Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Eat Pork?

This entry is part 6 of 37 in the series Understanding Jehovah’s Witnesses

Isn’t it wonderful to live in a world full of different people with different beliefs? Maybe you’ve seen Jehovah’s Witnesses sharing their faith in your neighborhood, and perhaps you’ve had a few questions pop into your head. Maybe even something as simple as, “What do they believe about the food they eat?” It’s such a blessing to understand the hearts and minds of those around us! Today, let’s take a positive journey together, with open hearts, to explore what the Bible guides Jehovah’s Witnesses to believe about food. We’ll look at common questions, like whether they eat pork, and discover the beautiful ‘why’ behind their choices, all wrapped in respect and a desire for clear understanding.

You know, many Christians are naturally curious about how others interpret God’s precious Word, especially when it leads to different ways of living. This exploration is designed to answer those common questions about Jehovah’s Witness food guidelines in a way that’s easy to grasp and full of respect, drawing right from their own teachings and how they understand the Scriptures. Let’s learn together!

Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Eat Pork? The Simple Answer.

Let’s tackle that big question right up front, the one many folks wonder about: Can Jehovah’s Witnesses enjoy pork? Well, let me tell you, the simple, clear answer is yes, absolutely they can! Isn’t that interesting? In their faith today, there’s no rule holding them back from enjoying pork or things made with it.¹ Just like you or me, many Witnesses might enjoy a nice pork dish.¹

Hold on, because while pork gets the green light, it’s good for us to know that doesn’t mean every food is on the table according to their understanding. You see, their beliefs about food focus on one very specific guideline from the Bible, something they feel deeply is still important for all Christians today.¹ This might raise an eyebrow, especially if you remember those Old Testament rules for Israel that said ‘no’ to pork. But understanding why it was off-limits back then, and why our Jehovah’s Witness neighbors believe it’s okay now, really opens up a window into their faith. It shows us how they see the connection between the old laws given way back to Moses and how Christians live today. It’s a key difference they make — separating the rules just for ancient Israel from the commands they believe are for everyone, always.

Why Was Pork Forbidden in the Old Testament Law? (Leviticus Explained)

To really appreciate why Jehovah’s Witnesses feel free to eat pork today, it helps to travel back in time and see why God told the ancient Israelites not to. The instructions are right there for us in the Bible, in the books of Leviticus (chapter 11) and Deuteronomy (chapter 14). God gave His people, the Israelites, specific guidance on which animals were “clean” — okay to eat — and which were “unclean,” meaning they should stay away from them.³

The Checklist: For land animals, God set two simple rules to be considered “clean.” they had to have a hoof that was split or cloven. They had to chew the cud (that means they bring food back up from their stomach to chew it again).³ Think about cows, sheep, and goats — they check both boxes, so they were good to go!
What About the Pig? the pig is interesting. It meets the first rule — it definitely has a split hoof. But, it doesn’t chew the cud. Because it only met one of the two requirements, the Bible, in Leviticus 11:7 and Deuteronomy 14:8, clearly stated the pig was “unclean” for the Israelites to eat.³

Jehovah’s Witnesses understand that these food rules served important purposes for Israel way back then, under the special agreement, or covenant, God made with Moses:

These rules helped the Israelites stand out as God’s special people, different from the nations around them.¸
Some believe these rules might have also offered a bit of health protection in those times, maybe guarding against illnesses from certain animals or meat not handled perfectly. But Witnesses emphasize that this was likely just an extra benefit, not the main reason God gave the command. The most important thing was simply obeying God.
Under that Law, even touching the dead body of an unclean animal like a pig made a person ceremonially unclean.³ It seems pigs were seen as particularly undesirable animals by Israelites who followed the Law closely.

So, this specific rule about pork was part of that bigger picture — the Mosaic Law, an agreement just for the nation of Israel. This leads us to the big question for Christians today: Does that specific agreement, with all its detailed rules, still apply to us now?

Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Follow Old Testament Food Laws Today?

