Leviticus 11:38-47

38 But if water has been put on the seed and a carcass falls on it, it is unclean for you.

39 “ ‘If an animal that you are allowed to eat dies, anyone who touches its carcass will be unclean till evening.

40 Anyone who eats some of its carcass must wash their clothes, and they will be unclean till evening. Anyone who picks up the carcass must wash their clothes, and they will be unclean till evening.

41 “ ‘Every creature that moves along the ground is to be regarded as unclean; it is not to be eaten.

42 You are not to eat any creature that moves along the ground, whether it moves on its belly or walks on all fours or on many feet; it is unclean.

43 Do not defile yourselves by any of these creatures. Do not make yourselves unclean by means of them or be made unclean by them.

44 I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves along the ground.

45 I am the LORD, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

46 “ ‘These are the regulations concerning animals, birds, every living thing that moves about in the water and every creature that moves along the ground.

47 You must distinguish between the unclean and the clean, between living creatures that may be eaten and those that may not be eaten.’ ”

Leviticus 11:38-47 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.

Cross References

• 1. Leviticus 17:15; Leviticus 22:8; Deuteronomy 14:21; Ezekiel 4:14; Ezekiel 44:31
• 2. ver 40; Leviticus 22:4; Numbers 19:11
• 3. S ver 39
• 4. ver 25; Leviticus 14:8; Leviticus 17:15; Leviticus 22:8; Ezekiel 44:31; Hebrews 9:10
• 5. ver 44; Leviticus 20:25; Leviticus 22:5
• 6. S Exodus 6:2,7; Exodus 20:2; Isaiah 43:3; Isaiah 51:15; Ezekiel 20:5
• 7. S Exodus 19:10; Leviticus 20:7; Numbers 15:40; Joshua 3:5; Joshua 7:13; 1 Chronicles 15:12; 2 Chronicles 29:5; 2 Chronicles 35:6
• 8. S Exodus 22:31; S Deuteronomy 14:2; Exodus 19:6
• 9. S Exodus 31:13; Leviticus 19:2; Leviticus 20:7; Joshua 24:19; 1 Samuel 2:2; Job 6:10; Psalms 99:3; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:7; 1 Peter 1:15,16*
• 10. S ver 43
• 11. Leviticus 25:38,55; Exodus 6:7; Exodus 20:2
• 12. S Genesis 17:7
• 13. S Exodus 19:6; 1 Peter 1:16*
• 14. Leviticus 10:10