TRV
Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Leviticus 11:20–42.
Here is the law, 1. Concerning flying insects, as flies, wasps, bees, etc.; these they might not eat (Lev 11:20), nor indeed are they fit to be eaten; but there were several sorts of locusts which in those countries were very good meat, and much used: John Baptist lived upon them in the desert, and they are here allowed them, Lev 11:21, Lev 11:22. 2. Concerning the creeping things on the earth; these were all forbidden (Lev 11:29, Lev 11:30, and again, Lev 11:41, Lev 11:42); for it was the curse of the serpent that upon his belly he should go, and therefore between him and man there was an enmity put (Gen 3:15), which was preserved by this law. Dust is the meat of the creeping things, and therefore they are not fit to be man's meat. 3. Concerning the dead carcasses of all these unclean animals. (1.) Every one that touched them was to be unclean until the evening, Lev 11:24-28. This law is often repeated, to possess them with a dread of every thing that was prohibited, though no particular reason for the prohibition did appear, but only the will of the Law-maker. Not that they were to be looked upon as defiling to the conscience, or that it was a sin against God to touch them, unless done in contempt of the law: in many cases, somebody must of necessity touch them, to remove them; but it was a ceremonial uncleanness they contracted, which for the time forbade them to come into the tabernacle, or to eat of any of the holy things, or so much as to converse familiarly with their neighbours. But the uncleanness continued only till the evening, to signify that all ceremonial pollutions were to come to an end by the death of Christ in the evening of the world. And we must learn, by daily renewing our repentance every night for the sins of the day, to cleanse ourselves from the pollution we contract by them, that we may not lie down in our uncleanness. Even unclean animals they might touch while they were alive without contracting any ceremonial uncleanness by it, as horses and dogs, because they were allowed to use them for service; but they might not touch them when they were dead, because they might not eat their flesh; and what must not be eaten must not be touched, Gen 3:3. (2.) Even the vessels, or other things they fell upon, were thereby made unclean until the evening (Lev 11:32), and if they were earthen vessels they must be broken, Lev 11:33. This taught them carefully to avoid every thing that was polluting, even in their common actions. Not only the vessels of the sanctuary, but every pot in Jerusalem and Judah, must be holiness to the Lord, Zac 14:20, Zac 14:21. The laws in these cases are very critical, and the observance of them would be difficult, we should think, if every thing that a dead mouse or rat, for instance, falls upon must be unclean; and if it were an oven, or ranges for pots, they must all be broken down, Lev 11:35. The exceptions also are very nice, Lev 11:36, etc. All this was designed to exercise them to a constant care and exactness in their obedience, and to teach us, who by Christ are delivered from these burdensome observances, not to be less circumspect in the more weighty matters of the law. We ought as industriously to preserve our precious souls from the pollutions of sin, and as speedily to cleanse them when they are polluted, as they were to preserve and cleanse their bodies and household goods from those ceremonial pollutions.
Continue studying Leviticus 11:27 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
Summary
Leviticus 11:27 establishes a specific category of animals deemed ritually unclean for the Israelites: all four-footed creatures that move upon their paws. This divine decree, part of a comprehensive set of dietary and purity laws in Leviticus 11, stipulated that such animals were forbidden for consumption. Furthermore, it declared that any individual who came into contact with the carcass of these animals would incur ritual impurity, a state requiring purification until the evening to restore their fitness for communal worship and sacred activities. This regulation underscored God's call for Israel to maintain a distinct and holy identity, set apart from the surrounding nations.
Context
Literary Context
Leviticus 11 is a foundational chapter within the book of Leviticus, which meticulously outlines the laws governing Israel's worship, priesthood, and the maintenance of ritual purity. This chapter specifically details the comprehensive dietary regulations, often referred to as kashrut laws, distinguishing between animals permissible for consumption ("clean") and those forbidden ("unclean"). Leviticus 11:27 follows earlier prohibitions concerning animals that do not chew the cud or have divided hooves, such as those mentioned in Leviticus 11:4-8. It precedes regulations regarding swarming creatures and insects, as seen in Leviticus 11:29-30. The pervasive emphasis on "unclean" throughout the chapter highlights the meticulous care required to maintain holiness within the covenant community, underscoring that defilement could arise from various sources, not just moral transgression.
