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

The LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying to them,

“Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘These are the living things which you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth.

Clean and Unclean Land Animals

Whatever parts the hoof, and is cloven-footed, and chews the cud among the animals, that you may eat.

“‘Nevertheless these you shall not eat of those that chew the cud, or of those who part the hoof: the camel, because he chews the cud but doesn’t have a parted hoof, he is unclean to you.

The cony, because he chews the cud but doesn’t have a parted hoof, he is unclean to you.

The hare, because she chews the cud but doesn’t part the hoof, she is unclean to you.

The pig, because he has a split hoof, and is cloven-footed, but doesn’t chew the cud, he is unclean to you.

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

Clean and Unclean Water Creatures

“‘These you may eat of all that are in the waters: whatever has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, that you may eat.

All that don’t have fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of all the living creatures that are in the waters, they are an abomination to you,

and you detest them. You shall not eat of their flesh, and you shall detest their carcasses.

Whatever has no fins nor scales in the waters, that is an abomination to you.

Clean and Unclean Birds

“‘These you shall detest among the birds; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the vulture, and the black vulture,

and the red kite, any kind of black kite,

any kind of raven,

the horned owl, the screech owl, and the gull, any kind of hawk,

the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl,

the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey,

the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe, and the bat.

Clean and Unclean Winged Insects

“‘All flying insects that walk on all fours are an abomination to you.

Yet you may eat these: of all winged creeping things that go on all fours, which have legs above their feet, with which to hop on the earth.

Even of these you may eat: any kind of locust, any kind of katydid, any kind of cricket, and any kind of grasshopper.

But all winged creeping things which have four feet, are an abomination to you.

Uncleanness from Carcasses

“‘By these you will become unclean: whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening.

Whoever carries any part of their carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening.

“‘Every animal which parts the hoof, and is not cloven-footed, nor chews the cud, is unclean to you. Everyone who touches them shall be unclean.

Whatever goes on its paws, among all animals that go on all fours, they are unclean to you. Whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening.

He who carries their carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. They are unclean to you.

Unclean Creeping Things (Vermin)

“‘These are they which are unclean to you among the creeping things that creep on the earth: the weasel, the rat, any kind of great lizard,

the gecko, and the monitor lizard, the wall lizard, the skink, and the chameleon.

These are they which are unclean to you among all that creep. Whoever touches them when they are dead, shall be unclean until the evening.

On whatever any of them falls when they are dead, it shall be unclean; whether it is any vessel of wood, or clothing, or skin, or sack, whatever vessel it is, with which any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the evening; then it will be clean.

Every earthen vessel, into which any of them falls, all that is in it shall be unclean, and you shall break it.

All food which may be eaten, that on which water comes, shall be unclean; and all drink that may be drunk in every such vessel shall be unclean.

Everything whereupon part of their carcass falls shall be unclean; whether oven, or range for pots, it shall be broken in pieces: they are unclean, and shall be unclean to you.

Nevertheless a spring or a cistern in which water is gathered shall be clean: but that which touches their carcass shall be unclean.

If part of their carcass falls on any sowing seed which is to be sown, it is clean.

But if water is put on the seed, and part of their carcass falls on it, it is unclean to you.

“‘If any animal, of which you may eat, dies; he who touches its carcass shall be unclean until the evening.

He who eats of its carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. He also who carries its carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening.

Prohibition of Creeping Things

“‘Every creeping thing that creeps on the earth is an abomination. It shall not be eaten.

Whatever goes on its belly, and whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet, even all creeping things that creep on the earth, them you shall not eat; for they are an abomination.

You shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creeps, neither shall you make yourselves unclean with them, that you should be defiled thereby.

The Call to Holiness

For I am the LORD your God. Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am holy: neither shall you defile yourselves with any kind of creeping thing that moves on the earth.

For I am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

“‘This is the law of the animal, and of the bird, and of every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps on the earth,

to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the living thing that may be eaten and the living thing 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