The Bible in the Old Testament, specifically in Leviticus 11:7-8 and Deuteronomy 14:8, clearly prohibits the Israelites from eating pork. Pigs are considered unclean because although they have divided hooves, they do not chew the cud. The Israelites were instructed not only to avoid eating pork but also to avoid touching their carcasses, marking pork as ceremonially unclean for them.
The Old Testament laws on pork had purposes beyond ritual purity: they set the Israelites apart from other nations and likely had hygienic health reasons, as pigs can carry diseases if not properly prepared, which was a significant concern in ancient times.
However, in the New Testament, the dietary restrictions of the Old Testament ceremonial laws, including the ban on pork, are interpreted to have been fulfilled and set aside through Jesus Christ. For example, in Acts 10, Peter receives a vision from God declaring previously unclean animals clean, indicating that Christians are not bound by the same dietary laws as the Old Testament Israelites. Thus, many Christian theologians agree that Christians can eat pork today, as the ceremonial laws are considered no longer binding under the New Covenant through Christ.
In summary, the Bible forbids pork consumption in the Old Testament for the Israelites due to ritual and health reasons, but the New Testament indicates that Christians no longer need to observe this dietary restriction.
