The Bible's Dietary Commandments

Be a vegan.

And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. Genesis 1:29

Be an omnivore.

Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. Genesis 9:3

Don't eat blood.

But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. Genesis 9:4

It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood. Leviticus 3:17

Ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings. Leviticus 7:26

No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood. ... Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof. Leviticus 17:12-14

Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood. Leviticus 19:26

Ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water. Deuteronomy 12:16

Thou shalt not eat the blood thereof; thou shalt pour it upon the ground as water. Deuteronomy 15:23

Abstain ... from blood. Acts 15:20

It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us ... that ye abstain ... from blood. Acts 15:28-29

As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves ... from blood. Acts 21:25

Maimonides #192: Not to eat blood —Lev. 3:17

Don't eat any animal (or its fat) that died of natural causes or was killed by other animals.

Neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field. Exodus 22:31

And the fat of the beast that dieth of itself, and the fat of that which is torn with beasts ... ye shall in no wise eat of it. Leviticus 7:24

That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts, he shall not eat to defile himself therewith. Leviticus 22:8

Maimonides #190: Not to eat meat of an animal that was mortally wounded — Ex. 22:30

If you find an animal that has died of natural causes or was killed by other animals, feed it to the dogs or strangers, or sell it to aliens.

Flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs. Exodus 22:31

Ye shall not eat of anything 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. Deuteronomy 14:21

Don't eat any fat, not even in your own home.

(All the fat is the Lord's.)

All the fat is the LORD's. It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood. Leviticus 3:16-17

Ye shall eat no manner of fat, of ox, or of sheep, or of goat. Leviticus 7:23

Maimonides #193: Not to eat certain fats of clean animals — Lev. 3:17

Don't eat camels, conies, hares, or swine.

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. Leviticus 11:4-8

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. Deuteronomy 14:7-8

Maimonides #180: Not to eat non-kosher animals — Lev. 11:4

Eat animals that live in water and have fins and scales.

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. Leviticus 11:9

These ye shall eat of all that are in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat. Deuteronomy 14:9

Maimonides #178: To examine the signs of fish to distinguish between kosher and non-kosher — Lev. 11:9

Don't eat animals that live in the water but don't have fins or scales.

(They are abominations.)

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. Ye shall have their carcases in abomination. Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you. Leviticus 11:10-12

Whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it is unclean unto you. Deuteronomy 14:10

Maimonides #182: Not to eat non-kosher fish — Lev. 11:11

The following birds are abominations: eagles, vultures, ospreys, kites, ravens, owls, nighthawks, hawks, cuckoos, cormorants, swans, pelicans, storks, herons, lapwings, and bats. Don't eat them.

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. Leviticus 11:13-19

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. Deuteronomy 14:12-18

Maimonides #181: Not to eat non-kosher fowl — Lev. 11:13

Don't eat fowls that creep and walk upon all four.

(They are abominations.)

All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you. Leviticus 11:20

Every creeping thing that flieth is unclean unto you: they shall not be eaten. Deuteronomy 14:19

Eat flying creeping things that walk on four with legs above their feet. Among these are locusts, beetles, and grasshoppers.

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. Leviticus 11:21-23

Maimonides #179: To examine the signs of locusts to distinguish between kosher and non-kosher — Lev. 11:21

Don't eat creeping things that creep on the earth.

(They are abominations.)

And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten. Leviticus 11:41

Maimonides #184: Not to eat non-kosher creatures that crawl on land — Lev. 11:41

Don't eat any animal that crawls on its belly, goes on all four, or has lots of feet.

(They are all abominations.)

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. Leviticus 11:42

Maimonides #186: Not to eat worms found in fruit on the ground — Lev. 11:42

Don't eat any abominable thing.

Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing. Deuteronomy 14:3

Maimonides #392: Not to eat sacrifices which have become unfit or blemished — Deut. 14:3

Eat these animals: oxen, sheep, goats, harts, roebucks, fallow deer, pygargs, and chamois.

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. Deuteronomy 14:4-5

Eat clean birds.

Of all clean birds ye shall eat. Deuteronomy 14:11

All clean fowls ye may eat. Deuteronomy 14:20

Maimonides #177: To examine the signs of fowl to distinguish between kosher and non-kosher — Deut. 14:11

Eat your firstborn bulls and sheep in the place where God chooses.

All the firstling males that come of thy herd and of thy flock ... thou shalt eat it before the LORD thy God year by year in the place which the LORD shall choose, thou and thy household. Deuteronomy 15:19-20

Eat honey.

Eat thou honey, because it is good. Proverbs 24:13

Don't eat too much honey.

Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. Proverbs 25:16

Eat bread with joy.

Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy. Ecclesiastes 9:7

Pay no attention to what you eat or drink.

Take no thought for ... what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink. Matthew 6:25, Luke 12:22

Take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? Matthew 6:31

Seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink. Luke 12:29

Let no man therefore judge you in meat or drink. Colossians 2:16

Every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving. 1 Timothy 4:4

Eat Jesus's body and drink his blood.

(Or you'll have no life in you.)

Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. John 6:53-54

Kill and eat animals.

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

in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. Acts 11:5-7

Abstain from meats offered to idols.

(This seemed like a good rule to the Holy Ghost.)

Abstain from pollutions of idols. Acts 15:20

It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us ... that ye abstain from meats offered to idols. Acts 15:28-29

As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols. Acts 21:25

But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: 1 Corinthians 10:28

Abstain from strangled things.

(This also seemed good to the Holy Ghost.)

Abstain ... from things strangled. Acts 15:20

It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us ... that ye abstain ... from things strangled. Acts 15:28-29

As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves ... from strangled. Acts 25

Don't judge those with different dietary preferences.

Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth. Romans 14:3

Don't destroy a vegetarian by serving meat.

(For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink.)

If thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink. Romans 14:15-17

Eat whatever is sold at the store.

(Don't let your conscience bother you.)

Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake. 1 Corinthians 10:25

If you are invited to dinner at an unbeliever's house, eat whatever is set before you.

(Don't let your conscience bother you.)

If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. 1 Corinthians 10:27