The Bible describes certain animals as clean and others as unclean. Under the law given to Israel, clean animals could be eaten, while unclean animals were prohibited as food.
The main lists appear in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. They cover land animals, creatures living in water, birds, insects and other small creatures.
This guide explains the biblical criteria, identifies the animals named in the King James Version and clarifies what the distinction meant within Israel’s covenant with God.
Clean and Unclean Animals: Quick Answer
| Animal group | Clean | Unclean | Main passage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Land animals | Divide the hoof and chew the cud | Do not meet both requirements | Leviticus 11:2–8 |
| Water creatures | Have both fins and scales | Lack fins, scales or both | Leviticus 11:9–12 |
| Birds | Not included in the prohibited list | Birds and flying creatures specifically prohibited | Leviticus 11:13–19 |
| Winged insects | Certain kinds with jointed legs used for leaping | Other winged creeping things | Leviticus 11:20–23 |
In simple terms, clean land animals had to meet two requirements, while clean water creatures had to meet another two. Birds were handled differently: Scripture mainly provides a list of birds that were not to be eaten.
Where Does the Bible First Mention Clean Animals?
The distinction appears before the law of Moses. In Genesis 7, Noah was instructed to take seven pairs of every clean animal and one pair of animals that were not clean into the ark.
This shows that the categories were already recognised in the Genesis account. However, Leviticus and Deuteronomy later provide the clearest dietary instructions for the people of Israel.
Clean Land Animals in the Bible
According to Leviticus 11:3, a land animal was clean for food only when it met both of these requirements:
- It had a divided or cloven hoof.
- It chewed the cud.
An animal that met only one of these conditions was still considered unclean.
Clean Land Animals Named in Deuteronomy 14
The King James Version names the following clean animals in Deuteronomy 14:4–5:
- Ox
- Sheep
- Goat
- Hart
- Roebuck
- Fallow deer
- Wild goat
- Pygarg
- Wild ox
- Chamois
Some of these older English names are translated differently in modern Bible versions. Depending on the translation, the list may include terms such as deer, gazelle, antelope, ibex, roe deer or mountain sheep.
The exact modern identification of a few Hebrew animal names is uncertain. The important biblical rule remains clear: a clean land animal had to divide the hoof and chew the cud.
Are Goats Clean Animals in the Bible?
Yes. Goats are specifically included among the clean animals in Deuteronomy 14:4. They divide the hoof and chew the cud, meeting both biblical requirements.
Unclean Land Animals in the Bible
Land animals were unclean when they did not meet both conditions. Leviticus gives several examples so the Israelites would understand the rule.
| Animal | Why it was considered unclean |
|---|---|
| Camel | Chews the cud but does not divide the hoof as required |
| Coney | Described as chewing the cud but not dividing the hoof |
| Hare | Described as chewing the cud but not dividing the hoof |
| Swine or pig | Divides the hoof but does not chew the cud |
The word coney in the King James Version is commonly understood as referring to the rock hyrax. Other animal names may also differ between translations.
Animals such as horses and donkeys also do not meet the two-part requirement for clean land animals. The Bible does not need to name every possible species individually because the physical criteria provide the general rule.
Are Pigs Unclean in the Bible?
Yes. Under the dietary law given to Israel, pigs were unclean because they have divided hooves but do not chew the cud. This is stated in Leviticus 11:7–8 and Deuteronomy 14:8.
Clean Fish and Water Creatures
Leviticus 11:9 gives the rule for creatures living in seas and rivers. A water creature was clean only when it had:
- Fins
- Scales
Both features were required. Fish that have fins and scales therefore fit the biblical definition of clean water creatures.
Common modern examples that generally meet these criteria include:
- Salmon
- Trout
- Cod
- Herring
- Mackerel
- Sardines
These modern examples are applications of the biblical rule rather than a list of species directly named in Leviticus.
Unclean Fish and Water Creatures
Any creature living in water without the required combination of fins and scales was unclean under the law.
This category would include creatures such as:
- Shrimp and prawns
- Crabs
- Lobsters
- Oysters
- Mussels
- Clams
- Octopuses
- Squid
- Eels
- Catfish
The biblical reason is the absence of fins, scales or both—not a statement that these creatures are morally evil.
Why Is Shellfish Unclean in the Bible?
Shellfish such as shrimp, crab, lobster and oysters do not have both fins and scales. They therefore fall outside the requirements given in Leviticus 11:9–12.
Clean and Unclean Birds in the Bible
The Bible does not provide one physical test for birds comparable to the rules for land animals and fish. Instead, Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 identify birds and other flying creatures that were not to be eaten.
Leviticus 11:13–19 lists the following names in the King James Version:
- Eagle
- Ossifrage
- Ospray
- Vulture
- Kite
- Raven
- Owl
- Night hawk
- Cuckow
- Hawk
- Little owl
- Cormorant
- Great owl
- Swan
- Pelican
- Gier eagle
- Stork
- Heron
- Lapwing
- Bat
The precise modern identification of several names is debated, and Bible translations do not always use the same English species. Many of the prohibited birds are birds of prey, scavengers or water birds, but the text gives a named list rather than stating that every unclean bird must share one characteristic.
