Leviticus 11:46

46 "'Such, then, is the law concerning animals, flying creatures, all living creatures that move about in the water, and all creatures that swarm on the ground.

Leviticus 11:46 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 11:46

This [is] the law of the beasts
Clean and unclean, what were to be eaten, and what not,

and of the fowl;
( Leviticus 11:2-8 ) the unclean ones, which are particularly mentioned that they might be avoided, all others excepting them being allowed, ( Leviticus 11:13-19 ) :

and of every living creature that moveth in the waters;
all sorts of fish in the sea, rivers, ponds, and pools, such as have fins and scales, these were to be eaten, but, if they had neither, were forbidden, ( Leviticus 11:9-12 ) :

and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth;
eight of which are mentioned particularly, which, when dead, defiled by touching; and all others are forbidden to be eaten, ( Leviticus 11:29-43 ) together with such creeping things that fly, excepting those that had legs above their feet to leap with, ( Leviticus 11:20-23 ) . This is a recapitulation of the several laws respecting them, though not in the exact order in which they are delivered in this chapter.

Leviticus 11:46 In-Context

44 For I am ADONAI your God; therefore, consecrate yourselves and be holy, for I am holy; and do not defile yourselves with any kind of swarming creature that moves along the ground.

45 For I am ADONAI, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. Therefore you are to be holy, because I am holy.

46 "'Such, then, is the law concerning animals, flying creatures, all living creatures that move about in the water, and all creatures that swarm on the ground.

47 Its purpose is to distinguish between the unclean and the clean, and between the creatures that may be eaten and those that may not be eaten.'" Suggested readings for Parashah Sh'mini from the B'rit Hadashah: