Dietary Laws in the Old Testament

Because food goes into a person’s body, it is an important cause of impurity according to the Bible. The food laws indicate which food is unclean and therefore must not be eaten by the Israelites.

The majority of the dietary laws are recorded in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14:3-21. However, the book of Genesis also contains rules about food (the covenant with Noah; Genesis 7:2-8; Genesis 8:20).

Related Bible passages

Genesis 7.2 Genesis 7.8 Genesis 8.20 Leviticus 11 Deuteronomy 14.3 - Deuteronomy 14.21

Religion of Israel

Clean and Unclean

Clean and Unclean: Impurity of Objects

Clean and Unclean: Impurity of Persons

Clean and Unclean: Impurity of Places

Clean and Unclean: Moral Significance

Clean and Unclean: The Origin of the Biblical Purity Laws

Dietary Laws in the Old Testament

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