Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Leviticus » Chapter 11

Leviticus 11:1-47 King James Version (KJV)

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.

3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is cloven-footed, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.

4 Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.

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

6 And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.

7 And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be cloven-footed, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.

8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.

9 These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.

10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:

11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcasses in abomination.

12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.

13 And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,

14 And the vulture, and the kite after his kind;

15 Every raven after his kind;

16 And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckoo, and the hawk after his kind,

17 And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl,

18 And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle,

19 And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.

20 All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.

21 Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;

22 Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind.

23 But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.

24 And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcass of them shall be unclean until the even.

25 And whosoever beareth ought of the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.

26 The carcasses of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not cloven-footed, nor cheweth the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean.

27 And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcass shall be unclean until the even.

28 And he that beareth the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you.

29 These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind,

30 And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole.

31 These are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even.

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.

33 And every earthen vessel, whereinto any of them falleth, whatsoever is in it shall be unclean; and ye shall break it.

34 Of all meat which may be eaten, that on which such water cometh shall be unclean: and all drink that may be drunk in every such vessel shall be unclean.

35 And every thing whereupon any part of their carcass falleth shall be unclean; whether it be oven, or ranges for pots, they shall be broken down: for they are unclean and shall be unclean unto you.

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

37 And if any part of their carcass fall upon any sowing seed which is to be sown, it shall be clean.

38 But if any water be put upon the seed, and any part of their carcass fall thereon, it shall be unclean unto you.

39 And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcass thereof shall be unclean until the even.

40 And he that eateth of the carcass of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: he also that beareth the carcass of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.

41 And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten.

42 Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.

43 Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby.

44 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

45 For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

46 This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth:

47 To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.

Leviticus 11:1-47 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses H4872 and to Aaron, H175 saying H559 unto them,

2 Speak H1696 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 These H2063 are the beasts H2416 which ye shall eat H398 among all the beasts H929 that are on the earth. H776

3 Whatsoever parteth H6536 the hoof, H6541 and is clovenfooted, H8156 H8157 and cheweth H5927 the cud, H1625 among the beasts, H929 that shall ye eat. H398

4 Nevertheless H389 these shall ye not eat H398 of them that chew H5927 the cud, H1625 or of them that divide H6536 the hoof: H6541 as the camel, H1581 because he cheweth H5927 the cud, H1625 but divideth H6536 not the hoof; H6541 he is unclean H2931 unto you.

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

6 And the hare, H768 because he cheweth H5927 the cud, H1625 but divideth H6536 not the hoof; H6541 he is unclean H2931 unto you.

7 And the swine, H2386 though he divide H6536 the hoof, H6541 and be clovenfooted, H8156 H8157 yet he cheweth H1641 not the cud; H1625 he is unclean H2931 to you.

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

9 These shall ye eat H398 of all that are in the waters: H4325 whatsoever hath fins H5579 and scales H7193 in the waters, H4325 in the seas, H3220 and in the rivers, H5158 them shall ye eat. H398

10 And all that have not fins H5579 and scales H7193 in the seas, H3220 and in the rivers, H5158 of all that move H8318 in the waters, H4325 and of any living H2416 thing H5315 which is in the waters, H4325 they shall be an abomination H8263 unto you:

11 They shall be even an abomination H8263 unto you; ye shall not eat H398 of their flesh, H1320 but ye shall have their carcases H5038 in abomination. H8262

12 Whatsoever hath no fins H5579 nor scales H7193 in the waters, H4325 that shall be an abomination H8263 unto you.

13 And these are they which ye shall have in abomination H8262 among H4480 the fowls; H5775 they shall not be eaten, H398 they are an abomination: H8263 the eagle, H5404 and the ossifrage, H6538 and the ospray, H5822

14 And the vulture, H1676 and the kite H344 after his kind; H4327

15 Every raven H6158 after his kind; H4327

16 And the owl, H1323 H3284 and the night hawk, H8464 and the cuckow, H7828 and the hawk H5322 after his kind, H4327

17 And the little owl, H3563 and the cormorant, H7994 and the great owl, H3244

18 And the swan, H8580 and the pelican, H6893 and the gier eagle, H7360

19 And the stork, H2624 the heron H601 after her kind, H4327 and the lapwing, H1744 and the bat. H5847

20 All fowls H5775 that creep, H8318 going H1980 upon all four, H702 shall be an abomination H8263 unto you.

21 Yet these may ye eat H398 of every flying H5775 creeping H8318 thing that goeth H1980 upon all four, H702 which have legs H3767 above H4605 their feet, H7272 to leap H5425 withal H2004 upon the earth; H776

22 Even these of them ye may eat; H398 the locust H697 after his kind, H4327 and the bald locust H5556 after his kind, H4327 and the beetle H2728 after his kind, H4327 and the grasshopper H2284 after his kind. H4327

23 But all other flying H5775 creeping things, H8318 which have four H702 feet, H7272 shall be an abomination H8263 unto you.

24 And for these ye shall be unclean: H2930 whosoever toucheth H5060 the carcase H5038 of them shall be unclean H2930 until the even. H6153

25 And whosoever beareth H5375 ought of the carcase H5038 of them shall wash H3526 his clothes, H899 and be unclean H2930 until the even. H6153

26 The carcases of every beast H929 which divideth H6536 the hoof, H6541 and is not clovenfooted, H8157 H8156 nor cheweth H5927 the cud, H1625 are unclean H2931 unto you: every one that toucheth H5060 them shall be unclean. H2930

27 And whatsoever H3605 H1992 goeth H1980 upon his paws, H3709 among all manner of beasts H2416 that go H1980 on all four, H702 those are unclean H2931 unto you: whoso toucheth H5060 their carcase H5038 shall be unclean H2930 until the even. H6153

28 And he that beareth H5375 the carcase H5038 of them shall wash H3526 his clothes, H899 and be unclean H2930 until the even: H6153 they are unclean H2931 unto you.

29 These also shall be unclean H2931 unto you among the creeping things H8318 that creep H8317 upon the earth; H776 the weasel, H2467 and the mouse, H5909 and the tortoise H6632 after his kind, H4327

30 And the ferret, H604 and the chameleon, H3581 and the lizard, H3911 and the snail, H2546 and the mole. H8580

31 These are unclean H2931 to you among all that creep: H8318 whosoever doth touch H5060 them, when they be dead, H4194 shall be unclean H2930 until the even. H6153

32 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

33 And every earthen H2789 vessel, H3627 whereinto any of them falleth, H5307 H8432 whatsoever is in it shall be unclean; H2930 and ye shall break H7665 it.

34 Of all meat H400 which may be eaten, H398 that on which such water H4325 cometh H935 shall be unclean: H2930 and all drink H4945 that may be drunk H8354 in every such vessel H3627 shall be unclean. H2930

35 And every thing whereupon any part of their carcase H5038 falleth H5307 shall be unclean; H2930 whether it be oven, H8574 or ranges H3600 for pots, they shall be broken down: H5422 for they are unclean, H2931 and shall be unclean H2931 unto you.

36 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

37 And if any part of their carcase H5038 fall H5307 upon any sowing H2221 seed H2233 which is to be sown, H2232 it shall be clean. H2889

38 But if any water H4325 be put H5414 upon the seed, H2233 and any part of their carcase H5038 fall H5307 thereon, it shall be unclean H2931 unto you.

39 And if any beast, H929 of which ye may eat, H402 die; H4191 he that toucheth H5060 the carcase H5038 thereof shall be unclean H2930 until the even. H6153

40 And he that eateth H398 of the carcase H5038 of it shall wash H3526 his clothes, H899 and be unclean H2930 until the even: H6153 he also that beareth H5375 the carcase H5038 of it shall wash H3526 his clothes, H899 and be unclean H2930 until the even. H6153

41 And every creeping thing H8318 that creepeth H8317 upon the earth H776 shall be an abomination; H8263 it shall not be eaten. H398

42 Whatsoever goeth H1980 upon the belly, H1512 and whatsoever goeth H1980 upon all four, H702 or whatsoever hath more H7235 feet H7272 among all creeping things H8318 that creep H8317 upon the earth, H776 them ye shall not eat; H398 for they are an abomination. H8263

43 Ye shall not make H8262 yourselves H5315 abominable H8262 with any creeping thing H8318 that creepeth, H8317 neither shall ye make yourselves unclean H2933 with them, that ye should be defiled H2930 thereby.

