In the context of biblical dietary laws, the snail is considered an unclean animal and is therefore forbidden as food for the Israelites. The dietary restrictions outlined in the Old Testament are part of the broader Mosaic Law, which was given to the people of Israel to set them apart as a holy nation dedicated to God.

The primary biblical reference concerning dietary laws is found in Leviticus 11, where God provides Moses and Aaron with a detailed list of animals that may and may not be consumed. While the text does not explicitly mention snails, it categorizes animals based on specific characteristics, and snails fall under the category of creatures that are not to be eaten.

Leviticus 11:41-42 states: "Every creature that moves along the ground is detestable; it is not to be eaten. You are not to eat any creature that moves along the ground, whether it crawls on its belly or walks on all fours or has many feet; for it is detestable." Snails, being creatures that move along the ground, are included in this prohibition.

The prohibition against eating snails and other similar creatures is reiterated in Deuteronomy 14, which serves as a second witness to the dietary laws. Deuteronomy 14:3 commands, "You must not eat any detestable thing." This broad prohibition encompasses all creatures deemed unclean, including those that move along the ground.

The dietary laws served multiple purposes, including health, hygiene, and the symbolic separation of the Israelites from surrounding nations. By adhering to these laws, the Israelites demonstrated their obedience to God and their commitment to living according to His statutes.

In the New Testament, the discussion of dietary laws takes a different turn. Jesus and the apostles address the issue of clean and unclean foods, emphasizing the spiritual rather than the ceremonial aspects of the law. However, the specific prohibition against eating snails remains part of the Old Testament law, which was binding on the Israelites.

The conservative Christian perspective often views these dietary laws as part of the Old Covenant, which was fulfilled in Christ. While the New Testament teaches that Christians are not bound by the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament, the principles of holiness and obedience to God remain central to the faith.

In summary, the snail is classified as an unclean animal according to the dietary laws given to the Israelites in the Old Testament. These laws were part of God's covenant with Israel, designed to set them apart as His chosen people.Leviticus 11:30
And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole.
Nave's Topical Index

Letter cvii. To Laeta.
... in which week is added to week and even oil and apples are forbidden as food. ... in
Lent consumes the coats of his stomach, and living like a snail on his own ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cvii to laeta.htm

The Alarum
... progression, and then the son of the snail had a ... are not in hell; that you still
have food and raiment ... mercy is succeeded by justice, and hope forbidden to enter ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the alarum.htm

Ancestors of the Blessed virgin
... leaves that looked yellowish and were twisted like snail shells ... I saw them giving
food to the poor now and then ... the Garden of Eden which bore the forbidden fruit ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/i ancestors of the blessed.htm

part ii
... it clings to earthly delights: to food, drink, carnal pleasures; to money, to this
dross, to dress, to this corruption, to perishable colours, to patterns, to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part ii.htm

Is it true that the bodies of some saints are incorruptible? | GotQuestions.org

Snail: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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