Leviticus 11:1-9

Clean and Unclean Animals

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

2 "Speak to the people of Israel, saying, ¹These are the living things that you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth.

3 Whatever parts the hoof and is cloven-footed and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat.

4 Nevertheless, among those that chew the cud or part the hoof, you shall not eat these: The camel, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you.

5 And the ²rock badger, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you.

6 And the hare, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you.

7 And the pig, because it parts the hoof and is cloven-footed but does not chew the cud, ³is unclean to you.

8 You shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall not touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you.

9 "These you may eat, of all that are in the waters. Everything in the waters that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers, you may 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.

Cross References

• 1. For ver. 1-47, see Deuteronomy 14:3-20; [Matthew 15:11; Mark 7:15, 18; Acts 10:12-15; Acts 11:6-9; Romans 14:14; 1 Corinthians 8:8; Colossians 2:16, 21; Hebrews 9:10]
• 2. Psalms 104:18; Proverbs 30:26
• 3. [Isaiah 65:4; Isaiah 66:3, 17]