Is tuna a clean fish according to the Bible? Wait, it’s 2015, who still takes the bible literally? Well, some people do… or at least they try. After having this conversation over and over again with one of my exes (no hard feelings — we’ve both moved on) I felt compelled to write this blog post. In this article, we explain why fish is considered a clean animal in the Bible. Tuna is a clean fish according to the bible. Tuna is one of the most popular fish in the world. It can be found in many different countries and is used in many different dishes. While tuna is one of the most popular fish, there are some people who question whether or not it is kosher or clean. This article will answer all of your questions about whether or not tuna is kosher or clean according to the bible. Tuna is a fish that has become increasingly popular in recent years. It’s not just because it tastes good, but also because of the health benefits that come along with eating tuna.
However, there are some people who believe that tuna is not clean according to the Bible. This article will discuss why these people feel this way and what they base their opinions on. The Bible is a complicated text. It’s packed with stories, laws, and instructions for living. But what does the Bible have to say about tuna? It turns out that tuna is actually a clean fish according to the Bible. This means that it’s kosher and can be eaten by observant Jews, as well as other people who follow kosher dietary laws. What does “clean” mean?
Well, according to the Bible, some animals are considered unclean because they may have been created in ways that violate God’s will or because they’re not good for human consumption. However, some animals are considered clean because they don’t fall into either category—and can therefore be eaten without restriction by devout followers of Judaism. The Bible is filled with stories of people who lived in harmony with God, nature and the animals that surrounded them. The most important of these was God’s first creation, Adam and Eve. In this article we’ll also discuss list of clean fish to eat, is salmon clean or unclean.
Is Tuna a Clean Fish According to The Bible Verse
According to the majority of Jewish kosher certification bodies, a fish needs scales and fins in order to be Scripturally pure and kosher. Additionally, they have found that ctenoid or cycloid scales, which are easily removed with fingers OR a knife without harming the fish’s kaskeses, are the only kinds of scales that are required for kosher fish. It has also been established that a fish is deemed scaled if it has ANY AMOUNT of scales, even if those scales are tiny or microscopic.
Due to the presence of ctenoid or cycloid scales on their bodies, Jewish rabbinical authorities have categorized tunas, other scombrid fish (bonito, mackerel, wahoo), and flatfish (brill, dab, flounder, fluke, halibut, plaice, sole, and turbot) as clean fish.
According to Deuteronomy 14:9–10 and Leviticus 11:9–12 (NKJV), you are allowed to consume everything that is in the water, including fish and sea turtles. You should not consume anything that lacks fins or scales since it is dirty.
TRANSLATIONAL GAP
In Leviticus and Deuteronomy, the Hebrew word “qasqeseth” is rendered as “scales” in English. In Hebrew, qasqeseth refers to particular kinds of fish scales. Fish scales that are imbricated, or overlap, are referred to as qasqeseth [1].
The English translation of the dietary guidelines for clean fish, given a Hebraic understanding of fish scales of the qasqeseth kind, is as follows:
Leviticus 11:9–12 and Deuteronomy 14:9–10 (NKJV) [WITH INTERPRETATION]:
You are free to consume everything found in the waters, even finned creatures and [OVERLAPPING, SHEDDING] sea snails. You should not consume anything that lacks fins or scales, as it is considered unclean.
According to the Bible, scales—or something resembling scales—fall off on their own.
ACTS 9:18 (NKJV): Suddenly, something akin to scales fell from his eyes, and he instantly regained his sight. He then got up and was baptized.
Scales of clean fish overlap and come off on their own. Fish with shedding and regrowing scales are free of parasites that may otherwise adhere momentarily to their scales. The skin of tunas and other scombrid fish has primitive, or underdeveloped, non-overlapping scales embedded in it. Flatfishes feature deeply embedded, non-overlapping scales beneath the skin’s surface on their smooth bottom sides, and scales embedded in their top-side rough skin that can only be removed with a knife.
What is meant by “scales and fins” in the Bible?Does that imply “and ANY scales” on the fins or “and scales COVERING THE FISH’S BODY”?
scale: Any of the several plates covering fish bodies that are composed of different materials that resemble enamel or dentine [2].
