List of Clean and Unclean Animals in the Bible

Understanding the classification of clean and unclean animals in the Bible is an important part of biblical study. This classification, found primarily in Leviticus and Deuteronomy, is rooted in ancient dietary laws given to the Israelites.

These laws were significant for their spiritual, health, and social implications. This post provides a comprehensive list of clean and unclean animals as described in the Bible, along with important points and Bible quotes to enhance understanding.

Introducing Clean and Unclean Animals in the Bible

The concept of clean and unclean animals is first introduced in Genesis, but it is in Leviticus and Deuteronomy that detailed lists and explanations are provided. These dietary laws were given to the Israelites as part of their covenant with God and served to set them apart from other nations.

Leviticus 11:46-47 states:

“This is the law of the beasts and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.”

Clean Animals in the Bible

Clean animals are those that the Israelites were permitted to eat. These animals are typically herbivores and possess certain characteristics.

Land Animals

To be considered clean, land animals must have a divided hoof and chew the cud. Examples include:

• Cattle (Leviticus 11:3): “Whatever divides a hoof, thus making split hoofs, and chews the cud, among the animals, that you may eat.”
• Sheep: Similar to cattle, sheep are clean because they chew the cud and have divided hooves.
• Goats: Goats also meet the criteria of chewing the cud and having divided hooves.
• Deer: As ruminants with divided hooves, deer are classified as clean.
• Oxen: Oxen are another example of clean animals due to their divided hooves and cud-chewing.
• Elk: Like deer, elk are considered clean for the same reasons.
• Antelope: Known for their divided hooves and cud-chewing habits, antelope are clean.
• Gazelle: Gazelles also fit the criteria of chewing the cud and having divided hooves.
• Giraffes: Although not commonly eaten, giraffes meet the criteria of divided hooves and cud-chewing.

Sea Animals

Clean sea creatures must have fins and scales. Examples include:

• Salmon: With both fins and scales, salmon is a clean fish.
• Trout: Trout also meets the criteria for clean sea creatures.
• Tuna: Another example of a fish with fins and scales, making it clean.
• Cod: Cod is also a clean fish due to its fins and scales.
• Mackerel: This fish is clean as it has fins and scales.
• Herring: Another example of a clean fish with fins and scales.
• Bass: Both freshwater and sea bass are considered clean.
• Perch: Known for its fins and scales, perch is clean.
• Snapper: This fish is also clean due to its fins and scales.

Leviticus 11:9-12 provides the criteria for clean sea animals:
“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. And 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, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination. Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.”

Birds

The Bible does not provide specific criteria for clean birds, but it lists certain birds that are clean, which are generally those that do not prey on others:

• Chicken: Chickens are considered clean.
• Doves: Often used in sacrifices, doves are clean.
• Quail: Quail are also listed as clean birds.
• Pigeons: Like doves, pigeons are clean and were used in sacrificial offerings.
• Partridge: This bird is considered clean.
• Pheasant: Another example of a clean bird.
• Duck: While not explicitly mentioned, ducks are often considered clean as they are not predators.
• Turkey: Similarly, turkeys are considered clean due to their non-predatory nature.

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

Insects

Some insects are considered clean, particularly those that have jointed legs for hopping.

• Locusts (Leviticus 11:22): “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.”
• Grasshoppers: Included in the list of clean insects.
• Crickets: Another example of a clean insect.

Unclean Animals in the Bible

Unclean animals are those that the Israelites were forbidden to eat. These animals often include predators, scavengers, and certain other species that do not meet the criteria for being clean.

Land Animals

Land animals that do not have both a divided hoof and chew the cud are considered unclean.

• Pigs (Leviticus 11:7): “And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.”
• Camels: Though they chew the cud, camels do not have divided hooves and are therefore unclean.
• Rabbits: Rabbits chew the cud but do not have divided hooves, making them unclean.
• Horses: Without divided hooves and not chewing the cud, horses are unclean.
• Donkeys: Similar to horses, donkeys are unclean.
• Lions: As predators, lions are unclean.
• Dogs: Dogs are considered unclean animals.
• Cats: Like dogs, cats are unclean due to their predatory nature.
• Bears: Bears are unclean animals.
• Wolves: As predators, wolves are considered unclean.
• Hyenas: Known for scavenging, hyenas are unclean.
• Rats: Rats are unclean due to their scavenging nature.
• Mice: Like rats, mice are unclean.

Sea Animals

Sea creatures that do not have both fins and scales are unclean.

• Shrimp: Without fins and scales, shrimp are unclean.
• Lobster: Lobsters are also considered unclean for the same reasons.
• Catfish: Though they have fins, the lack of scales makes catfish unclean.
• Crabs: Crabs are unclean due to the lack of fins and scales.
• Oysters: Without fins and scales, oysters are unclean.
• Clams: Similar to oysters, clams are unclean.
• Eels: Eels are considered unclean as they lack fins and scales.
• Octopus: Without fins and scales, octopus are unclean.
• Squid: Similar to octopus, squid are unclean.

Birds

Predatory and scavenging birds are considered unclean.

• Eagles (Leviticus 11:13): “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.”
• Vultures: Known for feeding on carrion, vultures are unclean.
• Ravens: As scavengers, ravens are also listed among unclean birds.
• Owls: Owls are considered unclean due to their predatory nature.
• Hawks: Predatory birds like hawks are unclean.
• Falcons: Similar to hawks, falcons are unclean.
• Seagulls: Often scavenging for food, seagulls are unclean.
• Storks: Storks are unclean due to their feeding habits.
• Herons: Like storks, herons are considered unclean.
• Bats: Though not a bird, bats are included in the list of unclean flying creatures.
• Crows: Scavengers like crows are considered unclean.

Insects

Most insects are considered unclean, with a few exceptions noted earlier.

• Flies: Common house flies are unclean.
• Beetles (excluding those that hop): Most beetles do not meet the criteria for clean insects.
• Spiders: As predators, spiders are unclean.
• Ants: Ants are considered unclean.
• Mosquitoes: Mosquitoes are unclean due to their feeding habits.
• Cockroaches: Known for scavenging, cockroaches are unclean.

Purpose of Dietary Laws

The dietary laws served several purposes in the context of ancient Israel:

1. Health Reasons: Some of the animals classified as unclean are known to carry diseases or parasites. Avoiding these animals would have contributed to better health outcomes.
2. Spiritual Reasons: Observing dietary laws was an act of obedience to God and a way to maintain ritual purity.
3. Social Separation: These laws helped to set the Israelites apart from other nations, reinforcing their identity as God’s chosen people.

Deuteronomy 14:2-3 emphasizes this point:
“For thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth. Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.”

Modern Interpretations and Applications

While these dietary laws were strictly observed in ancient times, their application in modern times varies among different religious groups. For example:

• Judaism: Many Jews still observe these dietary laws as part of kosher dietary practices.
• Christianity: Most Christians believe that these dietary restrictions were fulfilled and set aside through the teachings of Jesus Christ. Acts 10:15 states: “And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.”

Conclusion

Understanding the lists of clean and unclean animals in the Bible offers insight into the spiritual and practical lives of the ancient Israelites. These classifications were not merely dietary rules but were deeply tied to their identity and relationship with God. While interpretations and observances of these laws may differ today, the underlying principles of health, obedience, and distinction remain significant.

For those interested in studying these laws further, exploring the book of Leviticus and Deuteronomy provides a deeper understanding of the context and significance of these ancient dietary practices.