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Leviticus 11

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1Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying to them, 2“Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘These are the living things which you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth. 3Whatever parts the hoof, and is cloven-footed, and chews the cud among the animals, that you may eat. 4“‘Nevertheless these you shall not eat of those that chew the cud, or of those who part the hoof: the camel, because he chews the cud but doesn’t have a parted hoof, he is unclean to you. 5The cony, because he chews the cud but doesn’t have a parted hoof, he is unclean to you. 6The hare, because she chews the cud but doesn’t part the hoof, she is unclean to you. 7The pig, because he has a split hoof, and is cloven-footed, but doesn’t chew the cud, he is unclean to you. 8Of their meat you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch; they are unclean to you. 9“‘These you may eat of all that are in the waters: whatever has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, that you may eat. 10All that don’t have fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of all the living creatures that are in the waters, they are an abomination to you, 11and you shall detest them. You shall not eat of their meat, and you shall detest their carcasses. 12Whatever has no fins nor scales in the waters, that is an abomination to you. 13“‘These you shall detest among the birds; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the vulture, and the black vulture, 14and the red kite, any kind of black kite, 15any kind of raven, 16the horned owl, the screech owl, and the gull, any kind of hawk, 17the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, 18the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey, 19the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe, and the bat. 20“‘All flying insects that walk on all fours are an abomination to you. 21Yet you may eat these: of all winged creeping things that go on all fours, which have legs above their feet, with which to hop on the earth. 22Even of these you may eat: any kind of locust, any kind of katydid, any kind of cricket, and any kind of grasshopper. 23But all winged creeping things which have four feet, are an abomination to you. 24“‘By these you will become unclean: whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening. 25Whoever carries any part of their carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. 26“‘Every animal which parts the hoof, and is not cloven-footed, nor chews the cud, is unclean to you. Everyone who touches them shall be unclean. 27Whatever goes on its paws, among all animals that go on all fours, they are unclean to you. Whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening. 28He who carries their carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. They are unclean to you. 29“‘These are they which are unclean to you among the creeping things that creep on the earth: the weasel, the rat, any kind of great lizard, 30the gecko, and the monitor lizard, the wall lizard, the skink, and the chameleon. 31These are they which are unclean to you among all that creep. Whoever touches them when they are dead, shall be unclean until the evening. 32On whatever any of them falls when they are dead, it shall be unclean; whether it is any vessel of wood, or clothing, or skin, or sack, whatever vessel it is, with which any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the evening; then it will be clean. 33Every earthen vessel, into which any of them falls, all that is in it shall be unclean, and you shall break it. 34All food which may be eaten, that on which water comes, shall be unclean; and all drink that may be drunk in every such vessel shall be unclean. 35Everything whereupon part of their carcass falls shall be unclean; whether oven, or range for pots, it shall be broken in pieces: they are unclean, and shall be unclean to you. 36Nevertheless a spring or a cistern in which water is gathered shall be clean: but that which touches their carcass shall be unclean. 37If part of their carcass falls on any sowing seed which is to be sown, it is clean. 38But if water is put on the seed, and part of their carcass falls on it, it is unclean to you. 39“‘If any animal, of which you may eat, dies; he who touches its carcass shall be unclean until the evening. 40He who eats of its carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. He also who carries its carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. 41“‘Every creeping thing that creeps on the earth is an abomination. It shall not be eaten. 42Whatever goes on its belly, and whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet, even all creeping things that creep on the earth, them you shall not eat; for they are an abomination. 43You shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creeps. You shall not make yourselves unclean with them, that you should be defiled thereby. 44For I am Yahweh your God. Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any kind of creeping thing that moves on the earth. 45For I am Yahweh who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. 46“‘This is the law of the animal, and of the bird, and of every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps on the earth, 47to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the living thing that may be eaten and the living thing that may not be eaten.’”

World English Bible (public domain)

For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground.

Leviticus 11:44

Summary

Leviticus chapter 11 outlines the dietary laws given to the Israelites, specifying which animals are clean and unclean. The chapter begins with God instructing Moses and Aaron on which land animals, sea creatures, and birds are permissible for the Israelites to eat. Clean animals must have split hooves and chew the cud, while unclean ones are specifically named. Furthermore, the chapter addresses the water creatures, stipulating that only those with fins and scales are acceptable. Birds that are considered unclean are enumerated, as well as guidelines for insects. The selection of clean and unclean creatures emphasizes the holiness required of God's people and signifies the distinction between the sacred and secular. A central theme of this chapter is the concept of ritual purity. By adhering to these dietary laws, the Israelites are reminded of their covenant relationship with God and their call to holiness. The differentiation between clean and unclean not only has practical implications for health and hygiene but also serves as a social and spiritual boundary, reinforcing Israel's identity as a chosen nation. The emphasis on purity also sets the foundation for the Israelites' worship, as approaching God in a state of cleanness is necessary for participation in community and worship practices. Further, the chapter concludes with a reminder that the Israelites are to be holy because God is holy. This call to holiness permeates the entirety of Leviticus and challenges the Israelites to reflect the character of God in their lives. By following these dietary laws, they demonstrate their obedience and commitment to living in a way that is pleasing to God. Overall, this chapter integrates practical lifestyle instructions with profound theological concepts, highlighting the importance of maintaining a set-apart identity.

Key Themes

HolinessCovenantal IdentityRitual PuritySeparation from Profanity

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Leviticus 11: frequently asked questions

What is Leviticus 11 about?+
Leviticus chapter 11 outlines the dietary laws given to the Israelites, specifying which animals are clean and unclean. The chapter begins with God instructing Moses and Aaron on which land animals, sea creatures, and birds are permissible for the Israelites to eat. Clean animals must have split hooves and chew the cud, while unclean ones are specifically named. Furthermore, the chapter addresses the water creatures, stipulating that only those with fins and scales are acceptable. Birds that are considered unclean are enumerated, as well as guidelines for insects. The selection of clean and unclean creatures emphasizes the holiness required of God's people and signifies the distinction between the sacred and secular. A central theme of this chapter is the concept of ritual purity. By adhering to these dietary laws, the Israelites are reminded of their covenant relationship with God and their call to holiness. The differentiation between clean and unclean not only has practical implications for health and hygiene but also serves as a social and spiritual boundary, reinforcing Israel's identity as a chosen nation. The emphasis on purity also sets the foundation for the Israelites' worship, as approaching God in a state of cleanness is necessary for participation in community and worship practices. Further, the chapter concludes with a reminder that the Israelites are to be holy because God is holy. This call to holiness permeates the entirety of Leviticus and challenges the Israelites to reflect the character of God in their lives. By following these dietary laws, they demonstrate their obedience and commitment to living in a way that is pleasing to God. Overall, this chapter integrates practical lifestyle instructions with profound theological concepts, highlighting the importance of maintaining a set-apart identity.
What is the key verse in Leviticus 11?+
Leviticus 11:44: "For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground."
What are the main themes of Leviticus 11?+
The main themes of Leviticus 11 are Holiness, Covenantal Identity, Ritual Purity, Separation from Profanity.

Study Notes