Clean Fish, easy peasy, right?! Pleasing Yehovah in this area of our life is not hard. Of all the things that come from the waters, only those which have fins and scales are considered as “clean†or “tahor†by Him.
Yehovah says that the things Israel eats which come from the waters must have fins and scales. Knowing Yehovah and becoming holy as he is holy is a lifetime process; just as we seek to learn and do His ways, we must also understand and emulate His attitudes. How does the Creator of all things feel about us eating things from the waters which were not meant for food?
“I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, according to their own thoughts. A people who provoke Me to anger continually to My face who slaughter in gardens, and burn incense on altars of brick, who sit among the graves, and spend the night in the tombs; who eat swine’s flesh, and the broth of abominable things is in their vessels; who say, ‘Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am holier than you!’ These are smoke in My nostrils, a fire that burns all the day.” (Isa 65:1-5)
This is a picture of the “Christian Church” who believe they have a right standing before Yehovah and can do and eat what they please. Yehovah says they are smoke in His nostrils! Does that sound like something pleasing to Him?
In clean
Clean and Unclean Animals we saw that eating animals like swine (pig, hog, pork) and that which is made from this unclean animal (bacon, ham, lard, most sausage and pepperoni) do not conform or promote Yehovah’s image in the earth and are therefore considered unclean [tamei] because they do not chew their cud and have split hooves. Having these two characteristics is what Yehovah uses to delineate between animals which are clean [tahor] and do represent His image in the earth, from those that don’t.
This past Sukkot, me and about 200 other were served a white fish for dinner that turned out to be part of the catfish family which Yehovah says is an abomination and should not be eaten. Augh – I almost threw-up my food right at the table when I found out what we had eaten and then had the worst night’s sleep of my time there as I considered all the other abominable food I might have been given. What I eat is important to me because I love my Creator and I want to please Him by being a light in the world even with what I eat. To eat or do something that He calls an abomination is something that I will always choose to avoid.
So what does the word “abomination” mean?
Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines abomination as “Extreme hatred; detestation.”
In Hebrew the word being translated as “abomination” is ש×קץ (sheh’-kets). Jeff Benner in His Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible says,
H8263
ש×קץ (ShQTs) ac: Detest co: Filthy ab: ?: A dirty and detestable thing.
Why would anyone who says that he loves the Elohim (the lawmaker and judge) of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob ever want to be involved with anything that He says is ש×קץ (sheh’-kets)?
Clean Fish Must Haves Fins And Scales
Like the animals (the behemoths) of the earth the Creator says that those things that live in the water which are good for food also have two distinguishing characteristics; they must have both fins and scales.
“These you may eat of all that are in the water: whatever in the water has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers—that you may eat. But all in the seas or in the rivers that do not have fins and scales, all that move in the water or any living thing which is in the water, they are an abomination to you. They shall be an abomination to you; you shall not eat their flesh, and you shall regard their carcasses as an abomination. Whatever in the water does not have fins and scales—that shall be an abomination to you.” (Lev 11:9-12)
“These you may eat of all that are in the waters: you may eat all that have fins and scales. And whatever does not have fins and scales you shall not eat; it is unclean for you. (Deu 14:9-10)
Fins And Scales Makes It Easy
Easy peasy, right?! Pleasing Yehovah in this area of our life is not rocket science. Like the four-footed animals, the behemoth of the earth, the fish that Yehovah’s people are to eat, sustain themselves from living food, and not from the bottom of the sea, lakes and rivers where the dead and the filth accumulates. The garbage cans of the waters are primarily shell-fish and other fish that dwell at their bottoms.
Here is one list of fish that are acceptable in promoting the Creator’s image in the earth and a second list of the abominations which shall not be eaten by His people. Hope this helps you.
Clean Fish
(Having both Fins and Scales)
Alewife
Anchovy
Barracuda
Bass
Black Pomfret (or Monchong)
Blueï¬sh
Bluegill
Branzino or Branzini (plural)
Carp
Cod
Cobia
Crappie
Drum
Flounder
Grouper
Grunt
Haddock
Hake
Halibut
Hardhead
Herring or Alewife
Indo-Pacific King Mackerel
Kingcroaker
Kingï¬sh
Mahimahi or Dorado, Dolphinï¬sh [not to be confused with the mammal Dolphin]
Marlin
Minnow
Mullet
Narrrow-barred Spanish Mackerel
Opah
Perch or Bream
Pike or Pickerel or Jack
Pollack or Pollock or Boston Blueï¬sh
Rockï¬sh
Salmon
Sardine or Pilchard
Shad
Sheepshead
Silver Hake or Whiting
Smelt or Frostï¬sh or Icefish
Snapper or Ebu, Job-ï¬sh, Lehi, Onaga, Opakapaka or Uku
Sole
Steel head
Sucker
Sunï¬sh
Tarpon
Tilapia
Trout or Weakï¬sh
Tuna or Ahi, Aku, Albacore, Bonito or Tombo
Turbot [except European Turbot]
Wahoo
White Croaker
Whiteï¬sh
Whiting
Yellowtail Amberjack
[Note: Thousands of people come to this page every year. But few ever stop to investigate this site. PLEASE don’t leave without learning about the Ger and the Ezrach; eating clean is good, but Yehovah never told any Gentile to do so. He told His people to do so, AFTER they left their Egypt.]
Unclean Things From The Waters
(Which DO NOT Have both Fins And Scales)
Fish
Basa
Bullhead
Catï¬sh
Eel
European Turbot
Mackerel or Cobia (Some kinds are clean.)