According to the concept of “scale(s)” in relation to fish, scaled fish are fish having overlapping scales covering their body. Scaled fish should not include half-scaled flatfish and rudimentary (undeveloped) scaled tuna (scombrid) fish. It is important to note that the phrase “and scales” in Leviticus 11:9–12 and Deuteronomy 14:9–10 refers to “and overlapping scales COVERING THE FISH,” not “and ANY scales.”
A lot of people will argue that a fish is clean and kosher if it has scales on its fins. The majority of fish have “scales” or features that resemble scales. Some species of catfish have scales as children, but as adults, they shed them. Scutes are scale-like bony plates that cover most of a catfish’s body and are deeply ingrained in the skin. Plastoid scales, embedded in the skin of sharks, are composed of bone. It is an oversimplified interpretation to state that a fish is clean and kosher if it has any scales at all, regardless of the sort of scales. Sharks and catfish are considered dirty fish because of the scale-like features on their skin. The bony armor plating of sharks and catfish could be interpreted liberally as “scales,” but Scripture does not refer to these as the precise, overlapping, free-falling scales that are associated with clean fish.
At Sinai, the Hebrews received the dietary laws. They were given to them using terms and a language they could understand at the time. These Hebrews would never have thought of tunas and flatfish as clean, scaled fish. Since there were no microscopes or magnifying glasses available at the time, these Hebrews would not have examined fish to look for scales. When they saw the few visible scales that a tuna contains, they would have perceived it as a fish that is essentially smooth-bodied and scale-less. Alternatively, they would have seen tuna as a species without obvious overlapping scales. Because the smooth skin of flatfishes has no scales on it, and the rough skin of the fishes is difficult to remove, these Hebrews would have examined flatfishes and considered them unclean.
Typically, a bald man has some hair on his head. However, a man who is mostly bald is not referred to as a “man with hair.” According to the definition of “fish with scales” in the Bible, a primitive (undeveloped) non-overlapping scaled tuna fish or a half-scaled flatfish do not qualify as “fish with scales.”
Scales keep parasitic worm infestations from occurring in clean fish. The meat of rudimentary scaled tuna fish, which are mainly smooth-bodied, scale-less fish with smooth skin, or half-scaled flatfishes, is not immune to parasite illnesses. Fish that are primarily scale-less or half-scaled usually have parasitic worm infestations throughout their flesh.
Regarding this, are there scales on tuna fish?Yes, all species have scales, however most of the body’s scales are so tiny as to be almost undetectable. Only the cheeks, the area surrounding the head, and the triangle-shaped region on each side of the body next to the head have prominent scaling.
Do people also wonder if horse meat is clean or dirty? Thus, all of the large land animals that are native to Canaan are covered by the passages in Leviticus, with the exception of primates and equids (horses, zebras, etc.), which are mentioned elsewhere in Leviticus but are not classified as ritually clean or unclean despite their significance in both warfare and society. Is tuna fish kosher as well?
For example, tuna is regarded as a Kosher fish even if it has very few scales. Given the similarities between Kosher and non-Kosher fish, Halacha mandates that fish cannot be consumed until it has undergone an inspection to verify its Kosher status.Which fishes are pure according to the Bible? tidy[Revision] Horse Mackerel, or Albacore (Crevalle) Alewives—both river and branch herring— Anchovies. Barracuda. Herring (glut) blueback Black Drum. Bass. a jerk.
Is Tuna A Clean Fish According To The Bible
The Bible has a list of fish that are considered clean to eat. Tuna is one of these fish. Some people think that only the oldest fish in the ocean are the best ones to eat because they will have spawned several times. The oldest fish in the sea are those that live in the deep trenches. Tuna is not one of these fish, but it’s still good for your health and easy on your wallet too!
The Bible and Clean Fish to Eat
The Bible provides guidelines on which fish are considered clean or unclean to eat. In Leviticus 11:9-12, it states, “These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat. And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you.”
Tuna as a Clean Fish
Tuna is one of the fish that is considered clean to eat according to the Bible. It is a popular choice among seafood lovers due to its versatility and health benefits. Tuna is a good source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. It is also low in fat and calories, making it a healthy option for those looking to maintain a balanced diet.
Oldest Fish in the Sea
Some people believe that the oldest fish in the ocean are the best ones to eat because they have had the opportunity to spawn several times, leading to a more robust population. The oldest fish in the sea are typically found in deep trenches where they have lived for many years. While tuna may not be one of the oldest fish in the sea, it is still a great option for a delicious and nutritious meal.
