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.
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Summary
Leviticus 11:28 articulates a specific purity regulation within the Mosaic Law, mandating that anyone who actively carries the carcass of an unclean animal must undergo a ritual cleansing by washing their clothes and will remain ritually impure until the evening. This directive profoundly underscores the pervasive nature of ceremonial defilement and God's absolute standard of holiness, necessitating immediate and prescribed actions for purification to maintain the Israelite community's distinct identity and their fitness for divine presence.
Context
Literary Context
Leviticus 11:28 is intricately woven into the fabric of Leviticus 11, a foundational chapter detailing dietary laws and regulations concerning clean and unclean animals. The chapter commences with a meticulous classification of various creatures—mammals, aquatic life, and birds—designating them as either clean (permissible for consumption and contact) or unclean (forbidden). The preceding verses, specifically Leviticus 11:24-25, establish the principle of defilement incurred by merely touching an unclean carcass, requiring the affected individual to wash their clothes and remain impure until evening. Our verse, Leviticus 11:28, builds upon this by addressing the more active and direct engagement of bearing or carrying such a carcass, reinforcing the identical purification requirements. This logical progression from general classification to specific scenarios of contact highlights the meticulous and comprehensive nature of the purity code. The broader theological context of the Book of Leviticus establishes Israel's divine call to holiness and separation, with these laws serving as practical and tangible outworkings of that covenantal mandate.
Historical & Cultural Context
In the ancient Near East, various cultures maintained their own purity codes and religious rituals. However, Israel's laws, as revealed in Leviticus, were distinct in their divine origin and their singular emphasis on Yahweh's unique and absolute holiness. These regulations served multifaceted purposes for the Israelites, a newly formed covenant nation recently delivered from Egyptian bondage. Firstly, they functioned as a powerful instrument for fostering a distinct national identity and separating Israel from the surrounding pagan cultures, whose dietary practices and religious ceremonies often involved animals considered abominable by Israelite law. This separation was paramount to prevent assimilation and the pervasive threat of idolatry, a theme frequently reiterated in prophetic warnings throughout Deuteronomy. Secondly, while some modern interpretations correctly identify certain hygienic benefits, the primary and overriding intent was theological: to indelibly impress upon the people the infinite holiness of Yahweh and their corresponding divine imperative to "be holy, for I am holy" (Leviticus 11:44-45). The concept of "uncleanness" was not a moral failing but a ritual state that temporarily rendered a person unfit for worship, participation in sacred rites, or approach to the Tabernacle. Contact with death, whether human or animal, was universally regarded as defiling in ancient societies, and Israel's laws provided a divinely ordained, structured framework for managing this reality while preserving the sanctity of their relationship with God.
Key Themes
Leviticus 11:28 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the chapter and the broader Pentateuch. The most prominent theme is Holiness and Purity. The meticulous regulations concerning clean and unclean animals, and the subsequent rules for dealing with their carcasses, served to instill in Israel a profound understanding of God's unblemished holiness and His demand for a holy people. This distinction between the clean and the unclean was a constant, tangible reminder of the sacred separation between God and anything that was common, profane, or associated with death and decay. Another key theme is Separation and Distinction. By adhering to these unique dietary and purity laws, Israel was visibly set apart from the surrounding nations, reinforcing their identity as God's chosen covenant people. This separation was not merely for social distinction but for spiritual preservation, preventing them from adopting the idolatrous practices of their neighbors. Finally, the theme of Atonement and Cleansing is subtly present. While the verse describes a temporary, external cleansing, it implicitly points to the necessity of purification when defilement occurs. This foreshadows the greater, spiritual cleansing from sin that would ultimately be provided through divine means, highlighting humanity's inherent inability to fully cleanse itself and the need for a perfect sacrifice. The repeated phrase "unclean until the even" underscores the temporary nature of ritual impurity and the cyclical need for cleansing, a motif found throughout Leviticus.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
From the primitive root H5375, this verb signifies "to lift," "to carry," or "to bear." In the context of Leviticus 11:28, it denotes the active, volitional act of transporting or handling the carcass of an unclean animal. This implies a more direct and intentional engagement with the defiling object than mere accidental contact, thereby reinforcing the severity of the ritual defilement incurred. The act of "bearing" something unclean symbolizes a direct assumption of its impurity, necessitating a corresponding and prescribed act of purification.
