Camels and a rider

Answers about
camels in the Bible

Hebrew: גָּמָל —transliteration: gamal —meaning: a camel; from the word gamal meaning “benefit” or “to repay” or “requite,” as the camel does the care of its master

Camels are mentioned in 59 verses in the Bible, and first mentioned in Genesis.

Therefore he [pharaoh] treated Abram well because of her; and sheep and oxen and donkeys and male and female servants and female donkeys and camels came into his possession. —Genesis 12:16

Symbols of status and wealth

Camels in the Bible often symbolize wealth, provision, and status (e.g., Abraham, Job, Jacob owned many camels, and this was evidence of their prosperity and blessing by God (Genesis 12:16, 24:35, Job 1:3).

Camels served as valuable beasts of burden for travel, trade (Genesis 37:25), and transport (Genesis 24 – Rebekah's arrival reported in Genesis 24:64).

Who had the most camels?

We don’t know for certain, as few such numbers were recorded. However, the largest specified number recorded in the Bible for one person is the herd owned by Job, who Scripture says was at that time “the greatest of all the sons of the east.” This godly ancient man had his wealth restored to include 6,000 camels (Job 42:12). God rewarded him after his great suffering. Before destruct by disasters, he originally owned 3,000 camels (Job 1:3).

Types of camels

There are two distinct species of camels, having, however, the common characteristics of being “ruminants without horns, without muzzle, with nostrils forming oblique slits, the upper lip divided and separately movable and extensile, the soles of the feet horny, with two toes covered by claws, the limbs long, the abdomen drawn up, while the neck, long and slender, is bent up and down, the reverse of that of a horse, which is arched.”

  1. The dromedary camel, from the Greek dromos, “a runner” (Isaiah 60:6; Jeremiah 2:23), has but one hump, and is a native of the Middle East, North Africa (e.g., Sahara), and parts of Western and South Asia.

  2. The Bactrian camel is distinguished by two humps. It is a native of the high table-lands of Central Asia, including the Gobi Desert in Mongolia and China.

Female camels (dromedary or Bactrian) typically give birth to one calf every 2 years (gestation ~12–15 months, plus recovery/lactation). Annual calving rates in herds range from ~30–50% on average, rarely reaching 1 per year under optimal management. Twins are very rare.

More Biblical records about camels

Camels were used very early in Biblical history for riding and as a beast of burden (Genesis 24:64; 37:25). Camels were also used in war and in trade (Judges 6:5; 1 Samuel 30:17; Isaiah 21:7).

Mention is made of the camel among the animals given by Pharaoh to Abraham (Genesis 12:16).

Abraham’s trusted servant rode on a camel when he went to fetch a wife for Isaac (Genesis 24:10, 11). Jacob had camels as a portion of his wealth (Gen. 30:43), as Abraham also had (Gen. 24:35). He sent a present of thirty milch camels to his brother Esau (32:15).

It appears to have been little in use among the Jews after the conquest. It is, however, mentioned in the history of David (1 Chronicles 27:30), and after the Exile (Ezra 2:67; Neh. 7:69).

Camels were much in use among other nations in the Middle East. The queen of Sheba came with a caravan of camels when she came to see the wisdom of Solomon (1 Kings 10:2; 2 Chronicles 9:1). Benhadad of Damascus also sent a present to Elisha, 40 camel loads” (2 Kings 8:9).

Was camel milk used by humans in biblical times?

Yes, especially among nomadic groups in the ancient Near East. Patriarchal period references (e.g., Genesis 32:15 mentions “milk camels” or nursing female camels as gifts, implying milk use). Ancient texts (e.g., ~2000–1700 BC Sumerian/Nippur record says: “the milk of the camel is sweet”). Nomads/Bedouins consumed camel milk as a staple; Hebrews likely did before the Law of Moses, but afterward kosher rules deemed it unclean (from non-kosher animal).

Clean or unclean animal?

Its flesh was not to be eaten, as it was ranked among unclean animals (Deuteronomy 14:7).

…you shall not eat of these, among those which chew the cud or among those which divide the hoof: the camel, for though it chews cud, it does not divide the hoof; it is unclean to you. —Leviticus 11:4

Camel through the eye of a needle?

To show the difficulty in the way of a rich man’s entering into the kingdom, our Lord uses the proverbial expression that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle (Matt 19:24; Mark 10:25). This famous metaphor points out that it is impossible for even the most illustrious in society, the wealthy, to enter the kingdom without God. It is impossible to be saved by merit. However, “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27).

Swallow a camel?

To strain at (rather, out) a gnat and swallow a camel was also a proverbial expression (Matthew 23:24), used with reference to those who were careful to avoid small faults, and yet did not hesitate to commit the greatest sins. The Jews carefully filtered their wine before drinking it, for fear of swallowing along with it some insect forbidden in the law as unclean, and yet they omitted openly the “weightier matters” of the law. The camel was the largest of the named unclean animals.

Camel’s hair clothing?

The raiment worn by John the Baptist was made of camel’s hair (Matthew 3:4; Mark 1:6), by which he was distinguished from those who resided in royal palaces and wore soft raiment.

This was also the case with Elijah (2 Kings 1:8), who is called “a hairy man,” from his wearing such clothing.

In reality, camel’s hair and hide are good materials for some clothing; they keep out the heat, cold, and rain. Textile fiber and felt were (and still are) made from camel hair. The camel’s outer guard hair (fur) is coarse and inflexible. The undercoat is soft, finer and shorter and makes better insulation. It is collected by shearing or combing. The best camel hair products come from the Bactrian camels. In moulting season (late spring), they shed their wool-like hair in mats. It can then be spun into yarn.

The “sackcloth” so often alluded to (2 Kings 1:8; Isaiah 15:3; Zechariah 13:4, etc.) was probably made of camel’s hair.

Camels hair was also used tentmaking, carpets and cloaks. It can also be blended with other fibers and can be dyed with various colors, just like wool.

More information

Article Version: January 19, 2026