What animals does Deuteronomy 14:6 classify as clean for consumption? Setting the Scene Deuteronomy 14 repeats and clarifies many details first given in Leviticus 11. Verse 6 focuses on land animals that God expressly permits His people to eat. Criteria for Clean Land Animals Deuteronomy 14:6: “You may eat any animal that has hooves divided completely in two and that chews the cud.” Two clear requirements: • The hoof must be split “completely in two” (cloven). • The animal must “chew the cud” (ruminate). Examples of Clean Animals Drawing from Deuteronomy 14:4-5, Leviticus 11:3, and the characteristics in 14:6, the following animals meet both criteria: • Oxen, bulls, cows • Sheep (rams, ewes, lambs) • Goats • Deer, including: – Red deer – Roe deer – Fallow deer • Gazelles • Ibex or wild goats • Antelope varieties • Mountain sheep (mouflon, bighorn, etc.) All share the same God-given design: a fully split hoof and a digestive system that brings swallowed food back up for additional chewing. Why These Criteria Matter • Holiness: God set Israel apart by everyday choices, even at the dinner table (Leviticus 11:44-45). • Health: Ruminants are generally herbivores, lowering the risk of parasites common in carnivores or omnivores. • Obedience: Following these commands demonstrated trust in God’s wisdom, whether or not Israel understood every reason (Deuteronomy 12:28). Christ and the Dietary Laws While Jesus declared all foods clean for believers (Mark 7:18-19; Acts 10:13-15), studying Deuteronomy 14:6 still enriches our appreciation of: • God’s meticulous care for His covenant people. • The continuity between Old and New Testaments—fulfilled, not discarded (Matthew 5:17). Living It Out Today • Acknowledge God’s right to speak into everyday choices. • Celebrate His provision—He tells us what nourishes, protects, and distinguishes us. • Let every meal prompt gratitude for both physical and spiritual sustenance in Christ (John 6:35). |
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