vegetarianism
What does the Bible say about vegetarianism? These are the passages readers found most helpful — tap any citation to read it in context.
20 passages · most helpful first
21It is good to refrain from eating meat and from drinking wine, and from anything by which your brother is offended, or led astray, or weakened.
3And everything that moves and lives will be food for you. Just as with the edible plants, I have delivered them all to you,
29And God said: “Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing plant upon the earth, and all the trees that have in themselves the ability to sow their own kind, to be food for you,
29And God said: “Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing plant upon the earth, and all the trees that have in themselves the ability to sow their own kind, to be food for you, 30and for all the animals of the land, and for all the flying things of the air, and for everything that moves upon the earth and in which there is a living soul, so that they may have these on which to feed.” And so it became.
6The wolf will dwell with the lamb; and the leopard will lie down with the kid; the calf and the lion and the sheep will abide together; and a little boy will drive them. 7The calf and the bear will feed together; their young ones will rest together. And the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8And a breastfeeding infant will play above the lair of the asp. And a child who has been weaned will thrust his hand into the den of the king snake. 9They will not harm, and they will not kill, on all my holy mountain. For the earth has been filled with the knowledge of the Lord, like the waters covering the sea.
30and for all the animals of the land, and for all the flying things of the air, and for everything that moves upon the earth and in which there is a living soul, so that they may have these on which to feed.” And so it became.
8But Daniel resolved in his heart that he would not be polluted with the king’s meal, nor with the wine he drank, and he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not be contaminated. 9And so God gave Daniel grace and mercy in the sight of the leader of the eunuchs. 10And the leader of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has appointed food and drink for you, who, if he should see that your faces are leaner than those of the other youths your age, you would condemn my head to the king.” 11And Daniel said to Malasar, whom the leader of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12“I beg you to test us, your servants, for ten days, and let roots be given to us to eat and water to drink, 13and then observe our faces, and the faces of the children who eat the king’s food, and then deal with your servants according to what you see.”
1But accept those who are weak in faith, without disputing about ideas. 2For one person believes that he may eat all things, but if another is weak, let him eat plants. 3He who eats should not despise him who does not eat. And he who does not eat should not judge him who eats. For God has accepted him. 4Who are you to judge the servant of another? He stands or falls by his own Lord. But he shall stand. For God is able to make him stand. 5For one person discerns one age from the next. But another discerns unto every age. Let each one increase according to his own mind. 6He who understands the age, understands for the Lord. And he who eats, eats for the Lord; for he gives thanks to God. And he who does not eat, does not eat for the Lord, and he gives thanks to God.
2For one person believes that he may eat all things, but if another is weak, let him eat plants. 3He who eats should not despise him who does not eat. And he who does not eat should not judge him who eats. For God has accepted him.
25The wolf and the lamb will pasture together. The lion and the ox will eat hay. And dust will be the food of the serpent. They will not harm, and they will not kill, on all my holy mountain, says the Lord.
3prohibiting marriage, abstaining from foods, which God has created to be accepted with thanksgiving by the faithful and by those who have understood the truth. 4For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected which is received with thanksgiving;
1And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: 2Say to the sons of Israel: These are the animals that you ought to eat out of all the living things of the earth. 3All that has a divided hoof, and that chews over again, among the cattle, you shall eat. 4But whatever certainly chews over again, but has a hoof that is not divided, such as the camel and others, these you shall not eat, and you shall consider them to be among what is unclean. 5The rock rabbit which chews over again, and whose hoof is not divided, is unclean, 6and so also is the hare, for it too chews over again, yet its hoof is not divided,
16Therefore, let no one judge you as concerns food or drink, or a particular feast day, or feast days of new moons, or of Sabbaths.
17It is better to be called to vegetables with charity, than to a fatted calf with hatred.
17For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but rather justice and peace and joy, in the Holy Spirit.
13Because of this, if food leads my brother to sin, I will never eat meat, lest I lead my brother to sin.
4except that flesh with blood you shall not eat.
12“I beg you to test us, your servants, for ten days, and let roots be given to us to eat and water to drink, 13and then observe our faces, and the faces of the children who eat the king’s food, and then deal with your servants according to what you see.” 14When he had heard these words, he tested them for ten days. 15But, after ten days, their faces appeared better and fatter than all the children who had eaten from the king’s food. 16Thereafter, Malasar took away their portions and their wine for drinking, and he gave them roots.
1But accept those who are weak in faith, without disputing about ideas. 2For one person believes that he may eat all things, but if another is weak, let him eat plants. 3He who eats should not despise him who does not eat. And he who does not eat should not judge him who eats. For God has accepted him.
8Yet food does not commend us to God. For if we eat, we will not have more, and if we do not eat, we will not have less.