Are Insects Kosher?

We are asked this question quite a bit and the answer is both yes and no. Certain insects are edible according to God as it is written in Leviticus, however this does not by virtue make them what we refer to today as “kosher.”

After extensive research the answer is best supported by a passage from the book: “The Diet of John the Baptist,” by Mohr Siebeck. In the chapter titled: “From Leviticus to Moses Maimonides: Locust Eating in Jewish Literature and the Ancient Near East,” pg 41, the author writes:

With regard to the eating of locusts/grasshoppers, Leviticus 11 allows the Israelites to consume four different kinds of ‘leaping’ insects: [20] All winged insects that walk upon all fours are detestable to you. [21] But among the winged insects that walk on all fours you may eat those that have jointed legs above their feet, with which to leap on the ground. [22] Of them you may eat: the locust according to its kind, the bald locust according to its kind, the cricket according to its kind, and the grasshopper according to its kind. But all other winged insects that have four feet are detestable to you. (Lev 11:20-23)

There are Jewish communities as well as Muslims who eat crickets and grasshoppers because they recognize the passage from Leviticus as a claim for being kosher and halal.

 


Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

← Faqs

Leave a Reply