Leviticus 11:36-46

36 "'A spring or well that collects water will stay clean, but anyone who touches the dead body of any unclean animal will become unclean.

37 If a dead, unclean animal falls on a seed to be planted, that seed is still clean.

38 But if you put water on some seeds and a dead, unclean animal falls on them, they are unclean for you.

39 "'Also, if an animal which you use for food dies, anyone who touches its body will be unclean until evening.

40 Anyone who eats meat from this animal's dead body must wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. Anyone who picks up the animal's dead body must wash his clothes and be unclean until evening.

41 "'Every animal that crawls on the ground is to be hated; it must not be eaten.

42 You must not eat any of the animals that crawl on the ground, including those that crawl on their stomachs, that walk on all four feet, or on many feet. They are to be hated.

43 Do not make yourself unclean by these animals; you must not become unclean by them.

44 I am the Lord your God. Keep yourselves holy for me because I am holy. Don't make yourselves unclean with any of these crawling animals.

45 I am the Lord who brought you out of Egypt to be your God; you must be holy because I am holy.

46 "'These are the teachings about all of the cattle, birds, and other animals on earth, as well as the animals in the sea and those that crawl on the ground.

Leviticus 11:36-46 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.