Leviticus 11:2-23

2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat:
3 You may eat any animal that has a divided hoof and that chews the cud.
4 “ ‘There are some that only chew the cud or only have a divided hoof, but you must not eat them. The camel, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is ceremonially unclean for you.
5 The hyrax, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you.
6 The rabbit, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you.
7 And the pig, though it has a divided hoof, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you.
8 You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.
9 “ ‘Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams you may eat any that have fins and scales.
10 But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales—whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water—you are to regard as unclean.
11 And since you are to regard them as unclean, you must not eat their meat; you must regard their carcasses as unclean.
12 Anything living in the water that does not have fins and scales is to be regarded as unclean by you.
13 “ ‘These are the birds you are to regard as unclean and not eat because they are unclean: the eagle,[a] the vulture, the black vulture,
14 the red kite, any kind of black kite,
15 any kind of raven,
16 the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk,
17 the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl,
18 the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey,
19 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.
20 “ ‘All flying insects that walk on all fours are to be regarded as unclean by you.
21 There are, however, some flying insects that walk on all fours that you may eat: those that have jointed legs for hopping on the ground.
22 Of these you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket or grasshopper.
23 But all other flying insects that have four legs you are to regard as unclean.

Leviticus 11:2-23 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 15

  • 1. Acts 10:12-14
  • 2. Acts 10:14
  • 3. Isaiah 65:4; Isaiah 66:3,17
  • 4. S Leviticus 5:2; Isaiah 52:11; Hebrews 9:10
  • 5. ver 12; Leviticus 7:18
  • 6. S Leviticus 5:2
  • 7. ver 10
  • 8. S Genesis 1:11
  • 9. S Genesis 8:7
  • 10. Isaiah 13:21; Isaiah 14:23; Isaiah 34:11,13; Zephaniah 2:14
  • 11. Zechariah 5:9
  • 12. S Genesis 1:11
  • 13. Isaiah 2:20
  • 14. Acts 10:14
  • 15. Matthew 3:4; Mark 1:6

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. The precise identification of some of the birds, insects and animals in this chapter is uncertain.
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