Leviticus 11:1-9

1 Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them,

2 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'These are the animals which you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth:

3 Among the animals, whatever divides the hoof, having cloven hooves and chewing the cud--that you may eat.

4 Nevertheless these you shall not eat among those that chew the cud or those that have cloven hooves: the camel, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you;

5 the rock hyrax, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you;

6 the hare, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you;

7 and the swine, though it divides the hoof, having cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud, is unclean to you.

8 Their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch. They are unclean to you.

9 'These you may eat of all that are in the water: whatever in the water has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers--that you may eat.

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.