Leviticus 11:5

KJV

And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he [is] unclean unto you.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the coney {H8227}, because he cheweth {H5927} the cud {H1625}, but divideth {H6536} not the hoof {H6541}; he is unclean {H2931} unto you.

Berean Standard Bible

The rock badger, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you.

American Standard Version

And the coney, because he cheweth the cud but parteth not the hoof, he is unclean unto you.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Leviticus 11:5 serves as a specific declaration within God's comprehensive dietary laws, stating that the coney, identified as the hyrax or rock badger, is ritually unclean for consumption by the Israelites. This prohibition is part of a divine mandate establishing clear distinctions between clean and unclean animals, designed to set God's covenant people apart in holiness. The coney, though observed to bring up its cud, fails to meet the second crucial criterion for clean land animals: it does not possess a truly divided hoof, thus rendering it forbidden and underscoring the meticulous nature of God's commands for His chosen nation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Leviticus 11 marks a pivotal shift in the book's narrative, moving from the consecration of the priesthood and the tragic judgment of Nadab and Abihu in [Leviticus 10](/leviticus/10 "Leviticus 10 - Nadab and Abihu's Unholy Fire") to the practical outworking of holiness in daily life. This chapter initiates a detailed exposition of dietary laws, serving as a foundational text for understanding Israel's ritual purity system. The overarching principle, established in [Leviticus 11:3](/leviticus/11-3 "Leviticus 11:3 - Criteria for Clean Land Animals"), dictates that land animals must both chew the cud and have a divided hoof to be considered clean. Subsequent verses, including [Leviticus 11:4-8](/leviticus/11-4-8 "Leviticus 11:4-8 - Unclean Land Animals"), apply these criteria to specific animals, identifying those that fail one or both tests as unclean. The chapter further extends these regulations to aquatic and winged creatures, concluding with stipulations concerning contact with the carcasses of unclean animals, thereby emphasizing the pervasive nature of ritual impurity and the constant need for vigilance in maintaining holiness.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The dietary laws given in Leviticus were integral to the Mosaic Covenant, serving as a tangible expression of Israel's unique identity as a holy nation set apart for Yahweh. Unlike many surrounding ancient Near Eastern cultures that consumed a wide variety of animals, Israel's laws were divinely ordained and comprehensive, distinguishing them sharply from their pagan neighbors who often engaged in practices and diets contrary to God's standards. These regulations were not merely arbitrary rules or solely for health reasons, but fundamentally functioned as a daily reminder of Israel's covenant relationship with God and their unique calling to reflect His holiness. The concept of "holiness" (Hebrew: _qodesh_) permeated every aspect of Israelite life, as God commanded, "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy" ([Leviticus 19:2](/leviticus/19-2 "Leviticus 19:2 - Be Holy, For I Am Holy")). Adherence to these laws, including the prohibition against animals like the coney, maintained the ritual purity necessary for worship and fellowship with a holy God, ensuring their distinctiveness amidst the idolatrous and defiling practices of surrounding nations.
* **Key Themes:** Leviticus 11:5 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Leviticus and the Pentateuch. Foremost is the theme of **Holiness**, emphasizing that God's people are to be set apart from the nations, reflecting His own perfect character. The dietary laws provide a practical, daily means of living out this holiness. Closely related is the theme of **Distinction and Separation**, as the clean/unclean categories visually and practically delineate Israel's unique identity and purpose. This separation was not merely for ritual purity but underscored a spiritual reality—the need to be distinct from the defilement of the world. Furthermore, the meticulous nature of these laws highlights God's **Sovereignty and Authority**, demonstrating His right to establish standards for His creation and His people. Obedience to these detailed commands, even concerning seemingly minor aspects of life like diet, served as a test of Israel's **Obedience and Covenant Faithfulness**, reinforcing their commitment to the covenant relationship with Yahweh. The entire chapter, including the specific case of the coney, underscores the pervasive nature of God's call to purity, extending to every facet of life, as seen in the broader commands for holiness found in [Leviticus 11:44-45](/leviticus/11-44-45 "Leviticus 11:44-45 - Be Holy, For I Am Holy").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Coney (Hebrew, _shâphân'_ H8227):** From the root _sâphan_, meaning "to hide," this term refers to a species of rock rabbit, most commonly identified as the hyrax or rock badger. This small, herbivorous mammal is native to the Middle East and Africa. Its inclusion in this list demonstrates the meticulous detail of God's law, addressing specific animals known to the Israelites. Despite its appearance of chewing cud, its physiology and hoof structure do not align with the divine criteria for clean animals.
* **Cheweth (Hebrew, _ʻâlâh'_ H5927):** A primitive root meaning "to ascend, to bring up." In the context of "cheweth the cud," the Hebrew phrase is literally "bringing up the cud" (מעלה גרה, _ma'aleh gerah_). This refers to the process of rumination, where an animal regurgitates partially digested food to chew it again. While the coney exhibits this behavior, its digestive system is not that of a true ruminant, and this particular verb highlights the observable action, even if the underlying physiology is different from a true ruminant.
* **Unclean (Hebrew, _ṭâmêʼ'_ H2931):** Derived from the root _ṭâmêʼ_, meaning "foul in a religious sense," this word denotes a state of ritual impurity or defilement. In the context of dietary laws, it signifies an animal that is "forbidden for consumption" by God's covenant people. An animal declared _ṭâmêʼ_ was not inherently "evil" or "bad" in a moral sense, but it was designated as unsuitable for the diet of the Israelites, carrying significant implications for their daily life and reinforcing the pervasive nature of the purity laws in maintaining the community's holiness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the coney":** This clause introduces the specific animal under consideration, the _shaphan_ (hyrax/rock badger), a creature familiar to the Israelites in their environment. Its explicit mention underscores the comprehensive and precise nature of God's dietary code, leaving no ambiguity.
* **"because he cheweth the cud":** This phrase acknowledges that the coney exhibits one of the two primary criteria for a clean land animal—the act of rumination, or "bringing up the cud." This observation aligns with the natural behavior of the hyrax, which appears to re-chew its food, confirming the Israelites' keen and accurate observation of the natural world, even as God's law provides the definitive interpretation.
* **"but divideth not the hoof":** This is the crucial disqualifying criterion. Despite its cud-chewing behavior, the coney's feet are paw-like, with small nails, and are not truly cloven or divided into two distinct parts as required. The "hoof" (Hebrew: _parçâh_ H6541) refers to the split or cloven foot, which was a clear, observable physical marker. The failure to meet this second characteristic renders the animal unclean.
* **"he [is] unclean unto you":** This is the definitive divine declaration of the coney's status. It is explicitly forbidden for consumption by the Israelites. The phrase "unto you" emphasizes that these are specific regulations for God's covenant people, distinguishing their practices from those of other nations and reinforcing their unique identity and calling to holiness.

