14. Health, Diet, Alcohol, Clothing, and Personal Hygiene

Four diseases are addressed in the commandments: leprosy, dry itch, freckles, and baldness. In each case a priest makes the diagnosis, determining whether the person is clean or unclean. Unclean people are banished from the community until a priest inspects them and declares them clean again. Before returning to the community, however, a long and bloody ritual must be performed, in which a living bird is dipped into the blood of a dead bird, and the blood is then sprinkled on the person who has been cured of leprosy.

The commandments on diet and alcohol are contradictory. God originally told humans to be vegans; after the flood, he told them to eat anything that moves. In Leviticus, he gave them rules on which animals may or may not be eaten; the New Testament says to ignore those rules and eat whatever you want (except for blood, strangled animals, and animals sacrificed to idols). And the ten commandments on alcohol seem to equally encourage and discourage its use.

The Bible's fashion commandments are hard to summarize, but there are some interesting ones. Always wear white, never wear a garment made from different kinds of fibers, and put some fringes on your garments. Men should not have long hair or round the corners of their beards; women should dress modestly, should not wear men's clothes, braid their hair, or wear expensive jewelry. And no one should have tattoos.

The cleanliness and personal hygiene commandments are mostly about touching unclean things, like the uncleanness of man, a live creeping thing, or a dead beast. But my favorite commandment is this: when you're on a camping trip and you go the bathroom, be sure to cover it up, "for the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp."

Leprosy
Dry Itch
Freckles
Baldness
General Rules for Healthy Living
Diet
Alcohol
Clothing
Hair, Beards, Tattoos, and Jewelry
Cleanliness and Personal Hygiene

(Numbered P and N links are to the positive and negative commandments on Maimonides's list.)

Leprosy

Leprosy must be diagnosed by a priest.

When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests: And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and when the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy. Leviticus 13:2-3a

Maimonides: P101: The leper - Lev 13

A person who suffers from leprosy is unclean.

The priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean. Leviticus 13:3b

The following procedure must be used to diagnose leprosy.

If the bright spot be white in the skin of his flesh, and in sight be not deeper than the skin, and the hair thereof be not turned white; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague seven days. Leviticus 13:4

And the priest shall look on him the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague in his sight be at a stay, and the plague spread not in the skin; then the priest shall shut him up seven days more. Leviticus 13:5

And the priest shall look on him again the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague be somewhat dark, and the plague spread not in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean: it is but a scab: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean. Leviticus 13:6

But if the scab spread much abroad in the skin, after that he hath been seen of the priest for his cleansing, he shall be seen of the priest again. And if the priest see that, behold, the scab spreadeth in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a leprosy. Leviticus 13:7-8

When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought unto the priest; And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the rising be white in the skin, and it have turned the hair white, and there be quick raw flesh in the rising; It is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean, and shall not shut him up: for he is unclean. Leviticus 13:9-11

And if a leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the leprosy cover all the skin of him that hath the plague from his head even to his foot, wheresoever the priest looketh; Then the priest shall consider: and, behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: it is all turned white: he is clean. Leviticus 13:12-13

But when raw flesh appeareth in him, he shall be unclean. And the priest shall see the raw flesh, and pronounce him to be unclean: for the raw flesh is unclean: it is a leprosy. Leviticus 13:14-15

Or if the raw flesh turn again, and be changed unto white, he shall come unto the priest; And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the plague be turned into white; then the priest shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: he is clean. Leviticus 13:16-17

The flesh also, in which, even in the skin thereof, was a boil, and is healed, And in the place of the boil there be a white rising, or a bright spot, white, and somewhat reddish, and it be shewed to the priest; And if, when the priest seeth it, behold, it be in sight lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white; the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague of leprosy broken out of the boil. Leviticus 13:18-20

But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hairs therein, and if it be not lower than the skin, but be somewhat dark; then the priest shall shut him up seven days: And if it spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague. Leviticus 13:21-22

But if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not, it is a burning boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean. Leviticus 13:23

Or if there be any flesh, in the skin whereof there is a hot burning, and the quick flesh that burneth have a white bright spot, somewhat reddish, or white; Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the hair in the bright spot be turned white, and it be in sight deeper than the skin; it is a leprosy broken out of the burning: wherefore the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy. Leviticus 13:24-25

But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hair in the bright spot, and it be no lower than the other skin, but be somewhat dark; then the priest shall shut him up seven days. Leviticus 13:26

And the priest shall look upon him the seventh day: and if it be spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy. Leviticus 13:27

And if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not in the skin, but it be somewhat dark; it is a rising of the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him clean: for it is an inflammation of the burning. Leviticus 13:28

See Perform these sacrifices after being cleansed of leprosy

People with leprosy must destroy their clothes, not wear hats, and cover up their upper lips while shouting, "Unclean, Unclean!"

And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean. Leviticus 13:45

Maimonides: P112: The leper to be made distinguishable - Lev 13:45

People with leprosy are defiled.

All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled. Leviticus 13:46a

They must live completely alone.

He shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be. Leviticus 13:46b
Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper ... Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell. Numbers 5:2-3

Maimonides: P31: Remove the unclean - Num 5:2-3; N77: Unclean persons may not enter any part of the sanctuary - Num 5:3; Punishment: Death

The law of the plague of leprosy in a garment.

The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, whether it be a woollen garment, or a linen garment; Whether it be in the warp, or woof; of linen, or of woollen; whether in a skin, or in any thing made of skin; And if the plague be greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it is a plague of leprosy, and shall be shewed unto the priest: And the priest shall look upon the plague, and shut up it that hath the plague seven days. Leviticus 13:47-50

And he shall look on the plague on the seventh day: if the plague be spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in a skin, or in any work that is made of skin; the plague is a fretting leprosy; it is unclean.Leviticus 13:51

He shall therefore burn that garment, whether warp or woof, in woollen or in linen, or any thing of skin, wherein the plague is: for it is a fretting leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire. Leviticus 13:52

And if the priest shall look, and, behold, the plague be not spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; Then the priest shall command that they wash the thing wherein the plague is, and he shall shut it up seven days more. Leviticus 13:53-54

And the priest shall look on the plague, after that it is washed: and, behold, if the plague have not changed his colour, and the plague be not spread; it is unclean; thou shalt burn it in the fire; it is fret inward, whether it be bare within or without. Leviticus 13:55

And if the priest look, and, behold, the plague be somewhat dark after the washing of it; then he shall rend it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof. Leviticus 13:56

And if it appear still in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it is a spreading plague: thou shalt burn that wherein the plague is with fire. Leviticus 13:57

And the garment, either warp, or woof, or whatsoever thing of skin it be, which thou shalt wash, if the plague be departed from them, then it shall be washed the second time, and shall be clean. This is the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of woollen or linen, either in the warp, or woof, or any thing of skins, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean. Leviticus 13:58-59

Maimonides: P102: Garments contaminated by leprosy - Lev 13:47-59

Perform this ceremony after you are healed of leprosy.

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest: The priest shall inspect the person to verify that the person has been healed of leprosy. Leviticus 14:1-3

Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop. Leviticus 14:4

And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water. Leviticus 14:5

As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water. Leviticus 14:6

And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field. Leviticus 14:7

And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days. Leviticus 14:8

But it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, also he shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be clean. Leviticus 14:9

And on the eighth day he shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish, and three tenth deals of fine flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil. Leviticus 14:10

And the priest that maketh him clean shall present the man that is to be made clean, and those things, before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: And the priest shall take one he lamb, and offer him for a trespass offering , and the log of oil, and wave them for a wave offering before the LORD: And he shall slay the lamb in the place where he shall kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the holy place: for as the sin offering is the priest's, so is the trespass offering: it is most holy. Leviticus 14:11-13

And the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and the priest shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot. Leviticus 14:14

And the priest shall take some of the log of oil, and pour it into the palm of his own left hand: And the priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and shall sprinkle of the oil with his finger seven times before the LORD. Leviticus 14:15-16

And of the rest of the oil that is in his hand shall the priest put upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the blood of the trespass offering. Leviticus 14:17

And the remnant of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall pour upon the head of him that is to be cleansed: and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD. Leviticus 14:18

And the priest shall offer the sin offering, and make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed from his uncleanness; and afterward he shall kill the burnt offering: And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the meat offering upon the altar: and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and he shall be clean. Leviticus 14:19-20

