Leviticus 11:39

39 And if any animal of which ye may eat dies, he that touches the carcase thereof shall be unclean until the evening;

Leviticus 11:39 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 11:39

And if any beast of which ye may eat die
Any clean beast, as the ox, sheep, goat, deer what, if rightly killed, is very lawful to eat of; but if it died of itself through any distemper, or was torn by the wild beasts, so the Targum of Jonathan:

he that toucheth the carcass thereof shall be unclean until the
even;
not the bones, nerves, horns, hoofs, or skin, as Jarchi observes; these might be handled, because some of them, at least, were wrought up into one instrument or another, by artificers, for use and service, but the flesh of them might not be touched; whoever did touch it was ceremonially unclean, and might not go into the sanctuary, or have conversation with men, until the evening of the day in which this was done.

Leviticus 11:39 In-Context

37 And if any part of their carcase falls upon any sown seed which is sown, it shall be clean.

38 But if any water is put upon the seed and any part of their carcase falls thereon, it shall be unclean unto you.

39 And if any animal of which ye may eat dies, he that touches the carcase thereof shall be unclean until the evening;

40 and he that eats of the carcase of it shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening; likewise he that bears the carcase of it shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening.

41 And every reptile that creeps upon the earth is an abomination; it shall not be eaten.