Clean Fish, easy peasy, right?! Pleasing Yehovah in this area of our life is not hard. Things that come from the water that have fins and scales are the only ones He considers “clean” or “tahor.”
Yehovah says that the things Israel eats which come from the waters must have fins and scales. It takes a lifetime to know Yehovah and become as holy as he is. We must not only learn and follow His ways, but also understand and adopt His attitudes. Why does the One who made everything think we eat things from the water that weren’t meant to be eaten?
To the “Christian Church” this is a picture. They think they are right with God and can do and eat whatever they want. Yehovah says they are smoke in His nostrils! Does that sound like something pleasing to Him?.
What Are Clean and Unclean Animals? We learned that eating swine (pig, hog, pork) and foods made from them (bacon, ham, lard, most sausage, and pepperoni) don’t follow or support Yehovah’s law on earth, so they are thought to be unclean [tamei] because they don’t chew their cud and have split hooves. Yehovah uses these two traits to tell the difference between animals that are clean [tahor] and do represent Him in the world and those that don’t.
About 200 people and I were served a white fish for dinner during Sukkot that turned out to be a catfish. Yehovah says this kind of fish is evil and should not be eaten. When I found out what we had eaten, I almost threw up right there at the table. I then had the worst night’s sleep of my time there because I kept thinking about all the other horrible food I might have been given. What I eat is important to me because I love God and want to be a good person in the world, even through what I eat. I will always choose not to eat or do something that He calls an abomination.
In Hebrew the word being translated as “abomination” is ש×קץ (sheh’-kets). Jeff Benner in His Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible says,.
If someone says they love the Elohim (the one who makes the rules and judges) of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, why would they ever want to do something that He says is ·¤¥ (sheh’-kets)?
The Scaly Truth Do Shrimp Have Fins or Scales?
As a seafood lover, I’ve often wondered about shrimp anatomy and why the Bible considers them unclean. Shrimp don’t seem to have obvious fins or scales, so what’s the deal? In this article, we’ll take a close look at shrimp physiology to determine if they truly have fins and scales or not.
Shrimp are Crustaceans Not Fish
First it’s important to note that shrimp are not fish at all. They belong to the subphylum Crustacea along with lobsters, crabs and crayfish. This means anatomically they are quite distinct from bony or cartilaginous fishes.
Instead of scales, shrimp have an external exoskeleton made of a material called chitin. This tough covering provides protection, structure, and defense. Underneath lies the shrimp body and soft internal organs.
Externally shrimp have a curved shape, long whisker-like antennae, stalked eyes, and five pairs of swimming legs. The front two pairs have claws used for feeding and defense. Shrimp are perfectly adapted for aquatic life.
The Anatomy of Fins and Scales in Fish
In contrast, fish have fins for locomotion and steering along with scales covering their skin. Fins are appendages made of bony spines, rays and connective tissue. They attach to muscles that control fin movements.
Fish scales are small, overlapping plates that grow from the dermis layer of skin. They contain bone-like cells and keratin and protect the fish from predators, parasites and abrasion.
What Does The Bible Say About Fins and Scales?
In Leviticus 11:9-12, God speaks to Moses and Aaron saying:
“These you may eat of all that are in the waters. Everything in the waters that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat. But anything in the seas or the rivers that has not fins and scales, of the swarming creatures in the waters and of the living creatures that are in the waters, is detestable to you.”
This establishes fins and scales as a criteria for ritually clean foods from the water. Any water creatures lacking both fins and scales were considered unclean or “detestable.”
So according to these Biblical guidelines, shrimp would be among the unclean foods since they lack true fins and scales. Only fish with both fins and scales were approved for eating.
Other Unclean Water Creatures
In addition to shrimp, several other water creatures would be considered unclean based on the fins and scales rule:
- Lobsters, crabs, crayfish – No fins or scales
- Mollusks like clams, oysters, mussels – No fins or scales
- Cephalopods including squid and octopus – No fins or scales
- Turtle, frogs, toads – Have scales but no true fins
So anything without fins and scales would be off limits according to these dietary restrictions. Of course, Christians today are no longer bound by these ceremonial regulations.
