Leviticus 11:1-9

Dietary rules

1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron:
2 Say to the Israelites: These are the creatures that you are allowed to eat from the land animals:
3 You can eat any animal that has divided hoofs, completely split, and that rechews food.
4 But of animals that rechew food and have divided hoofs you must not eat the following: the camel—though it rechews food, it does not have divided hoofs, so it is unclean for you;
5 the rock badger—though it rechews food, it does not have divided hoofs, so it is unclean for you;
6 the hare—though it rechews food, it does not have divided hoofs, so it is unclean for you;
7 the pig—though it has completely divided hoofs, it does not rechew food, so it is unclean for you.
8 You must not eat the flesh of these animals or touch their dead bodies; they are unclean for you.
9 You are allowed to eat the following from all water animals: You may eat anything in the water that has fins and scales, whether in sea or stream.

Leviticus 11:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 11

This chapter treats of creatures clean and unclean, as fit or not fit to be eaten; and first of beasts, whose signs are given, Le 11:1-8 then of fishes, which are likewise described, Le 11:9-12 after that of fowls, and those that are not to be eaten are particularly named, Le 11:13-19 next of creeping things, which are distinguished into two sorts, as flying creeping things, of which those that are unclean, their carcasses are not even to be touched, as neither the carcasses of unclean beasts, Le 11:20-28 and creeping things on the earth, which defile by touching, as well as eating, and make everything unclean, upon which, being dead, they fall, Le 11:29-43 and these laws are enforced from the holiness and goodness of God, Le 11:44,45 and the chapter is concluded with a recapitulation of them, Le 11:46,47.

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