Let’s get straight to the heart of it: Do Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Christians today need to follow all those specific food laws given to Israel through Moses? The answer is a clear and confident No. They believe Christians are not required to follow those detailed rules about clean and unclean animals, and that includes the rule against eating pork.¹

Why do they believe this? Their understanding comes straight from the New Testament and the incredible work of Jesus Christ:

Jesus Completed It: They teach that the old agreement, the Mosaic Law covenant, with all its rules and regulations (including the food laws), did its job perfectly and then came to an end. It was fulfilled, completed, by the amazing life, death, and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.¹ Think of it like a bridge that served its purpose beautifully but is no longer the main path.
Living by Christ’s Law: Christians, they believe, are now living under a wonderful new arrangement, sometimes called “the law of the Christ.” This new way focuses on beautiful principles like loving God and neighbor, having strong faith, and following Jesus’ teachings, rather than sticking to every single letter of the old Mosaic code.²
What the Bible Says: They often point to powerful scriptures like Colossians 2:13-14. It talks about God “erasing the handwritten document” — they see this as the Law covenant — that stood against us. And verse 16 gives this encouraging advice: “Therefore, let no man judge you in eating and drinking or in respect of a festival or of an observance of the new moon or of a sabbath”.¹ They see this as God setting Christians free from those specific food and ceremony obligations of the old Law.

You know, this view actually lines up with what most of Christianity (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant churches) has believed for centuries — that those specific Mosaic food laws aren’t required for Christians today.¹¹ If you look back at history, this shift happened because of key moments and teachings in the New Testament. Remember Peter’s vision in Acts 10? God showed him that animals once called “unclean” shouldn’t be seen that way anymore. And the Apostle Paul taught so much about Christian freedom!11 Sure, in the early days, there were discussions about whether the Law still applied, especially between Jewish and non-Jewish believers the understanding that won out was that those specific food rules weren’t binding on Christians.¹´

So, for Jehovah’s Witnesses, those rules given to Moses about clean and unclean animals belong to a specific time and agreement that has been replaced. That’s why pork, forbidden back then, is perfectly fine for them now. But remember what we said earlier? This freedom doesn’t mean all food restrictions are gone. Their focus shifts to a different command, one they believe came even before Moses and is still very important today.

What Does the Bible Say About Eating Pork for Christians? (New Testament View)

Since Jehovah’s Witnesses see the old rule against pork as completed in Christ, they look to the New Testament and find no command telling Christians to avoid it.¹ Instead, they see the New Testament pointing towards wonderful freedom in this area, guided by bigger, loving principles.

Several New Testament passages shape this hopeful understanding:

Mark Chapter 7: Jesus taught something powerful here. He said it’s not what goes into our mouths that makes us unclean in God’s eyes what comes out of our hearts — things like unkind thoughts and wrong actions.² some Witness resources suggest Jesus was mainly talking about man-made traditions like ritual handwashing, not completely wiping out God’s dietary laws right then and there.¹ Still, this passage helps build the picture that for Christians, what truly matters is a pure heart and inner goodness. (It’s good to know that many other Christian friends interpret Mark 7:19b — often translated like “” — as Jesus directly ending those old food distinctions 13).
Acts Chapter 10 (Peter’s Vision): Remember that amazing vision Peter had? He saw a sheet full of animals considered unclean under the old Law. A voice told him to “kill and eat,” saying, “What God has cleansed, you must not call defiled.” Although the first big lesson was about welcoming non-Jewish people into the Christian family, this event is widely seen, including by Witnesses, as a sign that those old ceremonial rules about clean and unclean foods were ending.¹¹ God was opening things up!
Colossians 2:16: We touched on this before — Paul directly told Christians, don’t let anyone criticize you about what you eat or drink.¹ That’s freedom!
Romans Chapter 14: This chapter talks about some disagreements in the church in Rome about food and observing special days. Paul lovingly urged them not to judge each other over these things. He mentioned some “weak in faith” who only ate vegetables, compared to others who felt free to “eat anything” (within God’s loving boundaries, of course, not harmful things).¹¸ Jehovah’s Witnesses often see this discussion as being about personal feelings or conscience — maybe about avoiding food possibly offered to idols in pagan temples, or choosing vegetarianism — rather than about the one big command about blood they hold dear.² But the beautiful principle shines through: don’t condemn your brother or sister over things where God allows personal choice.

Drawing on these uplifting New Testament teachings, Jehovah’s Witnesses conclude that eating pork, or choosing not to, is part of our Christian freedom. It’s a personal choice, a matter of preference, not something God commands or forbids for Christians.¹ This freedom regarding the old Mosaic food laws is a wonderful thing! But, it stands in clear contrast to the one dietary rule they believe is absolutely essential and unchanging.

What Foods Are Strictly Forbidden for Jehovah’s Witnesses? (The Blood Rule)

Okay, Although the long list of forbidden animals from the time of Moses (like pork) is seen as no longer binding, there is one major food restriction that Jehovah’s Witnesses hold onto very firmly, based on what they see as direct commands in the Bible. What is it? They must abstain from blood.¹

This isn’t just a small thing; it touches several areas of life:

Eating Blood Directly: They absolutely refuse to eat blood itself, like in foods such as blood sausage (you might know it as black pudding) or any dish where blood is a main ingredient.¹ They’re also careful about foods where blood might be added secretly, which can sometimes happen in processed meats.³¹
Meat Not Bled Properly: They are forbidden from eating meat from any animal that wasn’t properly bled when it was killed. This means animals that were strangled, died in a trap, or were just found dead are not acceptable, because the blood is still in the meat.¹
Blood in Medicine: This principle extends very seriously into healthcare. Jehovah’s Witnesses refuse transfusions of whole blood. They also refuse transfusions of the four main parts of blood: red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma.¹

It’s so important to see how this is different from the Old Testament rules about which animals to eat. This command about blood applies to all animals used for food — whether it’s beef, lamb, chicken, or even deer. If it’s going to be eaten, it must be properly bled.¹ This single, clear instruction about abstaining from blood is the foundation of their dietary guidelines.

Why Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Abstain From Blood? (Biblical Reasons)

The deep, heartfelt reason why Jehovah’s Witnesses choose to abstain from blood comes directly from how they understand certain Bible passages and the incredible meaning they believe God Himself places on blood. It’s not mainly about avoiding health risks, although they might acknowledge that transfusions or improperly handled meat can have dangers. No, the core reasons are all about faith, obedience, and honoring what they see as God’s clear instructions.

Blood Means Sacred Life: The most fundamental reason is their belief that the Bible connects blood directly with life itself — the “soul” or the very life force of a living being is in its blood.¹ Leviticus 17:11, 14 puts it powerfully: “For the life in Hebrew, neÊ¹phesh, often translated “soul”(#) of the flesh is in the blood… You must not eat the blood of any sort of flesh, because the soul of every sort of flesh is its blood.” Since life comes from God and is sacred, they believe blood, as its symbol, must also be treated as sacred — belonging only to Him.²² So, abstaining from blood is, for them, a powerful way to show respect for God as the amazing Creator and Giver of life.²²

God’s Clear Commands: They see a consistent message throughout the Bible:

Genesis 9:3-4: This command wasn’t given to Moses; it was given way back to Noah after the Great Flood, long before the Mosaic Law even existed. God allowed people to eat meat but added this vital rule: “Only flesh with its soul—its blood—you must not eat”. Because every person on earth descended from Noah, Witnesses see this as a rule for all people, not just the Israelites. This timing, before Moses, is key to why they believe this command continues even when other dietary laws ended.
Leviticus 17:10-14: The command was repeated very strongly under the Law given to Moses. God said He would “set His(#) face against” anyone eating blood and would “cut him off from among his people”.¹ This passage also highlights the only use God allowed for blood back then: making atonement for sins on the altar.¹ If blood wasn’t used for sacrifice, it was to be poured out on the ground, like giving the life back to God.¹
Acts 15:20, 28-29: This is so important for Christians. The apostles and elders in the early guided by God’s spirit, gave instructions to all believers (including non-Jewish ones). They listed certain “necessary things,” and right there among them was the instruction “to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, and from what is strangled meaning, improperly bled meat(#)”.¹ Jehovah’s Witnesses see this decision by the apostles not as a temporary rule as proof that avoiding blood is a fundamental moral requirement for all Christians, always.

