Foods of the Bible

Even though God in Genesis 9:3-4 permits eating all manner of things because of our broken world, many of these are not healthful. For this reason God gave to Israel the directions about clean and unclean foods for the well-being of those who limit themselves to the clean and healthful foods. Leviticus chapter 11 gives details.

Genesis 9:3-4 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

Leviticus 11:1-3, 9, 21-22
1-3 And the Lord spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.
9 These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.
21 Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth; Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind.

Leviticus 17:13 And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust.

Leviticus 20:25 Ye shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean, and between unclean fowls and clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by fowl, or by any manner of living thing that creepeth on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean.

The Bible has an extensive list of generally available wholesome foods. These are shown below with their categories and include scriptures to reference.

Unclean or Forbidden Foods of The Bible

Leviticus chapter 11 gives specific details. Click for another list.

• Blood and blood products (Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 3:17; 7:23-27; 17:10-14; 19:26; Deuteronomy 12:16, 23, 27; 15:23) from any source (except scaled and finned fish)!
• Birds of prey or scavengers such as emu, eagles, hawks, ostrich and vultures. (Leviticus 11:13-20)
• Freshwater or marine creatures without scales and fins (amphibians, catfish, eels, sharks, turtles, whales, etc.). (Leviticus 11:9-12, 30, 41-41; Deuteronomy 14:10)
• Shellfish (clams, crabs, crayfish, lobsters, octopus, oysters, shrimp, snails and the like. (Leviticus 11:9-12, 30, 41-43)
• Reptiles (alligators, snakes, turtles, tortoises, etc.), rodents, worms & larvae, and most insects. (Leviticus 11:29-32, 41-43)
• Camels, cats, dogs, horses, pigs, rabbits, rodents, etc. (Leviticus 11:4-8, 26-27)
• Wines and grape juices not made under Jewish supervision (kosher) [contains too much alcohol or other contaminents].
• Muscle tissue containing the sciatic nerve in the hindquarters, (ex: fillet mignon) (Genesis 32:32)
• Fat surrounding animal organs. (Leviticus 3:17; 7:23-25)
• Meat and dairy eaten together. (Exodus 23:19; 34:26; Deuteronomy 14:21)