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.

Listen to this chapter

Introduction to the Laws of Clean and Unclean

¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,

Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.

Clean and Unclean Land Animals

Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.

Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.

And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.

And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.

And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.

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

Clean and Unclean Water Creatures

¶ These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.

And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:

They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.

Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.

Clean and Unclean Birds

And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,

And the vulture, and the kite after his kind;

Every raven after his kind;

And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind,

And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl,

And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle,

And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.

Clean and Unclean Winged Insects

¶ All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.

Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;

Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind.

But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.

Uncleanness from Carcasses

And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even.

And whosoever beareth ought of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.

The carcases of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, nor cheweth the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean.

And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even.

And he that beareth the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you.

Unclean Creeping Things (Vermin)

These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind,

And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole.

These are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even.

And upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean; whether it be any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever vessel it be, wherein any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; so it shall be cleansed.

And every earthen vessel, whereinto any of them falleth, whatsoever is in it shall be unclean; and ye shall break it.

Of all meat which may be eaten, that on which such water cometh shall be unclean: and all drink that may be drunk in every such vessel shall be unclean.

And every thing whereupon any part of their carcase falleth shall be unclean; whether it be oven, or ranges for pots, they shall be broken down: for they are unclean, and shall be unclean unto you.

Nevertheless a fountain or pit, wherein there is plenty of water, shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcase shall be unclean.

And if any part of their carcase fall upon any sowing seed which is to be sown, it shall be clean.

But if any water be put upon the seed, and any part of their carcase fall thereon, it shall be unclean unto you.

And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcase thereof shall be unclean until the even.

And he that eateth of the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: he also that beareth the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.

Prohibition of Creeping Things

And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten.

Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.

¶ Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby.

The Call to Holiness

For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth:

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.

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.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate