Clean and Unclean List of Animals Mentioned in the Bible

This list of the different kinds of animals mentioned in the Bible includes, where possible, references to passages where these are listed or discussed. All creatures are divided into clean and unclean categories. When an animal is clean it may be eaten; when it is unclean it may not.

In Leviticus 11, the Bible states that God gave Moses a list of animals he wanted the Israelites to eat. The animals on the List are called “clean” and those not on the list are called “unclean.”

In order for an Israelite to eat an animal it must first be slaughtered in a specific way and then be drained of all blood. Only after these precautions were taken could an Israelite eat meat from an animal.

Even so, the eating of unclean animals was often looked upon with disgust by the Israelites and was considered a sign of bad character or poor upbringing.

This List is generally believed to be part of God’s instructions for maintaining good health, not part of the 10 Commandments, which were written by God on stone with his own finger.

The List was written on parchment and placed inside the Ark of Covenant. Unlike some Old Testament dietary laws, this one remains in effect today.

The following is a list of Clean Animals in the Bible

1. Mammals That Chew the Cud and Part the Hoof

Antelope, Bison (buffalo), Caribou, Cattle (beef, veal), Deer (venison), Elk, Gazelle, Giraffe, Goat, Hart, Ibex, Moose, Ox, Reindeer, Sheep (lamb, mutton)

2. Fish With Fins and Scales

Anchovy, Barracuda, Bass, Black pomfret (or monchong), Bluefish, Bluegill, Carp, Cod, Crappie, Drum, Flounder, Grouper, Grunt, Haddock, Hake, Halibut, Hardhead, Herring (or alewife), Kingfish, Mackerel (or corbia), Mahimahi (or dorado, dolphinfish [not to be confused with the mammal dolphin]), Minnow, Mullet, Perch (or bream), Pike (or pickerel or jack), Pollack (or pollock or Boston bluefish), Rockfish, Salmon, Sardine (or pilchard), Shad, Silver hake (or whiting), Smelt (or frost fish or ice fish), Snapper (or ebu, jobfish, lehi, onaga, opakapaka or uku), Sole, Steelhead, Sucker, Sunfish, Tarpon, Trout (or weakfish), Tuna (or ahi, aku, albacore, bonito, or tombo), Turbot (except European turbot), Whitefish

3. Birds With Clean Characteristics

Chicken, Dove, Duck, Goose, Grouse, Guinea fowl, Partridge, Peafowl, Pheasant, Pigeon, Prairie chicken, Ptarmigan, Quail, Sagehen, Sparrow (and other songbirds), Swan*, Teal, Turkey

*In the King James Version, Leviticus 11:18 and Deuteronomy 14:16 list “swan” among unclean birds. However, this seems to be a mistranslation. The original word apparently refers to a kind of owl and is so translated in most modern Bible versions.

4. Insects

Types of locusts that may include crickets and grasshoppers

The following is a list of Unclean Animals in the Bible

Animals With Unclean Characteristics include:

1. Swine

Boar, Peccary, Pig (hog, bacon, ham, lard, pork, most sausage and pepperoni)

2. Canines

Coyote, Dog, Fox, Hyena, Jackal, Wolf

3. Felines

Cat, Cheetah, Leopard, Lion, Panther, Tiger

4. Equines

Donkey (ass), Horse, Mule, Onager, Zebra (quagga)

5. Other Animals

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 Without Fins and Scales:

6. Fish Without Fins and Scales

Bullhead, Catfish, Eel, European Turbot, Marlin, Paddlefish, Shark, Stickleback, Squid, Sturgeon (includes most caviar), Swordfish

7. Shellfish

Abalone, Clam, Conch, Crab, Crayfish (crawfish, crawdad), Lobster, Mussel, Oyster, Scallop, Shrimp (prawn)

8. Soft body

Cuttlefish, Jellyfish, Limpet, Octopus, Squid (calamari)

9. Sea mammals

Dolphin, Otter, Porpoise, Seal, Walrus, Whale

10. Birds of Prey, Scavengers and Others

Albatross, Bittern, Buzzard, Condor, Coot, Cormorant, Crane, Crow, Cuckoo, Eagle, Flamingo Grebe, Grosbeak, Gull, Hawk, Heron, Kite, Lapwing, Loon, Magpie, Osprey, Ostrich, Owl, Parrot, Pelican, Penguin, Plover, Rail, Raven, Roadrunner, Sandpiper, Seagull, Stork, Swallow, Swift, Vulture, Water hen, Woodpecker

11. Reptiles

Alligator, Caiman, Crocodile, Lizard, Snake, Turtle

12. Amphibians

Blindworm, Frog, Newt, Salamander, Toad

Did Jesus make all unclean meat now clean?

References:

ucg.org – Which Animals Does the Bible Designate as ‘Clean’ and ‘Unclean’?