God created certain animals that can be used for food and others that are unfit to eat. “Clean” foods are those which in their natural state do not harm the human body. “Unclean” foods are those which are unhealthy for the body.
Deuteronomy 14:3-21 (New International Version)
3 Do not eat any detestable thing. 4 These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, 5 the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope and the mountain sheep.[a] 6 You may eat any animal that has a divided hoof and that chews the cud. 7 However, of those that chew the cud or that have a divided hoof you may not eat the camel, the rabbit or the hyrax. Although they chew the cud, they do not have a divided hoof; they are ceremonially unclean for you. 8 The pig is also unclean; although it has a divided hoof, it does not chew the cud. You are not to eat their meat or touch their carcasses.
9 Of all the creatures living in the water, you may eat any that has fins and scales. 10 But anything that does not have fins and scales you may not eat; for you it is unclean.
11 You may eat any clean bird. 12 But these you may not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, 13 the red kite, the black kite, any kind of falcon, 14 any kind of raven, 15 the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, 16 the little owl, the great owl, the white owl, 17 the desert owl, the osprey, the cormorant, 18 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.
19 All flying insects are unclean to you; do not eat them. 20 But any winged creature that is clean you may eat.
21 Do not eat anything you find already dead. You may give it to the foreigner residing in any of your towns, and they may eat it, or you may sell it to any other foreigner. But you are a people holy to the LORD your God.
Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.
Genesis 1:29 (New International Version)
29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.
Leviticus 3:17 (New International Version)
17 “‘This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.’”
Leviticus 7:23-24 (New International Version)
23 “Say to the Israelites: ‘Do not eat any of the fat of cattle, sheep or goats. 24 The fat of an animal found dead or torn by wild animals may be used for any other purpose, but you must not eat it.
Leviticus 7:26 (New International Version)
26 And wherever you live, you must not eat the blood of any bird or animal.
Leviticus 11 (New International Version)
Read it all http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+11&version=NIV.
Below is a list of foods, defined in the Bible, as being Clean and Unclean.
They can be found in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14.
Clean Land Animals
Leviticus 11:1-3 (New International Version)
1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat: 3 You may eat any animal that has a divided hoof and that chews the cud.
Deuteronomy 14:4-6 (New International Version)
4 These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, 5 the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope and the mountain sheep.[a] 6 You may eat any animal that has a divided hoof and that chews the cud.
Wild Goat, Fallow Deer, Goat, Ox, Pygarg (Species of antelope?), Wild Ox, Hart (Species of Deer), Sheep, Roebuck (Antelope, Gazel), Chamois (goat like), Antelope, Deer, Moose , Giraffe, Bison, Elk, Hart, Reindeer, Caribou, Gazelle, Ibex, Cattle
Unclean Land Animals
Leviticus 11:4-8 (New International Version)
4 “‘There are some that only chew the cud or only have a divided hoof, but you must not eat them. The camel, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is ceremonially unclean for you. 5 The hyrax, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you. 6 The rabbit, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you. 7 And the pig, though it has a divided hoof, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. 8 You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.
Leviticus 11:26-27 (New International Version)
26 “‘Every animal that does not have a divided hoof or that does not chew the cud is unclean for you; whoever touches the carcass of any of them will be unclean. 27 Of all the animals that walk on all fours, those that walk on their paws are unclean for you; whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean till evening.
Leviticus 11:29-31 (New International Version)
29 “‘Of the animals that move along the ground, these are unclean for you: the weasel, the rat, any kind of great lizard, 30 the gecko, the monitor lizard, the wall lizard, the skink and the chameleon. 31 Of all those that move along the ground, these are unclean for you. Whoever touches them when they are dead will be unclean till evening.
Leviticus 11:41-42 (New International Version)
41 “‘Every creature that moves along the ground is to be regarded as unclean; it is not to be eaten. 42 You are not to eat any creature that moves along the ground, whether it moves on its belly or walks on all fours or on many feet; it is unclean.
Deuteronomy 14:7-8 (New International Version)
7 However, of those that chew the cud or that have a divided hoof you may not eat the camel, the rabbit or the hyrax. Although they chew the cud, they do not have a divided hoof; they are ceremonially unclean for you. 8 The pig is also unclean; although it has a divided hoof, it does not chew the cud. You are not to eat their meat or touch their carcasses.
