Leviticus11
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1And Jehovah spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,
2Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the living things which ye may eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.
3Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that may ye eat.
4Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that part the hoof: the camel, because he cheweth the cud but parteth not the hoof, he is unclean unto you.
5And the coney, because he cheweth the cud but parteth not the hoof, he is unclean unto you.
6And the hare, because she cheweth the cud but parteth not the hoof, she is unclean unto you.
7And the swine, because he parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, but cheweth not the cud, he is unclean unto you.
8Of their flesh ye shall not eat, and their carcasses ye shall not touch; they are unclean unto you.
9These may ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, that may ye eat.
10And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of all the living creatures that are in the waters, they are an abomination unto you,
11and they shall be an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, and their carcasses ye shall have in abomination.
12Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that is an abomination unto you.
13And these ye shall have in abomination among the birds; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the gier-eagle, and the ospray,
14and the kite, and the falcon after its kind,
15every raven after its kind,
16and the ostrich, and the night-hawk, and the sea-mew, and the hawk after its kind,
17and the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl,
18and the horned owl, and the pelican, and the vulture,
19and the stork, the heron after its kind, and the hoopoe, and the bat.
20All winged creeping things that go upon all fours are an abomination unto you.
21Yet these may ye eat of all winged creeping things that go upon all fours, which have legs above their feet, wherewith to leap upon the earth.
22even these of them ye may eat: the locust after its kind, and the bald locust after its kind, and the cricket after its kind, and the grasshopper after its kind.
23But all winged creeping things, which have four feet, are an abomination unto you.
24And by these ye shall become unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcass of them shall be unclean until the even;
25and whosoever beareth aught of the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.
26Every beast which parteth the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, nor cheweth the cud, is unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean.
27And whatsoever goeth upon its paws, among all beasts that go on all fours, they are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcass shall be unclean until the even.
28And he that beareth the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you.
29And these are they which are unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth: the weasel, and the mouse, and the great lizard after its kind,
30and the gecko, and the land-crocodile, and the lizard, and the sand-lizard, and the chameleon.
31These are they which are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they are dead, shall be unclean until the even.
32And upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean; whether it be any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever vessel it be, wherewith any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; then shall it be clean.
33And every earthen vessel, whereinto any of them falleth, whatsoever is in it shall be unclean, and it ye shall break.
34All food therein which may be eaten, that on which water cometh, shall be unclean; and all drink that may be drunk in every such vessel shall be unclean.
35And every thing whereupon any part of their carcass falleth shall be unclean; whether oven, or range for pots, it shall be broken in pieces: they are unclean, and shall be unclean unto you.
36Nevertheless a fountain or a pit wherein is a gathering of water shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcass shall be unclean.
37And if aught of their carcass fall upon any sowing seed which is to be sown, it is clean.
38But if water be put upon the seed, and aught of their carcass fall thereon, it is unclean unto you.
39And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcass thereof shall be unclean until the even.
40And he that eateth of the carcass of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: he also that beareth the carcass of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.
41And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth is an abomination; it shall not be eaten.
42Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all fours, or whatsoever hath many feet, even all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.
43Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby.
44For I am Jehovah your God: sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that moveth upon the earth.
45For I am Jehovah that brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
46This is the law of the beast, and of the bird, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth;
47to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the living thing that may be eaten and the living thing that may not be eaten.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Leviticus 11.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: What animals were clean and unclean. (1-47).
vv1-47
These laws seem to have been intended, 1. As a test of the people's obedience, as Adam was forbidden to eat of the tree of knowledge; and to teach them self-denial, and the government of their appetites. 2. To keep the Israelites distinct from other nations. Many also of these forbidden animals were objects of superstition and idolatry to the heathen. 3. The people were taught to make distinctions between the holy and unholy in their companions and intimate connexions. 4. The law forbad, not only the eating of the unclean beasts, but the touching of them. Those who would be kept from any sin, must be careful to avoid all temptations to it, or coming near it. The exceptions are very minute, and all were designed to call forth constant care and exactness in their obedience; and to teach us to obey. Whilst we enjoy our Christian liberty, and are free from such burdensome observances, we must be careful not to abuse our liberty. For the Lord hath redeemed and called his people, that they may be holy, even as he is holy. We must come out, and be separate from the world; we must leave the company of the ungodly, and all needless connexions with those who are dead in sin; we must be zealous of good works devoted followers of God, and companions of his people.