Which Birds Were Clean?
Deuteronomy 14:11 says that clean birds could be eaten, followed by the prohibited list. The Bible does not provide a complete modern species list of every clean bird.
Doves and pigeons were clearly acceptable for sacrifice, as seen elsewhere in the law. Quail were also provided as food in the wilderness. Domestic birds not included in the prohibited list have commonly been understood as clean, although the biblical text does not name every modern bird.
Why Is a Bat Listed With Birds?
Modern science classifies bats as mammals. Biblical animal groupings, however, were not written according to modern biological taxonomy. Flying creatures could be grouped together by how they moved, which explains why the bat appears within this section.
Clean and Unclean Insects
Most winged creeping creatures were unclean, but Leviticus 11:21–22 allowed specified insects with jointed legs suited for leaping.
The King James Version names:
- Locust after its kind
- Bald locust after its kind
- Beetle after its kind
- Grasshopper after its kind
Other English translations use names such as katydid and cricket because the exact identification of some ancient Hebrew insect terms is uncertain.
John the Baptist is described in Mark 1:6 as eating locusts and wild honey, consistent with locusts being permitted under the law.
Other Unclean Creeping Creatures
Leviticus 11 also discusses small creatures that move along the ground. In Leviticus 11:29–30, the King James Version names:
- Weasel
- Mouse
- Tortoise after its kind
- Ferret
- Chameleon
- Lizard
- Snail
- Mole
As with some birds and insects, the underlying Hebrew names are translated differently in modern Bibles. This section also deals with ceremonial uncleanness caused by contact with dead animals, not only the question of what could be eaten.
Why Did God Separate Animals Into Clean and Unclean?
Leviticus connects the distinction with Israel’s calling to holiness. The people were to distinguish between what was clean and unclean as part of living in covenant obedience to God.
The laws affected several areas of life:
- Which animals could be eaten
- Which animals could be used for certain sacrifices
- How contact with animal carcasses affected ceremonial cleanliness
- How Israel maintained a distinct religious and communal identity
The categories were not a declaration that some animals were sinful or without value. An unclean animal could still have an important place within creation. The distinction concerned Israel’s dietary and ceremonial obligations.
Do Christians Have to Follow the Clean and Unclean Animal Laws?
Most Christians do not consider the dietary laws of Leviticus binding under the New Covenant. They point to passages including Mark 7, Acts 10, Romans 14 and 1 Timothy 4.
Mark 7 places emphasis on what comes from the human heart rather than ceremonial food defilement. Romans 14 teaches believers not to judge one another over food, while 1 Timothy 4 speaks of receiving food with thanksgiving.
Acts 10 records Peter’s vision of animals and God’s command not to call common what God had cleansed. The immediate message of the passage concerns accepting Gentiles, although the vision is also frequently considered in Christian discussions about food laws.
Some Christian groups continue to observe the biblical dietary distinctions as a matter of conviction, and Jewish communities may observe kosher dietary law. Readers should approach differing practices with understanding rather than condemnation.
Common Questions About Clean and Unclean Animals
What animals are clean to eat in the Bible?
Under the law given to Israel, clean land animals divided the hoof and chewed the cud. Clean water creatures had fins and scales. Certain specified hopping insects were also permitted, while birds were determined by excluding those named in the prohibited list.
What animals are considered unclean in the Bible?
Examples include pigs, camels, hares and coneys; water creatures without fins and scales; the prohibited birds named in Leviticus 11; most winged creeping creatures; and various animals that move along the ground.
Does unclean mean dirty or evil?
No. The word describes an animal’s status under Israel’s dietary and ceremonial laws. It does not mean that the animal was morally evil or had no useful place in creation.
Are dogs and cats unclean animals?
Dogs and cats do not meet the two-part requirement for clean land animals because they do not divide the hoof and chew the cud. They would therefore not qualify as clean animals for food under the Mosaic dietary law. This does not mean that keeping them as animals is sinful.
Are rabbits unclean in the Bible?
The hare is listed as unclean because it does not divide the hoof. Older and modern translations may use different animal terminology when rendering the original Hebrew text.
Are all fish clean in the Bible?
No. Only water creatures with both fins and scales were clean. Creatures missing either feature were prohibited under the law.
Were all insects unclean?
No. Leviticus allowed certain kinds of leaping insects, including locusts and grasshoppers. Most other winged creeping creatures were unclean.
Can Christians eat pork and shellfish?
Most Christians believe that the Mosaic dietary restrictions are not binding under the New Covenant and therefore permit pork and shellfish. Some Christians choose to avoid them for religious, personal or dietary reasons.
Understanding the Biblical List
The list of clean and unclean animals in the Bible helps readers understand Israel’s worship, diet, ceremonial practices and calling to live as a people set apart for God.
The clearest passages are Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. Reading the chapters in full is important because they explain not only which animals were permitted, but also how animal carcasses and ceremonial cleanliness were handled.
Open Leviticus 11 or Deuteronomy 14 in the Jesusfully Bible reader, or explore our guide to the books of the Bible in order.