The Best 50+ Bible Verses About Eating Meat

Eating meat has been a topic of discussion for centuries, and the Bible offers a wealth of verses on the subject. This article compiles 50 Bible verses that touch on various aspects of eating meat.

Whether you're curious about dietary laws, moral considerations, or simply seeking spiritual guidance, these verses provide a comprehensive look at what the Bible says about meat consumption. Let's explore these passages to gain a deeper understanding.

50 Bible Verses About Eating Meat

10 Bible Verses on Eating Meat and Faith

• "For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables." — Romans 14:2
• "For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer." — 1 Timothy 4:4-5
• "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." — 1 Corinthians 10:31
• "Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them." — Hebrews 13:9
• "Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man." — Matthew 15:11
• "And a voice came to him, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat.' But Peter said, 'Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.' And a voice spoke to him again the second time, 'What God has cleansed you must not call common.'" — Acts 10:13-15
• "But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse." — 1 Corinthians 8:8
• "For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." — Romans 14:17
• "So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ." — Colossians 2:16-17
• "Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy." — 1 Timothy 6:17

10 Bible Verses on Eating Meat in Context

• "Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs." — Genesis 9:3
• "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'These are the animals which you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth: Among the animals, whatever divides the hoof, having cloven hooves and chewing the cud—that you may eat.'" — Leviticus 11:2-3
• "However, you may slaughter and eat meat within all your gates, whatever your heart desires, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you; the unclean and the clean may eat of it, of the gazelle and the deer alike." — Deuteronomy 12:15
• "That you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell." — Acts 15:29
• "If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience' sake." — 1 Corinthians 10:27
• "So He said to them, 'Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?'" — Mark 7:18-19
• "And whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who eats any blood, I will set My face against that person who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul." — Leviticus 17:10-11
• "You shall not eat any detestable thing. These are the animals which you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat..." — Deuteronomy 14:3-4
• "Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves, to go to the gardens after an idol in the midst, eating swine's flesh and the abomination and the mouse, shall be consumed together," says the Lord." — Isaiah 66:17
• "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." — Matthew 26:29

10 Bible Verses on Eating Meat and Thanksgiving

• "He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the service of man, that he may bring forth food from the earth, and wine that makes glad the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread which strengthens man's heart." — Psalm 104:14-15
• "Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth." — 1 Timothy 4:3
• "While you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God." — 2 Corinthians 9:11
• "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." — Philippians 4:19
• "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." — Colossians 3:17
• "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." — 1 Thessalonians 5:18
• "Who gives food to all flesh, for His mercy endures forever." — Psalm 136:25
• "Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes." — Matthew 14:19
• "And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted." — John 6:11
• "So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence." — Luke 24:42-43

10 Bible Verses on Eating Meat and Dietary Laws

• "And the swine, though it divides the hoof, having cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud, is unclean to you." — Leviticus 11:7
• "And you may eat every animal with cloven hooves, having the hoof split into two parts, and that chews the cud, among the animals." — Deuteronomy 14:6
• "Then he said to them, 'You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.'" — Acts 10:28
• "I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean." — Romans 14:14
• "Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body." — 1 Corinthians 6:13
• "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage." — Galatians 5:1
• "There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man." — Mark 7:15
• "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth." — 1 Timothy 4:1-3
• "Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense." — Romans 14:20
• "You shall therefore distinguish between clean animals and unclean, between unclean birds and clean, and you shall not make yourselves abominable by beast or by bird, or by any kind of living thing that creeps on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean." — Leviticus 20:25

10 Bible Verses on Eating Meat in Fellowship

• "So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart." — Acts 2:46
• "Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God." — Romans 15:7
• "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?" — 1 Corinthians 10:16
• "Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper. For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you." — 1 Corinthians 11:20-22
• "That you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." — Luke 22:30
• "Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight." — Acts 20:7
• "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body.'" — Matthew 26:26
• "Jesus said to them, 'Come and eat breakfast.' Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, 'Who are You?'—knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish." — John 21:12-13
• "Be hospitable to one another without grumbling." — 1 Peter 4:9
• "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." — Hebrews 10:24-25

What Does the Bible Say About Eating Meat

The Bible offers a lot of guidance on eating meat, touching on various aspects like faith, context, thanksgiving, dietary laws, and fellowship. These teachings can help us understand how to approach our dietary choices with a sense of spirituality and community. Let's explore some key themes from the verses provided above.

One major theme is faith. The Bible encourages us to eat with a clear conscience and to give thanks for what we have. For instance, Romans 14:2 talks about how one person may eat all things while another eats only vegetables. This shows that our faith can guide our dietary choices, and we should respect each other's decisions.

Another important theme is thanksgiving. Verses like 1 Timothy 4:3 remind us that God created food to be received with gratitude. When we eat, we should do so with a thankful heart, recognizing the blessings we have. This attitude of gratitude can make our meals more meaningful and spiritually enriching.

Dietary laws also play a significant role. The Bible provides specific guidelines on what is clean and unclean, as seen in Leviticus 11:7. These laws were given to help people live healthier lives and to maintain a sense of holiness. While some of these laws may not apply today, they still offer valuable lessons on mindful eating.

Lastly, eating meat in fellowship is highlighted in the Bible. Acts 2:46 describes how early Christians broke bread together with gladness. Sharing meals can strengthen our bonds with others and create a sense of community. It's a reminder that eating is not just about sustenance but also about building relationships.

How to Apply These Bible Verses About Eating Meat

Applying Bible teachings about eating meat to daily life can bring a sense of purpose and spiritual fulfillment. These verses offer practical wisdom that can guide our choices and actions.

• Start meals with a prayer of thanksgiving. A simple "Thank you, God, for this food" can set a grateful tone.
• Respect others' dietary choices. Whether someone eats meat or not, honor their decision as Romans 14:2 suggests.
• Be mindful of what you eat. Follow dietary guidelines that promote health and well-being, inspired by Leviticus 11:7.
• Share meals with others. Invite friends or family over for dinner to strengthen your community, as seen in Acts 2:46.
• Reflect on your food's origin. Consider the effort and resources that went into your meal, fostering a deeper appreciation.

Remember, God is with you in every meal and every choice. Your faith can transform even the simplest acts, like eating, into moments of spiritual growth.

For more prayers and Bible verses, visit PrayersFor or try our Bible Verse Generator to deepen your understanding and faith.