Bible Verses about Not Eating Pork

The Old Testament, where God gave the Israelites stringent dietary regulations, is where the Bible’s position on eating pork is mainly found. According to Deuteronomy 14:8 and Leviticus 11:7-8, pigs are unclean since they do not chew their cud, and their meat is not fit for human consumption. God’s covenant with Israel included these commandments, which distinguished them from other countries.

Jesus and the apostles in the New Testament took varied stances on the laws of eating. Acts 10:13–15 documents Peter’s vision in which God proclaimed all foods to be clean, while Mark 7:18–19 implies that what enters the body does not defile a person. This change emphasizes how Christ gave believers spiritual freedom by fulfilling the law.

Applying Biblical Teachings on Eating Pork Today

Even now, Christians continue to debate the issue of eating pork. Although eating pork is expressly forbidden in the Old Testament (Leviticus 11:7-8, Deuteronomy 14:8), the New Testament shows a change in eating habits. The admission of all foods and people into God’s kingdom was reflected by Peter’s vision in Acts 10:13–15, and Jesus stressed that spiritual cleanliness originates in the heart rather than via food (Mark 7:18–19).

For religious or health reasons, some Christians still abstain from pork, but others find freedom in Christ’s teachings. Respecting one’s own beliefs and consulting the Bible are crucial (Romans 14:3–4). In the end, the emphasis should be on honoring God in every area of life, regardless of whether one eats pork or abstains (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Bible Verses about Not Eating Pork

Leviticus 11:7-8 – “And the pig, though it has a divided hoof, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.”

Message: God gave dietary laws to the Israelites to set them apart as His holy people, teaching them obedience and purity.

Deuteronomy 14:8 – “The pig is also unclean; although it has a divided hoof, it does not chew the cud. You are not to eat their meat or touch their carcasses.”

Message: This command reinforced God’s law regarding clean and unclean foods, emphasizing the importance of following His instructions.

Isaiah 65:4 – “Who sit among the graves and spend their nights keeping secret vigil; who eat the flesh of pigs, and whose pots hold broth of impure meat.”

Message: This verse warns against engaging in practices that displease God, including eating unclean foods associated with idolatrous rituals.

Isaiah 66:17 – “Those who consecrate and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following one who is among those who eat the flesh of pigs, rats, and other unclean things—they will meet their end together,” declares the Lord.

Message: Eating unclean foods was linked to disobedience and idol worship, and God warned of judgment for those who ignored His commands.

Ezekiel 4:14 – “Then I said, ‘Not so, Sovereign Lord! I have never defiled myself. From my youth until now I have never eaten anything found dead or torn by wild animals. No impure meat has ever entered my mouth.’”

Message: Ezekiel’s devotion to dietary laws reflects his commitment to purity and obedience to God’s commands.

Matthew 5:17 – “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

Message: Jesus did not dismiss God’s laws but fulfilled them, offering a new covenant based on faith and grace.

Mark 7:18-19 – “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.”

Message: Jesus taught that spiritual purity is about the heart, not just dietary restrictions, shifting the focus from external laws to inner righteousness.

Acts 10:13-15 – “Then a voice told him, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’ ‘Surely not, Lord!’ Peter replied. ‘I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.’ The voice spoke to him a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’”

Message: This vision symbolized the inclusion of Gentiles in God’s kingdom and suggested a change in dietary restrictions.

Romans 14:3-4 – “The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them.”

Message: Paul emphasized that believers should not judge one another over food choices but focus on faith and unity.

1 Corinthians 10:31 – “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

Message: The ultimate principle for eating, including dietary choices, is to honor and glorify God in all things.

Genesis 7:2 – “Take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and one pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate.”

Message: Even before the Mosaic Law, God distinguished between clean and unclean animals, showing His concern for purity.

Genesis 9:3-4 – “Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything. But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.”

Message: After the flood, God allowed meat consumption, but specific dietary laws later refined what was clean and unclean.

Leviticus 20:25 – “You must therefore make a distinction between clean and unclean animals and between unclean and clean birds. Do not defile yourselves by any animal or bird or anything that moves along the ground—those that I have set apart as unclean for you.”

Message: God’s laws helped Israel maintain physical and spiritual purity by distinguishing between clean and unclean foods.

Deuteronomy 32:15 – “Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; filled with food, they became heavy and sleek. They abandoned the God who made them and rejected the Rock their Savior.”

Message: Overindulgence and ignoring God’s commands can lead people away from faith, highlighting the importance of obedience.

Isaiah 66:3 – “But whoever sacrifices a bull is like one who kills a person, and whoever offers a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever makes a grain offering is like one who presents pig’s blood; whoever burns memorial incense is like one who worships an idol. They have chosen their own ways, and they delight in their abominations.”

Message: God equated the offering of unclean things, like pig’s blood, with idolatry and disobedience, showing His standard of holiness.

Hosea 9:3 – “They will not remain in the Lord’s land; Ephraim will return to Egypt and eat unclean food in Assyria.”

Message: Israel’s disobedience led to exile, where they were forced to eat unclean foods, showing the consequences of turning away from God.

Daniel 1:8 – “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.”

Message: Daniel’s commitment to God’s dietary laws demonstrated his faith and trust in divine wisdom over worldly customs.

Matthew 15:11 – “What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”

Message: Jesus emphasized that true defilement comes from one’s words and actions, rather than from food restrictions.

Colossians 2:16-17 – “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration, or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”

Message: Paul taught that dietary laws were symbolic and pointed to a greater spiritual truth in Christ.

1 Timothy 4:4-5 – “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.”

Message: Under the new covenant, believers are free to eat all foods, as long as they do so with gratitude and prayer.

Summary

The prohibition against eating pork is mostly discussed in the Old Testament of the Bible, when God provided the Israelites dietary restrictions to help them distinguish between things that are clean and those that are not (Leviticus 11:7-8, Deuteronomy 14:8). The purpose of these regulations was to help God’s people become more holy, more obedient, and more unique. The notion that eating unclean food could be connected to impurity and disobedience was reaffirmed by prophets such as Hosea and Isaiah.

But in the New Testament, the emphasis was moved from food regulations to spiritual cleanliness by Jesus and the apostles. Scriptures like Mark 7:18–19 and Acts 10:15 highlight that God is more concerned with the state of the heart than with the food. Additionally, Paul emphasizes that all foods are appropriate in Colossians 2:16–17 and 1 Timothy 4:4-5.