The topic of eating pork in the Bible has long been a subject of debate and discussion among Christians, particularly when examining the Old Testament laws and their relevance to modern believers. The Bible contains several verses that address dietary restrictions, especially regarding which animals are considered clean or unclean to eat. In the Old Testament, pork is classified as an unclean animal under the Mosaic Law. However, in the New Testament, the teachings of Jesus and the apostles shift the perspective on these dietary laws, leading to various interpretations within the Christian community.
Understanding what the Bible says about eating pork requires careful consideration of both Old and New Testament teachings. In this article, we will explore 25 Bible verses that discuss eating pork and the implications of these verses for Christians today. We will examine the dietary laws outlined in Leviticus and Deuteronomy, the teachings of Jesus, and the apostolic guidance given in the New Testament, all of which contribute to the broader understanding of this topic.
1. Leviticus 11:7-8
“And the pig, because it has a divided hoof but does not chew the cud, is unclean for you. You shall not eat of their flesh or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.”
This verse is part of the Mosaic Law, which outlined which animals were considered clean and unclean. Pork is explicitly mentioned here as unclean because the pig does not chew cud, even though it has a split hoof. As a result, the Israelites were forbidden from eating pork or touching the carcass of a pig.
2. Deuteronomy 14:8
“The pig is also unclean for you. Although it has a divided hoof, it does not chew the cud; you shall not eat of their flesh or touch their dead carcasses.”
This verse is another repetition of the dietary law found in Leviticus. It reiterates the prohibition of eating pork for the Israelites, emphasizing that the pig is unclean because it does not meet the criteria of chewing cud and having a split hoof.
3. Isaiah 65:4
“Who sit among graves, and spend the night in secret places; who eat swine’s flesh, and the broth of abominable things is in their vessels.”
In this prophetic passage, God condemns the Israelites for engaging in idolatry and sinful practices. The mention of eating swine’s flesh is symbolic of defilement and rebellion against God’s commandments, emphasizing the uncleanliness associated with pork consumption under the Old Covenant.
4. Isaiah 66:17
“Those who consecrate and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following one in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination and the mouse, shall come to an end together, says the Lord.”
This verse refers to the idolatrous practices of the Israelites, particularly their consumption of unclean foods like pork. It highlights the judgment that will come upon those who continue in such practices, as they defy God’s dietary laws.
5. Acts 10:9-16
“The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ But Peter said, ‘By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.’ And the voice came to him again a second time, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’ This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.”
In this well-known New Testament passage, Peter has a vision where God shows him various unclean animals, including pigs. God tells him not to call anything He has made clean as unclean. This vision is interpreted by Peter as a sign that the dietary laws, including the prohibition against eating pork, no longer applied to Christians. This marks a significant shift in understanding the dietary laws of the Old Covenant.
6. Acts 10:28
“And he said to them, ‘You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.'”
Peter explains that the vision of the unclean animals was not just about food but about breaking down the barriers between Jews and Gentiles. The larger message is that God’s grace extends beyond the Old Covenant laws, including dietary restrictions.
7. Romans 14:14
“I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.”
In this verse, Paul addresses the issue of dietary restrictions, emphasizing that under the New Covenant, nothing is inherently unclean. This statement aligns with the teachings in Acts 10, where the dietary laws of the Old Testament are no longer binding for Christians.
8. Romans 14:20
“Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats.”
Paul encourages believers to avoid causing others to stumble in their faith over issues like food. While all foods are clean, believers should exercise wisdom and love in their actions, considering the consciences of others.
9. Colossians 2:16-17
“Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.”
Paul emphasizes that Christians should not be judged based on their observance of the Old Testament dietary laws, as these were merely a shadow of the reality found in Christ. In Him, the true substance of these practices is fulfilled.
10. 1 Timothy 4:3-5
“They forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.”
Paul teaches that all foods, including pork, are good when received with thanksgiving, and that they are sanctified by God’s Word and prayer. This teaching underscores the New Testament perspective that Christians are not bound by the Old Testament dietary laws.
11. Mark 7:18-19
“And he said to them, ‘Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?’ (Thus he declared all foods clean.)”
In this passage, Jesus addresses the issue of ceremonial cleanliness, teaching that it is not what goes into a person that defiles him, but what comes out of his heart. Jesus declares all foods clean, which includes pork, further reinforcing the shift in the New Testament away from the dietary restrictions of the Old Covenant.