Key Words
דָבַר: perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
מֹשֶׁה: Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
אַהֲרוֹן: Aharon, the brother of Moses
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
זֹאת: this (often used adverb)
חַי: alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively
אָכַל: to eat (literally or figuratively)
בְּהֵמָה: properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective)
Cross References
Leviticus 11Parallel Deuteronomic law listing clean and unclean beasts, sharing identical taxonomy and criteria.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
Explicitly quotes the divine injunction here: 'Be ye holy; for I am holy.'
Supported by Matthew Henry
Peter's vision of unclean beasts, signaling the end of these Mosaic food restrictions.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
John the Baptist's diet of locusts directly instantiates the exception for permitted leaping insects in verse 22.
Supported by John Calvin
Parallel Deuteronomic law repeating prohibitions on unclean beasts, cloven hoofs, and chewing the cud.
Directly links the duty of priests to distinguish between the unclean and clean.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Echoes the priestly mandate to teach the people the difference between clean and unclean.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Apostolic instruction that believers are no longer to be judged regarding meat or drink.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Identifies food laws as carnal ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Condemns Israel's rebellion, specifically citing eating swine's flesh as an abominable act.
Supported by John Calvin
Deuteronomic parallel prohibiting Israel from eating any beast that dies of itself (carcase).
Priestly prohibition against eating what dies of itself or is torn by beasts, causing uncleanness.
Ezekiel reinforces the prohibition for priests eating anything that died of itself or was torn.
Parallels the warning against making oneself abominable by eating unclean creeping things.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Applies the calling of a holy God as the basis for personal holiness in all conduct.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Explicitly links dietary distinctions to Israel's national separation from other peoples.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Prophetic condemnation of those sanctifying themselves while eating swine's flesh and abominable things.
Supported by John Calvin
Deuteronomy's parallel prohibition of the swine, reiterating its cloven foot yet lack of cud-chewing.
Supported by John Calvin
Parallel Deuteronomic list detailing forbidden unclean birds and flying insects.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Markan account of John the Baptist eating locusts, a clean flying insect according to verse 22.
Reinforces the strict prohibition against touching the carcases of unclean animals.
Supported by Matthew Henry
General law regarding uncleanness contracted by touching dead bodies or carcases.
Matches the specific cleansing ritual: earthen vessels must be broken; wooden vessels must be rinsed.
Reiterates that infected earthen vessels must be broken, illustrating their porous, absorbency characteristics.
Commandment to be holy men; forbids eating meat torn of beasts in the field.
The national calling of Israel to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Condemns priests who failed to distinguish or teach the difference between clean and unclean.
Paul declares nothing is unclean of itself, reversing the ceremonial restrictions of Leviticus.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel text prohibiting the camel, hare, and coney for failing the dual test.
Supported by John Calvin
Deuteronomic parallel for clean aquatic life requiring fins and scales.
Supported by John Calvin
Ezekiel's vision of unclean creeping things portrayed on the temple walls, echoing these specific prohibitions.
Paul's analogical use of agricultural sowing seed, which remains clean in Leviticus 11.
Ezekiel appeals to his lifelong obedience to the food laws, never eating what died of itself.
Verbal link with 'goeth upon the belly,' the curse pronounced upon the serpent.
Repeats the central covenantal call to national holiness based on Yahweh's own holiness.
Reiterates the command to sanctify oneself and be holy.