#### Literary Devices
Leviticus 11:5 employs several literary devices characteristic of the legal and instructional portions of the Pentateuch, reinforcing its didactic purpose. It is a prime example of **Legal Code**, presenting a direct, unambiguous prohibition within a larger, divinely ordained system of law. The verse also utilizes **Categorization**, as it systematically places the coney into the "unclean" category based on specific, observable physical criteria (chewing cud but not having a divided hoof). This systematic classification of animals into "clean" and "unclean" is central to the entire chapter, providing clear boundaries for Israelite life. Furthermore, there is a clear instance of **Exclusion**, where the coney is explicitly excluded from the permissible diet because it fails to meet the dual criteria for inclusion. This binary classification (clean/unclean) reinforces the overarching theological concept of **Separation and Distinction** that undergirds the entire system of Mosaic law, teaching Israel to discern and separate themselves from anything that defiles or is contrary to God's holy nature.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Leviticus 11:5, situated within the broader context of the dietary laws, profoundly communicates God's sovereignty, His unwavering call to holiness, and the essential principle of distinction for His covenant people. These laws were not merely about hygiene or health, though practical benefits may have existed, but primarily about ritual purity and spiritual separation. By adhering to God's precise instructions, even concerning seemingly minor details like animal diets, Israel was continually reminded of their unique identity as a holy nation set apart for Yahweh. This daily obedience fostered a pervasive awareness of God's presence and His exacting standards, reflecting His own perfect holiness. The distinction between clean and unclean served as a tangible, daily lesson in the spiritual reality of separation from the defilements of the world and unwavering dedication to God.

