Deuteronomy 14:6

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, [and] cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Any animal that has a separate hoof that is completely divided and also chews the cud, these animals you may eat.

Berean Standard Bible:

You may eat any animal that has a split hoof divided in two and that chews the cud.

American Standard Version:

And every beast that parteth the hoof, and hath the hoof cloven in two, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that may ye eat.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And every beast{H929} that parteth{H6536} the hoof{H6541}, and cleaveth{H8157} the cleft{H8156} into two{H8147} claws{H6541}, and cheweth{H5927} the cud{H1625} among the beasts{H929}, that ye shall eat{H398}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Proverbs 18:1

  • ¶ Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh [and] intermeddleth with all wisdom.

2 Corinthians 6:17

  • Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you,

Psalms 1:1

  • ¶ Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Psalms 1:2

  • But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

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Commentary for Deuteronomy 14:6

Deuteronomy 14:6 is part of a larger section in the book of Deuteronomy that outlines dietary laws for the Israelites. This verse specifically addresses which animals are considered clean and thus permissible for the Israelites to eat. The criteria mentioned in the verse for clean animals include: having a cloven hoof, chewing the cud, and being a beast (as opposed to an animal that flies or swims). These dietary laws were not only about what the Israelites could consume, but also served to distinguish them from neighboring peoples and their practices. The historical context of these laws is rooted in the Israelites' relationship with God, as they were given these commandments in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt and before their entry into the Promised Land. These laws would have helped to reinforce the unique identity and religious practices of the Israelites, setting them apart as a holy nation as they prepared to live in the land of Canaan. The emphasis on clean and unclean animals is also reflective of the broader themes in the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible) concerning purity, holiness, and the establishment of a covenant relationship between God and His people.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H929
    There are 172 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בְּהֵמָה
    Transliteration: bᵉhêmâh
    Pronunciation: be-hay-maw'
    Description: from an unused root (probably meaning to be mute); properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective); beast, cattle.
  2. Strong's Number: H6536
    There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: פָּרַס
    Transliteration: pâraç
    Pronunciation: paw-ras'
    Description: a primitive root; to break in pieces, i.e. (usually without violence) to split, distribute; deal, divide, have hoofs, part, tear.
  3. Strong's Number: H6541
    There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: פַּרְסָה
    Transliteration: parçâh
    Pronunciation: par-saw'
    Description: feminine of פֶּרֶס; a claw or split hoof; claw, (cloven-) footed, hoof.
  4. Strong's Number: H8157
    There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שֶׁסַע
    Transliteration: sheçaʻ
    Pronunciation: sheh'-sah
    Description: from שָׁסַע; a fissure; cleft, clovenfooted.
  5. Strong's Number: H8156
    There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁסַע
    Transliteration: shâçaʻ
    Pronunciation: shaw-sah'
    Description: a primitive root; to split or tear; figuratively, to upbraid; cleave, (be) cloven (footed), rend, stay.
  6. Strong's Number: H8147
    There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שְׁנַיִם
    Transliteration: shᵉnayim
    Pronunciation: shen-ah'-yim
    Description: dual of שֵׁנִי; feminine שְׁתַּיִם; two; also (as ordinal) twofold; both, couple, double, second, twain, [phrase] twelfth, [phrase] twelve, [phrase] twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.
  7. Strong's Number: H5927
    There are 817 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָלָה
    Transliteration: ʻâlâh
    Pronunciation: aw-law'
    Description: a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative; arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, [phrase] shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, [idiom] mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, [phrase] perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work.
  8. Strong's Number: H1625
    There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: גֵּרָה
    Transliteration: gêrâh
    Pronunciation: gay-raw'
    Description: from גָּרַר; the cud (as scraping the throat); cud.
  9. Strong's Number: H398
    There are 825 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָכַל
    Transliteration: ʼâkal
    Pronunciation: aw-kal'
    Description: a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively); [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite.