Does the Bible Condone Cannibalism? What 2 Kings 6 Really Says

I honestly never thought I’d find myself in a full‑blown conversation about cannibalism in the Bible at a study, yet here we are. I’m sure there will be other future conversations where I’ll think the same thing. This one came up during a Bible study I decided to attend. A gentleman was asking questions, and somehow we ended up on the subject of cannibalism.

He had been taught at some point in an Evangelical church that 2 Kings 6:28–29 was proof that God condones eating people. Yes, you read that correctly. Every one of us in the room had our jaws on the floor.

He’s currently in the process of unlearning and relearning what the Bible actually says about God. He’s doing exactly what he should be doing, studying, asking questions, and trying to understand Scripture for himself. So we talked through that passage and others that mention cannibalism.

We explained that the Bible records these events because they literally happened, not because God approves of them. Sometimes Scripture is simply stating a historical fact, and sometimes it’s showing just how destructive sin can become. In the case of 2 Kings 6, the cannibalism happened during a severe famine and siege.

But none of that means God condones it. Every time cannibalism appears in Scripture, it’s portrayed as horrific, pagan, and a sign of judgment, never obedience. We got that cleared up, and then someone decided to say something that was fully intended to be rude and insulting towards me, simply because I was there.

I commented that no matter how hungry I became, I would never eat another human being. Immediately, they shot back a comment about how starvation affects the brain, so I “can’t assume” I wouldn’t do it. You can imagine how well that went over with me.

While I agreed that starvation affects the mind, I pointed out that countless millions of people throughout human history have starved and never once eaten their brother or sister. A person’s heart has to be so far from God to even commit that act.

My heart is aligned with God, and I know where my salvation stands. I know myself. If a person’s heart is not right with God, cannibalism can occur, and Scripture makes that painfully clear.

I’ll admit, the comment disheartened me, because it was not said out of love or fact, but malice towards my very presence being there. I responded politely, but with a little spice, because sometimes rudeness needs to be addressed, especially in front of someone who just discovered that something they were taught about God was completely wrong. Geez.

© 2025 Jane Isley. 

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