Leviticus 11:1-11

1 ADONAI said to Moshe and Aharon,

2 "Tell the people of Isra'el, 'These are the living creatures which you may eat among all the land animals:

3 any that has a separate hoof which is completely divided and chews the cud - these animals you may eat.

4 But you are not to eat those that only chew the cud or only have a separate hoof. For example, the camel, the coney and the hare are unclean for you, because they chew the cud but don't have a separate hoof;

5

6

7 while the pig is unclean for you, because, although it has a separate and completely divided hoof, it doesn't chew the cud.

8 You are not to eat meat from these or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.

9 "'Of all the things that live in the water, you may eat these: anything in the water that has fins and scales, whether in seas or in rivers -these you may eat.

10 But everything in the seas and rivers without both fins and scales, of all the small water-creatures and of all the living creatures in the water, is a detestable thing for you.

11 Yes, these will be detestable for you -you are not to eat their meat, and you are to detest their carcasses.

Leviticus 11:1-11 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.