Paddleï¬sh
Shark
Stickleback
Sturgeon (includes most caviar)
Swai (Asian catfish)
Swordï¬sh
Shell-ï¬sh
Abalone
Clam
Conch
Crab
Crayï¬sh (Crawï¬sh, Crawdad)
Krill
Lobster
Mussel
Oyster
Scallop
Shrimp (Prawn)
Soft body
Cuttleï¬sh
Jellyï¬sh
Limpet
Octopus
Squid (Calamari)
Sea mammals
Dolphin
Otter
Porpoise
Seal
Walrus
Whale
What does Clean and Unclean Mean?
Did Peter really say all things are clean?
Here is a link to 250 other topics on this site.
We Are Israel Topic Index
Are you or any of your friends new to the Hebrew roots of the faith that Noah, Abraham and Yeshua (Jesus) lived and taught? Have you been in this walk for a while and want to go deeper? Here is a link with some great, and free programs, that will assist you in your journey.
Getting Started
Begin coming out of Babylon today! Here is a series of 12 articles that will aid you in that process.
Coming out of Babylon
Men and women have different duties and responsibilities in Yehovah’s kingdom; and failure to understand those differences will adversely effect your life now and, in the long term, determine whether or not you will live eternally. We must learn what Yehovah’s created purpose is for a man and for a woman. Here is a great place to begin.
Creation of “the man”
I have a question. we decided to follow the biblical diet of eating because my family has a history of heart disease, diabetes,high blood pressure and high cholesterol. the question is swai fish and buffalo fish good to eat?
Just do some quick research on those two fish Alpha and see if they have fins and scales.
For me, the main reason to adopt a “biblical diet” would be to please the Creator, and the health benefits that come from that decision would be a bonus.
My husband and I have become vegitarians as this will be the diet in heaven, as it was in the garden of Eden.
Maybe it will and maybe it won’t. I too eat vegetarian, except for the meat I slaughter myself. Ha – which is precious little.
I would like to know about fish that God said we are to eat, plus Meat. Could you help me?
Hi William!
The link that you wrote this comment on talk about what Israel can eat from the waters of the earth and there are several links at the bottom of this page that discuss meats, not only what we can eat but also how that meat is to be slaughtered and by whom.
Put me on your email list please
Is chicken a clean meat??
Clean Birds in Torah
I will consider God’s diet
Shalom! I see talapia is on the clean fish list, does it have scales. I believe it is another form of catfish?
Yes, Talapia has both fins and scales.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilapia
Tilapia has scales
Yes, it is on the clean fish list.
I love clean fish and I would like to know is right to eat.
Swai is an unclean fish..fins but no scales
Thank you Robin – you were right. Swai seems to be a variety of catfish.
Some of these birds are hard to classify. Martin Luther translated one of the categories of birds that were unclean as “the goose and its kind” which would seem to indicate any creature with webbed feet. Then the duck would be included amongst the unclean animals. Another criteria might be the absence of a crop which carnivorous birds don’t have. The Jews generally do not regard duck as unclean although some orthodox groups do.
Considering the filter feeding habits and eating habits of ducks in general, I personally would be inclined to think that they are unclean, but would not be dogmatic about it. In any case, on a vegan vegetarian diet, which God’s commandment-keeping people are admonished to be, this does not play an issue. Everything has deteriorated to such an extent that everything is unclean and therefore a vegan vegetarian diet is the only way to be, and then we don’t have to worry about these finer distinctions.
In Leviticus 11:18 the Bible states that the swan is unclean. Though there is no mention of a duck in Leviticus, we must look to the similarities of the duck and the swan. Here are the descriptions of their scientific classifications:
SWAN
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
DUCK
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
There is no difference until you get to genus and specie which I left off because there are many for each. Both are bottom feeders, and both have webbed feet. Can we find any other clean bird with webbed feet? The answer is no. Geese are also unclean.
Thanks for this list! But just a note: I’m a Christian of the Seventh Day Adventist denomination and we follow God’s guide to eating as per Leviticus 11, most Christians believe they can eat what they please.
Sadly, you are correct DW; most Christians believe they can eat what they please. It is because they give their misunderstood interpretation of the NT commentaries more authority than the actual words of the Creator.
No most christians live by faith in jesus christ the laws about what to and not to eat applied to israel and now in this present time those laws do not apply because jesus said it is finished so if christians want to eat pork or goat or brim or catfish they can
The Creator (Yehovah) only has one nation that he calls His people and that nation is true Israel(not the STATE OF Israel). We either join ourselves to His people as a Ger and then become His son at Passover or we are not His. People have been perishing for thousands of years because they choose the doctrines and traditions of men over the Oracles of Yehovah given through Moses and His other prophets.
Yehovah will not judge anyone by his faith. But Yehovah will judge every man according to his actions,his way and his doings, or lack of them.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, Yehovah, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings. (Jer 17:9-10)
Yehovah also says,
“But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says my master Yehovah, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live? (Eze 18:21-23)
Most people error because they are ignorant of the oracles of Yehovah. Ignorance is not bad as long as we seek for the truth and adjust our actions. I encourage you to rethink your position in light of Yehovah’s eternal and unchanging ways.
The Almighty’s Word is the same as it was yesterday, today and will be tomorrow. Christ did not come to change the Almighty’s Word, but to give us a better understanding. The Almighty’s word to the Israelites last through all generations and it applies to the Strangers that choose to follow the Israelites faith.
Oh my, so many people hold this opinion. I think it come down to understand just what is the words of Yehovah and what words are not. Generally Yehovah’s words are those which begin with “thus say Yehovah [or “the LORD” for those who lack understanding. It was in the 4th century that Constantine (the catholic church) and his council added the New Testament to the Hebrew scriptures, not the Hebrews! You should be very concerned about. Soon the truth will be revealed about the Pope and his organization. Until then please read “New Testament Origins” and learn the truth about this Jesus person who I call the golden calf of the modern age. You are correct, Yehovah’s words and ways do not change!