Why Did These Restrictions Exist?
Scholars have theorized several reasons behind the Old Testament dietary restrictions:
- Health reasons – Avoiding disease or toxicity
- Spiritual reasons – Ritual cleanliness
- Cultural identity – Setting Israelites apart
By avoiding scavengers and other “unclean” animals, Israelites decreased disease risks. The regulations also fostered an identity unique to their culture.
Ultimately these laws served as rituals reminding Israelites of their covenant with God. Only later did Christ’s sacrifice enable all foods to be made clean as illustrated in Peter’s vision in Acts 10.
Can Shrimp Be Considered Clean Today?
Based on Mark 7:19, Christians today can feel free to eat any food, stating:
“Thus he declared all foods clean.”
So although shrimp and other creatures lacking fins and scales were unclean under Mosaic law, Christ’s coming fulfilled the old covenant allowing all foods to be sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
As 1 Corinthians 10:25 states:
“Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience.”
So the restrictions placed on God’s people under the old covenant no longer apply after Christ’s sacrifice. Shrimp can now be received as clean.
Should Christians Still Avoid Unclean Foods?
While dietary restrictions may no longer be in effect spiritually, some Christians still avoid pork, shellfish and other unclean foods for health or personal reasons.
Your body is a temple, so it can be beneficial to make wise food choices and be aware of toxins. But most importantly, no foods should be seen as off limits or defiling in Christ. As Romans 14:14 declares:
“I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.”
So while shrimp lack fins and scales, they can still be part of a Christian diet in the new covenant of grace. The old law was but a shadow of the freedom we now have in Christ.
The Bottom Line
After closely examining their anatomy, it’s clear shrimp do not have true fins or scales like fish. Levitically they would be considered unclean. However, Christians are no longer under this old covenant so all foods can be received with thanksgiving.
Rather than prohibited, shrimp and shellfish can be seen as gifts from God to delight our tastebuds. Their delicious flavor is worth celebrating! So enjoy your shrimp cocktail or scampi guilt-free, and thank the Lord for such sumptuous treats from the sea.
Fins And Scales Makes It Easy
Easy peasy, right?! Pleasing Yehovah in this area of our life is not rocket science. Like the four-legged beasts, the behemoth of the earth, the fish that Yehovah’s people are to eat should come from living things, not from the bottom of the sea, lakes, and rivers, where dead bodies and filth pile up. The garbage cans of the waters are primarily shell-fish and other fish that dwell at their bottoms.
Here is one list of fish that can be used to honor the Creator in the earth, and here is another list of fish that His people should not eat. Hope this helps you.
Clean Fish Must Haves Fins And Scales
The Creator says that aquatic animals that are good for food must have both fins and scales, just like the animals that live on land (the behemoths).
Is Eating Shrimp a SIN? || What does the Bible say?
Can you eat shrimp without a scale?
The Bible is clear about what we should and shouldn’t eat. All fins are clean, but all shellfish have no scales, so they’re unclean – including shrimp, prawns, lobster scallops, mussels, oysters, squid octopus, crabs, and other shellfish. The only animal with both a scale AND fin (to make it easier)is humanity! Why Is Shrimp Unclean?
Do shrimp have scales?
All fins are clean, but all shellfish have no scales, so they’re unclean – including shrimp, prawns, lobster scallops, mussels, oysters, squid octopus, crabs, and other shellfish. The only animal with both a scale AND fin (to make it easier)is humanity! Why Is Shrimp Unclean? Do shrimps have scales?
Do shrimps have fins?
No, shrimps do not have fins. While fins are a common characteristic of many aquatic animals, such as fish and dolphins, shrimps have adapted to swim without them. Instead, they rely on their belly and tail muscles to propel themselves through the water. One reason shrimps don’t have fins is because of their body structure.
Do all fish have fins?
All fish species have fins, but not all fish kinds have scales. Scales are a protective outer layer covering the fish’s body and help protect it from predators and parasites. However, not all fish have scales because some fish live in habitats where scales would be ineffective – for example, fish that live in deep water or tropical climates.