What we are allowed to eat:
God cud-chewing animals with split hooves can be eaten (Leviticus:
11:3; Deuteronomy: 14:6). These specifically include the cattle, sheep,
goat, deer, and gazelle families (Deuteronomy:14:4-5). He also lists such
animals as camels, rabbits and pigs as being unclean, or unfit to eat
(Leviticus:11:4-8). He later lists such "creeping things" as moles,
mice and lizards as unfit to eat (Leviticus:11:29-31), as well as four-footed
animals with paws (cats, dogs, bears, lions, tigers, etc.) as unclean (Leviticus:11:27).
He tells us that salt and freshwater fish with fins and scales may
be eaten (Leviticus:11:9-12), but water creatures without those characteristics
(catfish, lobsters, crabs, shrimp, mussels, clams, oysters, squid, octopi,
etc.) should not be eaten.
God also lists birds and other flying creatures that are unclean for
consumption (Leviticus:11:13-19). He identifies carrion eaters and birds of
prey as unclean, plus ostriches, storks, herons, and bats.
Birds such as chickens, turkeys and pheasants are not on the unclean list and
therefore can be eaten. Insects, with the exception of locusts, crickets, and
grasshoppers, are listed as unclean (Leviticus:11:20-23).
Why does God identify some animals as suitable for human
consumption and others as unsuitable? God did not give laws to arbitrarily
assert control over people. He gave His laws (including those of which meats
are clean or unclean) "that it might be well" with those who seek to
obey Him (Deuteronomy: 5:29).
Although God did not reveal the specific reasons some animals may
be eaten and others must be avoided, we can make generalized conclusions based
on the animals included in the two categories.
In listing the animals that should not be eaten, God forbids the
consumption of scavengers and carrion eaters, which devour other animals for
their food.
Animals such as pigs, bears, vultures, and raptors can eat (and
thrive) on decaying flesh. Predatory animals such as wolves, lions, leopards,
and cheetahs most often prey on the weakest (and at times the diseased) in animal
herds.
When it comes to sea creatures, bottom dwellers such as lobsters
and crabs scavenge for dead animals on the sea floor. Shellfish such as
oysters, clams and mussels similarly consume decaying organic matter that sinks
to the sea floor, including sewage.
A common denominator of many of the animals God designates as
unclean is that they routinely eat flesh that would sicken or kill human
beings. When we eat such animals, we partake of a food chain that includes
things harmful to people.
As nutritionist David Meinz observes: "Could it be that God,
in His wisdom, created certain creatures whose sole purpose is to clean up
after the others? Their entire 'calling' may be to act exclusively as the
sanitation workers of our ecology. God may simply be telling us that it's
better for us believers not to consume the meat of these trash collectors"
(Eating by the Book, 1999, p. 225).
The following list, based on Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14,
identifies many of the animals God designates as clean and unclean. The list
uses their common names.
Clean Animals
Mammals That Chew the Cud and Part the Hoof
Antelope, Bison (buffalo), Caribou, Cattle (beef, veal), Deer
(venison), Elk, Gazelle, Giraffe, Goat, Hart, Ibex, Moose, Ox, Reindeer, Sheep
(lamb, mutton)
Fish with Fins and Scales
Anchovy, Barracuda, Bass, Black pomfret (or monchong), Bluefish,
Bluegill, Carp, Cod, Crappie, Drum, Flounder, Grouper, Grunt, Haddock, Hake,
Halibut, Hardhead, Herring (or alewife), Kingfish, Mackerel (or corbia),
Mahimahi (or dorado, dolphinfish [not to be confused with the mammal dolphin]),
Minnow, Mullet, Perch (or bream), Pike (or pickerel or jack), Pollack (or
pollock or Boston bluefish), Rockfish, Salmon, Sardine (or pilchard), Shad,
Silver hake (or whiting), Smelt (or frost fish or ice fish), Snapper (or ebu,
jobfish, lehi, onaga, opakapaka or uku), Sole, Steelhead, Sucker, Sunfish,
Tarpon, Trout (or weakfish), Tuna (or ahi, aku, albacore, bonito, or tombo),
Turbot (except European turbot), Whitefish
Birds with Clean Characteristics
Chicken, Dove, Duck, Goose, Grouse, Guinea fowl, Partridge,
Peafowl, Pheasant, Pigeon, Prairie chicken, Ptarmigan, Quail, Sagehen, Sparrow
(and other songbirds), Swan*, Teal, Turkey
* In the King James
Version, Leviticus:11:18 and Deuteronomy:14:16 list
"swan" among unclean birds. However, this seems to be a
mistranslation. The original word apparently refers to a kind of owl and is so
translated in most modern Bible versions.
Insects
Types of locusts that may include crickets and grasshoppers
Unclean Animals
Animals with Unclean Characteristics
Swine
Boar, Peccary, Pig (hog, bacon, ham, lard, pork, most sausage, and
pepperoni)
Canines
Coyote, Dog, Fox, Hyena, Jackal, Wolf
Felines
Cat, Cheetah, Leopard, Lion, Panther, Tiger
Equines
Donkey (ass), Horse, Mule, Onager, Zebra (quagga)
Other Animals
Armadillo, Badger, Bat, Bear, Beaver, Camel, Elephant, Gorilla
Groundhog, Hippopotamus, Kangaroo, Llama (alpaca, vicuña), Mole, Monkey, Mouse,
Muskrat, Opossum, Porcupine, Rabbit (hare), Raccoon, Rat, Rhinoceros, Skunk,
Slug, Snail (escargot), Squirrel, Wallaby, Weasel, Wolverine, Worm, All insects
except some in the locust family
Marine Animals Without Fins and Scales
Fish
Bullhead, Catfish, Eel, European Turbot, Marlin, Paddlefish,
Shark, Stickleback, Squid, Sturgeon (includes most caviar), Swordfish
Shellfish
Abalone, Clam, Conch, Crab, Crayfish (crawfish, crawdad), Lobster,
Mussel, Oyster, Scallop, Shrimp (prawn)
Soft body
Cuttlefish, Jellyfish, Limpet, Octopus, Squid (calamari)
Sea mammals
Dolphin, Otter, Porpoise, Seal, Walrus, Whale
Birds of Prey, Scavengers and Others
Albatross, Bittern, Buzzard, Condor, Coot, Cormorant, Crane, Crow,
Cuckoo, Eagle, Flamingo Grebe, Grosbeak, Gull, Hawk, Heron, Kite, Lapwing,
Loon, Magpie, Osprey, Ostrich, Owl, Parrot, Pelican, Penguin, Plover, Rail,
Raven, Roadrunner, Sandpiper, Seagull, Stork, Swallow, Swift, Vulture, Water
hen, Woodpecker
Reptiles
Alligator, Caiman, Crocodile, Lizard, Snake, Turtle
Amphibians
Blindworm, Frog, Newt, Salamander, Toad
A video you can watch
https://youtu.be/Yje907UJYqw
I hope this helps
God bless you all
Lady Dee
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