Leviticus 11:36

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

Nevertheless a fountain {H4599} or pit {H953}, wherein there is plenty {H4723} of water {H4325}, shall be clean {H2889}: but that which toucheth {H5060} their carcase {H5038} shall be unclean {H2930}.

Complete Jewish Bible

although a spring or cistern for collecting water remains clean. But anyone who touches one of their carcasses will become unclean.

Berean Standard Bible

Nevertheless, a spring or cistern containing water will remain clean, but one who touches a carcass in it will be unclean.

American Standard Version

Nevertheless a fountain or a pit wherein is a gathering of water shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcass shall be unclean.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Leviticus 11:36 presents a crucial exception within the detailed purity laws concerning contact with the carcasses of unclean animals. While most vessels and objects become ritually defiled upon such contact, natural water sources like fountains or large pits, characterized by an abundance of water, are declared clean. This distinction highlights God's practical wisdom in maintaining essential life resources for Israel while upholding the overarching principles of holiness and the pervasive nature of defilement from death.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within [Leviticus 11](/leviticus/11 "Leviticus 11 - Clean and Unclean Animals"), a chapter meticulously outlining the dietary and purity regulations for the Israelite community. The preceding verses (Leviticus 11:29-35) detail various small creeping things that are unclean and how their carcasses defile any object they fall upon. Specifically, [Leviticus 11:33-35](/leviticus/11-33 "Leviticus 11:33-35 - Defilement of Vessels") addresses how earthenware vessels, ovens, and cooking ranges become unclean, often requiring them to be broken or scoured. Leviticus 11:36 provides a stark contrast to these rules, offering a vital exception for large water sources, emphasizing that their inherent nature and volume prevent them from being defiled in the same manner as smaller, contained objects. This progression from general defilement to specific exceptions demonstrates the nuanced and practical application of God's holiness standards.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, water was an indispensable and often scarce resource, critical for survival, agriculture, and daily life. Access to clean water sources was paramount for public health, especially in a nomadic or semi-nomadic society. The meticulous purity laws, including those in [Leviticus 11](/leviticus/11 "Leviticus 11 - Laws of Clean and Unclean Animals"), served not only ritual and theological purposes but also had profound practical implications for hygiene and disease prevention. The distinction made in [Leviticus 11:36](/leviticus/11-36 "Leviticus 11:36 - Purity of Water Sources") reflects a divine understanding of natural processes: large, flowing bodies of water or deep wells with significant volume possess a natural capacity for dilution and self-purification, unlike stagnant water in small containers. To declare an entire community's primary water supply unclean due to accidental contact with a carcass would have been catastrophic, rendering daily life and essential purification rituals impossible. Thus, this law demonstrates God's compassionate provision and practical wisdom, balancing the demands of holiness with the realities of human existence and the necessity of vital resources.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Fountain (Hebrew, _ma'yan'_):** This term refers to a natural spring or a source of flowing water. The implication is a continuous, living supply that is constantly replenishing itself. This inherent dynamism and abundance are key to its resistance to defilement, contrasting with stagnant or contained water.
* **Pit (Hebrew, _bor'_):** This word denotes a cistern, well, or reservoir, typically a large, deep excavation designed to collect and store water. While not necessarily flowing like a spring, a _bor_ contains a substantial volume of water, which, like a fountain, contributes to its resilience against ritual impurity compared to smaller vessels.
* **Plenty of water (Hebrew, _miqweh mayim'_):** Literally meaning "a gathering of water" or "a collection of water." This phrase emphasizes the significant volume and collective nature of the water body. It highlights that the sheer quantity of water in these sources is a factor in their ability to remain ritually clean, as the defiling agent (the carcass) is insufficient to corrupt the entire mass. This concept later informed the Jewish understanding of a _mikveh_ (ritual bath) as a body of "living water" or a significant collection of water.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Nevertheless a fountain or pit, [wherein there is] plenty of water, shall be clean:"** This clause establishes the central exception. Despite the general rule that contact with an unclean carcass defiles, specific large water sources—natural springs or substantial wells/cisterns—are exempt. The underlying principle is the volume and often the flowing nature of the water, which prevents the defilement from pervading the entire body. God's provision for essential life resources is evident here, as declaring such vital water sources unclean would have had devastating practical consequences for the community.
* **"but that which toucheth their carcase shall be unclean."** This crucial second clause provides a vital qualification. While the *water source itself* remains clean, any *object or person* that directly touches the unclean carcass, even if that carcass is within the clean water, *still becomes unclean*. This maintains the potency of defilement from death and emphasizes that the exception applies only to the water source, not to the defiling agent or anything it directly contacts. It underscores the pervasive nature of impurity while providing a practical concession for life-sustaining water.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices to convey its meaning and reinforce its legal precision. **Contrast** is prominent, setting apart the resilience of large, natural water sources from the susceptibility of smaller, contained vessels (as described in the preceding verses). This highlights the nuanced application of the purity laws. **Legal Precision** is evident in the specific conditions ("fountain or pit," "plenty of water") that qualify for the exception, demonstrating the meticulous nature of the Mosaic Law in addressing practical realities while upholding divine standards. The underlying **Symbolism** of water as a medium of cleansing and life is also at play, suggesting that certain fundamental elements, when abundant and pure, possess an inherent resistance to corruption, foreshadowing deeper spiritual truths about the source of true purity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Leviticus 11:36 underscores several profound theological themes. It reveals God's meticulous concern for the purity of His people, not just spiritually but also in their daily lives, demonstrating that holiness permeates every aspect of existence. The distinction between a defiled vessel and an undefiled natural water source illustrates a principle of divine wisdom and provision: while sin and defilement are pervasive and corrupting, God provides enduring sources of life and purity that are not easily overcome. This law also subtly points to the nature of true holiness—it is not merely about avoiding defilement, but about drawing from an uncorrupted source.