This unbroken thread, stretching from Noah right through to the early Christian convinces Jehovah’s Witnesses that abstaining from blood is a lasting command from God, showing deep respect for the sacred gift of life He gives.

Isn’t it interesting, though, how this relates to the special bread and wine they use at the Memorial of Christ’s death (what many call the Lord’s Supper)? They use simple unleavened bread and plain red wine as symbols — powerful reminders — of Jesus’ perfect body and his precious blood shed for us.´¹ They don’t believe the bread and wine actually become his body and blood (that’s called transubstantiation). They partake of these symbols because Jesus commanded, “Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” They see this act of remembrance as completely different from the command against consuming literal blood as food or through transfusion. The focus stays firmly on the unique sacredness of actual blood as representing life itself.

How Does the Blood Rule Affect Meat Eating and Food Choices for JWs?

This deeply held belief about abstaining from blood isn’t just an idea; it shapes the practical, everyday choices Jehovah’s Witnesses make about eating meat and picking out food at the store. It means they need to pay close attention to where their food comes from and how it’s prepared.

Killing and Bleeding Done Right: The number one rule is that any meat they eat must come from an animal that was properly bled when it was killed.²
This means meat from animals that were strangled, died by accident (like in a trap), or were just found dead is a definite no-go, because the blood wasn’t drained out.²
The Bible standard, as they understand it, is about draining or pouring out the blood.¹ It doesn’t mean getting rid of every single tiny trace. Meat might still look a bit red, or some natural juices (like interstitial fluid, which looks a bit like plasma but isn’t whole blood) might still be there even after proper bleeding. That’s generally okay if the correct bleeding process was followed.²
For tiny creatures with very little blood, like some fish or insects (which people ate in Bible times), the idea of “pouring out” the blood might not really apply or be needed.³¹
Buying Meat: When shopping for meat, Witnesses might need to be a little extra careful.
In places where properly bleeding animals isn’t the standard way things are done, or isn’t required by law, they might need to ask the butcher about where the meat came from and how the animal was killed to make sure it meets the Bible’s standard.²¹ Some butchers might not focus on proper bleeding.³·
But they also try to be reasonable and balanced. They look at scriptures like 1 Corinthians 10:25 (“Eat whatever is sold in a meat market, making no inquiry because of your conscience”) and Philippians 4:5 (“Let your reasonableness become known”). They understand the Bible doesn’t ask them to become super-detectives or give up meat entirely just because of a small doubt, especially if they generally trust their butcher or know the local practices are good.² But, if there’s a real, major doubt they can’t clear up, an individual might choose, based on their own conscience, not to eat that particular meat. They’d be following the principle in Romans 14:23: “If he has doubts, he is already condemned if he eats”.³¸
Checking Processed Foods: They often need to be watchful with processed foods. Things like sausages, hot dogs, lunch meats, and sometimes other items might have blood, blood plasma, or other blood parts like hemoglobin added to them.¹ This means reading ingredient labels carefully, or maybe even calling the company, might be necessary to be sure a product is truly blood-free.³¹ Some Witnesses are very thorough about checking ingredients, even in things you might not expect, like pet food or fertilizer!9
Beyond the Dinner Plate: This principle of respecting blood’s sacredness leads some Witnesses to avoid even non-food items that use blood. Think about certain fertilizers made from animal blood, or pet foods that list blood as an ingredient. They might see using blood this way commercially as not showing the proper reverence for blood as the symbol of life.¹

These everyday practices show how that core belief about blood translates into real-life choices. It requires awareness and sometimes a bit of homework to make sure they’re following what they understand to be God’s loving direction. It also highlights the challenge of living by an ancient principle in our modern world with its very complex ways of producing food.

How Do Jehovah’s Witness Beliefs on Food Compare to Other Christians?

Alright, we’ve explored quite a bit together! Let’s bring it all home and see how the dietary views of Jehovah’s Witnesses compare with what’s generally believed in mainstream Christian churches (like Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant denominations).