And if he be poor, and cannot get so much; then he shall take one lamb for a trespass offering to be waved, to make an atonement for him, and one tenth deal of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering, and a log of oil; And two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, such as he is able to get; and the one shall be a sin offering, and the other a burnt offering. And he shall bring them on the eighth day for his cleansing unto the priest, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, before the LORD. And the priest shall take the lamb of the trespass offering, and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD: And he shall kill the lamb of the trespass offering, and the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot: And the priest shall pour of the oil into the palm of his own left hand: And the priest shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before the LORD: And the priest shall put of the oil that is in his hand upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the place of the blood of the trespass offering: And the rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put upon the head of him that is to be cleansed, to make an atonement for him before the LORD. And he shall offer the one of the turtledoves, or of the young pigeons, such as he can get; Even such as he is able to get, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, with the meat offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed before the LORD. This is the law of him in whom is the plague of leprosy, whose hand is not able to get that which pertaineth to his cleansing. Leviticus 14:21-32

Maimonides: P110: Cleansing from leprosy - Lev 14:1-7; P111: A leper must shave his head - Lev 14:9

What to do when your house has leprosy.

And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, When ye be come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land of your possession; And he that owneth the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, It seemeth to me there is as it were a plague in the house. Leviticus 14:33-35

Then the priest shall command that they empty the house, before the priest go into it to see the plague, that all that is in the house be not made unclean: and afterward the priest shall go in to see the house. Leviticus 14:36

And he shall look on the plague, and, behold, if the plague be in the walls of the house with hollow strakes, greenish or reddish, which in sight are lower than the wall; Then the priest shall go out of the house to the door of the house, and shut up the house seven days. Leviticus 14:37-38

And the priest shall come again the seventh day, and shall look: and, behold, if the plague be spread in the walls of the house; Then the priest shall command that they take away the stones in which the plague is, and they shall cast them into an unclean place without the city: And he shall cause the house to be scraped within round about, and they shall pour out the dust that they scrape off without the city into an unclean place: And they shall take other stones, and put them in the place of those stones; and he shall take other morter, and shall plaister the house. Leviticus 14:39-42

And if the plague come again, and break out in the house, after that he hath taken away the stones, and after he hath scraped the house, and after it is plaistered; Then the priest shall come and look, and, behold, if the plague be spread in the house, it is a fretting leprosy in the house; it is unclean. Leviticus 14:43-44

And he shall break down the house, the stones of it, and the timber thereof, and all the morter of the house; and he shall carry them forth out of the city into an unclean place. Leviticus 14:45

Moreover he that goeth into the house all the while that it is shut up shall be unclean until the even. And he that lieth in the house shall wash his clothes; and he that eateth in the house shall wash his clothes. Leviticus 14:46-47

And if the priest shall come in, and look upon it, and, behold, the plague hath not spread in the house, after the house was plaistered: then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the plague is healed. Leviticus 14:48

And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: And he shall kill the one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water: And he shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times: And he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, and with the living bird, and with the cedar wood, and with the hyssop, and with the scarlet: But he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open fields, and make an atonement for the house: and it shall be clean. Leviticus 14:49-53

Maimonides: P103: A leprous house - Lev 14:36

If you get leprosy, do whatever the priests tell you to do.

Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do. Deuteronomy 24:8

Maimonides: N308: Don't cut or cauterize signs of leprosy - Dt 24:8; Punishment: Whipping

Dry Itch

A priest must diagnose dry itch.

If a man or woman have a plague upon the head or the beard; Then the priest shall see the plague: and, behold, if it be in sight deeper than the skin; and there be in it a yellow thin hair; then ... it is a dry itch, even a leprosy upon the head or beard. Leviticus 13:29-30

A person with dry itch is unclean.

The priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a dry itch. Leviticus 13:30

The following procedure must be used to diagnose dry itch.