* [Leviticus 19:2](/leviticus/19-2 "Leviticus 19:2 - Be Holy, For I Am Holy")
* [Numbers 19:11-13](/numbers/19-11 "Numbers 19:11-13 - Defilement by a Dead Body")
* [Ezekiel 47:1-12](/ezekiel/47-12 "Ezekiel 47 - The River from the Temple")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific ritual laws of Leviticus no longer bind New Covenant believers, the enduring principles embedded within them offer profound spiritual insights. Leviticus 11:36 reminds us that our spiritual "source" – our relationship with God through the indwelling Holy Spirit – is like that abundant fountain or pit: a pure, living wellspring that cannot be fundamentally defiled by the "carcasses" or impurities of the world. Our core identity in Christ is secure, and the Spirit within us remains undefiled, continuously cleansing and renewing us. However, just as the law stated that anything *touching* the carcass became unclean, we must remain vigilant about what we allow to touch and influence our lives. While our spiritual source is pure, our daily walk can be impacted by worldly contact, requiring ongoing repentance, cleansing through God's Word, and reliance on the Spirit. This verse calls us to discern carefully, to guard our hearts, and to continually draw from the pure source of Christ, ensuring that our external actions reflect the internal purity granted by grace, striving for holiness in every sphere.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the concept of an undefilable "fountain" or "pit" of water relate to the enduring purity of the Holy Spirit within a believer?**
* **In what ways might we, like the "that which toucheth their carcase," become defiled by worldly influences, even if our spiritual "source" remains pure?**
* **What practical steps can we take to ensure we are continually drawing from the "plenty of water" that is Christ, and minimizing harmful contact with spiritual "carcasses"?**
* **How does God's practical wisdom in this ancient law encourage us to trust His guidance in all aspects of our lives, even those that seem mundane?**

### FAQ
**Why were natural water sources treated differently from vessels in terms of defilement?**

Answer: The distinction lies primarily in the volume and nature of the water. Small vessels, especially porous ones like earthenware, could easily absorb and retain defilement, making them unusable. In contrast, a "fountain" (a flowing spring) or a "pit" (a large well or cistern with a significant "gathering of water") possessed an inherent capacity for self-purification through dilution or constant replenishment. To declare such vital and large water sources unclean would have rendered them unusable for an entire community, leading to severe practical hardship. This law demonstrates God's practical wisdom, balancing the theological demand for purity with the essential needs of His people for clean water.

**Does this law apply to Christians today?**

Answer: No, the specific ritual purity laws concerning clean and unclean animals, as found in [Leviticus 11](/leviticus/11 "Leviticus 11 - Clean and Unclean Animals"), are part of the Old Covenant ceremonial law and do not directly apply to New Covenant believers. The New Testament teaches that all foods are clean (e.g., [Mark 7:19](/mark/7-19 "Mark 7:19 - Jesus Declares All Foods Clean"), [Acts 10:15](/acts/10-15 "Acts 10:15 - Peter's Vision of Clean and Unclean Animals"), [Romans 14:14](/romans/14-14 "Romans 14:14 - Nothing Is Unclean in Itself")). However, the underlying *principles* of holiness, God's concern for purity, and the distinction between a pure source and external defilement remain spiritually relevant.

**What is the spiritual significance of "clean" water sources in this context?**

Answer: Spiritually, the "fountain or pit" with "plenty of water" can symbolize the enduring purity and inexhaustible supply of God's grace and the Holy Spirit. Just as these physical water sources could not be fundamentally corrupted by external defilement, so too the divine source of life within believers remains pure and unblemished by the world's sin. While we may encounter spiritual "carcasses" (sinful influences or temptations), the Holy Spirit within us is a constant, cleansing, and empowering presence, maintaining our core purity in Christ and providing the resources for ongoing sanctification.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Leviticus 11:36, with its unique provision for an undefilable water source, finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The Old Testament "fountain or pit" that could not be fundamentally defiled by the carcass foreshadows Christ as the true and eternal source of "living water" ([John 4:10-14](/john/4-10-14 "John 4:10-14 - Jesus and the Samaritan Woman") and [John 7:37-39](/john/7-37-39 "John 7:37-39 - Rivers of Living Water")). Unlike the temporary ritual cleanings of the Mosaic Law, which required constant repetition and could be easily nullified by contact with death or impurity, Christ offers a cleansing that is complete and perpetual. His perfect purity and sinlessness mean that He could touch lepers, dead bodies, and sinners without becoming defiled; instead, His touch brought cleansing and life ([Matthew 8:3](/matthew/8-3 "Matthew 8:3 - Jesus Cleanses a Leper"), [Luke 7:14-15](/luke/7-14-15 "Luke 7:14-15 - Jesus Raises the Widow's Son")). He is the inexhaustible spring of grace and truth, whose sacrifice on the cross definitively dealt with the defilement of sin and death, making us eternally clean in Him ([Hebrews 9:13-14](/hebrews/9-13-14 "Hebrews 9:13-14 - The Blood of Christ Cleanses Us"), [1 John 1:7](/1_john/1-7 "1 John 1:7 - Cleansing by the Blood of Jesus")). In Christ, we have access to a spiritual wellspring that cannot be corrupted by the "carcass" of sin, ensuring our eternal purity and access to abundant life.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.