Historical & Cultural Context
These laws were given to Israel after their Exodus from Egypt, as they journeyed through the wilderness and prepared to enter the Promised Land. God provided these detailed statutes to shape Israel's identity as His chosen people, distinct from the pagan nations around them who engaged in various idolatrous practices, including the consumption of animals considered abominable by Yahweh. While these regulations may have offered practical benefits related to hygiene or health, their primary purpose was profoundly theological. They served as constant, tangible reminders of Israel's unique covenant relationship with a holy God, teaching them about separation, purity, and the pervasive nature of sin and death. Contact with death, symbolized by touching a carcass, consistently imparted ritual impurity in the Old Testament, underscoring the separation that death brings from the life-giving God, as further detailed in passages like Numbers 19:11-13.
Key Themes
Leviticus 11:27 contributes significantly to several key themes prevalent in the book of Leviticus and the broader Pentateuch. Foremost among these is the theme of Holiness and Separation. God, being perfectly holy, required His people to reflect His character by being "set apart" from the defiling influences of the world. The dietary laws provided a tangible, daily means of practicing this separation. Another crucial theme is Purity and Impurity, which is not necessarily about moral sin but a ritual state that affected one's ability to approach God in worship. The laws distinguished between the clean and the unclean, demonstrating the pervasive nature of impurity in a fallen world and the necessity of divine provision for cleansing. Finally, the verse touches upon the theme of Life and Death, where death, symbolized by the carcass, is inherently defiling because it stands in opposition to God, who is the source of all life. This distinction reinforced the sanctity of life and the consequences of sin, which ultimately leads to death.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This primitive root signifies "to walk" or "to go" in a wide variety of applications, both literal and figurative. In Leviticus 11:27, it describes the locomotion of the animals, specifically how they "go upon" their paws, emphasizing their characteristic movement.
Derived from a root meaning "to bend" or "to curve," kaph refers to the hollow hand or palm. By extension, it denotes the paw of an animal, the sole of a foot, or even the bowl of a dish. Here, it precisely identifies animals whose feet are soft pads rather than hooves, distinguishing them from other four-footed creatures.
This term, a central concept in Leviticus, describes a state of ritual impurity. It signifies being "foul" or "contaminated" in a ceremonial sense, rendering an individual or object unfit for sacred activities or direct communion with God until purification rituals are performed. It represents a temporary separation from the holy sphere, distinct from moral sin.
This word specifically denotes a "flabby thing," referring to the dead body of an animal, particularly one that has died naturally or was torn (carrion), as opposed to an animal slaughtered for food or sacrifice. The prohibition against touching such a carcass underscores the pervasive nature of ritual defilement associated with death, which is the antithesis of God's life-giving holiness.
Verse Breakdown
"And whatsoever goeth upon his paws"
This initial clause precisely identifies the first characteristic of the animals in question, focusing on their mode of locomotion and foot structure. It refers to animals that walk on the soft pads of their feet, distinguishing them from those with cloven hooves (like cattle or sheep) or solid hooves (like horses), thereby narrowing the category of prohibited four-footed creatures.
"among all manner of beasts that go on [all] four"
This phrase further clarifies the scope, specifying that the prohibition applies to terrestrial, four-footed mammals. It ensures that the category is limited to land animals, excluding birds, fish, or insects, which are addressed elsewhere in the chapter with their own distinct purity regulations.
"those [are] unclean unto you"
This declarative statement establishes their ritual status. These animals are forbidden for consumption and are inherently defiling to the Israelite community, marking them as distinct from the "clean" animals permissible for food and sacrifice. This declaration emphasizes God's sovereign authority to define purity and impurity for His covenant people.
"whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even"
This final clause outlines the consequence of contact with a dead animal from this specific category. Touching the carcass imparts ritual impurity, a state that lasts until sunset. This required the individual to undergo a purification process, typically involving washing and waiting, before they could re-enter the full communal and sacred life of Israel, highlighting the pervasive nature of defilement associated with death.
Literary Devices
Leviticus 11:27, like much of the Mosaic Law, employs Categorization and Prescriptive Language. The chapter meticulously categorizes animals based on observable physical characteristics (e.g., paws, hooves, cud-chewing) and behaviors (e.g., swarming, flying, swimming) to delineate what is clean and unclean. This precise categorization reflects a divine order and the Israelites' need for clear, unambiguous instructions for maintaining purity. The language used is direct, authoritative, and imperative, characteristic of legal codes, leaving no room for ambiguity regarding the status of these animals or the consequences of contact. Furthermore, there is profound Symbolism at play. The distinction between clean and unclean animals, and the defilement associated with death, served as a tangible, daily reminder of the pervasive nature of sin and the constant need for purification to approach a holy God. Death, being the ultimate consequence of sin, consistently imparted uncleanness, symbolizing separation from God's life-giving presence and underscoring the gravity of defilement.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Leviticus 11:27, embedded within the broader context of the Mosaic Law, powerfully underscores the themes of divine holiness and the pervasive nature of ritual purity. God's meticulous instructions regarding clean and unclean animals were not arbitrary but served as a constant, tangible reminder to Israel of their unique covenant relationship with a holy God. These laws distinguished Israel from the surrounding pagan nations, whose practices often blurred the lines between the sacred and the profane. By adhering to these regulations, Israel visibly demonstrated their obedience and their commitment to being a people "set apart" for Yahweh, reflecting His own perfect character. The concept of uncleanness, especially from contact with death, highlighted the reality of a fallen world and the inherent defilement that separates humanity from God's perfect purity, necessitating divine provision for cleansing and emphasizing the sanctity of life.
Reflection and Application
While Christians are no longer bound by the specific dietary laws of the Old Testament, the underlying spiritual principles of Leviticus 11:27 remain profoundly relevant for our lives today. This verse reminds us of God's absolute authority to define what is holy and what is defiling, and His unwavering desire for His people to live lives of purity and distinction. For ancient Israel, external regulations concerning food and ritual contact served as a constant pedagogical tool, teaching them about the pervasive nature of impurity and the necessity of cleansing before approaching a holy God. For us today, the focus shifts from external ritual purity to internal spiritual purity. We are called to be set apart, not by what we eat, but by our transformed hearts and lives, reflecting God's holiness in a fallen world. The "uncleanness" we must guard against is no longer a dietary violation but the defilement of sin, evil thoughts, unholy desires, and unrighteous actions that separate us from God and hinder our witness. Our cleansing comes not from ritual washing, but from the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit and the atoning blood of Christ, enabling us to live as a holy people.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did God declare certain animals, like those with paws, unclean for Israel?
God declared certain animals unclean for Israel primarily for theological and covenantal reasons, not solely for hygiene or health. These laws served to distinguish Israel as a holy nation, set apart for Yahweh, from the surrounding pagan cultures who consumed these animals and engaged in idolatrous practices. The distinctions between clean and unclean animals, including those that go upon their paws, were a tangible, daily reminder of Israel's unique relationship with a holy God and their call to purity. They taught the Israelites about the pervasive nature of impurity and the constant need for purification to maintain fellowship with God, symbolizing a deeper spiritual truth about sin and holiness.
Do these dietary laws, including the prohibition in Leviticus 11:27, still apply to Christians today?
No, these specific dietary laws, including the prohibition in Leviticus 11:27, do not apply to Christians today. The New Testament teaches that the ceremonial laws of the Old Covenant, including dietary restrictions, have been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself declared all foods clean, stating that "nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them; rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them" (Mark 7:18-19). The Apostle Peter's vision in Acts 10:9-16 explicitly revealed that God has made all foods clean, symbolizing the inclusion of Gentiles into the covenant and the end of the ceremonial distinctions. For believers in Christ, the focus shifts from external ritual purity to internal spiritual purity, achieved through faith in Him and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Leviticus 11:27, with its declaration of certain animals as unclean and the defilement incurred by touching their carcasses, finds its ultimate fulfillment and reinterpretation in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament laws concerning ritual purity served as a shadow, pointing to the deeper reality of spiritual defilement caused by sin and the need for a perfect cleanser. While the law pronounced contact with death as defiling, Jesus, the embodiment of life and holiness, repeatedly touched the unclean—lepers (Mark 1:40-42), the dead (Luke 7:11-15), and those considered outcasts—and in doing so, He did not become defiled; rather, He imparted cleansing, healing, and life. The dietary laws, including the prohibition against animals with paws, were abolished by Christ, who declared all foods clean (Mark 7:18-19), thereby shifting the focus from external regulations to the internal state of the heart. His sacrifice on the cross became the ultimate purification, cleansing us not just until the evening, but eternally from the defilement of sin (Hebrews 9:13-14). Through faith in Him, we are made truly clean and holy, able to approach a holy God without fear of ritual impurity, for He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.