Bible Verses on Clean Fish
1. Leviticus 11:9-12 – “These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.”
2. Deuteronomy 14:9-10 – “These ye shall eat of all that are in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat.”
3. Ezekiel 47:9 – “And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live.”
4. Proverbs 15:17 – “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.”
5. 1 Timothy 4:4-5 – “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving.”
In conclusion, tuna is a clean fish that is not only good for your health but also easy on your wallet. It is a versatile option that can be enjoyed in various dishes and preparations. By following the guidelines set forth in the Bible, you can make informed choices about the foods you consume and lead a healthier lifestyle.
List Of Clean Fish To Eat
The Bible has a specific list of fish that are considered clean to eat and one of those is tuna.
The Bible has a specific list of fish that are considered clean to eat, and one of those is tuna. This should come as no surprise to anyone who has read the Bible, which is full of references to fish. The Good Book mentions everything from catfish and carp to salmon, sharks and swordfish. The only thing it doesn’t mention? Tuna!
Surprisingly enough, this was not an oversight on God’s part; rather it’s an example of His divine plan for humanity (as well as His love for sushi).
The key question here is: why do some people think tuna isn’t kosher?
Does Tuna Have Fins And Scales
Tuna has scales and fins, which means it is clean.
You already know that tuna is a fish, but did you know it also has scales and fins? Scales are a sign of cleanliness in the Bible. Tuna also falls into this category. The word “scale” comes from an ancient Greek word meaning “to peel.” [1] Fins are also considered a sign of cleanliness. [2] In fact, all fish with scales can be eaten (Leviticus 11:9). So tuna is allowed in your diet because it has both scales and fins.
But what about mercury? Is that going to kill me? No, not really—not if you eat healthy amounts of tuna regularly instead of trying to cram as much mercury into your system as possible at once (like some people do). If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding then you should limit your intake of seafood because its high levels may harm the baby’s nervous system development.[3] But otherwise there’s nothing wrong with eating seafood regularly!
Some people think that only the oldest fish in the ocean are the best ones to eat because they will have spawned several times.
Some people think that only the oldest fish in the ocean are the best ones to eat because they will have spawned several times. However, there is no evidence that eating older tuna is better for you than eating younger ones. Tuna grow very quickly and can reach a size of up to 200 pounds within two years, but they don’t live as long as some other kinds of fish do.
The oldest fish in the sea are those that live in the deep trenches. Tuna is not one of these fish.
Tuna is a warm-blooded fish that can swim very fast. It is also a very strong swimmer and powerful fish. Tuna lives in the upper part of the ocean, which means it does not live deep in the sea like some other fish do.
Tuna has many interesting characteristics that make it an unusual fish. For example, tuna has only one fin on each side instead of two like most other fishes have (except for sharks). This makes it easier for tuna to swim faster because there isn’t another fin slowing it down!
Tuna is a high protein, low fat food that is great for your health and easy on your wallet too!
Tuna is a high protein, low fat food that is great for your health and easy on your wallet too!
- Tuna is an excellent source of lean protein. It contains approximately 27 grams of protein per cooked 3 ounce serving, which is more than an egg (6 grams), but less than chicken breast (31 grams).
- The fat content in tuna is also very low compared to most fish or other meats: only 1 gram per serving compared to 7-10 grams in chicken breast or 8-15 grams in beef. This makes it much easier on your waistline if you’re watching what you eat and trying to lose weight or stay healthy overall.
- And finally, there’s no need to worry about spending way too much money at the grocery store because one can of tuna costs less than $2!
Although tuna may not be the oldest fish in the sea, it is good for you and follows God’s edict about eating clean.
You may have heard that tuna is high in mercury and it’s not a good fish for you to eat. That may be true, but there are other types of tuna that are considered clean meats. These types of tuna include albacore, bigeye, yellowfin and skipjack. Although these types of tuna contain higher levels of mercury than the other types, they are still safe to eat because their fat content is low enough so as not to concentrate the mercury in one area where it can do damage.
The Bible does tell us what kinds of foods we should avoid eating because they’re unclean: pork (Leviticus 11:7-10), shellfish (Leviticus 11:9-12), insects (Leviticus 11:21-23), mollusks (Leviticus 11:12-19). But there are three specific categories of animals that God considers clean in Leviticus 11:2-8; cud chewers like cows and deer which He has never created any predators for; reptiles like lizards which aren’t at risk from parasites due to their skin being dry; winged creatures like birds and bats which don’t need hair on their bodies to keep warm so they don’t get cold during winter months without shelter/warmth like mammals would if exposed without fur coats during freezing temperatures year round.”
Tuna is a clean fish that is good for you and follows God’s edict about eating clean. The oldest fish in the sea are those that live in the deep trenches. Tuna is not one of these fish.
List of Clean Fish To Eat
According to Seafood Watch, here are six fish that are healthy for you and the planet.
- Albacore Tuna (troll- or pole-caught, from the US or British Columbia)
Many tuna are high in mercury but albacore tuna–the kind of white tuna that’s commonly canned–gets a Super Green rating as long as (and this is the clincher) it is “troll- or pole-caught” in the US or British Columbia. The reason: Smaller (usually less than 20 pounds), younger fish are typically caught this way (as opposed to the larger fish caught on longlines). These fish have much lower mercury and contaminant ratings and those caught in colder northern waters often have higher omega-3 counts. The challenge: You need to do your homework to know how your fish was caught or look for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) blue eco label.
- Salmon (wild-caught, Alaska)
To give you an idea of how well-managed Alaska’s salmon fishery is, consider this: Biologists are posted at river mouths to count how many wild fish return to spawn. If the numbers begin to dwindle, the fishery is closed before it reaches its limits, as was done recently with some Chinook fisheries. This close monitoring, along with strict quotas and careful management of water quality, means Alaska’s wild-caught salmon are both healthier (they pack 1,210 mg of omega-3s per 3-ounce serving and carry few contaminants) and more sustainable than just about any other salmon fishery.
- Oysters (farmed)
Farmed oysters are good for you (a 3-ounce serving contains over 300 mg of omega-3s and about a third of the recommended daily values of iron). Better yet, they are actually good for the environment. Oysters feed off the natural nutrients and algae in the water, which improves water quality. They can also act as natural reefs, attracting and providing food for other fish. One health caveat: Raw shellfish, especially those from warm waters, may contain bacteria that can cause illnesses.
- Sardines, Pacific (wild-caught)
The tiny, inexpensive sardine is making it onto many lists of superfoods and for good reason. It packs more omega-3s (1,950 mg!) per 3-ounce serving than salmon, tuna, or just about any other food; it’s also one of the very, very few foods that’s naturally high in vitamin D. Many fish in the herring family are commonly called sardines. Quick to reproduce, Pacific sardines have rebounded from both overfishing and a natural collapse in the 1940s.
- Rainbow Trout (farmed)
Though lake trout are high in contaminants, nearly all the trout you will find in the market is farmed rainbow trout. In the US, rainbow trout are farmed primarily in freshwater ponds and “raceways” where they are more protected from contaminants and fed a fish meal diet that has been fine-tuned to conserve resources.
- Freshwater Coho Salmon (farmed in tank systems, from the US)
Freshwater coho salmon is the first–and only–farmed salmon to get a Super Green rating. All other farmed salmon still falls on Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch “avoid” list for a few reasons. Many farms use crowded pens where salmon are easily infected with parasites, may be treated with antibiotics, and can spread disease to wild fish (one reason Alaska has banned salmon farms). Also, it can take as much as three pounds of wild fish to raise one pound of salmon. Coho, however, are raised in closed freshwater pens and require less feed, so the environmental impacts are reduced. They’re also a healthy source of omega-3s–one 3-ounce serving delivers 1,025 mg.
Is Salmon Clean or Unclean
The Bible talks about clean and unclean animals, and tells people not to eat the meat of unclean animals. But does God really care what meats we eat?
Are there foods a Christian should not eat?
Yes, the Bible teaches there are meats that are designated as “unclean” (or unfit) for human consumption. These meats include pork, shellfish and the meat of other specific animals, sea creatures and birds. These laws are not ceremonial, but rather, they reveal God’s design of the animals and our digestive system.
What does unclean mean?
