KASHRUT

Abrahamic or Jewish dietary laws (called kashrut) are found in the Old Testament mainly in Leviticus - Chapter 11.

Leviticus is third among the five books (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) included in the Laws of Moses (Torah or Taurat Musa). The chapter warns and forbids practitioners of Judaism (Jews) from eating certain types of unclean animals/creatures for foods (hence for Jewish-Kosher-foods). In its strict application, the instruction also forbids direct contact between physical body and/or attires with carcasses of unclean animals/creatures.

The types of unclean animals and creatures are mentioned in verses 13 to 46 of the said chapter. Based on the descriptions in the verses, lists of unclean animals and creatures including their kinds below are found and taken from an internet-search (Reference: www.biblestudy.org/cleanfood.html).  

Types of Swine :Boar, Peccary, Pig (hog, bacon, ham, lard, pork, most sausage and pepperoni) Types of Canine - Coyote, Dog, Fox, Hyena, Jackal, Wolf, Types of Feline: Cat, cheetah, leopard, Lion, Panther, Tiger, Types of Equine: Donkey (ass), Horse, Mule, Onager, Zebra (quagga) Others: Armadillo Badger, Bat, Bear. Beaver, Camel, Elephant, Gorilla, Groundhog, Hippopotamus, Kangaroo, Llama (alpaca, vicuña), Mole, Monkey, Mouse, Muskrat, Opossum, Porcupine, Rabbit (hare), Raccoon, Rat, Rhinoceros, Skunk, Slug, Snail (escargot), Squirrel, Wallaby, Weasel, Wolverine, Worm, All insects except some in the locust family.  Marine Animals wthout Fins and Scales: (i) Fish: Bullhead, Catfish, Eel, European Turbot, Marlin, Paddlefish, Shark, Stickleback, Squid, Sturgeon (includes most caviar), Swordfish,  (ii) Shellfish – Abalone, Clam, Conch, Crab, Crayfish (crawfish, crawdad), Lobster, Mussel, Oyster, Scallop, Shrimp (prawn), (iii) Soft body – Cuttlefish, Jellyfish, Limpet, Octopus, Squid (calamari)   Sea mammals: Dolphin, Otter, Porpoise, Seal, Walrus, Whale Birds of Prey, Scavengers and Others: Albatross, Bittern, Buzzard, Condor, Coot, Cormorant, Crane, Crow, Cuckoo, Eagle, Flamingo, Heron, Kite,  Lapwing, Loon, Magpie, Osprey, Ostrich, Owl, Parrot, Pelican, Penguin, Plover, Rail, Raven, Roadrunner, Sandpiper, Seagull, Stork, Swallow, Swift, Vulture, Water hen, Woodpecker Reptiles: Alligator, Caiman, Crocodile, Lizard, Snake, Turtle Amphibians: Blindworm, Frog, Newt, Salamander, Toad.

Apparently from the lists, it can be seen that the biological habitats and the natural feeding-characteristics of those animals and creatures are unclean. Thus hygiene is valid reason for the ‘khasrut’ against eating meats and foods from the unclean animals and creatures.

Two Significances

(i) Consuming meats and foods from the unclean animals/creatures including physical contacts with their carcasses makes practitioners of Judaism (Jews) ceremoniously unclean. Because of bodily uncleanliness they are forbidden to participate in worship unless they clean themselves accordingly. It follows that physically-clean bodies (free from contamination, sickness and/or infections) makes worshippers ceremoniously clean and holy in their worship of God for God is holy. Nonetheless, the chapter does not say that ceremoniously unclean believers are sinful or rejected by God.

(ii) The chapter is a picture of many intentional or accidental occurrences which contaminate and disqualify believers in worshipping holy God. The emphasis is believers must be well-prepared, be cleaned and holy (conduct-wise) in worshipping God for God is holy.

New Testament Concept of “bodily uncleanliness”

The New Testament teaches that “bodily uncleanliness” is not a religious restriction to appear in worship before God. Jesus clearly says what defile man before God is not what he eats but man’s heart and what comes out of his mouth:

“and He said:’ Are you lacking in understanding also? Do you understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated? But the things that proceed out of the mouth came from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; ....’”(Matt.15:16-20) (See also Mark 7:18-23)

The crux of Jesus’ teaching about being right with God is beyond Pharisee-taught physical and ceremonious cleanliness. At the same time Jesus did not abolish the restrictions on eating unclean foods.  

How does Leviticus Chapter 11 apply to Christians today?

This is an interesting question to discuss. To my personal knowledge, Seventh Day Adventist is one particular denomination of Christianity which observes food laws described in the chapter.

In the New Testament in Acts - Chapter 10 (verses 12 to 15), by Peter’s vision it is written: “....there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the airs ..... A voice came to him: “Arise, Peter, kill and eat!’... by no means, Lord I have never eaten things unholy and unclean .. the voice came to him again a second time: “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.”

Depending on situation as one-man's food may be  another-man's poision. As for many Christians, taking “unclean” meats and foods (described in chapter 11) is not an issue but a choice through faith and by “prayer of sanctification in Jesus’ name. Amen!”

By man, the tendency to look at holiness is greater ceremoniously through external look including intake of foods and drinks. How can a man be holy from the outside when the inside is infested with much thoughts of filthiness?"..For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. ...."

The greatest reminder is what Jesus said (in Matt.15:16-20 and Mark 7:18-23). What defiles man is not come in and through his mouth, but what comes out from the mouth.