christians
Donkeys were linked with the humility and common lives of ordinary Christians in contrast to church leaders who perhaps rode horses.
A Contrast to Roman and Triumphant Images
The donkey served as a contrast to imperial Roman images of power and triumph:
Humble Versus Glorious
The donkey represented the humble nature of Christ and early Christians in contrast to Rome’s glorification of conquest and military might.
Christ the Servant Versus Caesar the Dominant
While emperors rode white horses in victory parades, Christ came on a lowly donkey as a servant. The donkey depicted Christ’s different values.
Meekness Over Strength
Roman culture honored obvious displays of strength. But Christians identified with meekness and subversion of the powerful represented by the donkey.
Sacrifice Over Force
Imperial Rome brought peace through military force and imposition of its empire. But Christ came sacrificing himself for others, as signified by the burden-bearing donkey.
Civilian Versus Military
The donkey reminded early Christians that Christ’s kingdom did not rely on military conquest. His power was spiritual, not temporal.
The Donkey’s Enduring Symbolism
For Christians today, the donkey retains its symbolic connotations:
A Call to Humility and Service
The donkey remains a call for Christians to exhibit humility. It inspires sacrificial service after Christ’s example.
An Example of Hidden Majesty
This humble beast who bore Christ reveals majesty in lowly packages. Christians find beauty and worth in ordinary places.
A Counter-Cultural Image
In a world valuing power and wealth, the donkey still stands against the status quo and represents an upside-down kingdom.
Connection to the Past
Palm Sunday celebrations linking contemporary Christians to those who waved palm branches when Christ rode a donkey into Jerusalem.
Identification with the Underprivileged
The donkey calls Christians to remember the poor and marginalized, as it did for Jesus. It calls for serving their needs.
Conclusion
The donkey played a humble but crucial role in the story of Jesus Christ, most prominently through the triumphal entry. This event and other biblical accounts led the donkey to become a key Christian symbol of the virtues Jesus both modeled and called his followers to embody: humility, service, peace, and identification with the underprivileged. While the donkey represents meekness, it also signifies sacredness and the hidden majesty Christians can perceive in ordinary, lowly packages. At its heart, the donkey remains linked to Christ himself, since it was the vehicle that bore the incarnate Savior. For believers through the generations, the donkey continues to represent Christ’s gentle reign and serves as an enduring call to follow Christian counter-cultural values amidst any age or society that glorifies power, riches, and force.