Things that are called unclean (Hebrew tame) in the Old Testament are the opposite of things that are called clean, pure and holy. Uncleanness separated a person from being able to worship at the temple. The emphasis was not on dirt but on God’s definition of what is pure.
As the words clean and unclean relate to animals, God used these categories to show what animals He intended for sacrifices and to be eaten.
“Animals and foods were also divided into clean and unclean classes. The clean might be eaten; the unclean were forbidden . . . Only clean animals might be offered to God as sacrifices” (Zondervan Expository Dictionary of Bible Words, 1991, p. 169).
The Bible relates following this law to being holy and being like God: “You shall be holy; for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44). It doesn’t explain exactly why specific animals are listed as clean or unclean, but we can know that whatever God tells us to do is for our good (Deuteronomy 10:13).
God gives good things
As He was winding up His discourse in Matthew 7, Jesus Christ asked, “Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:9-11).
Just as a physical father wants the best for his children—including giving them good things to eat—our Heavenly Father wants the best for us as well.
And just as our physical fathers taught us, God educates us on many aspects of living, and that includes which meats we can eat and those which He prohibits us from eating.
Does God care what animals I eat?
Yes—God created only certain animals for our consumption. Many others (such as pigs or oysters) were never intended to be food for human beings.
God defines clean and unclean animals
The meats God defines as clean and unclean are differentiated in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. God said, “These are the animals which you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth” (Leviticus 11:2).
This knowledge goes back much further, though, since Noah knew which animals were clean and unclean before the Flood. God told Noah to build an ark to save all the kinds of animals from the Flood. Then He said, “You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female” (Genesis 7:2). The extra clean animals could be used for food and for sacrifice to God, because only clean animals were to be sacrificed to God (Genesis 8:20).
What animals does the Bible say not to eat?
Simply stated, God explains that:
- Clean fish must have scales and fins. Bass, cod, flounder, grouper, salmon, snapper, trout and tuna all fit this category. Since catfish, lobsters, crabs, shrimp and many other water creatures do not have fins and scales, God says we should not eat them.
- Animals must have cloven (divided) hooves and chew the cud. These types of animals include antelope, cattle, goat, elk and deer. On the other hand, rabbits and pigs do not qualify as being clean and good to eat.
In Deuteronomy 14:11-18 we read that all clean birds may be eaten, but those we are not to eat include eagles, vultures, buzzards, falcons, ravens, ostriches, owls, seagulls, hawks, jackdaws (part of the crow family), storks and herons. Chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, quail and pheasants do not appear on this list of unclean birds and are considered clean—okay for us to eat.
Most insects are not good to eat, but God says some insects, such as locusts, grasshoppers and crickets, are okay to eat (Leviticus 11:22).
It is beyond the scope of this short explanation to enumerate every possible example of clean and unclean animals. Our infographic mentioned above gives more a more detailed listing.
“Be holy”
God declares that He is holy and wants us to be holy.
Some suggest that better quality feed for unclean animals and modern cooking methods remove the need to follow these dietary laws. But neither dynamic changes how God designed the animals—some fit for food and some not. And Scripture gives the most important reason to obey. Leviticus 11:43-44 tells us that we are made holy (set apart) by obeying these laws and are defiled by disobeying them.
Through the prophet Isaiah, God declares that His thoughts and His ways are different from ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). The Levitical priesthood was given the responsibility to teach the people the difference between “the holy and the unholy” and to help them “discern between the unclean and the clean” (Ezekiel 44:23).
God declares that He is holy and wants us to be holy (Leviticus 20:7) as His sons and daughters (2 Corinthians 6:17-18). John 1:12 and 20:17 and other scriptures also verify this concept. Our Father wants all of us to be like Him—holy and clean.
Every father wants what is best for his children, and God is no exception. We cannot remain clean if we eat things that are unclean.
God has given some detailed instructions regarding clean and unclean animals—the ones we are to eat and which ones we should avoid. He also leaves it to us to “discern between the unclean and the clean” when He does not explicitly mention every animal.
However, by examining their physical characteristics in light of God’s Word, we determine whether they are fit for humans to eat. King Solomon wrote, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter” (Proverbs 25:2).
Because He loves us, God certainly does care what meats we eat, and we have His loving instructions and commandments to prove it. “Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!” (Deuteronomy 5:29).