is it a sin to eat shrimp

Is It A Sin To Eat Shrimp?

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Eating shrimp is a topic that sparks curiosity for many people who follow biblical teachings. The Bible contains specific instructions about what is considered clean and unclean, especially in the Old Testament.

To understand is it a sin to eat shrimp and what the Bible says about eating shrimp, we must look at the relevant scriptures and consider their context and interpretations.

Old testament dietary laws

The Old Testament, particularly the book of Leviticus, outlines many dietary laws given to the Israelites. These laws set them apart from other nations and promote holiness.

Leviticus 11 is where we find specific instructions regarding seafood. Verses 9-12 state that only sea creatures with fins and scales are considered clean and fit for consumption. 

Shrimp, along with other shellfish like crabs and lobsters, do not have fins and scales. According to these verses, they are considered unclean.

Leviticus 11:9-12 (NIV)

“This is what you may eat of all that is in the waters: everything in the waters that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat. But anything in the seas or the rivers that does not have fins and scales, of the swarming creatures in the waters and of the living creatures that are in the waters, is detestable to you. 

You shall regard them as detestable; you shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall detest their carcasses. Everything in the waters that does not have fins and scales is detestable to you.”

These verses categorize shrimp and similar sea creatures as unclean and not to be eaten by the Israelites.

Purpose of dietary laws

The dietary laws served several purposes. They were part of the covenant between God and the Israelites, promoting health and hygiene. They also distinguished the Israelites from surrounding nations with different customs and practices. 

These laws were integral to the identity and religious practice of the Jewish people.

New testament perspective

With the coming of Jesus and the New Covenant, the strict adherence to Old Testament laws, including dietary restrictions, was reevaluated. The New Testament offers a different perspective on what is considered clean and unclean.

In the book of Acts, Peter receives a vision from God that plays an important role in changing the understanding of dietary laws.

Acts 10:9-16 (NIV)

“About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 

He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. Then a voice told him, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’ ‘Surely not, Lord!’ Peter replied. ‘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.’ This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.”

This vision was significant because it symbolized the removal of the barriers between Jews and Gentiles and suggested a new approach to dietary restrictions. 

Peter’s vision indicated that the old distinctions between clean and unclean foods no longer apply under the New Covenant.

Mark 7:18-19 (NIV)

“Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)

Jesus’ teaching in Mark reinforces this idea, suggesting that spiritual purity is not about dietary adherence but the condition of one’s heart and actions.

Modern christian views

Many Christians today believe that the dietary laws of the Old Testament were specific to the Jewish people under the Old Covenant and that they are not binding under the New Covenant. Therefore, they feel free to eat shrimp and other foods considered unclean in the Old Testament.

However, some Christian denominations and individuals choose to observe these dietary laws as a personal or cultural practice, believing it aligns with their faith and heritage.

Conclusion

The Bible’s stance on eating shrimp is rooted in the Old Testament, where it is categorized as unclean. However, the New Testament presents a shift in perspective, emphasizing spiritual purity over dietary restrictions. 

Some Questions

Is it a sin to eat shrimp?

Yes, the Old Testament, particularly Leviticus 11, classifies shrimp as unclean because they lack fins and scales.

What did Jesus say about clean and unclean foods?

In Mark 7:18-19, Jesus declared that nothing entering a person from the outside can defile them, implying all foods are clean.

How did Peter’s vision in Acts 10 impact dietary laws?

Peter’s vision suggested that the old distinctions between clean and unclean foods no longer apply under the New Covenant.

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