Yessir, exactly.
Could you please clarify one more thing regarding clean fish? What if the clean fish eat unclean fish? Are we looking for fish that only feed on clean fish and plant life?
I ask because we eat clean animals that are vegetarians.
Thank you.
Hi Val! You asked. “Are we looking for fish that only feed on clean fish and plant life?”
The answer to your question is no. To make that so we would have to add to Yehovah’s word. He said we can eat anything that comes from the waters that has fins and scales.
A nice and clean ways to know what is tahor.
Thanks for reading.
Michael
where do you get the word “Yehovah” from? when the nearest i can figure is it is a perversion of YHVH. which sounds nothing like “Yehovah”. it is pronounced YEHOO VHEE, refering to THE OUR HE/SHE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF ELOHEEM given to The He/She Adam. and The Vav a the beginning of The Word Hee means and. stating that REDEMPTION IS HE AND SHE.
YHVH is not pronounceable without the Hebrew vowel points. I say it the way I do because of the vowel points I saw in the oldest copy of Torah I could find.
The top of this article is a picture of what I found, but to me what YHVH means is far more important that how anyone pronounces it, because this is the name that His people are to swear oaths in. In fact, this is the name He Himself swears oath in.
https://weareisrael.org/torah-101/way-of-life/%d7%99%d7%94%d7%95%d7%94-what-he-says-he-will-do/
Great sight and great information!
Thanks Carl!
I’m attempted to learn Hebrew, it such a beautiful language making you feel a bit closer to the Almighty Creator. Learning how every alphabet is related to each other and the reason why it came to be.
Here is a link that might help you Carl. It is how I began learning.
http://weareisrael.org/2013/07/16/learn-hebrew/
So many “and” in the bible, many scriptures start with “and”. Any significant to it? Is it an hebrew language thing? Can you help?
Hi Carl!
The Hebrew letter vav connects noun, verbs, sentences, other ideas and even whole books together with that which came before it.
I made a comment earlier today about gentiles keeping the law… i was wrong. And I’d like to apologize for possibly misleading anyone… Gentiles were not instructed to keep the law, Israel was. Have a great day!
Christ said he came not to change one dot or tittle of the law.. only the blood ordiances are done away with.. hosea 6:6 father wants our love, not burnt sacrafices.. peter was told to not call any gentile common.. as cornilus, a gentile, was at his gate.. thats the point father was making.. not to eat of the animals sent down 3 times.. which he didnt eat..
Michael, thank you for taking the time to comment. 15 years ago, before I had spent thousands of hours studying the actual words that Yehovah spoke through Moses and His other prophets, before I had learned the role of a man and his woman, before I had learned how men, not women, actually do come to Yehovah, before I had learned the origins of the New Testament, I would have said the same thing. Please keep reading. We have so much to learn.
Antuan, Even the foreigners within their gates were to observe.
It is a poor translation which calls a “Ger”, a “foreigner.” For a Ger is a “man” who has left the kingdom of his birth and only 4 types of men in relation to Israel (one of them being Israel). Please read this link to learn about each of these kinds of men.
All Yehovah’s Torah was given to His Ezrach men, but it is also for the Ger as well. The difference has to do with its application for each type of man. For instance, a clean animal that dies of itself can not be eaten by Israel, but can be eaten by the Ger who dwells with them. Also, the Ger has no land of his own. That is why he is the Ger who dwells with Israel.
Notice that Yehovah is the Elohim (lawmaker and judge) of the Ezrach men. It is the Ezrach men who teach each and lead the Ger who lives within their gates. The goal for each Ezrach man then, is to become Yehovah’s son and heir, His Ezrach men. And that only happens at Passover. This is what my “Spiritual Journey Begins” series is all about, how a Gentile can become an Ezrach man in Yehovah’s kingdom.
Thank you for your reply.
The Laws of YHVH are universal. They apply to EVERYONE. It is perhaps not a sin to be ignorant, However, it is a sin to stay that way… Psa 33:8 Let all the earth fear Adonai. Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
Eph 2:14 For He is our shalom, the One who made the two into one and broke down the middle wall of separation. Within His flesh He made powerless the hostility—
Act 10:34 And opening his mouth, Kefa said, “Omein, I have binah that Hashem is not one to show masso panim (partiality), [Dt 10:17; 2Ch 19:7; Job 34:19]
Act 10:35 “But in every nation the ones who have yirat Shomayim and work Tzidkat Hashem are acceptable to him.
Act 17:26Â And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;Â
Act 17:27Â That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:Â
Act 17:28Â For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.Â
Act 17:29Â Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.Â
Act 17:30Â And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:Â
Act 17:31Â Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.Â
Gen 9:8Â And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,Â
Gen 9:9Â And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;Â
Gen 9:10Â And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.Â
Abraham was not Jewish. Noah was not Jewish. Moses was not Jewish. Yet, it appears they kept the Law. It is my hope that you make correction regarding your false doctrine(s).
All the people of the earth will eventually fear Ye3hovah and stand in awe of Him. The problem is that they will not leave the kingdom of their birth and themselves to Him and His called-out people. Yehovah told Moses to tell Pharaoh to “Let My son, my firstborn, go that he may serve Me.” And Yehovah’s 1st commandment to Israel, His called-out Ezrach men who entered into covenant with Him at Passover, was “I am Yehovah who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You (all His Ezrach men) shall have no other elohim (law makers and judges) existing before My face.”
I NEVER talk in terms of Jews (Judah) and Gentiles. Jews are not synonymous with Israel and that STATE called ISRAEL is not part of Yehovah’s called-out people. Yehovah gave His commandments to His Ezrach men (no one else).
