What kind of animal may we eat according to the Bible?

Answer 1

We may eat any animal.Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you. -- Genesis 9:3

And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. -- Mark 7:18-20

And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. -- Luke 10:8

Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. -- Acts 10:9-13

Whatsoever is sold in the shambles that eat. -- 1 Corinthians 10:25

There is nothing unclean of itself. -- Romans 14:2

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils ... commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with Thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. -- 1 Timothy 4:1-3

Answer 2

Any meat; in the Old Testament there were restrictions, but Jesus came in the New Testament and lifted those restrictions. Jesus brought freedom from the law through salvation.

Matthew 15:10-11 - "Jesus called the crowd to him and said, 'Listen and understand. What goes into a man's mouth does not make him "unclean," but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him "unclean."'"

Answer 3

1 Timothy 4:4, 5 - For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. [NKJV]

Answer 4

The Bible calls animals good to eat as 'clean' and those not to be eaten as 'unclean.' It first appears in the story of Noah (see Genesis 7:2) with the 'Dietary Laws' given in Leviticus (see Leviticus 20:25).

Answer 5

Your are referring to the 'dietary laws' found in the books of Leviticus 11 and repeated again in Deuteronomy. There are groupings of animals and shellfish (primarily) which should not be eaten. Basically, animals have to have a 'cloven' or split hoof and chew the cud (ruminating animals - meaning to chew over again via specialized stomachs.

It is important to note then that 'clean' animals do/have both: cloven or split hooves and specialized (ruminant) stomachs. While the 'pig' family have split hooves, they do not 'chew the cud.'

Lastly, the dietary laws refer to sea life - fish in particular which must have scales. This omits all shellfish and catfish, swordfish, sharks, etc. and certain birds like vultures, ostrich, etc..

Many today would refer to these laws as being 'Jewish.' But in effect, they are specifically called God's Laws in Scripture - for all mankind. Others, specifically mainstream Christianity, will point to various Scripture negating the need for mankind to abstain from these foods. When read more closely and in context, the verses usually refer to a teaching on 'ceremorial' meats being offered to pagan gods and whether you believing this (pagan gods exist or eating said food is wrong or by eating said food you mislead another person into thinking it is right or wrong) continue to do so. Then the most popular one is the dream of Peter in the Book of Acts. There's more to it but that is reserved for another specific question.

Answer 6

All unclean beasts (all animals that eat garbage and flesh)