44 For I am the LORD H3068 your God: H430 ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, H6942 and ye shall be holy; H6918 for I am holy: H6918 neither shall ye defile H2930 yourselves H5315 with any manner of creeping thing H8318 that creepeth H7430 upon the earth. H776

45 For I am the LORD H3068 that bringeth H5927 you up out of the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 to be your God: H430 ye shall therefore be holy, H6918 for I am holy. H6918

46 This is the law H8451 of the beasts, H929 and of the fowl, H5775 and of every living H2416 creature H5315 that moveth H7430 in the waters, H4325 and of every creature H5315 that creepeth H8317 upon the earth: H776

47 To make a difference H914 between the unclean H2931 and the clean, H2889 and between the beast H2416 that may be eaten H398 and the beast H2416 that may not be eaten. H398

Leviticus 11:1-47 American Standard (ASV)

1 And Jehovah spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the living things which ye may eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.

3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, `and' cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that may ye eat.

4 Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that part the hoof: the camel, because he cheweth the cud but parteth not the hoof, he is unclean unto you.

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

6 And the hare, because she cheweth the cud but parteth not the hoof, she is unclean unto you.

7 And the swine, because he parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, but cheweth not the cud, he is unclean unto you.

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

9 These may ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, that may ye eat.

10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of all the living creatures that are in the waters, they are an abomination unto you,

11 and they shall be an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, and their carcasses ye shall have in abomination.

12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that is an abomination unto you.

13 And these ye shall have in abomination among the birds; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the gier-eagle, and the ospray,

14 and the kite, and the falcon after its kind,

15 every raven after its kind,

16 and the ostrich, and the night-hawk, and the seamew, and the hawk after its kind,

17 and the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl,

18 and the horned owl, and the pelican, and the vulture,

19 and the stork, the heron after its kind, and the hoopoe, and the bat.

20 All winged creeping things that go upon all fours are an abomination unto you.

21 Yet these may ye eat of all winged creeping things that go upon all fours, which have legs above their feet, wherewith to leap upon the earth.

22 Even these of them ye may eat: the locust after its kind, and the bald locust after its kind, and the cricket after its kind, and the grasshopper after its kind.

23 But all winged creeping things, which have four feet, are an abomination unto you.

24 And by these ye shall become unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcass of them shall be unclean until the even;

25 And whosoever beareth `aught' of the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.

26 Every beast which parteth the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, nor cheweth the cud, is unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean.

27 And whatsoever goeth upon its paws, among all beasts that go on all fours, they are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcass shall be unclean until the even.

28 And he that beareth the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you.

29 And these are they which are unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth: the weasel, and the mouse, and the great lizard after its kind,

30 and the gecko, and the land-crocodile, and the lizard, and the sand-lizard, and the chameleon.

31 These are they which are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they are dead, shall be unclean until the even.

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

33 And every earthen vessel, whereinto any of them falleth, whatsoever is in it shall be unclean, and it ye shall break.

34 All food `therein' which may be eaten, that on which water cometh, shall be unclean; and all drink that may be drunk in every `such' vessel shall be unclean.

35 And every thing whereupon `any part' of their carcass falleth shall be unclean; whether oven, or range for pots, it shall be broken in pieces: they are unclean, and shall be unclean unto you.

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

37 And if `aught' of their carcass fall upon any sowing seed which is to be sown, it is clean.

38 But if water be put upon the seed, and `aught' of their carcass fall thereon, it is unclean unto you.

39 And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcass thereof shall be unclean until the even.

40 And he that eateth of the carcass of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: he also that beareth the carcass of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.

41 And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth is an abomination; it shall not be eaten.

42 Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all fours, or whatsoever hath many feet, even all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.

43 Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby.

44 For I am Jehovah your God: sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that moveth upon the earth.

45 For I am Jehovah that brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

46 This is the law of the beast, and of the bird, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth;

47 to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the living thing that may be eaten and the living thing that may not be eaten.

Leviticus 11:1-47 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying unto them,

2 `Speak unto the sons of Israel, saying, This `is' the beast which ye do eat out of all the beasts which `are' on the earth:

3 any dividing a hoof, and cleaving the cleft of the hoofs, bringing up the cud, among the beasts, it ye do eat.

4 `Only, this ye do not eat -- of those bringing up the cud, and of those dividing the hoof -- the camel, though it is bringing up the cud, yet the hoof not dividing -- it `is' unclean to you;

5 and the rabbit, though it is bringing up the cud, yet the hoof it divideth not -- unclean it `is' to you;

6 and the hare, though it is bringing up the cud, yet the hoof hath not divided -- unclean it `is' to you;

7 and the sow, though it is dividing the hoof, and cleaving the cleft of the hoof, yet the cud it bringeth not up -- unclean it `is' to you.

8 `Of their flesh ye do not eat, and against their carcase ye do not come -- unclean they `are' to you.

9 `This ye do eat of all which `are' in the waters; any one that hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the brooks, them ye do eat;

10 and any one that hath not fins and scales in the seas, and in the brooks, of any teeming creature of the waters, and of any creature which liveth, which `is' in the waters -- an abomination they `are' to you;

11 yea, an abomination they are to you; of their flesh ye do not eat, and their carcase ye abominate.

12 `Any one that hath not fins and scales in the waters -- an abomination it `is' to you.

13 `And these ye do abominate of the fowl; they are not eaten, an abomination they `are': the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,

14 and the vulture, and the kite after its kind,

15 every raven after its kind,

16 and the owl, and the night-hawk, and the cuckoo, and the hawk after its kind,

17 and the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl,

18 and the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle,

19 and the stork, the heron after its kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.

20 `Every teeming creature which is flying, which is going on four -- an abomination it `is' to you.

21 `Only -- this ye do eat of any teeming thing which is flying, which is going on four, which hath legs above its feet, to move with them on the earth;

22 these of them ye do eat: the locust after its kind, and the bald locust after its kind, and the beetle after its kind, and the grasshopper after its kind;

23 and every teeming thing which is flying, which hath four feet -- an abomination it `is' to you.

24 `And by these ye are made unclean, any one who is coming against their carcase is unclean till the evening;

25 and anyone who is lifting up `aught' of their carcase doth wash his garments, and hath been unclean till the evening: --

26 even every beast which is dividing the hoof, and is not cloven-footed, and the cud is not bringing up -- unclean they `are' to you; any one who is coming against them is unclean.

27 `And any one going on its paws, among all the beasts which are going on four -- unclean they `are' to you; any one who is coming against their carcase is unclean until the evening;

28 and he who is lifting up their carcase doth wash his garments, and hath been unclean until the evening -- unclean they `are' to you.

29 `And this `is' to you the unclean among the teeming things which are teeming on the earth: the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after its kind,

30 and the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole;

31 these `are' the unclean to you among all which are teeming; any one who is coming against them in their death is unclean till the evening.

32 `And anything on which any one of them falleth, in their death, is unclean, of any vessel of wood or garment or skin or sack, any vessel in which work is done is brought into water, and hath been unclean till the evening, then it hath been clean;

33 and any earthen vessel, into the midst of which `any' one of them falleth, all that `is' in its midst is unclean, and it ye do break.

34 `Of all the food which is eaten, that on which cometh `such' water, is unclean, and all drink which is drunk in any `such' vessel is unclean;

35 and anything on which `any' of their carcase falleth is unclean (oven or double pots), it is broken down, unclean they `are', yea, unclean they are to you.

36 `Only -- a fountain or pit, a collection of water, is clean, but that which is coming against their carcase is unclean;

37 and when `any' of their carcase falleth on any sown seed which is sown -- it `is' clean;

38 and when water is put on the seed, and `any' of its carcase hath fallen on it -- unclean it `is' to you.

39 `And when any of the beasts which are to you for food dieth, he who is coming against its carcase is unclean till the evening;

40 and he who is eating of its carcase doth wash his garments, and hath been unclean till the evening; and he who is lifting up its carcase doth wash his garments, and hath been unclean till the evening.