Camel, Coney, Hare (Rabbit), Mole, Weasel, Mouse, Snail (Slug), Ferret, Skunk, Beaver, Squirrel, Rat, Raccoon, Porcupine, Groundhog, Muskrat, Gorilla, Opossum, Badger, Rhinoceros, Bear, Elephant, Hippopotamus, Monkey, Armadillo, Wolverine, Kangaroo, Llama (alpaca, vicuña), Equines (Ass, Donkey, Mule, Horse, Zebra), Canines (Coyote, Dog, Fox, Hyena, Jackal, Wolf), Felines (Cat, Cheetah, Leopard, Lion, Panther, Tiger), Swine ( Pig, Boar, Peccary)
Clean Fish
Leviticus 11:9 (New International Version)
9 “‘Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams you may eat any that have fins and scales.
Deuteronomy 14:9-10 (New International Version)
9 Of all the creatures living in the water, you may eat any that has fins and scales. 10 But anything that does not have fins and scales you may not eat; for you it is unclean.
Albacore, (Crevalle, Horse Mackerel, Jack), Hardtail (Blue Runner), Mullet Shad Alewives (Branch, River Herring), Herring (Alewife, Branch, Glut. Lake, River, Sea Herrings), Muskellunge (Jacks), Sheepshead, Anchovy, Kingfish, Orange Roughy, Barracuda, Long Nose Sucker (Northern or Red Striped Sucker), Perch (Bream), Silversides, Bass, Common Sucker (Fr. Water Mullet, White Sucker), Pike (Pickerel, Jack), Smelt (Frost or Ice Fish), Black Drum Crappie (Black or White Crappies), Pig Fish Snapper (Ebu, Jobfish, Lehi, Onaga, Opakapaka, Uku), Black Pomfret (Monchong), Drum Pollack (Pollock, Boston Bluefish), Blue Runner (Hardtail), Flounder (Dab, Gray, Lemon Sole, Summer or Winter Flounder, Yellow Tail), Pompano Sole Bluebacks (Glut Herrings), Grouper (Black, Nassau, Red, or Yellowfish Grouper, Gag), Spanish Mackerel, Bluebill, Sunfish, Grun (White/Yellow Grunts), Red Snapper, Steelhead, Bluefish, Gulf Pike (Robalo, Snook, Sergeant), Redfish, Striped Bass, Bluegill, Haddock, Sucker (Red Horse Sucker, Redfin), Bonitos, Hake, Porgy (Scup), Sunfish, Bowfin, Halibut, Red Drum (Redfish), Tarpon, Buffalofish, Hardhead Rockfish, Trout (Gray Sea, Lake, Sand Sea, White Sea, Spotted Sea Trouts, Weakfish), Butterfish Mackerel (Cobia), Salmon (Chum, Coho, King, Pink or Red), Tuna (Ahi, Aku, Albacore, Bluefin, Bonito, Shipjack,Tombo, Yellowfin, Yellowtail), Carp Mahimahi (Dorado, Dolphinfish – NOT the mammal dolphin), Sardine (Pilchard), Turbot (except European turbot), Chubs (Bloater, Longjaw, Blackfin), Menhaden Scup (Porgy), Whitefish, Cod, Minnow, Sea Bass, Whiting (Silver Hake), Yellow Perch
Unclean Fish/Marine Animals
Leviticus 11:10-12 (New International Version)
10 But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales—whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water—you are to regard as unclean. 11 And since you are to regard them as unclean, you must not eat their meat; you must regard their carcasses as unclean. 12 Anything living in the water that does not have fins and scales is to be regarded as unclean by you.
Deuteronomy 14:10 (New International Version)
10 But anything that does not have fins and scales you may not eat; for you it is unclean.
Fish
Dolphin, Bullhead, Whale, Swordfish, Marlin, Catfish, Porpoise, Shark, Paddlefish, Eel, Sturgeon (includes most caviar),
Shellfish
Shrimp, Scallop, Oyster, Prawn, Mussel, Crayfish, Clam, Abalone, Lobster, Crab
Soft Body
Cuttlefish, Squid (calamari), Limpet, Jellyfish, Octopus, Sea Mammals, Walrus, Seal, Otter
Clean Birds
Leviticus 11:13-19 (New International Version)
13 “‘These are the birds you are to regard as unclean and not eat because they are unclean: the eagle,[a] the vulture, the black vulture, 14 the red kite, any kind of black kite, 15 any kind of raven, 16 the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, 17 the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, 18 the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey, 19 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.