And if the priest look on the plague of the scall, and, behold, it be not in sight deeper than the skin, and that there is no black hair in it; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague of the scall seven days: Leviticus 13:31

And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the plague: and, behold, if the scall spread not, and there be in it no yellow hair, and the scall be not in sight deeper than the skin; He shall be shaven, but the scall shall he not shave; and the priest shall shut up him that hath the scall seven days more. Leviticus 13:32-33

And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the scall: and, behold, if the scall be not spread in the skin, nor be in sight deeper than the skin; then the priest shall pronounce him clean: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean. Leviticus 13:34

But if the scall spread much in the skin after his cleansing; Then the priest shall look on him: and, behold, if the scall be spread in the skin, the priest shall not seek for yellow hair; he is unclean. Leviticus 13:35-36

But if the scall be in his sight at a stay, and that there is black hair grown up therein; the scall is healed, he is clean: and the priest shall pronounce him clean. Leviticus 13:37

Maimonides: N307 - Don't shave the scall - Lev 13:33

Freckles

A priest must diagnose freckles.

If a man also or a woman have in the skin of their flesh bright spots, even white bright spots; Then the priest shall look: and, behold, if the bright spots in the skin of their flesh be darkish white; it is a freckled spot that groweth in the skin. Leviticus 13:38-39

A person with a freckle is clean.

[If] it is a freckled spot that groweth in the skin; he is clean. Leviticus 13:39

Baldness

If a man has hair fall off of his head, he is bald but he is clean.

The man whose hair is fallen off his head, he is bald; yet is he clean. Leviticus 13:40

If a man has hair fall off the part of his head that is toward his face, he is forehead bald but he is clean.

And he that hath his hair fallen off from the part of his head toward his face, he is forehead bald: yet is he clean. Leviticus 13:41

If there is a white reddish sore on the bald man's head, the priest will declare him unclean.

And if there be in the bald head, or bald forehead, a white reddish sore; it is a leprosy sprung up in his bald head, or his bald forehead. Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the rising of the sore be white reddish in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the leprosy appeareth in the skin of the flesh; He is a leprous man, he is unclean: the priest shall pronounce him utterly unclean; his plague is in his head. Leviticus 13:42-44

General Rules for Healthy Living

Don't allow anyone who has an issue to live near you.

Put out of the camp ... every one that hath an issue ... Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell. Numbers 5:2-3a

Don't allow anyone who has touched a dead body to live near you.

Put out of the camp ... whosoever is defiled by the dead: Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell. Numbers 5:2-3b

Exercise to become godly.

Exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.1 Timothy 4:7-8

If you're sick, ask the elders to pray for you.

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick ... pray one for another, that ye may be healed. James 5:14-16

Diet

Be a vegan.

And God said, Behold, 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. Genesis 1:29

Be an omnivore.

Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. Genesis 9:3

Don't eat blood.

But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. Genesis 9:4
It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood. Leviticus 3:17
Ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings. Leviticus 7:26
No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood. ... Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof. Leviticus 17:12-14
Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood. Leviticus 19:26
Ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water. Deuteronomy 12:16
be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh. Deuteronomy 12:23
Thou shalt not eat the blood thereof; thou shalt pour it upon the ground as water. Deuteronomy 15:23
Abstain ... from blood. Acts 15:20
It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us ... that ye abstain ... from blood. Acts 15:29-30
As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves ... from blood. Acts 21:25

Maimonides: N182: Don't eat a limb of a living animal - Dt 12:23; N184: Don't eat blood - Lev 12:26; Punishment: Whipping for N182, death for N184

See Crime and Punishment for what to do with people who eat blood.

Don't eat the flesh of a stoned ox.

If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten. Exodus 21:28

Maimonides: N188: Don't eat the flesh of a stoned ox - Ex 21:28; Punishment: Whipping for anyone who eats an olive-sized portion of stoned ox flesh

Don't boil a young goat in its mother's milk.

Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk. Exodus 23:19, 34:26; Deuteronomy 14:21

Maimonides: N186: Don't cook meat in milk - Ex 23:19; N187: Don't eat meat cooked in milk - 34:26; Punishment: Whipping

Don't eat any animal (or its fat) that died of natural causes or was killed by other animals.

Neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field. Exodus 22:31
And the fat of the beast that dieth of itself, and the fat of that which is torn with beasts ... ye shall in no wise eat of it. Leviticus 7:24
That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts, he shall not eat to defile himself therewith. Leviticus 22:8
Ye shall not eat of anything that dieth of itself. Deuteronomy 14:21

Maimonides: N180: Don't eat nevelah (an animal that died of natural causes) - Dt 14:21; N181: Don't eat terifah (an animal that was killed by predators) - Ex 22:31; Punishment: Whipping

If you find an animal that has died of natural causes or was killed by other animals, feed it to the dogs or strangers, or sell it to aliens.

Flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs. Exodus 22:31
Anything that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien. Deuteronomy 14:21

Don't eat any fat, not even in your own home.

All the fat is the LORD's. It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood. Leviticus 3:16-17
Ye shall eat no manner of fat, of ox, or of sheep, or of goat. Leviticus 7:23

Maimonides: N185: Not to eat the fat of a clean animal - Lev 7:23; Punishment: Death

Distinguish between animals that you may and may not eat.

Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. Leviticus 11:2

Maimonides: P149: Search for the prescribed signs in cattle and animals - Lev 11:2

Eat animals that part the hoof, are clovenfootted, and chew the cud.

Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat. Leviticus 11:3

Don't eat camels, conies, hares, or swine.

These shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. Of their flesh shall ye not eat. Leviticus 11:4-8
Nevertheless these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the cloven hoof; as the camel, and the hare, and the coney: for they chew the cud, but divide not the hoof; therefore they are unclean unto you. And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh. Deuteronomy 14:7-8

Maimonides: N172: Don't eat any unclean animal - Dt 14:7-8; Punishment: Whipping

Eat animals that live in water and have fins and scales.

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. Leviticus 11:9
These ye shall eat of all that are in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat. Deuteronomy 14:9

Maimonides: P152: Search for the prescribed tokens in fishes - Lev 11:9

Don't eat animals that live in the water but don't have fins or scales.

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 ... ye shall not eat of their flesh. Ye shall have their carcases in abomination. Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters. Leviticus 11:10-12
Whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it is unclean unto you. Deuteronomy 14:10

Maimonides: N173: Don't eat any unclean fish - Lev 11:11; Punishment: Whipping

The following birds may not be eaten: eagles, vultures, ospreys, kites, ravens, owls, nighthawks, hawks, cuckoos, cormorants, swans, pelicans, storks, herons, lapwings, and bats.

And these are they which ... shall not be eaten ... the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, And the vulture, and the kite after his kind; Every raven after his kind; And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. Leviticus 11:13-19
But these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, And the glede, and the kite, and the vulture after his kind, And every raven after his kind, And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, The little owl, and the great owl, and the swan, And the pelican, and the gier eagle, and the cormorant, And the stork, and the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. Deuteronomy 14:12-18

Maimonides: N174: Not to eat any unclean fowl - Lev 11:13; Punishment: Whipping

Eat flying creeping things that walk on four with legs above their feet. Among these are locusts, beetles, and grasshoppers.

Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth; Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind. But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you. Leviticus 11:21-23

Don't eat creeping things that creep on the earth.

They are abominations.

And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth ... shall not be eaten. Leviticus 11:41

Maimonides: N176: Don't eat anything which swarms on the earth - Lev 11:41; Punishment: Whipping

Don't eat any animal that crawls on its belly, goes on all four, or has lots of feet.

They are all abominations.

Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination. Leviticus 11:42

Maimonides: N178: Don't eat living creatures that breed in seeds or fruit - Lev 11:42; Punishment: Whipping

Kill and eat whatever your soul lusts after.

Thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the roebuck, and as of the hart. Deuteronomy 12:15

Maimonides: P86: Redeem blemished offerings - Dt 12:25

Don't eat any abominable thing.

Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing. Deuteronomy 14:3

Maimonides: N140: Don't eat the invalidated consecrated offerings - Dt 14:3; Punishment: Whipping

Eat these animals: oxen, sheep, goats, harts, roebucks, fallow deer, pygargs, and chamois.

These are the beasts which ye shall eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat, The hart, and the roebuck, and the fallow deer, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois. Deuteronomy 14:4-5

Eat clean birds.

Of all clean birds ye shall eat. Deuteronomy 14:11
All clean fowls ye may eat. Deuteronomy 14:20

Maimonides: P150: Search for the prescribed signs in birds - Dt 14:11

Don't eat fowls that creep and walk upon all four.

