When Did God Say Humans Can Eat Meat? A Biblical History

January 6, 2026 •

2 min read

According to the Bible, the first humans were instructed to be vegetarians, with God providing 'every herb bearing seed' and 'every tree...yielding seed' for their food. This initial divine instruction was later altered, marking a significant shift in humanity's diet.

Quick Summary

This article outlines the biblical history of human dietary laws, from the vegetarian diet commanded in the Garden of Eden to the permission to consume meat given to Noah after the Great Flood. It also covers the later Levitical laws concerning clean and unclean meats and the New Testament's reinterpretation of dietary rules.

Key Points

Initial Creation (Genesis 1): God originally instructed humans to follow a vegetarian diet, providing all plants and fruits for food.
Permission to Eat Meat (Genesis 9): The explicit allowance for humans to eat animal meat was given to Noah after the flood, marking a significant dietary change.
Sacredness of Lifeblood: A key restriction introduced with meat-eating was the prohibition against consuming blood, as it represents the life of the animal.
Mosaic Law and Restrictions: For the Israelites, later guidelines in Leviticus further detailed 'clean' and 'unclean' meats, setting them apart as a holy people.
New Testament Reinterpretation: The New Testament, particularly in Acts 10 and Romans 14, reinterprets these laws, emphasizing inner purity and freedom for believers while maintaining consideration for others.
Contextual Changes: The changes in dietary rules are tied to different covenants and contexts in biblical history, from the perfect Garden of Eden to the post-flood world.

The Original Vegetarian Mandate in Genesis

In Genesis 1:29, God provides a diet of plants and fruits for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. This established a plant-based diet for humanity at creation.

The Shift to a Carnivorous Diet After the Flood

After the flood and the survival of Noah and his family, God made a new covenant. In Genesis 9:3, God permits humans to eat meat, stating, 'Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things'. This change occurred in a world significantly altered by the flood.

Possible reasons for this shift include:

Ecological changes in the post-flood world may have necessitated new food sources.
Some interpretations view it as a concession to human nature after the Fall.
It may have been a provision to ensure human survival and repopulation.

The Mosaic Laws: Clean and Unclean Animals

Following the covenant with Noah, God later gave the Israelites specific dietary laws through Moses, found in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. These laws differentiated between 'clean' and 'unclean' animals, including criteria for land animals (must have a divided hoof and chew cud), sea creatures, and birds.

Comparison of Biblical Dietary Guidelines


Covenant/Period	Source	Dietary Allowance	Key Restrictions
Pre-Flood (Adam)	Genesis 1:29	All seed-bearing plants and fruit trees	Strictly vegetarian; no meat permitted.
Post-Flood (Noah)	Genesis 9:3	All moving creatures and green plants	Must not eat meat with its lifeblood still in it.
Mosaic Law (Israelites)	Leviticus 11	Specific clean animals with fins & scales (fish), divided hooves & chew cud (mammals), and certain birds/insects	Prohibits unclean animals (e.g., pork, shellfish, scavenger birds); must not eat blood.
New Testament (Christians)	Acts 10, Romans 14	All foods are considered clean	Freedom to eat, but avoid causing a brother to stumble; abstain from blood and strangled animals.

The New Testament Perspective on Dietary Laws

The New Testament brought changes to the interpretation of Old Testament laws. In Mark 7, Jesus indicates that internal purity is more important than external food rules. The Apostle Peter's vision in Acts 10, while involving unclean animals, was primarily understood as a message about not considering people 'common or unclean,' leading to the inclusion of Gentiles. The Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 advised Gentile believers to abstain from meat offered to idols, blood, and strangled animals. The Apostle Paul in Romans 14 emphasized not judging others based on food choices and prioritizing love and conscience. For further reading, The Gospel Coalition offers insights into this topic: The Gospel Coalition.

Conclusion: Evolving Guidelines

The biblical record shows a progression in God's instructions regarding meat consumption. The initial creation mandate was vegetarian. After the flood, Noah was given permission to eat meat, with a restriction against consuming blood. The Mosaic Law provided specific 'clean' and 'unclean' categories for the Israelites. The New Testament shifted the focus to inner purity and freedom in Christ, while still upholding some restrictions like abstaining from blood. These changes reflect different biblical covenants and historical contexts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Before the flood, Adam and Eve were commanded to follow a vegetarian diet, eating only from plants and fruit trees as stated in Genesis 1:29.

God gave Noah permission to eat meat after the flood, as recorded in Genesis 9:3.

Yes, Genesis 9:4 prohibits eating meat with its lifeblood still in it.

Reasons are debated but may include ecological changes after the flood or a concession to human nature.

Leviticus 11 lists clean animals, such as those with divided hooves that chew the cud and fish with fins and scales.

In Mark 7, Jesus focused on inner purity over ceremonial food laws. While interpreted as changing ritual laws, some early church guidance on blood remained.

Peter's vision primarily conveyed that God accepts Gentiles, rather than solely abolishing dietary laws for all time.

While the Bible describes an original vegetarian diet and later permits meat, the New Testament allows for freedom in dietary choices, urging consideration for others.