King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Ye shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean, and between unclean fowls and clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by fowl, or by any manner of living thing that creepeth on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Therefore you are to distinguish between clean and unclean animals and between clean and unclean birds; do not make yourselves detestable with an animal, bird or reptile that I have set apart for you to regard as unclean.
Berean Standard Bible:
You are therefore to distinguish between clean and unclean animals and birds. Do not become contaminated by any animal or bird, or by anything that crawls on the ground; I have set these apart as unclean for you.
American Standard Version:
Ye shall therefore make a distinction between the clean beast and the unclean, and between the unclean fowl and the clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by bird, or by anything wherewith the ground teemeth, which I have separated from you as unclean.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Ye shall therefore put difference{H914} between clean{H2889} beasts{H929} and unclean{H2931}, and between unclean{H2931} fowls{H5775} and clean{H2889}: and ye shall not make your souls{H5315} abominable{H8262} by beast{H929}, or by fowl{H5775}, or by any manner of living thing that creepeth{H7430} on the ground{H127}, which I have separated{H914} from you as unclean{H2930}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Deuteronomy 14:3
- Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.
Deuteronomy 14:21
- Ye shall not eat [of] any thing that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that [is] in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou [art] an holy people unto the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.
Leviticus 11:1
- ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,
Leviticus 11:47
- To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.
Ephesians 5:7
- Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Ephesians 5:11
- And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them].
Acts 10:11
- And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
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Commentary for Leviticus 20:25
Leviticus 20:25 is part of the Holiness Code in the Book of Leviticus, which contains a series of laws and regulations given to the Israelites by God through Moses. The verse emphasizes the importance of maintaining a distinction between clean and unclean animals, both for consumption and for ritual purposes. This distinction was a significant aspect of the Israelite dietary laws, which served to set the Israelites apart from other ancient Near Eastern cultures and their religious practices.
The historical context of this verse is rooted in the nomadic and agricultural lifestyle of the ancient Israelites. The laws regarding clean and unclean animals would have been practical for maintaining the health and ritual purity of the community, as some animals were more likely to carry diseases or were associated with pagan practices that the Israelites were to avoid.
The themes present in Leviticus 20:25 include holiness, purity, and separation. The command to distinguish between clean and unclean beasts and fowls is not only a matter of personal choice but a divine directive meant to keep the people holy and in right relationship with God. By following these dietary laws, the Israelites were physically and symbolically aligning themselves with God's will, ensuring that they did not defile themselves or become "abominable" in the sight of the Lord. This alignment with God's commands was integral to the covenant relationship between God and Israel, and it underscored the unique identity of Israel as a people set apart for God.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H914
There are 40 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּדַל
Transliteration: bâdal
Pronunciation: baw-dal'
Description: a primitive root; to divide (in variation senses literally or figuratively, separate, distinguish, differ, select, etc.); (make, put) difference, divide (asunder), (make) separate (self, -ation), sever (out), [idiom] utterly. - Strong's Number: H2889
There are 87 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: טָהוֹר
Transliteration: ṭâhôwr
Pronunciation: taw-hore'
Description: or טָהֹר; from טָהֵר; pure (in a physical, chemical, ceremonial or moral sense); clean, fair, pure(-ness). - 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. - 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. - Strong's Number: H5775
There are 70 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עוֹף
Transliteration: ʻôwph
Pronunciation: ofe
Description: from עוּף; a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as covering with wings), often collectively; bird, that flieth, flying, fowl. - Strong's Number: H5315
There are 683 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נֶפֶשׁ
Transliteration: nephesh
Pronunciation: neh'-fesh
Description: from נָפַשׁ; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental); any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, [phrase] slay, soul, [phrase] tablet, they, thing, ([idiom] she) will, [idiom] would have it. - Strong's Number: H8262
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁקַץ
Transliteration: shâqats
Pronunciation: shaw-kats'
Description: a primitive root; to be filthy, i.e. (intensively) to loathe, pollute; abhor, make abominable, have in abomination, detest, [idiom] utterly. - Strong's Number: H7430
There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָמַשׂ
Transliteration: râmas
Pronunciation: raw-mas'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to glide swiftly, i.e. to crawl or move with short steps; by analogy to swarm; creep, move. - Strong's Number: H127
There are 372 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֲדָמָה
Transliteration: ʼădâmâh
Pronunciation: ad-aw-maw'
Description: from אָדַם; soil (from its general redness); country, earth, ground, husband(-man) (-ry), land. - Strong's Number: H2930
There are 142 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: טָמֵא
Transliteration: ṭâmêʼ
Pronunciation: taw-may'
Description: a primitive root; to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated); defile (self), pollute (self), be (make, make self, pronounce) unclean, [idiom] utterly.