Leviticus 11:32

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 upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead {H4194}, doth fall {H5307}, it shall be unclean {H2930}; whether it be any vessel {H3627} of wood {H6086}, or raiment {H899}, or skin {H5785}, or sack {H8242}, whatsoever vessel {H3627} it be, wherein any work {H4399} is done {H6213}, it must be put {H935} into water {H4325}, and it shall be unclean {H2930} until the even {H6153}; so it shall be cleansed {H2891}.

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.

When one of them dies and falls on something, that article becomes unclean; any article of wood, clothing, leather, sackcloth, or any implement used for work must be rinsed with water and will remain unclean until evening; then it will be clean.

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, wherewith any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; then shall it be clean.

Commentary

Leviticus 11:32 continues the detailed instructions regarding ritual purity and uncleanness in ancient Israel, specifically addressing what happens when an item comes into contact with the carcass of one of the previously designated unclean creeping things.

Context of Leviticus 11:32

This verse is part of a larger section in Leviticus Chapter 11, which meticulously outlines the dietary laws and regulations concerning clean and unclean animals. The purpose of these laws was not merely hygienic (though some had practical benefits) but primarily theological: to teach Israel about holiness and separation unto God. Verses 29-31 specifically list eight types of "creeping things" (like weasels, mice, and lizards) whose carcasses transmit severe ritual impurity upon contact. Verse 32 then specifies the purification process for various objects defiled by such contact, including various vessels and materials.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Pervasiveness of Uncleanness: The law highlights how easily uncleanness could spread, even through inanimate objects. This underscores the need for constant vigilance in maintaining ritual purity according to the Mosaic Law.
  • The Necessity of Purification: Contact with defilement rendered an object unusable for sacred purposes or even daily life without proper cleansing. The prescribed method—immersion in water—was the only way to restore its clean status.
  • God's Standard of Holiness: These detailed laws served to impress upon the Israelites God's absolute holiness and their call to reflect that holiness in every aspect of their lives, as commanded in Leviticus 11:44: "For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy."
  • Temporal Uncleanness: The phrase "unclean until the even" indicates that this type of ceremonial uncleanness was temporary and could be resolved through a specific ritual and the passage of time, unlike more severe forms of defilement that might require sacrifices or longer periods.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "unclean" is tameh (טָמֵא), which signifies ritual impurity or defilement, often contrasting with tahor (טָהוֹר), meaning "clean" or "pure." It's not necessarily about physical dirt but a state that makes one unfit for worship or participation in the community's sacred life. The phrase "until the even" (עַד הָעֶרֶב, 'ad ha'erev) is common in purification laws, marking the end of the day as the point when ritual purity could be restored after the prescribed action, emphasizing a defined duration for the uncleanness.

Practical Application and Reflection

While Christians are no longer bound by the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament (see Acts 10:15 and Colossians 2:16), the principles behind them remain relevant. Leviticus 11:32 teaches us about the pervasive nature of sin and its defiling effect on our lives and actions. Just as physical objects needed cleansing, our hearts and minds require spiritual purification. This purification is achieved not through ritual washing, but through faith in Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). The call to holiness remains central to the Christian life, urging us to be separate from the defilements of the world and to live in a way that honors God.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Leviticus 15:12

    And the vessel of earth, that he toucheth which hath the issue, shall be broken: and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.

  • Titus 3:5

    Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

  • Titus 2:14

    Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

  • Leviticus 6:28

    But the earthen vessel wherein it is sodden shall be broken: and if it be sodden in a brasen pot, it shall be both scoured, and rinsed in water.
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