* [Deuteronomy 14:3-8](/deuteronomy/14-3-8 "Deuteronomy 14:3-8 - Clean and Unclean Animals")
* [Ezekiel 44:23](/ezekiel/44-23 "Ezekiel 44:23 - Distinguishing Between Holy and Common")
* [1 Peter 1:15-16](/1_peter/1-15-16 "1 Peter 1:15-16 - Called to Be Holy")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific dietary prohibitions of the Old Testament are not binding for New Testament believers, the underlying principles of obedience, discernment, and holiness remain profoundly relevant for our lives today. Leviticus 11:5 reminds us that God has clear standards for those who bear His name, and true holiness involves a willingness to submit to His revealed will, even when the reasons are not immediately apparent to our human understanding. Our lives are to reflect God's character, not through adherence to ritualistic food laws, but through spiritual purity, moral integrity, and discerning choices in a world that increasingly blurs the lines between what is beneficial and what is harmful. We are called to be set apart, not by external regulations, but by an internal transformation that seeks to honor God in every aspect of our lives—from our thoughts and words to our actions and relationships. This separation is not about self-righteousness, but about a deep desire for spiritual purity and a longing for deeper communion with our holy God, recognizing that His ways are always for our ultimate good and His glory.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be "chewing the cud" (appearing spiritual or outwardly religious) but failing to "divide the hoof" (lacking true distinction or consistent obedience to God's character in practice)?**
* **How does the detailed nature of God's commands in Leviticus challenge my own understanding of what it truly means to live a life of holiness and distinction for Him in a contemporary context?**
* **What modern "unclean" influences (e.g., media consumption, relationships, habits, thought patterns) might God be calling me to separate from, not based on legalism, but on a Spirit-led desire for spiritual purity and deeper communion with Him?**

### FAQ

**What is a "coney" in modern terms, and why was it considered unclean?**

Answer: The "coney" in the King James Version (KJV) is typically identified as the hyrax or rock badger (Hebrew: _shaphan_). It was considered unclean because, while it appears to "chew the cud" (ruminate or bring up its food to re-chew), it does not possess a truly "divided hoof." According to the criteria established in [Leviticus 11:3](/leviticus/11-3 "Leviticus 11:3 - Criteria for Clean Land Animals"), for a land animal to be clean for consumption, it had to meet both criteria: chewing the cud AND having a divided hoof. Since the coney only met one of these two essential requirements, it was explicitly declared unclean and forbidden for the Israelites' diet.

**Are the Old Testament dietary laws, including the prohibition of the coney, still binding for Christians today?**

Answer: No, the specific dietary laws of the Old Testament are generally not considered binding for Christians today. The New Testament teaches that Jesus declared all foods clean ([Mark 7:19](/mark/7-19 "Mark 7:19 - Jesus Declares All Foods Clean")), and the Apostle Peter's vision in [Acts 10:9-16](/acts/10-9-16 "Acts 10:9-16 - Peter's Vision of Clean and Unclean Animals") explicitly affirmed that what God has cleansed should not be called common or unclean. The emphasis in the New Covenant shifts from external ritual purity to internal spiritual purity and the transformation of the heart by the Holy Spirit. While believers are called to live holy lives, this is now achieved through faith in Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, not through adherence to the Mosaic dietary code.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The Old Testament dietary laws, including the specific prohibition of the coney, serve as a profound shadow pointing to the ultimate reality found in Jesus Christ. These regulations established a tangible distinction between clean and unclean, illustrating the deep spiritual truth that sin defiles and creates an insurmountable barrier between humanity and a holy God. The inability of the coney to meet both criteria for cleanness perfectly foreshadows humanity's own inability to achieve righteousness through external adherence to the law. However, Christ, as the perfect Lamb of God ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), entered a world utterly defiled by sin and, through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, rendered all things truly clean. He fulfilled the law not by abolishing it, but by bringing its underlying principles to their ultimate spiritual conclusion. In Christ, the external distinctions of food laws are superseded by an internal transformation of the heart, where true purity is found not in what we eat or what external rules we follow, but in our redemptive relationship with Him. As [Romans 14:17](/romans/14-17 "Romans 14:17 - The Kingdom of God") powerfully declares, "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Through His death and glorious resurrection, Jesus has made it possible for all who believe to be declared perfectly clean and righteous before God, not by adherence to a dietary code, but by faith in His finished work, making us a new creation, holy and acceptable in His sight ([2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ")). He is our true holiness, our ultimate distinction, and the source of our spiritual purity ([1 Corinthians 1:30](/1_corinthians/1-30 "1 Corinthians 1:30 - Christ Our Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption")).

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.

Cross-References

Proverbs 30:26

The conies [are but] a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;

Psalms 104:18

The high hills [are] a refuge for the wild goats; [and] the rocks for the conies.

Matthew 7:26

And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

Titus 1:16

They profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him], being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

2 Timothy 3:5

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Job 36:14

They die in youth, and their life [is] among the unclean.

Philippians 3:18

(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ: