Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Eating Animals?
10 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Eating Animals in the Bible
What does the Bible say about eating animals? Browse 10 carefully selected verses that illuminate this biblical theme.
Top 10 Verses About Eating Animals
- 1Genesis 1:29
“And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. bearing: Heb. seeding seed yielding: Heb. seeding seed”
KJV - 2Genesis 1:30
“And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life , I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. life: Heb. a living soul”
KJV - 3Genesis 9:3
“Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.”
KJV - 4
- 5Leviticus 11:2
“Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.”
KJV - 6Deuteronomy 14:1
“Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.”
KJV - 7Proverbs 12:10
“A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. tender: or, bowels”
KJV - 8Mark 7:19
“Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?”
KJV - 9Acts 10:9
“On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:”
KJV - 10Romans 14:1
“Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. not: or, not to judge his doubtful thoughts”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Eating Animals? (7 Verses)
“And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. bearing: Heb. seeding seed yielding: Heb. seeding seed”
“And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life , I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. life: Heb. a living soul”
“Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.”
“And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,”
“Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.”
“Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.”
“A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. tender: or, bowels”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Eating Animals? (3 Verses)
“Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?”
“On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:”
“Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. not: or, not to judge his doubtful thoughts”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Eating Animals
- 1
Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.
- 2
Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about eating animals. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
- 3
Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.
- 4
Memorise at least one key verse about eating animals and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.
Practical Application
Studying what the Bible says about eating animals is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:
Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on eating animals needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about eating animals with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.
Pray through the key verses about eating animals, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.
How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Eating Animals?
You have studied 10 verses about eating animals. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.