Does Deuteronomy 12:15 teach that we can eat any unclean meat we desire?
If we don’t read this text closely, we could easily misinterpret it as giving permission to consume any unclean meat we desire. However, we know that God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33) and that He never changes or contradicts Himself (Numbers 23:19; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 6:18). In other words, God is not going to give very clear eternal principles and commands in one place, then go back on them in another. So this passage needs to be examined closely for us to fully comprehend what God is telling the children of Israel. Let’s look at the text in question:
“However, you may slaughter and eat meat within all your gates, whatever your heart desires, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you; the unclean and the clean may eat of it, of the gazelle and the deer alike.” Deuteronomy 12:15
Notice first that God says (emphasis supplied), “…whatever your heart desires, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you….” What does that mean? It means that God only gave His blessing for His people to eat clean animals.
We see the distinction between the clean and unclean animals in Genesis 7:1–2, 8; and then in greater detail within Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. In fact, to make sure He doesn’t confuse His people by His remarks in Deuteronomy 12, He purposely clarifies the difference between that which is lawful to eat and that which in not lawful to eat two chapters later, in Deuteronomy 14.
Remember that the book of Leviticus was written before the book of Deuteronomy for the same people. God would not contradict Himself by delivering very clear specifications on food in Leviticus, then undoing those specifications in Deuteronomy. We can be very sure that this clean/unclean issue is dealing directly with foods that can be eaten and foods that should not be eaten.
Let’s look at another text (emphasis supplied throughout):
“‘This is the law of the animals and the birds and every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps on the earth, to distinguish between the unclean and the clean, and between the animal that may be eaten and the animal that may not be eaten.’” Leviticus 11:46–47
These are the closing verses of Leviticus 11, where God makes the clearest of all statements regarding clean and unclean animals. In fact, He calls it the “law of the animals.” There is no evidence anywhere in the Bible of God undoing or reversing this law. Moreover, our key verse (Deuteronomy 12:15) lists “the gazelle and the deer” as examples of those meats which can be eaten, since both gazelles and deer chew their cud and have split hooves, as specified in Leviticus 11:3.
The portion of Deuteronomy 12:15 that seems to confuse some people is this: “…the unclean and the clean may eat of it….” If not read carefully, it seems as if God is saying we can eat anything—clean or unclean. However, the use of the English language here specifies that people, whether “clean” or “unclean,” can eat the appropriate meats.
Reading only the King James or New King James Version of the Bible may lead some to misinterpret the words by thinking they refer to the food. However, by reading other versions of the Bible, it becomes clear that “the unclean and the clean” refers not to the animal flesh, but to the people eating it. Let’s look at some different translations:
“… Both the ceremonially unclean and the clean may eat it.” Deuteronomy 12:15 (New International Version)
“… Both ritually unqualified and qualified people may eat it as they would gazelle and deer.” Deuteronomy 12:15 (International Standard Version)
“… Both the ritually pure and impure may eat it, whether it is a gazelle or an ibex.” Deuteronomy 12:15 (New English Translation)
“… All of you, whether ceremonially clean or unclean, may eat that meat, just as you now eat gazelle and deer.” Deuteronomy 12:15 (New Living Translation)
“… People who are polluted and people who are purified can join in the feast, as they would if they were eating gazelle or deer.” Deuteronomy 12:15 (Common English Bible)
All these translations clarify and confirm that the words “unclean and clean” refer to the people, and not the meat. The Lord makes it very clear throughout His Word that there are clean animals that may be eaten, and unclean animals that should not be eaten. And for anyone who doubts that these principles still apply today—and all the way through to the return of Jesus—consider the vision the prophet Isaiah received concerning the Second Coming of Jesus:
“For behold, the Lord will come with fire and with His chariots, like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by His sword the Lord will judge all flesh; and the slain of the Lord shall be many. ‘Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves, to go to the gardens after an idol in the midst, eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the mouse, shall be consumed together,’ says the Lord.” Isaiah 66:15–17