Board index ‹ Specific Bible verses, texts, and passages ‹ Leviticus

[Silver Spoon]

Did at one point God tell us that eating shellfish was sinful?

[jimwalton]

Leviticus 11.9-12 tells the Israelites they can eat fish that have fins and scales, but not those that don't have fins or scales, including shellfish. These are labeled as detestable; an abomination. Jacob Milgrom, American Jewish Bible scholar, says, "Abomination refers to animals whose ingestion is forbidden but which does not pollute, whereas impure refers to animals that, in addition, pollute by contact." So shellfish are forbidden, but they don't pollute or create ritual impurities.

No one in the modern world knows the logic behind the food rules of Leviticus 11. There are as many theories as there are theorists as to why various animals fall into various categories, including hygiene and health, avoiding pagan practices, and stuff like that. It explains some of it, but not all. We know that the whole book of Leviticus is how we are supposed to be holy (separated unto God) and v. 45 tells us that's what this chapter is about. The best reasons that have been offered are (1) generally the animals that were OK to eat were animals that could be sacrificed to God, and the ones that weren't allowed weren't able to be sacrificed, so there's some connection with taking into our lives what connects us with God, and avoiding what doesn't, (2) teaching reverence for the sanctity of life, so we aren't to eat animals that were predatory carnivores, and (3) association of God with life and wholeness, and not death, and therefore not allowed to eat animals that were scavengers. Most likely there is more than one uniting theme in why these animals were "clean" or "unclean," possibly all of what I mentioned and more. In the New Testament, specifically Peter's vision in Acts 10, these rules were used as an illustration about non-Jews being able to be believers in Christ without having to become Jews.

I'm curious: What's behind your question?