Complete Bible Study Guide

What Does the Bible Say About Eating Meat?

8 Scripture references with full text and commentary

Understanding Eating Meat in the Bible

What does the Bible say about eating meat? Browse 11 carefully selected verses that illuminate this biblical theme.

8
Total Verses
4
Old Testament
4
New Testament

Top 8 Verses About Eating Meat

  1. 1
    Genesis 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
  2. 2
    Genesis 9:3
    Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
    KJV
  3. 3
    Leviticus 11:1
    And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,
    KJV
  4. 4
    Deuteronomy 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
  5. 5
    Mark 7:19
    Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?
    KJV
  6. 6
    Romans 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
  7. 7
    Romans 14:2
    For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
    KJV
  8. 8
    Romans 14:21
    It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
    KJV

Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Eating Meat? (4 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
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,
Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.

New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Eating Meat? (4 Verses)

Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?
Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. not: or, not to judge his doubtful thoughts
For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

How to Study What the Bible Says About Eating Meat

  1. 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. 2

    Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about eating meat. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.

  3. 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. 4

    Memorise at least one key verse about eating meat 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 meat 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 meat needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.

  • Share what you have learned about eating meat 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 meat, 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 Meat?

You have studied 8 verses about eating meat. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Bible say about eating meat?
What does the Bible say about eating meat? Browse 11 carefully selected verses that illuminate this biblical theme. The Bible contains 8 key verses about eating meat spanning both Old and New Testaments.
How many Bible verses about eating meat are there?
There are 8 key Bible verses about eating meat compiled in this study guide, drawn from books across both the Old and New Testaments.
What is the best verse about eating meat?
One of the most well-known and frequently cited verses about eating meat is Genesis 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 ..."
Where in the Bible does it talk about eating meat?
Eating Meat is discussed throughout the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. You can find 8 references to this topic across multiple books including the Psalms, Proverbs, the Gospels, and the Epistles.

Continue Studying Eating Meat