Leviticus 11:8

Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they [are] unclean to you.

Of their flesh {H1320} shall ye not eat {H398}, and their carcase {H5038} shall ye not touch {H5060}; they are unclean {H2931} to you.

You are not to eat meat from these or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.

You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.

Of their flesh ye shall not eat, and their carcasses ye shall not touch; they are unclean unto you.

Commentary

Leviticus 11:8 is part of a detailed chapter outlining the dietary laws given by God to the Israelites. This verse specifically addresses the prohibition regarding swine (pigs), classifying them as unclean animals.

Context

Leviticus chapter 11 provides the foundational laws distinguishing between "clean" and "unclean" animals that the Israelites were permitted or forbidden to eat, touch, or use. These regulations were not merely about hygiene but were primarily intended to establish ritual purity and set the nation of Israel apart as a holy people dedicated to God. The chapter lists various land animals, aquatic life, and birds, detailing the criteria for their classification. Verse 8 deals with the pig, stating that its flesh is not to be eaten, and its carcass is not to be touched, emphasizing its status as unclean.

Key Themes

  • Purity and Cleanness: The central theme is the concept of ceremonial cleanness as defined by God, which was essential for maintaining a right relationship with Him and participating in worship.
  • Separation: These laws served to distinguish Israel from surrounding nations who did not adhere to such dietary restrictions, reinforcing their unique identity as God's chosen people.
  • Obedience: Adhering to these detailed regulations was an act of obedience to God's specific commands.
  • Holiness: The overall purpose of these laws was to cultivate holiness in the lives of the Israelites, reflecting God's own holy nature (see Leviticus 11:45).

Linguistic Insights

The key Hebrew word translated "unclean" is tameh. This term signifies a state of ritual impurity, rendering a person or object unfit for sacred use or for approaching God until cleansed. It's a spiritual and ceremonial status, distinct from modern concepts of physical cleanliness or health risks, though some forbidden animals may have also posed health concerns in ancient times.

Related Scriptures

While these specific dietary laws were part of the Old Covenant given to Israel, their significance is understood differently in the New Testament. Jesus' teaching on ceremonial purity clarified that defilement comes from within, not from external things like food (see Mark 7:19 where Jesus declared all foods clean). Furthermore, Peter's vision in Acts 10 explicitly revealed that God had made formerly unclean animals clean, signifying the inclusion of Gentiles into the church and the fulfillment of the ceremonial law in Christ.

Reflection

For believers today, Leviticus 11:8 and the surrounding dietary laws are not binding as literal commands. However, they serve as valuable reminders of the importance of obedience to God, the principle of living a life set apart for His purposes, and the profound truth that true purity comes through faith in Christ, who fulfills the requirements of the law. We are called to be holy, not through adherence to Old Covenant food laws, but by yielding to the Spirit and living according to the New Covenant principles.

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Cross-References

  • Isaiah 52:11 (3 votes)

    Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean [thing]; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.

  • Leviticus 5:2 (3 votes)

    Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether [it be] a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and [if] it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty.

  • Colossians 2:16 (3 votes)

    ¶ Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]:

  • Hosea 9:3 (3 votes)

    They shall not dwell in the LORD'S land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean [things] in Assyria.

  • Hebrews 9:10 (3 votes)

    [Which stood] only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed [on them] until the time of reformation.

  • Matthew 15:20 (2 votes)

    These are [the things] which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

  • 2 Corinthians 6:17 (2 votes)

    Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you,