Derived from H5038, this noun refers specifically to a "flabby thing," meaning the dead body of an animal, particularly one that has died naturally or was not properly slaughtered. It carries strong connotations of decay, corruption, and defilement. Within the Mosaic Law, contact with a nᵉbêlâh was a significant and potent source of ritual impurity, underscoring the stark theological contrast between life, which is God's domain and inherently clean, and death, which is a pervasive source of defilement.
This term, found as both a verb (H2930) and an adjective (H2931) in the verse, describes a state of ritual impurity. It is a ceremonial designation, not a moral one, indicating that an individual is temporarily unfit to participate in sacred activities, approach the Tabernacle/Temple, or engage in communal worship. This state required specific purification rituals, such as washing clothes and waiting until evening, to restore one to a state of ritual purity. The pervasive use of ṭâmêʼ throughout Leviticus emphasizes the meticulous nature of God's holiness and the necessary separation from anything that would defile His sacred space or His covenant people.
Verse Breakdown
"And he that beareth the carcase of them"
This initial clause precisely identifies both the agent of defilement and the specific source of that defilement. "He that beareth" highlights an active, intentional engagement with the unclean object, distinguishing it from passive or accidental contact. "The carcase of them" refers to the dead bodies of the unclean animals previously enumerated and classified in Leviticus 11:1-23, thereby emphasizing that the defilement stems from the inherent uncleanness of the animal itself, particularly in its state of death and decay.
"shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even"
This segment prescribes the immediate and necessary actions for purification and specifies the precise duration of the incurred impurity. "Shall wash his clothes" indicates a required physical act of cleansing, symbolizing the removal of the external defilement. The emphasis on washing clothes, rather than the body, suggests that the impurity is transferable and primarily external, attaching to one's garments. The phrase "and be unclean until the even" delineates the temporary nature of this ritual impurity. Sundown marked the conclusion of one day and the commencement of a new one, symbolizing a divinely ordained reset or renewal of ritual status, after which the individual would be considered ritually clean again, provided the prescribed washing had been performed.
"they [are] unclean unto you"
This concluding statement functions as a powerful reiteration and theological justification for the entire regulation. It emphatically declares the inherent and continuing uncleanness of these specific animals in the sight of God and for the Israelite community. This divine declaration reinforces the foundational premise of the purity laws, establishing the categories of clean and unclean as a matter of divine decree, which then serves as the basis for all subsequent regulations regarding contact with these animals.
Literary Devices
Leviticus 11:28 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its message with both clarity and divine authority. Legal Language is the predominant device, characterized by its prescriptive commands ("shall wash," "shall be unclean") and definitive, unambiguous statements ("they are unclean unto you"). This direct, imperative phrasing is typical of the Mosaic Law, leaving no room for misinterpretation regarding the required actions and their precise consequences. Repetition of the concept of "unclean" (Hebrew: ṭâmêʼ) throughout Leviticus 11 and implicitly reinforced in this verse, serves to underscore the pervasive nature of defilement and the constant vigilance required to maintain ritual purity. The verse also demonstrates a clear and direct Causality: the specific act of "bearing the carcass" directly results in the state of "uncleanness," which in turn necessitates the prescribed purification ritual. Finally, profound Symbolism is evident in the prescribed actions and temporal markers. The "washing of clothes" is a symbolic act of external purification, signifying the removal of defilement that has attached itself to one's outer being. The phrase "until the even" symbolizes a temporal boundary, marking the end of the impure state and the restoration of ritual purity with the arrival of a new day, representing a divinely ordained reset. These devices collectively emphasize the seriousness of ritual impurity and the meticulous requirements for maintaining holiness within the covenant community.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Leviticus 11:28, like the broader corpus of purity laws in the Old Testament, profoundly communicates God's absolute and unblemished holiness and His fervent desire for His covenant people to reflect that holiness in every facet of their existence. The divinely ordained distinction between clean and unclean was not arbitrary but served as a perpetual, tangible reminder of the sacred chasm between God and sin, between life and death. It meticulously taught Israel that even seemingly passive contact with defilement rendered one temporarily unfit for divine presence, thereby instilling a deep reverence for God's purity and the gravity of anything that would compromise it. This temporary impurity and the prescribed cleansing ritual served as a powerful pedagogical tool, foreshadowing humanity's ultimate and inherent need for a perfect, permanent purification from sin—a cleansing that no mere washing of clothes or waiting until evening could ever truly achieve. It dramatically highlighted humanity's innate inability to cleanse itself fully and the absolute necessity of a divine provision for true, spiritual purity.
