Permitted insects under the Mosaic law
Locusts
Leviticus 11:22 permits certain locusts; John the Baptist ate them.
Biblical permission← Food Guide
Where it appears in Scripture
Leviticus 11:22; Matthew 3:4; Mark 1:6.
What Scripture says
- Some locusts were explicitly allowed as food.
- John the Baptist's diet was simple, and part of his prophetic calling.
What Scripture does NOT say
- His diet is not commanded for anyone else.
New Testament context
John the Baptist's wilderness food accompanies his prophetic calling and simple life. The Gospels report it without commanding its imitation.
Common misconceptions
- "Locusts are the most biblical protein." Permission and prophetic biography do not create a nutritional hierarchy.