The Divine Ordinance of Dietary Laws in the Old Testament
The Old Testament, particularly the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, meticulously outlines a comprehensive set of dietary regulations for the ancient Israelites. These laws, often referred to collectively as "Kashrut" (from the Hebrew word "kasher," meaning "fit" or "proper"), were not merely suggestions for healthy living but divine commands integral to Israel's covenant relationship with God. Their primary purpose was to foster holiness and distinction, setting Israel apart as a peculiar people unto the Lord, reflecting His own holiness. As the Lord declared in Leviticus 11:44, "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." The adherence to these dietary stipulations was a tangible expression of their obedience and a constant reminder of their unique identity and calling.
The Foundation of Dietary Distinction: Clean and Unclean
The core of the Old Testament dietary laws revolves around the distinction between "clean" and "unclean" animals. This classification was given to Moses and Aaron by God, primarily detailed in Leviticus 11 and reiterated in Deuteronomy 14. These laws were not a universal mandate for all humanity but specific statutes given to the children of Israel as part of the Mosaic Covenant. The consumption of clean animals was permitted, while unclean animals were strictly forbidden, their flesh considered an abomination. This distinction permeated daily life, influencing not only what could be eaten but also how it was prepared and the purity rituals associated with accidental contact with unclean creatures.
Categorization of Clean and Unclean Beasts
The Scriptures provide clear criteria for determining which animals were permissible for consumption:
- Land Animals: For land animals, the criteria for being clean were twofold: the animal must have a cloven hoof (meaning its hoof is completely split into two parts) and it must chew the cud (ruminate).
Examples of clean land animals include cattle, sheep, goats, and deer. Animals that possessed only one of these characteristics were deemed unclean. For instance, the camel, coney (hyrax), and hare chew the cud but do not have cloven hoofs, making them unclean. The swine has a cloven hoof but does not chew the cud, rendering it an abomination.Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.
And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.
- Sea Creatures: Aquatic animals were deemed clean if they possessed both fins and scales.
This meant that common fish like salmon, tuna, and cod were permissible. However, creatures such as shellfish (shrimp, crab, lobster, oysters), eels, and catfish, which lack either fins or scales (or both), were prohibited.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.
- Birds: Unlike land and sea creatures, no general rule was given for birds. Instead, specific lists of unclean birds were provided, primarily consisting of predatory birds, scavengers, and those associated with darkness or desolation. The lists in Leviticus 11:13-19 and Deuteronomy 14:12-18 include eagles, vultures, kites, ravens, owls, hawks, and bats, among others.
- Creeping Things and Insects: Generally, all "creeping things that creep upon the earth" were considered unclean and an abomination, including rodents, lizards, and most insects.
A notable exception was made for certain winged insects that have legs above their feet for leaping, such as locusts, grasshoppers, and crickets (Leviticus 11:21-22).And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten.
Prohibitions Beyond Animal Classification
Beyond the classification of clean and unclean animals, several other significant dietary prohibitions were established:
- Consumption of Blood: One of the most stringent prohibitions was against the consumption of blood. This was a foundational command, even predating the Mosaic Law, given to Noah in Genesis 9:4. Under the Mosaic Law, the reason was explicitly stated: "For the life of the flesh is in the blood."
Blood was sacred, designated for atonement on the altar, symbolizing the life offered to God. Therefore, proper slaughtering techniques were required to drain the blood from an animal before its flesh could be eaten.Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh.
- Consumption of Certain Fats: Specific types of fat from sacrificial animals were also forbidden for consumption, as they were considered the Lord's portion. This included "all the fat that covereth the inwards" (the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys with the fat that is upon them), and the fat of the rump of a sheep.
Eating these fats was a serious transgression.All the fat is the LORD's.
- Seething a Kid in its Mother's Milk: This seemingly peculiar prohibition appears three times in the Pentateuch (Exodus 23:19, Exodus 34:26, Deuteronomy 14:21). While its exact interpretation has been debated, it is widely understood to forbid an act of unnatural cruelty or an idolatrous pagan practice. It forms the basis for the traditional Jewish separation of meat and dairy products.
- Carrion and Animals Torn by Beasts: Eating animals that died of natural causes (carrion) or were torn by wild animals was also forbidden. Such consumption would render a person unclean until evening, requiring ritual purification.
This reinforced the need for proper, ritual slaughter of animals for food.And every soul that eateth that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean.
The Spiritual Significance and Purpose of the Laws
The dietary laws were not arbitrary rules. Their profound significance was primarily spiritual and theological:
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. And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.
Transition to the New Covenant: Fulfillment in Christ
With the advent of the New Covenant in Jesus Christ, the Old Testament dietary laws underwent a profound transformation. The New Testament clearly teaches that these specific regulations are no longer binding for believers. This shift is most vividly illustrated in Acts 10, where Peter receives a vision of all manner of four-footed beasts, creeping things, and fowls of the air, accompanied by a voice telling him, "Rise, Peter; kill, and eat." When Peter protested, calling some unclean, the voice replied, "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common."
This vision, primarily intended to teach Peter about the acceptance of Gentiles into the Church, simultaneously abrogated the dietary laws. Jesus Himself had already laid the groundwork for this understanding, declaring that defilement comes not from what enters a person's mouth, but from what comes out of their heart (Mark 7:18-19, Matthew 15:10-11). The Apostle Paul further expounded on this freedom, emphasizing that "meat commendeth us not to God" (1 Corinthians 8:8) and that believers should not allow others to judge them "in meat, or in drink" (Colossians 2:16). The dietary laws, along with other ceremonial laws, were a "shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ" (Colossians 2:17). Through Christ's atoning work, the need for these external distinctions has been fulfilled, and the wall of separation between Jew and Gentile has been broken down.And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
Conclusion: Enduring Truths and Modern Application
The dietary laws of the Old Testament, while no longer literally binding for Christians, remain profoundly significant. They serve as a testament to God's meticulous care for His covenant people and His desire for their holiness. They teach us about the importance of obedience, distinction, and the principle that God's people are to be set apart. For the modern believer, the spiritual principles behind Kashrut endure: the call to live a life of holiness, to glorify God in all things, and to exercise temperance and wisdom in our choices. While we are free from the specific dietary restrictions, the overarching command to live a life pleasing to God, recognizing that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, remains paramount. "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31).