Leviticus 11:1-11

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

2 Say to the children of Israel: These are the animals which you are to eat of all the living things of the earth.

3 Whatsoever hath the hoof divided, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, you shall eat.

4 But whatsoever cheweth indeed the cud, and hath a hoof, but divideth it not, as the camel, and others: that you shall not eat, but shall reckon it among the unclean.

5 The cherogrillus which cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof, is unclean.

6 The hare also: for that too cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof.

7 And the swine, which, though it divideth the hoof, cheweth not the cud.

8 The flesh of these you shall not eat, nor shall you touch their carcasses, because they are unclean to you.

9 These are the things that breed in the waters, and which it is lawful to eat. All that hath fins, and scales, as well in the sea, as in the rivers, and the pools, you shall eat.

10 But whatsoever hath not fins and scales, of those things that move and live in the waters, shall be an abomination to you,

11 And detestable. Their flesh you shall not eat: and their carcasses you shall avoid.

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.