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Animals forbidden or not allowed to be eaten in the Bible: clean and unclean animals

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animals forbidden or not allowed to be eaten in the bible

Here is a list of all the animals that the children of Israel were forbidden to eat by God: The

  • Carmel
  • Rock hyrax
  • Hare
  • Swine
  • All in the seas or in the rivers that do not have fins and scales
  • Eagle
  • Vulture
  • Buzzard,
  • Kite,
  • Falcon
  • Raven
  • Ostrich,
  • Short-eared owl
  • Sea gull,
  • Hawk
  • Little owl
  • Jackdaw
  • Carrion vulture
  • Stork
  • Heron
  • Hoopoe
  • Bat
  • Flying insects that creep on all fours; Flying insects, which have four feet
  • Mole
  • Mouse
  • Large lizard
  • Gecko
  • Monitor lizard
  • Sand reptile
  • Sand lizard
  • Chameleon
  • Whatever goes on its paws, among all kinds of animals that go on all fours

Following are the scriptures that identify the animals that are forbidden to be eaten:

Leviticus 11:4-8

“Nevertheless, these you shall not eat among those that chew the cud or those that have cloven hooves: the camel, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; the rock hyrax, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; the hare, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; and the swine, though it divides the hoof, having cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. Their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch. They are unclean to you.”

Leviticus 11:10-12

“But all in the seas or in the rivers that do not have fins and scales, all that move in the water, or any living thing that is in the water, are an abomination to you. They shall be an abomination; you shall not eat their flesh, but you shall regard their carcasses as an abomination. Whatever in the water does not have fins or scales, that shall be an abomination to you.”

Leviticus 11:13-18

“And these you shall regard as an abomination among the birds; they shall not be eaten; they are an abomination: the eagle, the vulture, the buzzard, the kite, and the falcon after its kind; every raven after its kind, the ostrich, the short-eared owl, the sea gull, and the hawk after its kind; the little owl, the jackdaw, and the carrion vulture; the stork, the heron after its kind, the hoopoe, and the bat.”

Leviticus 11:20-23

“All flying insects that creep on all fours shall be an abomination to you.”

Leviticus 11:23

“But all other flying insects that have four feet shall be an abomination to you.”

Leviticus 11:29-30

“These also shall be unclean to you among the creeping things that creep on the earth: the mole, the mouse, and the large lizard after its kind; the gecko, the monitor lizard, the sand reptile, the sand lizard, and the chameleon.”

Leviticus 11:41-45

“And every creeping thing that creeps on the earth shall be an abomination. It shall not be eaten. Whatever crawls on its belly, whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet among all creeping things that creep on the earth—these you shall not eat, for they are an abomination. You shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creeps, nor shall you make yourselves unclean with them, lest you be defiled by them. For I am the LORD, your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy, for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth. For I am the LORD who brings you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”

Unclean animals in the Bible

Here is the list of unclean animals as recorded in Leviticus 11:24–28.

“By these, you shall become unclean; whoever touches the carcass of any of them shall be unclean until evening; whoever carries part of the carcass of any of them shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. The carcass of any animal that divides the foot but is not cloven-hoofed or does not chew the cud is unclean to you. Everyone who touches it will be unclean. And whatever goes on its paws, among all kinds of animals that go on all fours, those are unclean to you. Whoever touches any such carcass shall be unclean until evening. Whoever carries any such carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. It is unclean to you.”

Clean animals in the Bible | Animals to be Eaten in the Bible

“Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aron, saying to them, ‘Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘These are the animals which you may eat among all the animals that are on earth: among the animals, whatever divides the hoof, having cloven hooves and chewing the cud—that you may eat.’’ (Leviticus 11:1-3)

“These you may eat of all that are in the water; whatever in the water has fins, whether in the seas or in the rivers—that you may eat.” (Leviticus 11:9)

“Yet these you may eat of every flying insect that creeps on all fours: those which have jointed legs above their feet with which to leap on the earth. These you may eat: the locust after its kind, the destroying locust after its kind, the cricket after its kind, and the grasshopper after its kind.” (Leviticus 11:21-22)

But what does the New Testament say about animals forbidden to be eaten?

Here is what the Apostle Paul said about what should or should not be eaten:

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” (1 Timothy 4:1–5)

It is therefore clear from this passage that all FOODS are permitted to be eaten as long as they are received with THANKSGIVING. Why? It is because the sanctification of an unclean animal happens through the WORD OF GOD and PRAYER.

So what is the verdict? The New Testament allows ALL ANIMALS to be eaten.

I hope this is helpful.

God bless you, Shalom.

Related Post: What does the New Testament say about eating pork?

Dear friend,

Life without Jesus Christ is difficult, if not impossible. That is why it is important to receive Him as your personal savior so that He can help you navigate through life’s challenges successfully.

If you are willing to receive Jesus Christ as your savior, that is, to be born again, kindly say the following prayer from the bottom of your heart:

Prayer to become a born-again Christian

“Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner and hereby ask for your forgiveness.

I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that you are the only begotten Son of the living God.

I believe that you were sent by your Father to the earth to save sinners like me.

I now accept you as my personal Lord and Savior.

Come into my heart and baptize me with the Holy Spirit.

Thank you for saving me.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,

Amen!”

Congratulations friend! You are now a born-again Christian!

Welcome to the family of God!

Benediction

“The LORD bless you and keep you;

The Lord, make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you;

The LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.”

(Numbers 6:24-26)

Source: https://www.biblegateway.com/

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