Leviticus 11:2-12

2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, These [are] the beasts which ye may eat among all the beasts that [are] on the earth.

3 Whatever parteth the hoof, and is cloven-footed, [and] cheweth the cud among the beasts, that shall ye eat.

4 Nevertheless, these shall ye not eat, of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he [is] unclean to you.

5 And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he [is] unclean to you.

6 And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof: he [is] unclean to you.

7 And the swine, though he divideth the hoof, and [is] cloven-footed, yet he cheweth not the cud; he [is] unclean to you.

8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch; they [are] unclean to you.

9 These shall ye eat, of all that [are] in the waters: whatever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.

10 And all that have not fins nor scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living animal which [is] in the waters, they [shall be] an abomination to you:

11 They shall be even an abomination to you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcasses in abomination.

12 Whatever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that [shall be] an abomination to you.

Leviticus 11:2-12 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.