They are abominations.

Every creeping thing that flieth is unclean unto you: they shall not be eaten. Deuteronomy 14:19

Maimonides: N175: Don't eat any swarming winged insect - Dt 14:19; Punishment: Whipping

Eat your firstborn bulls and sheep in the place where God chooses.

All the firstling males that come of thy herd and of thy flock ... thou shalt eat it before the LORD thy God year by year in the place which the LORD shall choose, thou and thy household. Deuteronomy 15:19-20

Don't be a drunkard or a glutton.

If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear. Dt 21:18-21

Maimonides: N195: Don't eat or drink to excess - Lev 19:26, Dt 21:20; Punishment: Death by stoning

Stay away from wild-eyed meat eaters.

Be not ... among riotous eaters of flesh. Proverbs 23:20

Eat honey.

Eat thou honey, because it is good. Proverbs 24:13

But don't eat too much honey.

Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. Proverbs 25:16

Eat bread with joy.

Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy. Ecclesiastes 9:7

Kill and eat animals.

Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. Acts 10:9-13
In a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. Acts 11:5-7
Every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving. 1 Timothy 4:4

Don't eat meats offered to idols.

Abstain from pollutions of idols. Acts 15:20
It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us ... that ye abstain from meats offered to idols. Acts 15:29-30
As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols. Acts 21:25
But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. 1 Corinthians 10:28

Don't eat strangled things.

Abstain ... from things strangled. Acts 15:20
It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us ... that ye abstain ... from things strangled. Acts 15:29-30
As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves ... from strangled. Acts 21:25

Don't judge those with different dietary preferences.

Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth. Romans 14:3

Don't destroy a vegetarian by serving meat.

If thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink. Romans 14:15-17

Eat whatever is sold at the store.

Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake. 1 Corinthians 10:25

If you are invited to dinner at an unbeliever's house, eat whatever is set before you.

If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. 1 Corinthians 10:27

Alcohol

Stay away from winebibbers.

Be not among winebibbers. Proverbs 23:20

Don't look at the wine while it is red.

Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Proverbs 23:31-33

Give strong drinks to the dying.

Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish. Proverbs 31:6a

Give wine to sad people.

Give ... wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. Proverbs 31:6b-7

Drink wine with a merry heart.

Drink thy wine with a merry heart. Ecclesiastes 9:7

Wake up, you drunkards; weep and howl, because your wine is cut off.

Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth. Joel 1:5

Don't force someone to get drunk so you can look at their nakedness.

Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness! Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD's right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory. Habakkuk 2:16

Don't walk in drunkenness.

Let us walk ... not in ... drunkenness. Romans 13:13

Don't get drunk with wine.

Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess. Ephesians 5:18

Be sober.

Be sober. ... Let us, who are of the day, be sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8

Don't drink water anymore. Drink wine instead.

Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities. 1 Timothy 5:23

Clothing

Don't wear a garment made from different kinds of fibers.

Neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee. Leviticus 19:19
Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen together. Deuteronomy 22:11

Maimonides: N42: Not to wear a garment of wool and linen - Dt 22:11; Punishment: Whipping

Put fringes on your garments.

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. Numbers 15:37-40
Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four quarters of thy vesture, wherewith thou coverest thyself. Deuteronomy 22:12

Maimonides: P14: The fringes - Num 15:38

Women may not wear men's clothing.

The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man ... for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 22:5a

Maimonides: N39: Women may not wear men's clothes or adornments - Dt 22:5; Punishment: Whipping

Men may not wear women's clothing.

Neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 22:5b

Maimonides: N40: Men may not wear women's clothes or adornments - Dt 22:5; Punishment: Whipping

Always wear white clothes.

Let thy garments be always white. Ecclesiastes 9:8

Women should dress modestly.

I will therefore ... that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety. 1 Timothy 2:8-9

Hair, Beards, Tattoos, Ointment, and Jewelry

Don't round the corners of your head.

Ye shall not round the corners of your heads. Leviticus 19:27a

Maimonides: N43: Don't shave the temples of your head - Lev 19:27; Punishment: Whipping

Don't ruin the corners of your beard.

Neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard. Leviticus 19:27b

Maimonides: N44: Don't shave the beard - Lev 19:27; Punishment: Whipping

Don't cut your skin for dead people.

Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead. Leviticus 19:28a
Ye shall not cut yourselves ... for the dead. Deuteronomy 14:1

Maimonides: N45: Don't make cuttings in your flesh - Dt 14:1, Lev 19:28; Punishment: Whipping

Don't have any tattoos on your body.

Ye shall not ... print any marks upon you. Leviticus 19:28b

Maimonides: N41: Don't imprint any marks upon your body - Lev 19:28; Punishment: Whipping

Don't make any baldness between your eyes for dead people.

Ye shall not ... make any baldness between your eyes for the dead. Deuteronomy 14:1

Maimonides: N171: Don't tear out your hair for the dead - Dt 14:1; Punishment: Whipping

Always have some ointment on your head.

Let thy head lack no ointment. Ecclesiastes 9:8

Men shouldn't cover their heads.

A man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 1 Corinthians 11:7

Men shouldn't have long hair.

Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 1 Corinthians 11:14

Women should not braid their hair.

I will therefore ... that women adorn themselves ... not with braided hair. 1 Timothy 2:8-9b
Wives ... whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair. 1 Peter 3:1-3

Women should not wear expensive jewelry.

I will therefore ... that women adorn themselves ... not with ... gold, or pearls, or costly array. 1 Timothy 2:8-9c
Wives ... whose adorning let it not be ... of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel. 1 Peter 3:1-3

Cleanliness and Personal Hygiene

Don't accidentally touch an unclean thing, like a dead beast, cow, or creeping thing.

Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty. Leviticus 5:2

Don't accidentally touch the uncleanness of man.

Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty. Leviticus 5:3

If you touch the carcase of an unclean animal you must wash your clothes and be unclean until the evening.

All other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you. Whosoever beareth ought of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. Leviticus 11:23-24

And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even. And he that beareth the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. Leviticus 11:27-28

The weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind, And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole. Whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even. Leviticus 11:29-31

Maimonides: P96: Defilement through carcasses of animals - Lev 11:24; P97: Defilement through carcasses of certain creeping creatures - Lev 11:29-30

Whatever a dead unclean animal touches is unclean.

And upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean; whether it be any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever vessel it be, wherein any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; so it shall be cleansed. And every earthen vessel, whereinto any of them falleth, whatsoever is in it shall be unclean; and ye shall break it. Of all meat which may be eaten, that on which such water cometh shall be unclean: and all drink that may be drunk in every such vessel shall be unclean. And every thing whereupon any part of their carcase falleth shall be unclean; whether it be oven, or ranges for pots, they shall be broken down: for they are unclean and shall be unclean unto you. Nevertheless a fountain or pit, wherein there is plenty of water, shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcase shall be unclean. And if any part of their carcase fall upon any sowing seed which is to be sown, it shall be clean. But if any water be put upon the seed, and any part of their carcase fall thereon, it shall be unclean unto you. Leviticus 11:32-38

Maimonides: P98: Defilement of food and drink - Lev 11:34

If an animal that may be eaten dies of natural causes and you eat it, wash your clothes. After your clothes are washed, you will be unclean until evening.

And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die ... he that eateth of the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. Leviticus 11:39-40

Don't make yourself abominable, defiled, or unclean with creeping things.

Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby. ... Neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Leviticus 11:43-44

Maimonides: N177: Not to eat any creeping thing that breeds in decayed matter - Lev 11:44; N179: Not to eat any swarming thing - Lev 11:43; Punishment: Whipping

Prepare a place to go to the bathroom.

Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad. Deuteronomy 23:12

Maimonides: P192: Prepare a place beyond the camp - Dt 23:13

When you defecate, cover up your excrement.

And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon; and it shall be, when thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee: For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee. Deuteronomy 23:13-14

Maimonides: P193: Including a paddle among war implements - Dt 23:14

Wash yourself.

Wash you, make you clean. Isaiah 1:16
Cleanse your hands, ye sinners. James 4:8

Don't call anyone common or unclean.

God hath shewed me [Peter] that I should not call any man common or unclean. Acts 10:28

Wash your hands.

Cleanse your hands, ye sinners. James 4:8