The Bible does touch on the topic of eating insects, particularly in the Old Testament. Levitical laws specify which insects are considered clean and thus permissible to eat. Generally, these include certain types of locusts, crickets, and grasshoppers. This dietary guideline reflects God’s care for the health and well-being of His people, providing them with instructions that ensured their diet was beneficial. Eating insects might seem odd from a modern Western perspective, but many cultures around the world view them as a valuable source of protein. The Bible’s mention of John the Baptist eating locusts and wild honey in the wilderness shows that consuming insects was part of his diet, further illustrating the cultural and historical context of biblical times.
Intrigued by the biblical perspective on eating insects? Let’s dive deeper into what Scripture says and the significance behind these dietary laws.
What Does the Bible Say About Eating Insects?
In the Bible, the dietary laws given to the Israelites in the Old Testament, specifically in Leviticus and Deuteronomy, include guidelines on what could and could not be eaten. Among the permitted foods, certain insects, particularly some types of locusts, crickets, and grasshoppers, are classified as clean and therefore edible. These laws were part of the broader Levitical code that governed the Israelites’ diet, health, and ceremonial cleanliness.
The inclusion of insects in the diet reflects both practical and spiritual considerations. From a practical standpoint, insects like locusts were a readily available food source in the desert and wilderness regions where the Israelites lived and traveled. They provided essential nutrients in a diet that was often limited by the availability of other food sources.
Spiritually, the dietary laws were a means of setting the Israelites apart from surrounding nations. By following these laws, they demonstrated obedience to God and a commitment to living as His chosen people. The laws about clean and unclean foods were part of a broader covenant relationship with God, which included moral, ceremonial, and social laws.
In the New Testament, the emphasis shifts from ceremonial laws to matters of faith and the heart. Jesus declared all foods clean, emphasizing that it’s not what enters the body that defiles a person, but what comes from the heart. This teaching opened the door for a new understanding of purity, one based on internal rather than external observance.
However, the New Testament also addresses the issue of eating foods that may cause others to stumble in their faith. In this context, the principle of love and consideration for the conscience of others guides dietary choices, suggesting that while all foods may be permissible, not all are beneficial in every situation.
Overall, the Bible’s perspective on eating insects, like other dietary guidelines, points to a God who cares for the physical and spiritual well-being of His people. These laws were given within a specific cultural and historical context but continue to offer principles of health, obedience, and consideration for others that are relevant today.
Bible Verses About Eating Insects
- Leviticus 11:21-22 – “Yet these you may eat of every flying insect that walks on all fours: those which have jointed legs above their feet with which to leap on the earth. These you may eat: the locust after its kind, the destroying locust after its kind, the cricket after its kind, and the grasshopper after its kind.” This passage clearly outlines which insects are considered clean and permissible to eat according to Levitical law.
- Mark 7:18-19 – “And He said to them, ‘Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?’ (Thus He declared all foods clean.)” Jesus’ teaching here marks a shift from the Old Testament dietary laws, emphasizing inner purity over external adherence to dietary restrictions.
- Matthew 3:4 – “John the Baptist wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.” This verse illustrates that eating locusts was part of the diet of John the Baptist, reflecting the dietary practices of the time.
- Acts 10:13-15 – “And a voice came to him: ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat!’ But Peter said, ‘By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.’ Again a voice came to him a second time, ‘What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.’” This vision given to Peter further reinforces the New Testament teaching that all foods are clean in God’s view, emphasizing the inclusivity of the Gospel.
- Romans 14:14-15 – “I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.” Paul addresses the issue of dietary choices within the Christian community, urging believers to consider the impact of their freedom on others.
- 1 Corinthians 8:8-9 – “But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.” Here, Paul emphasizes that while all foods may be permissible, the key consideration for believers should be love and sensitivity towards the conscience of others within the community of faith.
- 1 Corinthians 10:23-24 – “‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.” This passage further elaborates on the principle of using our freedom wisely, especially in matters of eating and drinking, to benefit and not harm others.
- 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.” Paul advises the Colossians not to let external practices, including dietary regulations, define their faith, pointing to the substance of faith in Christ beyond the shadows of the law.
- Romans 14:17 – “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” This verse puts dietary practices into perspective, highlighting that the essence of God’s kingdom transcends physical consumption and is rooted in spiritual realities.
- Galatians 5:1 – “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” While not specifically about diet, this verse encapsulates the broader New Testament theme of living in the freedom won by Christ, which includes freedom from legalistic adherence to dietary laws.
These verses offer a comprehensive biblical perspective on the topic of eating, including insects, underlining the shift from Old Testament dietary laws to New Testament principles of freedom, love, and consideration for others. In essence, while the Bible provides specific guidelines for the Israelites, the overarching message for Christians today is to exercise freedom with wisdom and love, ensuring our choices glorify God and edify others.