Both Noah and Abraham served ONLY Yehovah and had no citizenship in any other kingdom. We have much to learn about His kingdom and ways for a man and for that man’s woman.
I came to this site thru google trying to find out whether or not croaker fish was clean. I had a feeling that it was & glad to see it on the list. While here, I began reading some comments.. Very interesting. I had to find out WHO was behind this blog saying “weareisrael”. I was ‘somewhat’ surprised to see your face, because I have been learning from a Israelite group who believes ONLY those from the 12 Tribes of Israel ARE Jews/Israelites, The Most Highs chosen. Thoughts?
LB, Please let me challenge you to go deeper in your understandings. Yehovah’s Israel are spiritually born men who are in covenant with Him. I have written much about His precious sons, His Ezrach men, Israel. Here is a good place to start. https://weareisrael.org/born-again-series/journey-begins/
I didn’t see sheepshead fish anywhere can you tell me if they are a scale fish?
Sheepshead clearly do have fins and scales.
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/running-ponies/files/2013/03/5435371131_6f853443a4_z.jpg
Are pilchards clean to those who follow Jesus do they have scales on there body please assist I need help
Hello Lloyd! Thank for checking my site and leaving a comment.
Yes – Sardines, or pilchards, are common names used to refer to various small, oily fish within the herring family of Clupeidae and have both fins and scales.
Shalom! Shalom! In the Mighty Name of Yehovah our Elohiym and Yeshua his Son! So this means Clupeidae are a clean fish? I got a product that is all natural for cleaning the blood stream and skin, and it has Clupeidae fish oil powder in it ??
I think you are okay! Sardines, or pilchards, are common names used to refer to various small, oily fish within the herring family of Clupeidae and have both fins and scales.
Thank you! Yehovah Bless you!
What about tuna?
Tuna is on the tahor (clean) list.
Hallelujah , Hallelujah, Hallelujah praise the mighty mighty Elohim. I want to thank you for this information which is very vital to my life and others. And I want to thank the almighty for his wisdom and his knowledge of all things to keep us healthy and to protect us from ourselves. Again I Want To Praise the mighty Elohim.
Thank you Richard for your kind comment. My goal is to always manifest Yehovah’s image found in His eternal and unchanging words and build His kingdom in the earth.
Thanks for the Good Message…
was just researching earlier on Sharks…to find out do they have scales or not….Could u please help me out…
Do sharks have Scales??
Thanks for the comment Patrick. No, sharks do not have scales and are considered unacceptable as food for Yehovah’s people to eat.
Love this site being so clear on the question of clean and unclean.
Hello in Jesus mighty name! Can you please inform me about yellowfin sole and plaice if they are clean fish?
Yellowfin sole is one many kinds of sole which has both fins and scales.
Enjoy your meal!
Tilapia and Swai fish are very bad for your health. I don’t eat those either, fins or no fins. I’m a Christian, but have chosen only to eat the meat and fish God told us to eat. I love your website.
I agree Anonymous – well Tilapia does appear to have both fins and scales it, for the most part, is domestically raised very poorly and not fit for me to eat. Swai is a relation to Catfish and is unclean for Yehovah’s people.
Hi. Please can someone throw more light on who are the Gentiles. Am from Nigeria and i believe in GOD Almighty Father and in Jesus Christ as my Lord and personal Saviour. But i need a clearer understanding on the Jewish and Gentiles
Dear Temitope, I so appreciate your question. And even your question demonstrates the confusion that is in the minds of practically all people. Trying to understand how a man comes to Yehovah in the contest of words like “Jewish,” “Gentile” even “Christian.” Oh man, we have learned many lies and have so much to relearn and learn anew. We do not know the differing roles of a man and his woman. We don’t know who the two kinds of men are who are in Yehovah’s kingdom (the native born men, who actually are Israel, and the Ger who dwell with them) nor how a man joins himself to Yehovah and His kingdom. Israel are spiritually born men. Being a “Jew,” (which is short for Jewish) is at best 1/12 of Israel and being simply born a Jew does NOT make a man (and especially NOT a woman) one of Yehovah’s people (true Israel).
All that said I would like to suggest that you read some thing that will help give you greater clarity as to how a man (a Gentile) who is not one of Yehovah’s spiritually born men (an Ezrach) becomes first a Ger (stranger who dwells with Yehovah’s people and then at Passover actually becomes one of them. Here is the start of a series of 8 blogs that will teach you that process. http://weareisrael.org/born-again-series/journey-begins/
And to better understand the role of a woman, I’d like to suggest the readings that are attached to this article. http://weareisrael.org/woman-of-worth/
I hope these writings help to clarify your questions or at least refine your questions with some deeper understandings. Sorry I was so slow in writing this, I’ll try to be faster next time.
May you find a deeper walk with Yehovah as you seek His with all your heart, soul and strength. http://weareisrael.org/torah-101/
Michael
What about the fact that caucasians are not the true seed of Abraham, Issac and Jacob but so-called negroes are?
Abraham’s seed is spiritual seed and has nothing to do with color. We, true Israel, are men who come from all tribes, tongues, and nations.
Here is a blog that will get you started in the right direction. http://weareisrael.org/spiritual-seed-2/
Thanks for the info and this is a great site for people who are truely seeking Yahweh’s Words and what He wants us as believers to do and what we can eat and not eat . Blessings to Y’all in Yahshuas name
Thank you Josh for the kind comment and thanks for reading.
So say I. Much thanks.
I greet you.
I wanted to ask. Does Thomson fish have fins and scales?
Thanks
Greetings to you as well Samuel.
Thompson is another name for Pollan (a relation to Salmon) which seems to only be found in Ireland. I am happy to report that it has both fins and scales and has been added to our “Clean Fish” list.
This sounds a lot like pollock which is a cousin to the salmon. It’s really good, clean fish. I usually stick to Icelandic cod and Alaskan pollock because I know they’re clean. Are you sure about flounder and grouper? I quit eating grouper because I thought it wasn’t clean. I love flounder but quit eating it too because it is a bottom feeder and scavenger. I would enjoy being able to eat it again. I was told two different things about tuna. One that it was okay to eat R/T it had fins and scales and two that it wasn’t because the scales are too small (microscopic, in fact) to remove w/ your fingers? So, it’s clean too? Good to know. Thanks for the info. I know a few Jews but they don’t seem to share a lot about religious things. I thought when God told Abraham that through his seed all nations would be blessed it meant that they would teach us the right way to worship. Thanks for this informative site. I’m finding this is like everything else I’ve learned. The more I learn, the more I realize how ignorant I am. May God bless you for helping others, Suzanne
I have done my best to present an accurate list, but ultimately everyone should decide for them selves.
Thanks for the kudos concerning the site in general. 🙂
Hi I notice kingfish and trout are on the list of clean fish. I have never ate or purchase it because I was told its unclean. Please help thanks.
Thank you for the comment Marissa. Trout most certainly has both fins and scales. However I did have to do some additional research on Kingfish. It appears that it is a bit of a catch-all for many kinds of fish around the world. They include King Mackerel, Kingcroaker, Narrrow-barred Spanish Mackerel, White Croaker, Cobia, Wahoo and Yellowtail Amberjack, Opah, and Indo-Pacific King Mackerel which all have fins and scales. But there were a few fish on the list that have scales on only part of their body, but not all. They were Crevalle Jack, Silver Gemfish and Giant Trevally.
Hello Michael. Please, I like Titus fish a lot. I want to know if it’s part of clean or unclean fish to be eaten. Thanks for your expose`. Good job you are doing.
Hello Jerry,
I’m sorry, I can not confirm that the Titus fish is either clean or unclean. It seems to be a member of the Mackerel family and it does have fins. If it does has scales, they are very fine.
Michael
After LOVING AND READING AHAYAH WORD AND FOR YEARS OF NOT UNDERSTANDING IT HAVING JUST FOUND OUT THAT THE BLACK PEOPLE ARE THE TRUE HEBREW ISRAELITES (THE JEWS) I FIND THIS INFORMATION TO BE VERY HELPFUL, THANK YOU..
SHALOM
Oh my, Cheryl you are very confused. Race has NOTHING to do with who Yehovah’s people, true Israel are. I read your comment and I wanted to trash it right off the bat, but I then thought to myself how often have I heard people say such things.
Yehovah has only two kinds of men in His camp; the Native Born [the Ezrach] and the Stranger [the Ger] who dwell with them. Once a year, at Passover, the Ger has the opportunity (yea, the duty) to bring the offering that Yehovah requires and become an Ezrach. These Ezrach men ARE true Israel. The process of becoming an Ezrach has NOTHING to do with race. You can begin reading about the Ezrach and the Ger who dwell with them right here. The Native Born Man And The Stranger
Thank you for the info I’m a beginner trying to learn a new way of life/living.
Thank you so very much. I appreciate your information I’m trying to learn because I want to live right in the eyes of our God.
What better motivation can any man or woman have? “To live right in the eyes of Yehovah.” To do that we must learn His created purpose for a man and for a woman. Thanks for the kind comment.
Thank you for this page. I have one comment, In Genesis chapter 7, God told Noah to bring into the ark 2 of each animal and 7 of the clean animals, so this tells me that even before the flood the people knew what animals were clean and unclean. Even before the nation of Israel existed.
Yes Nitza, a very interesting observation on your part. It shows me that Yehovah statutes, judgement and ordinances have been with His called out people for a very long time. Yehovah does not change, and His words and ways will endure forever. His set-apart ways were taught by His Melchizedeks since the time of Adam. They were the ones who had possession of “The Rod Of Elohim.”
Thanks for the comment!
Michael
“Marlin have scales, fins on the belly, and a rounded spear which set them apart from swordfish which have no scales or ventral fins and have bills that are flat.”
http://www.intlbillfishtourns.com/images/marlin/StripedMarlin.htm
Thank you for your comment Ronnie. It appears to me that a Marlin is a sub species of a Swordfish and that there are at least 10 different kinds of Marlin. It does appear to have some fins. Is that enough to call it clean? I am uncomfortable with moving Striped Marlin (which you linked for me here) to the “clean Fish” column, so I added a link to “Marlin” and still another link for “Striped Marlin”. Does a fish have to have fins all over? We need to hear more from Yehovah. Until then I am not going to eat it, except perhaps, unless I am starving. 🙂
Kind Regards,
Michael
I thought Gentiles were in the exodus also ,I can’t see them having a different set of rules.
Thanks for the comment Jeff. Few people understand that Yehovah did not give any of His commandments to the Egyptians. He gave them to His Ezrach men, Israel’s seed (aka and perversely known as “the children of Israel”), those men who made covenant with Him by slaughter. BUT, the commandments which He gave them were for the Ger (men) who dwell with them also. Many times Yehovah speaks of His Torah being for the native-born (the Ezrach) and the Stranger (the Ger) who dwell with them. There were many Gentiles who left Egypt with the Ezrach and became Gerim (Strangers) with them. Those same men then, at Passover, circumcised themselves (and all the men of their household) and then ate the Passover and became native-born, spiritually born Ezrach men, true Israel. I have 8 articles that describe how a Gentile become a Ger and then how a Ger become and Ezrach man. I hope you will take the time to read what I have found. Here is a great place to start. The spiritual journey begins here.
