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God Ordered Living Beings to Be Vegetarians – According to the Bible
The Bible contains many teachings about food, life, and how humans should interact with the world. One question that often arises is whether God intended for humans and animals to be vegetarians. Various verses in the Bible suggest that God provided plants as food for living beings, while other verses mention the consumption of meat. This article aims to clarify these teachings by exploring what the Bible says about being vegetarian, the role of animals, and God’s intentions for food consumption.
God Provided Vegetarian Food for Living Beings
In Genesis 1:29, God speaks directly about food, saying:
"Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat."
Here, God clearly provides seed-bearing plants and fruit as food for humans, establishing a plant-based diet.
Similarly, in Genesis 1:30, God provides green herbs for all living creatures:
"And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat."
This shows that God intended for both humans and animals to consume plants.
Peaceful Coexistence of Animals
The Bible also provides an image of harmony between animals. In Isaiah 11:6-7, it describes a peaceful world where even predators like wolves and lions live peacefully with other animals:
"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid... the lion shall eat straw like the ox."
This suggests a return to an ideal world where animals do not harm each other, and everyone, including animals, eats plants.
The Garden of Eden
In the Garden of Eden, the first humans were provided with fruits and plants for food. Genesis 2:9 says that every plant was beautiful to look at and good for food, which supports the idea that God intended for people to eat plants, not animals. In fact, Genesis 1:26 grants humans dominion over animals, but this dominion does not mean that humans should kill them for food. Rather, it suggests that humans should care for and protect animals.
Psalms 147:9 reinforces this idea, stating that God provides food for the animals:
"He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry."
This verse highlights God’s care for all living beings, humans and animals alike.
Generosity and Consideration for Others
The Bible encourages generosity and compassion in our choices, including what we eat. Romans 14:20-21 says:
"It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak."
This means that if eating meat offends or harms someone, it is better not to eat it. We should not let food choices cause division or hurt others.
Arguments for Eating Meat in the Bible
Some people argue that the Bible allows the eating of meat, pointing to verses like Genesis 9:3, where God tells Noah:
"Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things."
However, the very next verse, Genesis 9:4, says:
"But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat."
This suggests that while some meat was allowed, the shedding of blood and killing of animals were not encouraged.
Isaiah 1:11 also expresses God's dissatisfaction with animal sacrifices:
"To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts... I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats."
This shows that God prefers mercy over sacrifice and does not take pleasure in the killing of animals.
Was Daniel a Vegetarian?
One of the strongest examples of faithfulness to a plant-based diet in the Bible is Daniel. In Daniel 1:8, Daniel refuses to defile himself with the king’s meat and wine. Instead, he requests vegetables and water. After ten days, Daniel and his companions appear healthier and stronger than those who ate the king’s food, as seen in Daniel 1:15:
"At the end of ten days, their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat."
This story suggests that choosing a vegetarian diet can lead to better health and spiritual favor.
Jesus and Eating Meat
While some Bible verses seem to permit the eating of meat, there is no record of Jesus directly commanding people to eat animals. Jesus is known for his compassion, and many believe that his teachings encourage kindness toward all of God’s creation, including animals.
One passage in Corinthians 2:17 suggests that false spirits may have influenced some of the teachings about killing animals for food:
"Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ, we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God."
Some interpret this to mean that certain teachings about eating meat may not align with God's original message of mercy and compassion.
FAQ
1: What does the Bible say about consuming meat?
The Bible, in Genesis 1:29, prescribes a plant-based diet for humans, indicating that God intended humans to be vegetarian.
2. What does Genesis 1:29 say about humanity’s original diet?
In Genesis 1:29, God commands:
"I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat."
This verse indicates that God’s original plan for humanity was to follow a vegetarian diet, consuming fruits and seeds.
3. Does having dominion over animals in Genesis 1:28 justify eating them?
Genesis 1:28 grants humans dominion over animals, but this dominion does not imply exploitation or permission to consume them. Instead, it suggests a responsibility to care for animals, aligning with a compassionate, ethical approach toward all living creatures.
