What Does the Bible Say About Food?

Written By Mary Carter

Mary holds a degree in theology and she has a deep understanding of biblical texts. She works as an elementary school teacher in Alabama.

The Bible has quite a bit to say about food. It covers what’s okay to munch on and what might not be such a great idea. So, if you’re curious about God’s view on grub, stick around for a tasty tidbit of wisdom!

What’s on God’s Menu?

In the Bible, food isn’t just fuel; it’s also a way to connect with God. It all started back in the Garden of Eden when God gave Adam and Eve all the fruits, plants, and herbs for food. No burgers or pizza on the menu at that point!

Now, fast forward to the Old Testament, where you’ll find some dietary rules that might surprise you. Leviticus and Deuteronomy list out the clean and unclean animals. Clean animals were okay to chow down on, while unclean ones were a no-go.

But wait, there’s more! In the New Testament, Jesus himself talked about food. He said, “It is not what goes into your mouth that defiles you, but what comes out of it.” So, according to Jesus, it’s not about what’s on your plate, but what’s in your heart.

The Top 10 Bible Verses on Food

  1. Genesis 9:3: “Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.”
  1. Leviticus 11:1-4: “The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Say to the Israelites: “Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat…”‘” (Leviticus goes on to list the clean and unclean animals.)
  1. 1 Corinthians 10:31: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
  1. 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.”
  1. 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.”
  1. 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.'”
  1. Romans 14:2-3: “One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 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.”
  1. Proverbs 23:20-21: “Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.”
  1. Daniel 1:12: “Please test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink.”
  1. Luke 24:41-43: “And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.”
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So there you have it, a taste of what the Bible says about food. It’s not just about what’s on your plate, but how you approach it with gratitude and respect for God’s creations. Hungry for more? Stay tuned for further servings of biblical wisdom!