The correct truth is that the ‘stranger’ is one that is actually a relative of Jacob that was part of those who were scattered, ie, captured and relocated. Remember Israel was under many other nations. Majority assimilated into their captives lifestyle. The father is the determining factor, not the woman–never the woman.
Please take a look at this series Graham, you’ll see there is a bit more to it.
http://weareisrael.org/born-again-series/gentile-becomes-a-ger/
“Never a woman”, so true!
Hi. I see Marlin on the unclean list but i was told by more than one fish processor that it has scales. Can you clarify for me. They were referring to Blue Marlin.
There are some species of Marlin that do not have scales and some that have them only on their bellies. I put them in the “unclean” list with links so people can decide for themselves.
can you name for me all the unclean fish that Yehovah disprove please!
Hi Evelyn!
On this page I try to list many of the most common fish that Yehovah considers to be “unclean”. I don’t think it is possible to do a complete and exhaustive list. Sorry. 🙂
Michael
God did give his Torah to the goyim at the same time He gave it to Israel. All that walk in His ways are His people.
“There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.”
Exodus 12:49 ESV
May Yah bless all you do for His kingdom.
Thank you Terry for visiting We Are Israel and your kind comment.
Many believe as you seem to, that the strangers who dwells with Israel are Gentiles. However we must develop deeper understandings as to who Israel actually is and who the men (with their families) called “Strangers” (really “Gerim”), actually are. Yehovah did not give anyone (men) His commandments until AFTER they left their Egypt and joined themselves to His called-out men and then became His holy seed, His Ezrach son, Israel. While the commands are for both Israel and the Ger who dwell with them, they do not apply to both groups in the same way and were only given to the men of Israel. The forth commandment makes this very clear. The “thou” that Yehovah speaks to at Sinai is Israel, His Ezrach men.
How a Gentile becomes a Ger and then Yehovah’s kaw-seed, His kind, His Ezrach son, Israel, is the focus of my series called “A Spiritual Journey Begins” which truly is the good news: we can once again become the way Yehovah created us to be, in His image and His likeness. THAT is the second birth and Passover is at the center of this spiritual conversion and reuniting with the Creator.
Here is yet another article that begins to describe the Ezrach (the native-born man) and the Ger (the Stranger) who dwells with them.
Hope this helps to clarify some of your thinking on this VERY important subject. We have learned so many unprofitable things.
Respectfully,
Michael
What about TUNA or albacore? Do they have fins or scales? I believe they are what are called bottom fish; However I do not know if they are a part of the Clean or Unclean varieties.
When I mention the clean and unclean list of what we are to eat or not to eat, Christians remind me of the account of Peter’s vision of the sheet coming down with clean and unclean animals in it.
Dear Barbara,
Thank you for the comment.
Yehovah does not say anything about where fish dwell when He tells Israel what they are to eat and not to eat, He simply said they must have fins and scales. Albacore tuna has both fins and scales.
As for the sheet coming down from heaven in Peter’s dream, it was not about clean and unclean animals, it was about clean and unclean men. Here is the rest of that story. Did Peter really say all things are clean?
Yes. Peter’s vision was not about food, but about men.
He said to them, “You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God has shown me that I shouldn’t call any man unholy or unclean. Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favouritism; but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.
Acts 10:28â€, ‬34â€-‬35
So being a Gentile it, is OK for me to eat unclean food?
Sorry for getting back to you on this question so late Jay.
For me this question demonstrates a “false image” that many people have in their minds. Yehovah gave his commandments to “ISRAEL” after they left their Egypt, while the Gentiles remained there. Does Yehovah even care whether or not the Egyptian/Gentiles who remained in his Egypt serving their Elohim eat clean, keep a Saturday Sabbath, keep His feast day or does anything else that Yehovah told His Israel to do? My answer is “NO!”
I believe that most people think the difference between a Gentile and a non-Gentile is about blood. I would argue that it is about spirit; a spiritual birth into a spiritual kingdom, a kingdom where a man has only one Elohi (God), lawmaker and judge. This is what the 1st commandment is all about.
When a Gentile leaves the kingdom of His birth and joins himself to Israel, Yehovah’s spiritually born men, he becomes “a stranger, a Ger with Israel.”
Instead of asking if a Gentile can eat clean food, one should ask, “How do I become Israel?” The NT has caused many to go a way that Yehovah never intended. Yeshua taught about a spiritual birth into a spiritual Kingdom AT PASSOVER, and that only is the feast that a Ger (Stranger) can become an Ezrach (a native-born man). I have written much about how a Gentile can become an Ezrach man, true Israel. Here is the 1st of 10 or so article that describe the process of this spiritual birth.
Thanks for this site it has been very helpful.
God has a reason for not eating certain fish and animals.
Please is Salmon fish and duck good for food?
Hi Simon!
Salmon is on the clean fish list and duck is on the clean birds list.
hi… may i ask, why marlin is not a clean fish? it has scales and fins according to google
Hi Claudette and thanks for the comment.
I made some changes.
Hi I have a question about one of the sea creatures food you listed as unclean. The Eel is a longated fish that has fins and scales why is this fish unkosher?
Kosher or non-kosher is never a concern to me. I want to follow only Yehovah’s instructions and He talks in term of tahor (clean) and tamei (unclean). The two lists I have created here is certainly NOT exhaustive, I tried to help folks with the more common ones here in the US. Someone recently rebuked me for not including piranha, which may or may not be clean. You are asking about eels, which I have found that there are many kinds. In my research it appears that most do not have scales. Thanks for the comment Ryu.
I did not see “chicken” on the list. Is chicken a clean food?
