Leviticus 11:1-11

1 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,

2 Speak ye to the sons of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat of all beasts that are upon the earth.

3 Every beast parting the hoof and making divisions of two claws, and chewing the cud among beasts, these ye shall eat.

4 But of these ye shall not eat, of those that chew the cud, and of those that part the hoofs, and divide claws; the camel, because it chews the cud, but does not divide the hoof, this is unclean to you.

5 And the rabbit, because it chews the cud, but does not divide the hoof, this is unclean to you.

6 And the hare, because it does not chew the cud, and does not divide the hoof, this is unclean to you.

7 And the swine, because this divides the hoof, and makes claws of the hoof, and it does not chew the cud, is unclean to you.

8 Ye shall not eat of their flesh, and ye shall not touch their carcases; these are unclean to you.

9 And these what ye shall eat of all that are in the waters: all things that have fins and scales in the waters, and in the seas, and in the brooks, these ye shall eat.

10 And all things which have not fins or scales in the water, or in the seas, and in the brooks, of all which the waters produce, and of every soul living in the water, are an abomination; and they shall be abominations to you.

11 Ye shall not eat of their flesh, and ye shall abhor their carcases.

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.