Leviticus 11:8

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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

Complete Jewish Bible:

You are not to eat meat from these or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.

Berean Standard Bible:

You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.

American Standard Version:

Of their flesh ye shall not eat, and their carcasses ye shall not touch; they are unclean unto you.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Of their flesh^{H1320} shall ye not eat^{H398}, and their carcase^{H5038} shall ye not touch^{H5060}; they are unclean^{H2931} to you.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Leviticus 11:8

Leviticus 11:8 is part of a larger section in the book of Leviticus that deals with the dietary laws given to the Israelites. The verse specifically refers to certain animals that the Israelites are forbidden to eat or even touch once they are dead, because they are considered ritually unclean.

**Themes:**
1. **Purity and Holiness:** The dietary laws are part of a broader theme of purity and holiness. God instructs the Israelites to distinguish between clean and unclean animals, which serves as a metaphor for moral and ritual purity. By following these dietary restrictions, the Israelites were set apart from other nations and reminded of their covenant relationship with God.
2. **Distinctiveness of Israel:** These laws served to distinguish the Israelites from their pagan neighbors, whose dietary practices were often part of their religious rituals. By abstaining from certain foods, the Israelites maintained their unique identity as a people chosen by God.
3. **Health and Wellbeing:** Some scholars suggest that these dietary restrictions may have had health benefits, as some of the forbidden animals could carry diseases or were scavengers that could be harmful if consumed.

**Historical Context:**
The book of Leviticus is traditionally ascribed to Moses and is part of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. It contains legislation given to the Israelites during their time in the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt. Leviticus 11 outlines the dietary laws that were to govern the daily lives of the Israelites.

During this period, the Israelites were in the process of forming their national identity and religious practices. The dietary laws, therefore, played a crucial role in establishing a unique Israelite culture and worship. These laws would have been particularly relevant as the Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land, where they would be surrounded by foreign cultures and religious practices. By adhering to these dietary restrictions, they would maintain their religious and cultural integrity.

In summary, Leviticus 11:8 reflects the themes of purity, holiness, and the distinctiveness of Israel, and it is set within the historical context of the Israelites' formation as a nation under God's covenant during their wilderness wanderings.

*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: H1320
   There are 241 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בָּשָׂר
   Transliteration: bâsâr
   Pronunciation: baw-sawr'
   Description: from בָּשַׂר; flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of aman; body, (fat, lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-) kind, [phrase] nakedness, self, skin.
   
2. 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.
   
3. Strong's Number: H5038
   There are 41 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נְבֵלָה
   Transliteration: nᵉbêlâh
   Pronunciation: neb-ay-law'
   Description: from נָבֵל; a flabby thing, i.e. a carcase or carrion (human or bestial, often collectively); figuratively, an idol; (dead) body, (dead) carcase, dead of itself, which died, (beast) that (which) dieth of itself.
   
4. Strong's Number: H5060
   There are 142 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָגַע
   Transliteration: nâgaʻ
   Pronunciation: naw-gah'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to touch, i.e. lay the hand upon (for any purpose; euphemistically, to lie with a woman); by implication, to reach (figuratively, to arrive, acquire); violently, to strike (punish, defeat, destroy, etc.); beat, ([idiom] be able to) bring (down), cast, come (nigh), draw near (nigh), get up, happen, join, near, plague, reach (up), smite, strike, touch.
   
5. Strong's Number: H2931
   There are 78 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: טָמֵא
   Transliteration: ṭâmêʼ
   Pronunciation: taw-may'
   Description: from טָמֵא; foul in a religious sense; defiled, [phrase] infamous, polluted(-tion), unclean.