12. Matthew 15:11
“It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”
Jesus clarifies that it is not the food we eat that makes us unclean, but our words and actions. This teaching aligns with the broader principle that the Old Testament dietary laws are no longer required for Christians.
13. Luke 11:41
“But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.”
Jesus emphasizes that true cleanliness comes from within, from a heart that is pure and generous. This teaching further supports the idea that outward actions, such as food consumption, are not the determining factor in our spiritual purity.
14. Hebrews 13:9
“Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.”
The writer of Hebrews warns against being swayed by teachings that focus on dietary laws. Grace, not food restrictions, strengthens the heart. This reflects the New Testament view that dietary laws, including those regarding pork, are no longer necessary for the believer.
15. Titus 1:15
“To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure. But both their minds and their consciences are defiled.”
Paul emphasizes that for those who are pure in Christ, all things are pure. This includes food, meaning that the dietary restrictions of the Old Testament are no longer relevant for Christians who are made pure by faith in Jesus.
16. 1 Corinthians 8:8
“Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.”
Paul teaches that food has no bearing on our standing with God. This further confirms the idea that dietary laws, including the prohibition against eating pork, are not essential for a Christian’s faith.
17. Acts 15:29
“That you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”
The Jerusalem Council issued guidelines for Gentile believers, including abstaining from food sacrificed to idols and blood, but there is no mention of pork. This reflects the belief that dietary restrictions, like the prohibition of pork, were not binding on Gentile Christians.
18. Revelation 18:2
“And he called out with a mighty voice, ‘Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.'”
The imagery of unclean animals in Revelation does not suggest that certain foods, like pork, are inherently evil, but rather that they symbolize the defilement and corruption associated with the world systems opposed to God.
19. John 6:35
“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.'”
In this verse, Jesus is emphasizing the spiritual nourishment that He offers, not the physical food we eat. While physical food sustains us temporarily, only Christ can satisfy our deepest needs.
20. John 4:32-34
“But he said to them, ‘I have food to eat that you do not know about.’ So the disciples said to one another, ‘Has anyone brought him something to eat?’ Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.'”
Jesus points out that His true nourishment comes from fulfilling God’s will. This statement indicates that spiritual matters, including obedience to God, are far more important than the physical act of eating.
21. Luke 24:30-31
“When he was at the table with them, he took the bread and blessed it and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.”
After His resurrection, Jesus shares a meal with His disciples, symbolizing fellowship and communion with Him. The breaking of bread reminds believers of the importance of spiritual nourishment through Christ.
22. Luke 9:16
“Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.”
Jesus blesses and distributes food to a large crowd in the feeding of the five thousand. This miracle underscores the importance of God’s provision and blessings in our lives.
23. Matthew 6:11
“Give us this day our daily bread.”
In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray for our daily provision, acknowledging that God is the ultimate provider. This includes both physical and spiritual sustenance.
24. James 2:5
“Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?”
James emphasizes that spiritual wealth and faith are more important than physical possessions, which include food. This reflects the New Testament teaching that the focus should be on the spiritual rather than the dietary laws.
25. Matthew 15:18
“But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.”
Jesus underscores that it is not what we eat, but the condition of our hearts, that defiles us. This teaching highlights that dietary restrictions, including the prohibition of pork, are no longer a concern under the New Covenant.
Conclusion
The Bible presents a clear progression in its treatment of dietary laws, particularly regarding foods like pork, from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Under the Mosaic Law, the Israelites were explicitly forbidden from eating pork, as it was considered an unclean animal (Leviticus 11:7-8, Deuteronomy 14:8). These dietary restrictions were part of a broader system of ceremonial laws intended to set Israel apart from other nations and to symbolize holiness and purity before God.
Thus, while the Old Testament prohibited the consumption of pork for the Israelites, the New Testament reveals that these laws are no longer binding for Christians. All foods are declared clean, and believers are encouraged to live according to the spirit of love, grace, and unity, rather than being divided over dietary preferences. As Christians, the emphasis is on spiritual nourishment—seeking God, loving others, and living in harmony with His will.
In conclusion, the Bible’s message about eating pork reflects a broader theological shift from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant, where external laws give way to internal transformation through faith in Christ. The emphasis is no longer on what we eat, but on how we live, worship, and honor God in all aspects of our lives.
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