Vayikra 11:46

46 This is the torah concerning the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the mayim, and of every creature that creepeth upon ha’aretz;

Vayikra 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.

Vayikra 11:46 In-Context

44 For I am Hashem Eloheichem; ye shall therefore set yourselves apart as kodesh, and ye shall be kadoshim; for I am kadosh; neither shall ye make your nefashot tamei with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon ha’aretz.

45 For I am Hashem that bringeth you up out of Eretz Mitzrayim, to be for you as Elohim: ye shall therefore be kadoshim, for I am kadosh.

46 This is the torah concerning the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the mayim, and of every creature that creepeth upon ha’aretz;

47 To make a divide [lehavdil; to make a distinction, separation] between the tamei and the tahor, and between the beast that may be and the beast that may not be eaten.