Leviticus 11:1-9

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

2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, These [are] the beasts which ye may eat among all the beasts that [are] on the earth.

3 Whatever 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 them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he [is] unclean to you.

5 And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he [is] unclean to you.

6 And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof: he [is] unclean to you.

7 And the swine, though he divideth 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.

9 These shall ye eat, of all that [are] in the waters: whatever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye 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.