Leviticus 11NASB
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Leviticus11

New American Standard

1The Lord spoke again to Moses and to Aaron, saying to them,

2“Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘These are the creatures which you may eat from all the animals that are on the earth.

3Whatever has a divided hoof, showing split hoofs, and chews the cud, among the animals, that you may eat.

4Nevertheless, you are not to eat of these, among those which chew the cud, or among those which have a divided hoof: the camel, for though it chews cud, it does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean to you.

5Likewise, the rock hyrax, for though it chews cud, it does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean to you.

6The rabbit also, for though it chews cud, it does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean to you.

7And the pig, for though it has a divided hoof, and so it shows a split hoof, it does not chew cud; it is unclean to you.

8You shall not eat any of their flesh nor touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you.

9‘These you may eat, of whatever is in the water: everything that has fins and scales, in the water, in the seas, or in the rivers, you may eat.

10But whatever is in the seas and in the rivers that does not have fins and scales among all the teeming life of the water, and among all the living creatures that are in the water, they are detestable things to you,

11and they shall be detestable to you; you may not eat any of their flesh, and you shall detest their carcasses.

12Whatever in the water does not have fins and scales is detestable to you.

13‘Moreover, these you shall detest among the birds; they are detestable, not to be eaten: the eagle, the vulture, and the buzzard,

14the red kite, the falcon in its kind,

15every raven in its kind,

16the ostrich, the owl, the seagull, and the hawk in its kind,

17the little owl, the cormorant, and the great owl,

18the white owl, the pelican, and the carrion vulture,

19the stork, the heron in its kinds, the hoopoe, and the bat.

20‘All the winged insects that walk on all fours are detestable to you.

21Yet these you may eat among all the winged insects that walk on all fours: those which have jointed legs above their feet with which to jump on the earth.

22These of them you may eat: the locust in its kinds, the devastating locust in its kinds, the cricket in its kinds, and the grasshopper in its kinds.

23But all other winged insects which are four-footed are detestable to you.

24‘By these, moreover, you will be made unclean; whoever touches their carcasses becomes unclean until evening,

25and whoever picks up any of their carcasses shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening.

26As for all the animals which have a divided hoof but do not show a split hoof, or do not chew the cud, they are unclean to you; whoever touches them becomes unclean.

27Also whatever walks on its paws, among all the creatures that walk on all fours, are unclean to you; whoever touches their carcasses becomes unclean until evening,

28and the one who picks up their carcasses shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening; they are unclean to you.

29‘Now these are to you the unclean among the swarming things which swarm on the earth: the mole, the mouse, and the great lizard in its kinds,

30the gecko, the crocodile, the lizard, the sand reptile, and the chameleon.

31These are to you the unclean among all the swarming things; whoever touches them when they are dead becomes unclean until evening.

32Also anything on which one of them may fall when they are dead becomes unclean, including any wooden article, or clothing, or a hide, or a sack—any article of which use is made—it shall be put in the water and be unclean until evening, then it becomes clean.

33As for any earthenware vessel into which one of them may fall, whatever is in it becomes unclean and you shall break the vessel.

34Any of the food which may be eaten, on which water comes, shall become unclean, and any liquid which may be drunk in every vessel shall become unclean.

35Moreover, everything on which part of their carcass may fall becomes unclean; an oven or a stove shall be smashed; they are unclean and shall continue as unclean to you.

36Nevertheless, a spring or a cistern collecting water shall be clean, though the one who touches their carcass shall be unclean.

37Now if a part of their carcass falls on any seed for sowing which is to be sown, it is clean.

38But if water is put on the seed and a part of their carcass falls on it, it is unclean to you.

39‘Also if one of the animals dies which you have for food, the one who touches its carcass becomes unclean until evening.

40He, too, who eats some of its carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening, and the one who picks up its carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening.

41‘Now every swarming thing that swarms on the earth is detestable, not to be eaten.

42Whatever crawls on its belly, and whatever walks on all fours, whatever has many feet, in regard to every swarming thing that swarms on the earth, you shall not eat them, because they are detestable.

43Do not make yourselves detestable through any of the swarming things that swarm; and you shall not make yourselves unclean with them so that you become unclean.

44For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, because I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm on the earth.

45For I am the Lord who brought you up from the land of Egypt, to be your God; so you shall be holy, because I am holy.’”

46This is the law regarding the animal and the bird, and every living thing that moves in the waters and everything that swarms on the earth,

47to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the edible creature and the creature which is not to be eaten.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Leviticus 11.

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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.

Cross References

Leviticus 11

Parallel Deuteronomic law listing clean and unclean beasts, sharing identical taxonomy and criteria.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB

v441 Peter 1:16quotation

Explicitly quotes the divine injunction here: 'Be ye holy; for I am holy.'

Supported by Matthew Henry

v8Acts 10:11-15contrast

Peter's vision of unclean beasts, signaling the end of these Mosaic food restrictions.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB

v22Matthew 3:4allusion

John the Baptist's diet of locusts directly instantiates the exception for permitted leaping insects in verse 22.

Supported by John Calvin

v26Deuteronomy 14:8thematic

Parallel Deuteronomic law repeating prohibitions on unclean beasts, cloven hoofs, and chewing the cud.

v47Leviticus 10:10thematic

Directly links the duty of priests to distinguish between the unclean and clean.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v47Ezekiel 44:23thematic

Echoes the priestly mandate to teach the people the difference between clean and unclean.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v2Colossians 2:16contrast

Apostolic instruction that believers are no longer to be judged regarding meat or drink.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v2Hebrews 9:10thematic

Identifies food laws as carnal ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v7Isaiah 65:4thematic

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).

v40Leviticus 22:8thematic

Priestly prohibition against eating what dies of itself or is torn by beasts, causing uncleanness.

v40Ezekiel 44:31thematic

Ezekiel reinforces the prohibition for priests eating anything that died of itself or was torn.

v43Leviticus 20:25thematic

Parallels the warning against making oneself abominable by eating unclean creeping things.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v441 Peter 1:15allusion

Applies the calling of a holy God as the basis for personal holiness in all conduct.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v1Leviticus 20:25thematic

Explicitly links dietary distinctions to Israel's national separation from other peoples.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v7Isaiah 66:17thematic

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

v22Mark 1:6allusion

Markan account of John the Baptist eating locusts, a clean flying insect according to verse 22.

v24Leviticus 11:8thematic

Reinforces the strict prohibition against touching the carcases of unclean animals.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v27Numbers 19:11thematic

General law regarding uncleanness contracted by touching dead bodies or carcases.

v33Leviticus 15:12thematic

Matches the specific cleansing ritual: earthen vessels must be broken; wooden vessels must be rinsed.

v33Leviticus 6:28thematic

Reiterates that infected earthen vessels must be broken, illustrating their porous, absorbency characteristics.

v40Exodus 22:31thematic

Commandment to be holy men; forbids eating meat torn of beasts in the field.

v44Exodus 19:6thematic

The national calling of Israel to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v47Ezekiel 22:26contrast

Condemns priests who failed to distinguish or teach the difference between clean and unclean.

v2Romans 14:14contrast

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

v29Ezekiel 8:10allusion

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.

v39Ezekiel 4:14thematic

Ezekiel appeals to his lifelong obedience to the food laws, never eating what died of itself.

v42Genesis 3:14thematic

Verbal link with 'goeth upon the belly,' the curse pronounced upon the serpent.

v44Leviticus 19:2thematic

Repeats the central covenantal call to national holiness based on Yahweh's own holiness.

v44Leviticus 20:7thematic

Reiterates the command to sanctify oneself and be holy.