Leviticus 11:1-8

1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,

2 "Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, `These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.

3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof and is cloven-footed and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that shall ye eat.

4 Nevertheless these shall ye not eat, of those that chew the cud or of those that divide the hoof: the camel, because he cheweth the cud but divideth not the hoof, he is unclean unto you;

5 and the coney, because he cheweth the cud but divideth not the hoof, he is unclean unto you;

6 and the hare, because he cheweth the cud but divideth not the hoof, he is unclean unto you;

7 and the swine, though he divide the hoof and is cloven- footed, yet he cheweth not the cud, he is unclean to you.

8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.

Leviticus 11:1-8 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.