Leviticus11

Leviticus 11 outlines the dietary laws given by the LORD to Moses and Aaron, establishing what animals the children of Israel may eat and what they must avoid. It specifies clean land animals as those with cloven hooves that chew the cud, and clean aquatic creatures as those with fins and scales. The chapter also lists numerous unclean birds and creeping things, and details the rules for ritual defilement incurred by touching the carcasses of forbidden animals, emphasizing Israel's call to be holy as the LORD is holy.

Introduction to the Laws of Clean and Unclean

ADONAI said to Moshe and Aharon,

"Tell the people of Isra'el, 'These are the living creatures which you may eat among all the land animals:

Clean and Unclean Land Animals

any that has a separate hoof which is completely divided and chews the cud - these animals you may eat.

But you are not to eat those that only chew the cud or only have a separate hoof. For example, the camel, the coney and the hare are unclean for you, because they chew the cud but don't have a separate hoof;

5–6

Consolidated into verse 4 by this translation.

while the pig is unclean for you, because, although it has a separate and completely divided hoof, it doesn't chew the cud.

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

Clean and Unclean Water Creatures

"'Of all the things that live in the water, you may eat these: anything in the water that has fins and scales, whether in seas or in rivers -these you may eat.

But everything in the seas and rivers without both fins and scales, of all the small water-creatures and of all the living creatures in the water, is a detestable thing for you.

Yes, these will be detestable for you -you are not to eat their meat, and you are to detest their carcasses.

Whatever lacks fins and scales in the water is a detestable thing for you.

Clean and Unclean Birds

"'The following creatures of the air are to be detestable for you - they are not to be eaten, they are a detestable thing: the eagle, the vulture, the osprey,

the kite, the various kinds of buzzards,

the various kinds of ravens,

the ostrich, the screech-owl, the seagull, the various kinds of hawks,

the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl,

the horned owl, the pelican, the barn owl,

the stork, the various kinds of herons, the hoopoe and the bat.

Clean and Unclean Winged Insects

"'All winged swarming creatures that go on all fours are a detestable thing for you;

except that of all winged swarming creatures that go on all fours, you may eat those that have jointed legs above their feet, enabling them to jump off the ground.

Specifically, of these you may eat the various kinds of locusts, grasshoppers, katydids and crickets.

But other than that, all winged swarming creatures having four feet are a detestable thing for you.

Uncleanness from Carcasses

"'The following will make you unclean; whoever touches the carcass of them will be unclean until evening,

and whoever picks up any part of their carcass is to wash his clothes and be unclean until evening:

every animal that has a separate but incompletely divided hoof or that doesn't chew the cud is unclean for you; anyone who touches them will become unclean.

Whatever goes on its paws, among all animals that go on all fours, is unclean for you; whoever touches its carcass will be unclean until evening;

and whoever picks up its carcass is to wash his clothes and be unclean until evening -these are unclean for you.

Unclean Creeping Things (Vermin)

"'The following are unclean for you among the small creatures that swarm on the ground: the weasel, the mouse, the various kinds of lizards,

the gecko, the land crocodile, the skink, the sand-lizard and the chameleon.

They are unclean crawling creatures; whoever touches them when they are dead will be unclean until evening.

Anything on which one of them falls when dead will become unclean -wooden utensil, article of clothing, leather, sacking -any utensil used for work; it must be put in water, and it will be unclean until evening; then it will be clean.

If one of them falls into a clay pot, whatever is in it will become unclean, and you are to break the pot.

Any food permitted to be eaten that water from such a vessel gets on will become unclean, and any permitted liquid in such a vessel will become unclean.

Everything on which any carcass-part of theirs falls will become unclean, whether oven or stove; it is to be broken in pieces -they are unclean and will be unclean for you;

although a spring or cistern for collecting water remains clean. But anyone who touches one of their carcasses will become unclean.

If any carcass-part of theirs falls on any kind of seed to be sown, it is clean;

but if water is put on the seed and a carcass-part of theirs falls on it, it is unclean for you.

"'If an animal of a kind that you are permitted to eat dies, whoever touches its carcass will be unclean until evening.

A person who eats meat from its carcass or carries its carcass is to wash his clothes; he will be unclean until evening.

Prohibition of Creeping Things

"'Any creature that swarms on the ground is a detestable thing; it is not to be eaten -

whatever moves on its stomach, goes on all fours, or has many legs -all creatures that swarm on the ground; you are not to eat them, because they are a detestable thing.

You are not to make yourselves detestable with any of these swarming, crawling creatures; do not make yourselves unclean with them, do not defile yourselves with them.

The Call to Holiness

For I am ADONAI your God; therefore, consecrate yourselves and be holy, for I am holy; and do not defile yourselves with any kind of swarming creature that moves along the ground.

For I am ADONAI, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. Therefore you are to be holy, because I am holy.

"'Such, then, is the law concerning animals, flying creatures, all living creatures that move about in the water, and all creatures that swarm on the ground.

Its purpose is to distinguish between the unclean and the clean, and between the creatures that may be eaten and those that may not be eaten.'" Suggested readings for Parashah Sh'mini from the B'rit Hadashah:

Study Notes for Leviticus 11

Verse 1

This chapter initiates the detailed laws concerning ritual purity and diet, which constitute a major part of the holiness code in Leviticus. The laws are addressed to both Moses and Aaron, emphasizing their importance for the entire community and the priesthood.

Verse 2

These dietary laws, often called Kashrut, served multiple purposes: health, maintaining social separation from neighboring cultures, and, most importantly, teaching Israel how to live distinctively (holy) before God.

Verse 3

To be clean, a land animal must meet two specific criteria: it must 'part the hoof' (be cloven-footed) AND 'chew the cud.' Animals that fail either test are unclean.

Verse 4

The camel is the first example of an animal that is almost clean but fails one requirement (it chews the cud but lacks a fully divided hoof). This strict adherence to binary classification reinforces the principle of order.

Verse 7

The swine (pig) is famously unclean because it possesses a cloven hoof but does not chew the cud. The prohibition against the pig became a major cultural marker distinguishing Israel from surrounding peoples.

Verse 8

The prohibition extends beyond consumption to touching the carcass, indicating that uncleanness is a contagious ritual state, not just a matter of diet.

Verse 9

Aquatic life must also meet dual criteria: having fins (for propulsion) and scales (for protection). Creatures lacking these features, such as shellfish, eels, or crustaceans, are ritually unclean.

Verse 13

Unlike the land and water creatures, no general criteria are given for birds; instead, a list of specific prohibited species is provided. This list primarily includes birds of prey, scavengers, and those associated with darkness or carrion, which are linked to death and impurity.

Verse 19

The bat is classified here among the 'fowls' (flying creatures), reflecting an ancient classification based on locomotion rather than modern biological distinctions.

Verse 20

Insects are generally considered 'creeping things' and are prohibited, often associated with uncontrolled or chaotic life forms.

Verse 21

A specific exception is made for certain insects that have jointed legs for leaping (like locusts and grasshoppers). These were an established food source in the ancient Near East and are permitted because their means of movement is distinctive and orderly.

Verse 24

This section shifts focus from what may be eaten to the rules governing ritual purity when encountering death. Contact with the carcass of any prohibited animal transmits temporary uncleanness, requiring purification until 'the even' (sunset).

Verse 29

This list focuses on small, low-lying terrestrial creatures (vermin) that are particularly associated with decay and uncleanness. They pose a significant risk of contaminating household items.

Verse 33

Earthenware vessels are considered porous and unable to be purified by washing; therefore, if contaminated by a dead creature, they must be broken to prevent the spread of impurity.

Verse 36

Running or large bodies of water (fountain or cistern) are uniquely exempt from becoming unclean. Water associated with life and flow remains ritually pure, symbolizing its cleansing power.

Verse 41

This verse reinforces the general rule against eating creeping things. The term 'creeping things' (Hebrew: *sheretz*) often refers to animals that move close to the ground, symbolizing a return to the dust and a lack of distinction.

Verse 44

This is the theological rationale for the entire chapter. The dietary and purity laws are not arbitrary rules but instruments by which Israel realizes its unique calling: to 'sanctify yourselves' and reflect the holiness of God.

Verse 45

Holiness is explicitly linked to the covenant and the Exodus. Because God redeemed them from Egypt, Israel is obligated to maintain a distinct, holy lifestyle that separates them from the nations.

Verse 47

This concluding verse summarizes the purpose of the laws: to teach discernment, allowing the people of God to distinguish practically and ritually between the clean and the unclean.

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