It is there. You may have been looking at the wrong list. Here is the list for clean birds. http://weareisrael.org/clean-foods/clean-birds-in-torah/
Is tilapia good to eat? It has both fins and scales, but I always see people stating it shouldn’t be eaten…
If it has both fins and scales, Yehovah says it is clean. I have it on the clean list in this article.
I eat tuna of which is one of my favorite food, but I was told that it was not a cleane food to eat. Thank you for this website!!
Most helpful, thank you.
In genesis GOD told Noah to bring in the clean and unclean into the ark the clean by sevens which I believe was 14. One male and one female 2 by 2 so a distinction of clean and unclean was made or given before the flood. The reason for 14 clean species was for sacrifice and food since all plant life had been destroyed.
Thank you for this article. I have always been confused about this. Your list are very detailed. God bless you!
Thank you so much for this information about the clean and unclen fish and other
animal. It help me to understand more about what kind of fish is good to eat
and clean. And understand about the none kosher fish, other animal that is not
clean to stay away from them. And not to eat them. We all must follow Word
from the Torah and glorify our Heavenly Father the Creator Yehovah who
have so much mercy us and we do according to His Commandments
But I think mackerel has no scales.
There are many varieties of mackerel. I did move it to the unclean list, but we must understand that some types of mackerel do have both fins and scales. Thanks for encouraging me to make this change Mr Dennis. 🙂
that resulted, in the saying “holy mackerel”.
I am a Christian and a Gentile. I believe the Word of God, and I choose to follow what God told the Jewish people concerning unclean and clean food. I believe that we the Gentiles are to also follow the same regulations God gave to His chosen people in the Bible.
God was using the Hebrews to show all the other nations how he wanted everyone he created to live.
Great Website. I was listening to a gospel radio station and heard we should only eat clean fish so I asked Google and it bought this up. I am starting with this list I was eating some unclean fish and never knew that it was unclean until now. Thank you . M. Baker
So you’re saying that Yahuah is telling everyone they can eat unclean as long as they’re not his people. I was not born an Israelite but when I became born again I became an Israelite just like rahab and Ruth. So if you’re born again wanting to buy everything that father has told us to do you need to eat clean and obey all his commandments everything he spoke with his mouth. Remember he changes not he’s the same today yesterday and forever. And Yahusha hamashiach I said who are those that are my brother and sisters but those who obey my father.
There is so much confusion when we try to incorporate our man-made christian ideas into into the actual words which Yehovah spoke to Israel through Moses and His other prophets. Yehovah never tells “everyone” anything. He told His people what to do AFTER they left Egypt. What you must discover is how a man becomes one of His people and then how a woman does it. This christian idea of being born a 2nd time is not what you think it is. There is a lot to understand. Yehovah told Moses to tell Pharaoh, “Let My son, My firstborn, go that he may serve me.” A good place to start learning the rest of the story is here. Born Again Process
thanks
Thanks a lot! I am a Seventh Day Adventist and needed information for a presentation on Fish at church. Your list will come in handy!
Thank you guys for this useful informations & clearing my doubts…
Always wondered & struggled to understand clean & unclean creatures.
I’m sharing this info with my friends starting it right away…
I recognize the krill is not considered Kosher. Please assist with OT Hebrew clarity on the below question regarding Leviticus 11:19. “Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the steams you may eat any that have fins and scales.”
If the criteria included having to have fins and scales please help me understand the following. BTW, I am not trying to be argumentative but seeking understanding. Totally believe Luke 16:17.
Krill by outward observation have a split fins in the caudal location. Thus they do have fins. The exoskeleton sure appears to be scale like to me. Perhaps the literal Hebrew will give insight.
Nutritionally taking fish oil supplements is very good for the body. There is some medical evidence that the Krill may have higher value. God’s word is always best choice regardless of appearances; however, anatomically I cannot get over the above observations.
Appreciate your insight!
Krill are small crustaceans, not fish. Yehovah people are allowed to eat “fish” that have both fins and scales. I can’t add or subtract from that. Thanks for the comment Phil!
Thank you, your information is extremely helpful. Have a blessed evening.
You said that Yehovah never told any gentile to eat only clean meats. So do you also believe that His commandments are only for Israel? Yehovah said that even the stranger within our gates should not desecrate the Sabbath by working. Not because they are within the gates of a Sabbath keeper but because we are to be witnesses of Him and His truth to all people. In Isaiah 56:7 He said the …”(His) house will be called a house of prayer for all people. All people are descended from Adam. All people are the work of His hand. His love reaches out to all mankind.
You also mentioned Christians who eat the unclean as being like smoke in His nostrils and you are correct. What you failed to mention is that not all Christians do this. I am a Seventh-Day Adventist Christian and we keep the health laws of Leviticus and Deuteronomy and the Ten Commandments. Shabbat Shalom
Oh my, so much confusion and our translations don’t make proper understandings any easier. Many believe, as you do, that the person referred to in most bibles as a “Stranger” is synonymous with a “Gentile”. In fact, there are two types of men who dwell in Yehovah’s kingdom; the first is the “Ezrach”, a “spiritually born” or “native born” man, AKA Israel and the second is the Ger who dwells with the Ezrach. Both the Ger and the Ezrach were Gentiles at one time. I must refer you to several articles I have written on this subject. The Gentile is the man who leaves the kingdom of his birth and joins himself to Yehovah’s people and becomes a Ger. Twice per year the Ger has the chance, and duty, to become an Ezrach.
Yehovah gave His commandments to His spiritually born, Ezrach men, known as Israel, there were no Gentiles there. When he says “THOU shall keep the Sabbath“, He is talking to each Ezrach man.
Thanks for the comment Julie!
