Topical Encyclopedia Biblical References:1. Leviticus 11:7-8 : "And the pig, though it has a split hoof completely divided, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you." 2. Deuteronomy 14:8 : "And the pig, though it has a split hoof, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses." 3. Isaiah 65:4 : "They sit among the graves, spend their nights keeping secret vigil, eat the flesh of pigs, and put polluted broth in their bowls." 4. Isaiah 66:17 : "Those who consecrate and purify themselves to enter the groves, following one in the midst of those who eat the flesh of pigs and rats and other abominable things—they will meet their end together, declares the LORD." 5. Mark 5:11-13 : "There on the nearby hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding. So the demons begged Jesus, 'Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.' He gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs. And the herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the water." 6. Acts 10:12-15 : "It contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air. Then a voice said to him, 'Get up, Peter, kill and eat!' 'No, Lord!' Peter answered. 'I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.' The voice spoke to him a second time: 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.'" Old Testament Context: In the Old Testament, the consumption of pig meat is explicitly prohibited for the Israelites. The dietary laws outlined in Leviticus and Deuteronomy classify pigs as unclean animals. The prohibition is part of a broader set of dietary restrictions intended to set the Israelites apart as a holy people. The pig, despite having a split hoof, does not chew the cud, which disqualifies it from being considered clean according to the Levitical law. The Israelites were instructed not only to abstain from eating pig meat but also to avoid touching their carcasses. Prophetic Writings: The prophetic books of Isaiah further emphasize the negative connotations associated with eating pig meat. In Isaiah 65:4 and 66:17, the consumption of pig flesh is associated with idolatrous practices and is depicted as an abomination. These passages highlight the spiritual and moral implications of disregarding God's commandments regarding clean and unclean foods. New Testament Perspective: The New Testament presents a shift in the understanding of dietary laws. In the Gospel of Mark, the account of Jesus permitting demons to enter a herd of pigs underscores the Jewish perception of pigs as unclean animals. However, the pivotal moment comes in Acts 10, where Peter receives a vision that challenges the traditional Jewish dietary restrictions. The vision, accompanied by the divine command not to call anything impure that God has made clean, signifies a new covenant understanding that transcends the old dietary laws. Theological Implications: The prohibition against eating pig meat in the Old Testament is often understood as part of the ceremonial law, which served to distinguish Israel from other nations. With the advent of the New Covenant through Christ, the ceremonial aspects of the law, including dietary restrictions, are seen as fulfilled. The vision given to Peter in Acts 10 is interpreted as a divine revelation that the gospel is for all people, Jew and Gentile alike, and that the ceremonial laws are no longer binding in the same way they were under the Old Covenant. Cultural and Historical Considerations: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, dietary laws were not uncommon, and the Israelites' abstention from pork would have marked them as distinct from surrounding nations. The pig was often associated with pagan rituals and uncleanliness, reinforcing the cultural and religious separation intended by the dietary laws. The New Testament's reinterpretation of these laws reflects the early Christian community's struggle to define its identity in a diverse and multicultural world. Topical Bible Verses Genesis 9:3Every moving thing that lives shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. Topicalbible.org Romans 14:14 Leviticus 11:7 Library Prayers and Praise from a Pure Mind, Ceaselessly Offered, Far ... Disclosure of the Monstrous Tenets of the Manich??ans. Faustus Avows his Disbelief in the Old Testament and his Disregard ... Whether There was any Reasonable Cause for the Ceremonial ... The Final Disillusion If You Give a Grape to Him when Hungry... The Education of the World. The Mutiny of 1857-58. Book ii. Jerome Answers the Second, Third, and Fourth Propositions ... The Little Flowers of St. Francis of Assisi Resources Was Adam and Eve's sin really about eating a piece of forbidden fruit? | GotQuestions.orgWhy is eating dairy products and meat in the same meal considered not kosher? | GotQuestions.org Why do we pray before eating meals? | GotQuestions.org Eating: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |