Leviticus 22:8

8 He shall not eat a thing dead by itself, and taken of a beast, neither he shall be defouled in those things; I am the Lord. (He shall not eat anything that dieth naturally, or that is killed by a beast, so that he be not defiled with those things; I am the Lord.)

Leviticus 22:8 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 22:8

That which dieth of itself, or is torn [with beasts]
Whether fowls or beasts, and even clean ones, which, had they been killed in a proper manner, were fit to cut, but dying of themselves, or torn to pieces by other birds or beasts of prey, might not, see ( Ezekiel 44:31 ) ; he shall not eat, to defile himself therewith;
being impure food, at least in a ceremonial sense, and not fit to be eaten; these things were forbid a common Israelite, and much less might a priest eat of them, see ( Leviticus 17:15 ) ; I [am] the Lord;
who enjoin this, and expect to be obeyed.

Leviticus 22:8 In-Context

6 he shall be unclean till to eventide, and he shall not eat these things that be hallowed to me; but when he hath washed his flesh in water,
7 and the sun hath gone down, then he shall be cleansed, and shall eat hallowed things, for it is his meat. (and the sun hath gone down, then he shall be clean, and he can eat the dedicated things, or the sacred offerings, for this is his food.)
8 He shall not eat a thing dead by itself, and taken of a beast, neither he shall be defouled in those things; I am the Lord. (He shall not eat anything that dieth naturally, or that is killed by a beast, so that he be not defiled with those things; I am the Lord.)
9 They shall keep my behests, that they be not subject to sin, and die in the saintuary, when they have defouled it; I am the Lord that hallow(eth) you. (They shall obey my commands, so that they be not subject to sin, and then die in the sanctuary, when they have defiled it; I am the Lord who maketh you holy.)
10 Each alien shall not eat of things hallowed; the hind that is a stranger, and the hired man of the priest, shall not eat of those things. (No one not of the priestly family shall eat any of the dedicated things; yea, even a visitor to the priest, or his hired man, shall not eat those things.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.