The following are Clean Birds not specifically mentioned in the Bible
Chicken, Grouse, Pigeon, Sparrow (and other songbirds), Dove, Guinea fowl, Prairie, chicken, Duck, Partridge, Ptarmigan, Teal, Goose, Peafowl, Quail, Turkey, Peacock, Pheasant, Sagehen
Unclean Birds
Deuteronomy 14:12-18 (New International Version)
12 But these you may not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, 13 the red kite, the black kite, any kind of falcon, 14 any kind of raven, 15 the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, 16 the little owl, the great owl, the white owl, 17 the desert owl, the osprey, the cormorant, 18 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.
Eagle, Ossifrage, Osprey, Vulture after his kind, Kite, Every raven after his kind, Owl, Night Hawk, Cuckow or Cuckoo, Hawk after his kind, Little Owl, Cormorant, Great Owl, Horned Owl, Pelican, Gier Eagle, Stork, Heron after her kind, Lapwing, Bat, Albatross, Crane, Magpie, Roadrunner, Flamingo, Loon, Sandpiper, Bittern, Grebe, Ostrich, Seagull, Buzzard, Grosbeak, Penguin, Woodpecker, Condor, Gull, Parrot, Swallow, Coot, Plover, Rail, Swift, Crow, Water Hen
Clean Insects
Leviticus 11:21-23 (New International Version)
21 There are, however, some flying insects that walk on all fours that you may eat: those that have jointed legs for hopping on the ground. 22 Of these you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket or grasshopper. 23 But all other flying insects that have four legs you are to regard as unclean.
Locust, Beetle, Grass Hopper
Unclean Insects
Leviticus 11:41-42 (New International Version)
41 “‘Every creature that moves along the ground is to be regarded as unclean; it is not to be eaten. 42 You are not to eat any creature that moves along the ground, whether it moves on its belly or walks on all fours or on many feet; it is unclean.
Deuteronomy 14:19 (New International Version)
19 All flying insects are unclean to you; do not eat them.
All insects except some in the beetle and locust family.
Unclean Reptiles
Leviticus 11:29-30 (New International Version)
29 “‘Of the animals that move along the ground, these are unclean for you: the weasel, the rat, any kind of great lizard, 30 the gecko, the monitor lizard, the wall lizard, the skink and the chameleon.
Lizard, Great Lizard, Chameleon, Crocodile, Alligator, Blindworm, Turtle, Frog, Snake, Newt, Toad, Salamander, Caiman
These laws are known as health laws, and are the means for achieving a healthier life.
In the beginning man ate fruits and vegetables, but later started eating meat. God made known what meats where unhealthy through the laws of clean and unclean foods long before there was a nation of Israel, even before Noah’s time, as seen in Genesis 7:2 and 7:8 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%207:2,8&version=NIV.
It is a well know fact today, that these same unclean foods are known to be unhealthy.
But you say, what about the following verse from scripture?
Deuteronomy 12:15 (New International Version)
15 Nevertheless, you may slaughter your animals in any of your towns and eat as much of the meat as you want, as if it were gazelle or deer, according to the blessing the LORD your God gives you. Both the ceremonially unclean and the clean may eat it.
This is one of the most misinterpreted verses on this subject, because of the food laws being well know in their nation they did not keep unclean animals around for food, so they would not have found it in their gates. It is speaking of the unclean person eating with the clean person during this time. Normaly an unclean person was not allowed to eat with those that where clean.
Deuteronomy 15:22 (New International Version)
22 You are to eat it in your own towns. Both the ceremonially unclean and the clean may eat it, as if it were gazelle or deer.
How clear it becomes now.
We should take note that these are very clearly laws to be obeyed.
Isaiah 66:17 (New International Version)
17 “Those who consecrate and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following one who is among those who eat the flesh of pigs, rats and other unclean things—they will meet their end together with the one they follow,” declares the LORD.
As shown with this verse God does condemn those that eat of what is considered an abomination. Isaiah 65:4 tells us that eating swine and other abominable things provokes the Lord to anger.
Isaiah 65:4 (New International Version)
4 who sit among the graves and spend their nights keeping secret vigil; who eat the flesh of pigs, and whose pots hold broth of impure meat;
For those that would say these laws where only for the people of Israel at that time, take note that animals where regarded as clean or unclean during the time of Noah before Israel existed. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gen%207:2&version=NIV
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