For hundreds of years, religious leaders and scholars have talked about and argued about the dietary rules in the Bible. In particular, many people are interested in the question of whether or not it is okay to eat shrimp. This article will look at what the Bible says about eating shrimp and what it says about other food restrictions as well.
Eating shrimp and other shellfish is a controversial topic for Christians On one hand, several Old Testament verses seem to clearly prohibit it. On the other, the New Testament teaches that Christians are not bound by the Old Testament law. So what’s the real story – does the Bible forbid eating shrimp or not? Let’s take a detailed look
Old Testament Prohibitions
There are four primary passages in the Old Testament that forbid eating shrimp and other shellfish:
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Leviticus 11:9-12 – This passage outlines which sea creatures are “clean” vs. “unclean.” It specifically says that anything without fins or scales in the seas or rivers is detestable and not to be eaten. This includes shrimp, lobster, crab, oysters and others.
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Deuteronomy 14 9-10 – Basically a repeat of the Leviticus passage, it says you may eat anything from the water with fins and scales, but anything else is unlawful
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Isaiah 65:4 – While not specifically about shellfish, this verse chastises people who eat “pig’s flesh” and “broth of tainted meat.” Many understand this is a broad condemnation of eating non-kosher foods like pork and shellfish.
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Isaiah 66:16-17 – Another symbolic chastisement saying God will slay those who “eat swine’s flesh” and “unclean things like mice.” Again understood as including all biblical unclean foods.
Why were shellfish prohibited in the Old Testament?
The Old Testament does not give a specific reason why shellfish are prohibited. However, we can infer a few possible reasons:
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Health – Shellfish are scavengers that often carry diseases and toxins harmful to humans if not thoroughly cooked. God may have prohibited shellfish to protect the Israelites’ health.
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Ritual purity – Eating shellfish and touching their dead bodies made one ceremonially unclean. God wanted Israelites to maintain ritual purity for worship.
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Separation – Dietary restrictions like avoiding shellfish helped separate the Israelites from pagan societies around them. This strengthened cultural identity and allegiance to God.
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Obedience – Ultimately, the reason was because God said so. Following God’s commands showed love, trust and obedience even when there wasn’t a clear rational reason.
Did Jesus change the rules about eating shellfish?
While the Old Testament clearly prohibits eating shellfish, the New Testament brings some changes in how God’s laws apply to Christians. There are several relevant passages:
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Matthew 15:11 – Jesus says it’s not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of their heart. Many understand this as declaring all foods clean under the New Covenant.
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Acts 10 – Peter has a vision of God declaring all foods clean and telling him not to call unclean what God has made clean. Soon after, Peter preaches the Gospel to Gentiles, showing God opening salvation to all people.
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1 Timothy 4:4 – Says everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.
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Colossians 2:16 – Therefore don’t let anyone judge you about what you eat or drink. The Old Testament food laws were a shadow of Christ, but now we have the reality in Jesus.
Different perspectives among Christians today
Given these biblical passages, there are a few common perspectives among Christians today:
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Shellfish are permitted – This view believes the New Testament makes it clear all foods are clean under grace. Christians can freely eat shellfish and pork without restriction.
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Still prohibited – Some believe God never changes and His commands are eternal. Christians should still avoid shellfish and Old Testament unclean foods to honor God.
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Personal choice – Other Christians avoid shellfish and pork not because they must, but to maintain health or keep cultural tradition. They still believe scripture permits them.
4 key points to remember
To summarize this overview of the Bible on eating shrimp, here are the 4 key points:
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- The Old Testament Law clearly prohibits eating shrimp and shellfish, labeling them an abomination.
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- The New Testament declares all foods clean and places no dietary restriction on Christians.
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- Perspectives differ on whether shellfish are now permitted or still prohibited for believers.
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- Each Christian must carefully study the scriptures and follow their personal convictions before God.
While reasonable biblical arguments can be made on both sides, there is no doubt Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament law. He gives us freedom from strict dietary regulations, though we should still honor God and show consideration for others with how we exercise that freedom. Ultimately God cares more about the condition of our heart than what food goes into our mouth.
So what do you think – does the Bible prohibit eating shrimp or are Christians free to enjoy those tasty crustaceans? Carefully consider the scriptures and let the Word of God lead you to a conclusion. But also remember to show grace and not judgment towards fellow believers who may come to a different understanding.
Can Christians eat pork?
Yes, Christians are generally allowed to eat pork. The Israelites were told not to eat pork as part of their dietary laws in the Old Testament. However, the New Testament gives a different view.
As Jesus says in Mark 7:14–23, what makes someone unclean is not what goes into their mouth, but what comes out of their heart. This suggests that Jesus relaxed the dietary restrictions of the Old Testament.
Additionally, in Acts 10, Peter sees a vision in which God says all foods are clean, even pork. People see this vision as a sign that the Old Testament rules about what Christians can and cannot eat no longer apply to them. The early Christian leaders made a decision in Acts 15 called the “apostolic decree” that confirmed that non-Jewish people who became Christians did not have to follow the Jewish dietary laws, such as the rule that they could not eat pork.
Because of this, most Christians today don’t follow the dietary rules in the Old Testament, and pork is commonly eaten without any religious restrictions.
It’s important to keep in mind, though, that different Christians or Christian groups may have their own dietary practices or restrictions based on how they understand biblical teachings or their own personal beliefs. When it comes to specific dietary practices in a Christian setting, it’s always best to talk to your own faith tradition or spiritual leaders.
What Does the Bible Say About Eating Shrimp Really?
The Old Testament contains a variety of dietary laws that were given to the Israelites by God. These laws are explained in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. They say that you can’t eat certain kinds of meat, like pork and shellfish.
Only fish with fins and scales was thought to be clean enough to eat when it came to seafood. Shellfish, including shrimp, were deemed unclean and therefore prohibited.
Historically, these dietary laws were significant in helping the Israelites distinguish themselves from other cultures and religions. Some researchers also think that the dietary laws were good for the Israelites’ health because some foods were more likely to be contaminated or make them sick.
In the New Testament, Jesus teachings on dietary restrictions are more flexible than those in the Old Testament. As Jesus says in Mark 7:14–23, what makes someone unclean is not what goes into their mouth, but what comes out of their heart. This suggests that Jesus is more concerned with inner purity than outward adherence to dietary laws.
Still, early Christians didn’t all agree on whether or not to follow the dietary rules in the Old Testament. In Acts 15, the apostles and elders got together to talk about this problem. They decided that non-Jews who became Christians did not have to follow the Jewish dietary rules. This choice was made because they believe that faith in Jesus alone saves people, not following strict diets.
Different interpretations of the Bibles dietary laws exist today among Jewish and Christian communities. Orthodox Jews, for example, still follow the dietary rules set out in the Old Testament, but many Christians think that these rules were taken away when Jesus came.
Modern Christians may also choose to follow certain dietary rules, like vegetarianism or veganism, for moral or health reasons. Ultimately, the Bibles teachings on dietary restrictions emphasize the importance of inner purity and obedience to Gods will.