Clean and Unclean Foods
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. Even by the time of Noah it was understood there is a difference between clean and unclean animals when he was told to take one pair of unclean animals and seven pairs of clean animals into the ark (Gen 7:2).
What Is Kosher Food?
Kosher food is food prepared in accordance with Biblical Dietary Laws. Different
definitions of Kosher exist based on traditions from different countries and different denominations of Judaism. Jewish definitions of kosher have become more varied over
time, and unfortunately, have come up with their own set of rules defining
Kosher that are not found in scripture, leading to various Jewish kosher certifying authorities based on rules that vary from liberal to conservative.
The basic Dietary Laws are found in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 11. So
here are the basic rules according to the Bible:
- Mammals must have split hooves, and chew their cud.
- Fish must have fins and removable scales.
- Generally speaking, birds that are predatory and most fowl are non-Kosher.
- Locusts, grasshoppers and beetle species are Kosher.
- Meat ( it's kid) cannot be cooked in his mother's milk.
- Bone broth is called scum and appears to be unacceptable.
- Cannot eat an animal that dies of it's self.
- A small trace of a non-kosher substance can render a food none kosher.
- Some parts of the animal, which include blood and fat must be removed.
Genesis 1:29 "God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every fruit tree containing seeds to be your food."
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.
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 scriptures?
Deuteronomy 12:15 "Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the roebuck, and as of the hart."
Deuteronomy 15:22 "Thou shalt eat it within thy gates: the unclean [person] and the clean person shall eat it alike, as the roebuck, and as the hart"
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. Normally an
unclean person was not allowed to eat with those that where clean.
How clear it becomes now. We should take note that these are very clearly
laws to be obeyed.
Leviticus 3:17 "It will be an everlasting law for your generations in all their dwellings, that you can not eat fat or blood."
Leviticus 7:23-24 "You cannot eat any kind of fat, of ox, or of sheep, or of goat. But the fat of any animal that dies by itself or is killed by other animals, can be used for other uses but you can not eat it."
Leviticus 7:26 "Also you cannot eat any type of blood, whether it be from fowl or mammal, in any of your homes."
Leviticus 11:2-47 "... 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. Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.
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. And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you: They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination. Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.
And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, And the vulture, and the kite after his kind; Every raven after his kind; And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.
All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you. 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. But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.
And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even. And whosoever beareth ought of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. The carcases of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, nor cheweth the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean. And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even. And he that beareth the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you.
These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind, And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole. These are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even. And upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean; whether it be any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever vessel it be, wherein any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; so it shall be cleansed. And every earthen vessel, whereinto any of them falleth, whatsoever is in it shall be unclean; and ye shall break it. Of all meat which may be eaten, that on which such water cometh shall be unclean: and all drink that may be drunk in every such vessel shall be unclean. And every thing whereupon any part of their carcase falleth shall be unclean; whether it be oven, or ranges for pots, they shall be broken down: for they are unclean, and shall be unclean unto you. Nevertheless a fountain or pit, wherein there is plenty of water, shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcase shall be unclean. And if any part of their carcase fall upon any sowing seed which is to be sown, it shall be clean. But if any water be put upon the seed, and any part of their carcase fall thereon, it shall be unclean unto you. And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcase thereof shall be unclean until the even. And he that eateth of the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: he also that beareth the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.
And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten. Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination. Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby. For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten."
Deuteronomy 14:3-21 "Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing. These are the beasts which ye shall eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat, The hart, and the roebuck, and the fallow deer, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois. And every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat. Nevertheless these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the cloven hoof; as the camel, and the hare, and the coney: for they chew the cud, but divide not the hoof; therefore they are unclean unto you. And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase. These ye shall eat of all that are in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat: And whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it is unclean unto you. Of all clean birds ye shall eat. But these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, And the glede, and the kite, and the vulture after his kind, And every raven after his kind, And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, The little owl, and the great owl, and the swan, And the pelican, and the gier eagle, and the cormorant, And the stork, and the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. And every creeping thing that flieth is unclean unto you: they shall not be eaten. But of all clean fowls ye may eat. Ye shall not eat of any thing that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk."