I truly believe this, for I am a Israelite, I have known this for a while but when I tell our heritage I’m looked at like a fool, but I’m not
I just ate a tin of “Ocean Rise” Smoked Riga Sprats, from Latvia.
Purchased at Aldies store, and they were delicious.
But, do they have scales? ?
Or is that just shiny skin? In the picture they do have fins.
I stopped eating sardines years ago cos I thought they didn’t have scales.
Now I discover they are ok from your site.
Actually the sprats are nicer! Thank you for your excellent help.
Thank you so much for more insight.
Good morning! I come from the “Christian churchâ€, and I do believe that YHVH food laws still apply… and I do realize that many Christians think otherwise, and they will stand before Yehovah. Do you guys recognize Yeshua as your savior? That’s the big one there… if you don’t Christ, then you don’t YHVH.
Love your page!
Dear William,
You said “if you don’t Christ, then you don’t YHVH.” This is not a fact, this is a false premise promoted by many in the “Christian Church”. I would have said the same thing some 25 years ago when I had very little understanding concerning the words of Yehovah given to Israel through Moses and His prophets. Here is a comment I made earlier today in response to Silvia’s sincere question, “Does not Yeshua’s blood cover our sins?”. I hope this will help you also.
“Dear Silvia,
Twenty-one years ago on an Easter Eve I began research that would change my life forever; more than that, what I found (in the next many year) was how to become Yehovah kind, His son, and find true salvation. On my site, under the tab “Torah 201” I have gathered together many articles that will address your precious question. For most of my life I had the same “understanding” about Jesus and it was with great difficulty that I found new understandings that agree with Yehovah’s words given through Moses and His prophets.
I prayer that this information will lead you, and other, to deeper and more satisfactory understandings.”
Hello William!
You said, “If you don’t Christ, then you don’t YHVH”. I would have said the same thing some 21 years ago before I actually started studying Yehovah’s words given to Israel through Moses and His other prophets. Bottom line, I discovered that I had learned lies, worthless and unprofitable things. I have written many articles on my blog to set people free from the doctrines and traditions of men that most of us have learned and accepted as truth. The Tab called “Torah 201” deals with much of the lies we have “learned”, which just aren’t so.
Keep searching and learning William and thanks for the comment.
Michael
Shalom, Michael!
I am knee deep in study about this topic of clean fish, and I have a very compelling article that I found that challenges some of the listed “clean fish” and would like your opinion on it. http://scripturetruthministries.com/2018/03/23/tunas-and-flatfishes-unclean/
Any thoughts are much appreciated.
Mrs. G
If i am born again into the body of Christ then i am a child of God and must follow his Å•ules his laws whether jew or gentile
Oh my, that is what a lot of people, it is a very broad road, believe.
Pls I need clarification on whether goose and duck are clean
I call them clean because I have no reason not to.
https://weareisrael.org/clean-foods/clean-birds-in-torah/
I have a question related to anchovies. Worcestershire sauce uses them as an ingredient and it’s marked as kosher, but they use the whole fish in the process (fermenting it in salt and then adding the fish and salt to sauce). Since they don’t gut the fish or take out the blood, would that make it unclean?
Anchovies have both fins and scales, so they are clean; but that is an interesting question. I’m not sure that fish even have blood. The have no hemoglobin.
I am Christian and my church observes the Biblical rules of clean and unclean food. It is not true that Christianity teaches that we can eat whatever we want. This is based on two statements that have been interpreted in a highly controversial manner by people whose lives and teachings have drifted away from the the theology of the early church.
Do you follow the Talmud as well?
No, I’m not interested in the ways of Judaism or Christianity.
You say it’s not for the gentiles, but yet if you read Genesis Noah’s ark God said that 2 of each species of UNCLEAN animals and 7 of each CLEAN animals must go on the ark. It starts way at the beginning which even affects us today. Scientifically proven unclean species are more toxic than CLEAN species.
I would argue that Noah was a spiritual man. He was one of Yehovah’s people. He taught Abraham and even Isaac (for a short time). I think there is much confusion because we have not learned what a Ger and an Ezrach are. There were men how cam out of Egypt with Yehovah’s son, Israel, who later joined themselves to Israel at the next Passover. But Yehovah did not ask any Egyptian to eat clean.
Good advice Michael. But I would like to comment about the comment about clean and unclean food for not for the Gentiles. God’s people area scattered all over the world, and Most people that are of the Israelites do not know that they are Israelites.
Thank you! Ellen
Israel, true Israel, is not about blood! It is about spirit. A Gentile can become spiritually born Israel, I talk about this much in my writings and videos. Yehovah never told the Egyptians to eat clean, His instructions were always for His people, Israel. If you would like to learn more about this subject, my Born Again series might be a good place to start. Thanks for the comment Ellen.
So I just have an quick question that I haven’t been able to find an answer to myself, is the fish that are considered clean to eat and feeders of the unclean such as (shrimp, crab, shellfish etc.) would that not make it unclean ? If not how ?
Yehovah really does not talk about what an animal EATS when He declares His people what is clean and unclean. It more about what we can observe about the animal, bug, fish or bird at the time of slaughter. Thanks for the note Lauren.
Thank you for the list, I’ve been looking everywhere online on and off for a list that is on track. One thing though, It’s not fair to say “Christian church” as if we’re the only ones who eat unclean and break the rules. Other religious groups who say they follow God make the same mistakes as well. I really wish people would stop pinpointing us as bad and being the only rule breakers. Please don’t judge us and speak in general.
Yehovah gave His commandments to His people, Spiritual Israel (those men who came into covenant with Him at Passover), no else! Eating clean does not make anyone Israel, it keep Israel on the straight and narrow path as do all His commandment, statutes and judgements. They only are the ways that lead to life.