Pork and wisdom

Recently, someone asked me:

“Should we today still keep the laws from the Old Testament, such as the prohibition on eating pork?”

That is an interesting question, because it immediately raises an important thought: why did God give these laws in the first place? Take the example of pork. In Leviticus 11:7-8 it says:

“and the pig, for though it divides the hoof, thus making a split hoof, it does not chew the cud, it is unclean to you. You shall not eat any of their flesh nor touch their carcasses.” (NASB)

At first glance, this seems like an arbitrary rule. But anyone who looks at the biology and living conditions of the Israelites sees a clear reason.

Why does pork spoil faster?

Scientifically speaking, there is a difference between beef and pork that determines how quickly they spoil:

  1. Moisture content

    • Pork contains more water than beef.
    • More water means a better breeding ground for bacteria, causing it to spoil faster.

  2. pH level of the meat

    • Pork often has a slightly higher pH after slaughter.
    • A higher pH promotes bacterial growth.

  3. Structure and fat

    • Beef has stronger muscle fibers and often more intramuscular fat, which slows down spoilage.
    • Pork is more tender and therefore more vulnerable.

  4. Environmental factors

    • In the hot, dry wilderness where the Israelites lived, it was difficult to properly cool food.
    • Pork that was not processed quickly could easily cause disease.

When this law was given by God, the Israelites were living in the wilderness of Sinai, on their way from Egypt to the Promised Land. And in those days, there were no refrigerators in the desert…

God’s law about pork was therefore not arbitrary, but practical protection: His people would remain healthy and avoid contamination. God wanted to take care of His people and therefore gave rules to accomplish that.

Should we still keep these laws today?

With the coming of Jesus Christ, everything changes. Paul writes in Romans 14:14:

“I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.” (NASB)

And in Acts 10:15, when Peter receives a vision:

“Again a voice came to him a second time, ‘What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.’” (NASB)

The food laws of the Old Testament are therefore no longer binding for Christians. They were intended for the nation of Israel in a specific time and environment, often with practical health reasons, as we saw with pork.

God’s laws: wisdom and protection

God does not make laws for fun. They serve a purpose: protection, health, and spiritual discipline. Through Christ we are free from ceremonial and legal regulations, but the wisdom and heart behind them remain absolutely (!) relevant. God’s commandments reveal how He cares for His people—then and now.

“For I am the LORD your God. Therefore, consecrate yourselves and be holy, for I am holy.” Leviticus 11:44 (NASB)

In short: eating pork today is not a sin, but the original prohibition shows how God combined practical care and wisdom in His laws. And that may mean that even today we should avoid things that are unhealthy for us. Even if it is not literally stated in the Bible, the spirit of the Bible and of God remains the same: He wants to protect you from becoming (also spiritually) sick. Not because He wants to burden you with rules, but because He loves you.