Leviticus 11:39-47

39 "If an animal that you are permitted to eat dies, anyone who touches the carcass is ritually unclean until evening.

40 If you eat some of the carcass you must wash your clothes and you are unclean until evening. If you pick up the carcass you must wash your clothes and are unclean until evening.

41 "Creatures that crawl on the ground are detestable and not to be eaten.

42 Don't eat creatures that crawl on the ground, whether on their belly or on all fours or on many feet - they are detestable.

43 Don't make yourselves unclean or be defiled by them, because I am your God.

44 "Make yourselves holy for I am holy. Don't make yourselves ritually unclean by any creature that crawls on the ground.

45 I am God who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Be holy because I am holy.

46 "These are the instructions on animals, birds, fish, and creatures that crawl on the ground.

47 You have to distinguish between the ritually unclean and the clean, between living creatures that can be eaten and those that cannot be eaten."

Leviticus 11:39-47 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.