Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Vegetarianism?
15 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Vegetarianism in the Bible
Discover 18 powerful Bible verses about vegetarianism. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential creation & nature topic.
Top 10 Verses About Vegetarianism
- 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
- 5
- 6Proverbs 15:17
“Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.”
KJV - 7Isaiah 11:6
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.”
KJV - 8Isaiah 65:25
“The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.”
KJV - 9Daniel 1:8
“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”
KJV - 10Daniel 1:12
“Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. pulse: Heb. of pulse to eat: Heb. that we may eat, etc”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Vegetarianism? (10 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.”
“But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.”
“And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,”
“Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.”
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.”
“The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.”
“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”
“Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. pulse: Heb. of pulse to eat: Heb. that we may eat, etc”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Vegetarianism? (5 Verses)
“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.”
“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”
“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.”
“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: in meat: or, for eating and drinking respect: or, part”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Vegetarianism
- 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 vegetarianism. 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 vegetarianism 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 vegetarianism 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 vegetarianism needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about vegetarianism 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 vegetarianism, 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 Vegetarianism?
You have studied 15 verses about vegetarianism. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.