Leviticus 11:27

27 Of the animals that walk on all fours, those that have paws are unclean. If you touch the carcass of such an animal, you will be defiled until evening.

Leviticus 11:27 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 11:27

Whatsoever goeth upon his paws
Or "the palms" ^F4 of his hands; meaning such creatures, whose feet are not divided into two parts, but into many, like the fingers of an hand, as apes, lions, bears, wolves, foxes, dogs, cats

among all manner of beasts that go on [all] four;
this is added, to distinguish them from fowl, such as are clean; who walk but on two feet, though their feet are divided into fingers or talons, and may be called hands on which they walk:

these [are] unclean unto you:
and as they might not be eaten, so neither touched, as follows:

whoso toucheth their carcass shall be unclean until the even;
(See Gill on Leviticus 11:24).

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 (wypk le) "super volas suas", Pagninus, Montanus, "super manus suas", Munster, Tigurine version, Drusius.

Leviticus 11:27 In-Context

25 If you pick up their carcasses, you must wash your clothes, and you will remain defiled until evening.

26 “Any animal that has split hooves that are not evenly divided or that does not chew the cud is unclean for you. If you touch the carcass of such an animal, you will be defiled.

27 Of the animals that walk on all fours, those that have paws are unclean. If you touch the carcass of such an animal, you will be defiled until evening.

28 If you pick up its carcass, you must wash your clothes, and you will remain defiled until evening. These animals are unclean for you.

29 “Of the small animals that scurry along the ground, these are unclean for you: the mole rat, the rat, large lizards of all kinds,