Reflection and Application
While the specific ceremonial laws of Leviticus, including the regulations in Leviticus 11:28, are no longer directly binding for believers under the New Covenant, the profound spiritual principles they embody remain eternally relevant and powerfully applicable. Leviticus 11:28 serves as a potent metaphor for the pervasive and insidious nature of spiritual defilement in a fallen world. Just as physical contact with an unclean carcass rendered one ritually impure, so too does our interaction with sin, whether through active participation, intentional choice, or even passive exposure, render us spiritually impure in God's holy sight. This verse calls us to cultivate a profound and vigilant awareness of the subtle and overt ways sin can defile our lives, prompting us to seek immediate and thorough spiritual cleansing. It serves as a stark reminder that God's immutable standard of holiness has not diminished; rather, it has been perfectly met and eternally fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Our appropriate response, therefore, should be a diligent and relentless pursuit of sanctification, actively separating ourselves from anything that would defile our spiritual walk and wholeheartedly embracing the transformative and cleansing power made available to us through faith in Jesus.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What was the overarching purpose of these purity laws in ancient Israel?
The purity laws, including those meticulously detailed in Leviticus 11, served multiple crucial and interconnected purposes for ancient Israel. Primarily, they were profoundly theological, meticulously designed to indelibly impress upon the Israelites the absolute and unblemished holiness of God and their corresponding divine call to be a holy nation, utterly distinct from the surrounding pagan cultures. These laws created a tangible, daily framework for understanding the sacred distinction between the holy and the common, the clean and the unclean, as explicitly articulated in Leviticus 10:10. They functioned as a constant, pervasive reminder of God's holy presence dwelling among them and the absolute necessity of maintaining ritual purity to approach Him and participate acceptably in communal worship. While some scholars rightly suggest secondary benefits such as promoting hygiene or public health, the biblical text unequivocally emphasizes their primary role in establishing Israel's unique identity as God's covenant people and preventing their assimilation into the pervasive and corrupting influence of idolatrous practices.
Does Leviticus 11:28 apply directly to Christians today?
No, the specific ceremonial regulations found in Leviticus 11:28 and other purity laws of the Old Covenant are not directly binding for Christians today. The New Testament unequivocally teaches that these Old Covenant laws, particularly those concerning food and ritual purity, were shadows and types pointing forward to the ultimate reality found in Jesus Christ. As Colossians 2:16-17 profoundly explains, "Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ." Similarly, Mark 7:18-19 records Jesus declaring all foods clean, dismantling the Old Covenant dietary restrictions, and Acts 10 vividly illustrates Peter's vision where God Himself cleanses all animals, signifying the abolition of the clean/unclean food distinctions for New Covenant believers. While the specific commands are fulfilled and abrogated in Christ, the underlying spiritual principles—God's unchanging holiness, the pervasive seriousness of sin, and the absolute need for spiritual cleansing—remain profoundly relevant and are now applied to our spiritual lives through the transformative power of faith in Jesus.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Leviticus 11:28, with its stark emphasis on defilement arising from contact with death and the subsequent necessity for cleansing, finds its most profound and glorious Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament purity laws, including the requirement to wash clothes after bearing an unclean carcass, served as tangible, divinely ordained illustrations of humanity's pervasive spiritual defilement due to sin and our inherent, utter inability to cleanse ourselves. These laws were pedagogical, designed to meticulously point forward to the ultimate need for a perfect High Priest and a final, once-for-all sacrifice that could truly atone for sin and purify the conscience. Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, did not merely avoid defilement; He actively entered into the very realm of our uncleanness, bearing the full, crushing weight of our sin and its deathly consequences upon Himself on the cross. Unlike the Israelite who became defiled by bearing a carcass, Christ, by bearing our sins, did not become defiled but rather purified us, as 2 Corinthians 5:21 powerfully declares, "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." His shed blood is the ultimate "washing," not merely of external garments, but of our very souls, cleansing us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7). The temporary impurity "until the even" in the Old Covenant rituals points to the inherent inadequacy and temporary nature of those cleansing ceremonies, which could never truly take away sin (Hebrews 10:4). In stark contrast, Christ's perfect and complete sacrifice provides eternal purification, making us perfectly clean and forever fit for God's holy presence (Hebrews 9:14). He is the glorious fulfillment and the very "end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes" (Romans 10:4), providing the permanent cleansing and access to God that the Old Testament laws could only foreshadow.