Ezekiel 24:4-12 "Gather the pieces thereof into it, even every good piece, the thigh, and the shoulder; fill it with the choice bones. Take the choice of the flock, and burn also the bones under it, and make it boil well, and let them seethe the bones of it therein. Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose scum is therein, and whose scum is not gone out of it! bring it out piece by piece; let no lot fall upon it. For her blood is in the midst of her; she set it upon the top of a rock; she poured it not upon the ground, to cover it with dust; That it might cause fury to come up to take vengeance; I have set her blood upon the top of a rock, that it should not be covered. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the bloody city! I will even make the pile for fire great. Heap on wood, kindle the fire, consume the flesh, and spice it well, and let the bones be burned. Then set it empty upon the coals thereof, that the brass of it may be hot, and may burn, and that the filthiness of it may be molten in it, that the scum of it may be consumed. She hath wearied herself with lies, and her great scum went not forth out of her: her scum shall be in the fire."
Isaiah 66:17 "Of them that bless themselves, or purify themselves in the gardens hiding behind a tree, eating swine's flesh, and the other abominations, such as the mouse, will be consumed together does say the Lord."
Notice above that bone broth is called scum and appears to be unacceptable as well because of the blood in the bone.
Below is the list of foods defined in the Bible as being Clean and Unclean:
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Clean Land Animals |
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Wild Goat |
Fallow Deer |
Goat |
Ox |
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Pygarg |
Wild Ox |
Hart |
Sheep |
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Roebuck |
Chamois |
Cattle |
Reindeer |
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Antelope |
Deer |
Moose |
Giraffe |
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Bison |
Elk |
Hart |
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Caribou |
Gazelle |
Ibex |
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Unclean Land Animals |
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Camel |
Mouse |
Snail (Slug) |
Mole |
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Weasel |
Coney |
Hare (Rabbit) |
Ferret |
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Skunk |
Beaver |
Squirrel |
Rat |
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Raccoon |
Porcupine |
Groundhog |
Muskrat |
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Gorilla |
Opossum |
Badger |
Rhinoceros |
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Bear |
Elephant |
Hippopotamus |
Monkey |
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Armadillo |
Wolverine |
Kangaroo |
Llama (alpaca, vicuña) |
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Equines (Ass, Donkey, Mule, Horse, Zebra) |
Canines (Coyote, Dog, Fox, Hyena, Jackal, Wolf) |
Felines (Cat, Cheetah, Leopard, Lion, Panther, Tiger) |
Swine ( Pig, Boar, Peccary) |
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Clean Fish The list of Clean Fish would be to long to list, all that have fins and scales are clean. |
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Unclean Fish, Marine Mammals, and Shell Fish |
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Fish |
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Dolphin |
Bullhead |
Whale |
Swordfish |
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Marlin |
Catfish |
Porpoise |
Shark |
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Paddlefish |
Eel |
Sturgeon |
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Shellfish |
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Shrimp |
Scallop |
Oyster |
Prawn |
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Mussel |
Crayfish |
Clam |
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Lobster |
Crab |
Abalone |
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Soft Body |
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Cuttlefish |
Squid (calamari) |
Limpet |
Jellyfish |
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Octopus |
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Sea Mammals |
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Walrus |
Seal |
Otter |
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Clean Birds |
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Chicken |
Grouse |
Pigeon |
Sparrow (and other songbirds) |
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Dove |
Guinea fowl |
Prairie chicken |
Sagehen |
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Pheasant |
Partridge |
Ptarmigan |
Teal |
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Peacock |
Peafowl |
Quail |
Turkey |
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Unclean Birds |
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Eagle |
Ossifrage |
Osprey |
Vulture after his |
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Kite |
Every raven after his kind |
Owl |
Night Hawk |
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Cuckow or Cuckoo |
Hawk after his |
Little Owl |
Cormorant |
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Great Owl |
Horned Owl |
Pelican |
Gier Eagle |
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Stork |
Heron after her |
Lapwing |
Bat |
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Albatross |
Crane |
Magpie |
Roadrunner |
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Bat |
Flamingo |
Loon |
Sandpiper |
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Bittern |
Grebe |
Ostrich |
Seagull |
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Buzzard |
Grosbeak |
Penguin |
Woodpecker |
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Condor |
Gull |
Parrot |
Swallow |
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Coot |
Plover |
Rail |
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Crow |
Water Hen |
Swift |
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Clean Insects |
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Locust after his kind |
Bald locust after his kind |
Beetle after his |
Grasshopper after his kind |
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Unclean Insects |
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All insects except some in the beetle and locust family. |
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Unclean Reptiles |
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Lizard |
Great Lizard |
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Chameleon |
Crocodile |
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Alligator |
Blindworm |
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Turtle |
Frog |
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Snake |
Newt |
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Toad |
Salamander |
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Caiman |
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