Topical Bible: Swine: Unclean and not to be Eaten

◄ Swine: Unclean and not to be Eaten ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

Swine, commonly referred to as pigs, hold a significant place in biblical dietary laws and cultural symbolism. In the Scriptures, swine are consistently categorized as unclean animals, and their consumption is expressly forbidden for the Israelites. This prohibition is rooted in the Mosaic Law and reflects broader themes of holiness, obedience, and separation from pagan practices.

Biblical Prohibition

The primary biblical injunction against the consumption of swine is found in the Pentateuch. Leviticus 11:7-8 states, "And the pig, though it has a divided hoof, 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." Similarly, Deuteronomy 14:8 reiterates, "And the pig is unclean for you because it has a divided hoof but does not chew the cud. You are not to eat their meat or touch their carcasses."

These passages highlight the criteria for clean and unclean animals, emphasizing that swine, despite having a divided hoof, do not chew the cud, thus rendering them unclean. The Israelites were commanded to abstain from eating or even touching the carcasses of such animals, underscoring the importance of ritual purity.

Symbolism and Cultural Context

In addition to dietary laws, swine are often used symbolically in the Bible to represent impurity and moral corruption. This symbolism is evident in various passages throughout the Scriptures. For instance, in Proverbs 11:22 , the imagery of a "gold ring in a pig's snout" is used to describe the incongruity of external beauty and internal folly. This metaphor underscores the notion that swine, despite any adornment, remain inherently unclean.

The New Testament also reflects this symbolic use of swine. In Matthew 7:6 , Jesus warns, "Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces." Here, swine symbolize those who are unable to appreciate or respect what is sacred, further reinforcing their association with uncleanness and disregard for divine truth.

Historical and Theological Implications

The prohibition against eating swine was not merely a matter of dietary preference but was deeply intertwined with the Israelites' identity as a people set apart for God. By adhering to these dietary laws, the Israelites demonstrated their obedience to God's commandments and their commitment to maintaining ritual purity. This separation from unclean animals, including swine, served as a tangible expression of their covenant relationship with God.

Moreover, the avoidance of swine distinguished the Israelites from surrounding nations, many of whom consumed pork as part of their regular diet. This distinction was crucial in maintaining the cultural and religious identity of the Israelites amidst the pagan practices of their neighbors.

New Testament Perspective

While the New Testament introduces a new covenant through Jesus Christ, which includes a reevaluation of dietary laws, the symbolic use of swine persists. In the account of the Gerasene demoniac in Mark 5:11-13 , Jesus permits a legion of demons to enter a herd of pigs, which subsequently rush into the sea and drown. This narrative not only demonstrates Jesus' authority over evil spirits but also reinforces the association of swine with uncleanness and chaos.

The early church grappled with the question of dietary laws, as seen in Acts 10, where Peter's vision of a sheet containing all kinds of animals challenges traditional Jewish dietary restrictions. However, the symbolic and cultural connotations of swine as unclean persisted, even as the church embraced a broader understanding of purity and inclusion in Christ.

In summary, swine in the Bible are emblematic of uncleanness and are explicitly forbidden as food for the Israelites. This prohibition reflects broader themes of holiness, obedience, and separation from pagan practices, while also serving as a symbol of moral and spiritual impurity throughout the Scriptures.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 11:7,8
And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be cloven footed, yet he chews not the cud; he is unclean to you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Sermon on the Mount.
... ornaments. Dogs and swine were unclean animals. ... holy. Even unclean men were
not permitted to eat of them, much less unclean brutes. What ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xlii the sermon on the 7.htm

Faustus Willing to Believe not Only that the Jewish but that all ...
... and birds, and quadrupeds, and orders some to be eaten as clean, and others which
are unclean not to be touched. Among the unclean he reckons the swine and the ...
/.../faustus willing to believe not.htm

Titus i. 14-Dec
... Yet all these were eaten. Why then was the swine forbidden, and many other things?
Not because they were unclean, but to check excessive luxury. ...
/.../homily iii titus i 14-dec.htm

Faustus Avows his Disbelief in the Old Testament and his Disregard ...
... But before it can be eaten at all, it must be ... the other hand, was cruel to the swine
when He ... while the Old Testament calls some animals unclean, not in their ...
/.../faustus avows his disbelief in.htm

The Lord's Supper
... Christ forbids to cast pearls before swine.' Matthew 7:6. The sacramental bread
is children's bread, and ... If Christ would not lie in an unclean grave, surely ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/the ten commandments/4 5 the lords supper.htm

Hidden Manna
... the expressed juice of the sacred clusters, and left the husks to the swine. ... out
from among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing; and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/hidden manna.htm

Whether There was any Reasonable Cause for the Ceremonial ...
... Augustine says (Contra Faustum iv, 7): "If the swine and lamb ... the milk of its dam,
ie should not be cajoled ... fruits of the first three years as unclean: for in ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether there was any reasonable.htm

"Moreover, it Will be Worth While to Relate Also Some of his ...
... out of Paradise, how he feeds his swine in a ... eaten down by cattle, although it has
not altogether lost ... that part, again, which the pigs, unclean animals, had ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter x moreover it will.htm

On Eating.
... extreme, "ate locusts and wild honey." Peter abstained from swine; "but a ... And Peter
said, Not so, Lord, for I have never eaten what is common or unclean. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/clement/the instructor paedagogus/chap i on eating.htm

Faustus Fails to Understand Why He Should be Required Either to ...
... has died of itself; but you are not so ready to believe the prohibition of swine's
flesh, and ... a relish for, although Moses pronounces them all unclean. ...
/.../faustus fails to understand why.htm