Jehovah’s Witness View — Quick Recap:

Pork & Old Testament Food Laws: It’s okay! They see these laws from the time of Moses as completed by Christ, so they’re not required for Christians. Eating these foods is up to each person.¹
Blood (in food): Absolutely forbidden. They believe commands in Genesis 9 (given to Noah) and Acts 15 (given to Christians) make this a universal, lasting moral law showing respect for the sacredness of life.¹
Strangled Meat (Not Bled Properly): Also strictly forbidden. They see this as breaking the command to avoid blood, since the blood wasn’t drained.¹
Blood Transfusions (Whole Blood/Main Parts): Strictly forbidden. They view this as the same as eating blood, which goes against God’s law.²²
Blood Fractions (Medical Use): This is a personal conscience decision. The Bible doesn’t give specific rules, so each person must decide for themselves.³

General Mainstream Christian View (Common Beliefs):

Pork & Old Testament Food Laws: Most agree these aren’t binding on Christians. They point to Christian freedom and New Testament teachings (like Mark 7, Acts 10, Romans 14, Colossians 2) as reasons why these specific laws don’t apply anymore.¹¹
Blood (in food) & Strangled Meat: The great majority of Christian churches today do not follow the rules from Acts 15 about blood and strangled meat. Often, these are seen historically as temporary rules to help Jewish and Gentile believers get along back then, or as replaced by the bigger principle of Christian freedom where “nothing is unclean in itself” (Romans 14:14).¹¹ Some Eastern Orthodox churches might have related fasting rules a widespread ban is rare.¹¹
Blood Transfusions: Almost everyone accepts them, often seeing them as a wonderful, life-saving medical treatment that fits with Christian values of caring for the sick and preserving life. The Jehovah’s Witness stand against transfusions is quite unique among Christian groups.³²
Blood Fractions: Since transfusions of the main blood parts are accepted, using fractions isn’t usually a separate big theological issue for most churches.

The Big Difference: the main point where they differ really comes down to how they understand and apply the Bible’s commands about blood. Jehovah’s Witnesses see the rules in Genesis 9 and Acts 15 as timeless, universal moral laws straight from God that are still fully in force for Christians today. Most other Christian traditions read those passages differently, often seeing them as fitting a specific historical time or as replaced by New Covenant principles that give freedom from those kinds of food restrictions.

Conclusion: Understanding Through Respect

So, what a journey we’ve taken together, exploring these beliefs with understanding hearts! We can see now that for Jehovah’s Witnesses, deciding what to eat isn’t just about what tastes good; it’s about honoring God based on how they understand His Word. While they freely enjoy many foods, like pork, their powerful respect for life — which they see as sacred and represented by blood — leads them to strictly avoid consuming blood in any way. They follow commands in Genesis and Acts that they believe are unchanging and apply to everyone.¹ This core belief shapes how they prepare food and make decisions about medical treatments involving blood, while allowing for personal conscience on things like blood fractions.³¹

Their view differs from mainstream Christianity mainly in how they interpret the lasting importance of the command about blood found in Acts 15. While most Christians agree that the detailed Mosaic food laws about specific animals like pigs are no longer required, Jehovah’s Witnesses hold onto the blood restriction as a fundamental, unchanging moral rule that comes from respecting God as the Giver of all life.²² This belief extends to their understanding of medical practices, where they refuse blood transfusions even in life-threatening situations. Additionally, Jehovah’s Witnesses views on Jesus diverge from traditional Christian beliefs, as they regard him not as part of a Trinity but as a distinct being created by God. These interpretations reflect their commitment to adhering strictly to what they perceive as divine commands outlined in the Bible.

Whether we share these exact beliefs or not, we can surely appreciate the sincerity of people who strive to live by what they understand God wants, as revealed in the Bible. Learning the “why” behind our neighbors’ practices builds bridges of empathy and clears away misunderstandings. Let’s keep growing in understanding and respect for one another, celebrating the faith that inspires all of us in our desire to please God. Stay blessed!