41 `And every teeming thing which is teeming on the earth is an abomination, it is not eaten;

42 any thing going on the belly, and any going on four, unto every multiplier of feet, to every teeming thing which is teeming on the earth -- ye do not eat them, for they `are' an abomination;

43 ye do not make yourselves abominable with any teeming thing which is teeming, nor do ye make yourselves unclean with them, so that ye have been unclean thereby.

44 `For I `am' Jehovah your God, and ye have sanctified yourselves, and ye have been holy, for I `am' holy; and ye do not defile your persons with any teeming thing which is creeping on the earth;

45 for I `am' Jehovah who am bringing you up out of the land of Egypt to become your God; and ye have been holy, for I `am' holy.

46 `This `is' a law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature which is moving in the waters, and of every creature which is teeming on the earth,

47 to make separation between the unclean and the pure, and between the beast that is eaten, and the beast that is not eaten.'

Leviticus 11:1-47 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 And Jehovah spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying to them,

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the animals which ye shall eat of all the beasts which are on the earth.

3 Whatever hath cloven hoofs, and feet quite split open, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts -- that shall ye eat.

4 Only these shall ye not eat of those that chew the cud, or of those with cloven hoofs: the camel, for it cheweth the cud, but hath not cloven hoofs -- it shall be unclean unto you;

5 and the rock-badger, for it cheweth the cud, but hath not cloven hoofs -- it shall be unclean unto you;

6 and the hare, for it cheweth the cud, but hath not cloven hoofs -- it shall be unclean unto you;

7 and the swine, for it hath cloven hoofs, and feet quite split open, but it cheweth not the cud -- it shall be unclean unto you.

8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch: they shall be unclean unto you.

9 These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatever hath fins and scales in waters, in seas and in rivers, these shall ye eat;

10 but all that have not fins and scales in seas and in rivers, of all that swarm in the waters, and of every living soul which is in the waters -- they shall be an abomination unto you.

11 They shall be even an abomination unto you: of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase ye shall have in abomination.

12 Whatever in the waters hath no fins and scales, that shall be an abomination unto you.

13 And these shall ye have in abomination of the fowls; they shall not be eaten; an abomination shall they be: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the sea-eagle,

14 and the falcon, and the kite, after its kind;

15 every raven after its kind;

16 and the female ostrich and the male ostrich, and the sea-gull, and the hawk, after its kind;

17 and the owl, and the gannet, and the ibis,

18 and the swan, and the pelican, and the carrion vulture,

19 and the stork; the heron after its kind, and the hoopoe, and the bat.

20 Every winged crawling thing that goeth upon all four shall be an abomination unto you.

21 Yet these shall ye eat of every winged crawling thing that goeth upon all four: those which have legs above their feet with which to leap upon the earth.

22 These shall ye eat of them: the arbeh after its kind, and the solam after its kind, and the hargol after its kind, and the hargab after its kind.

23 But every winged crawling thing that hath four feet shall be an abomination unto you.

24 And by these ye shall make yourselves unclean; whoever toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even.

25 And whoever carrieth [ought] of their carcase shall wash his garments, and be unclean until the even.

26 Every beast that hath cloven hoofs, but not feet quite split open, nor cheweth the cud, shall be unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean.

27 And whatever goeth on its paws, among all manner of beasts that go upon all four, those are unclean unto you: whoever toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even.

28 And he that carrieth their carcase shall wash his garments, and be unclean until the even: they shall be unclean unto you.

29 And these shall be unclean unto you among the crawling things which crawl on the earth: the mole, and the field-mouse, and the lizard, after its kind;

30 and the groaning lizard, and the great red lizard, and the climbing lizard, and the chomet, and the chameleon.

31 These shall be unclean unto you among all that crawl: whoever toucheth them when they are dead, shall be unclean until the even.

32 And on whatever any of them when they are dead doth fall, it shall be unclean; all vessels of wood, or garment, or skin, or sack, every vessel wherewith work is done -- it shall be put into water, and be unclean until the even; then shall it be clean.

33 And every earthen vessel into which [any] of them falleth -- whatever is in it shall be unclean; and ye shall break it.

34 All food that is eaten on which [such] water hath come shall be unclean; and all drink that is drunk shall be unclean, in every [such] vessel.

35 And everything where upon [any part] of their carcase falleth shall be unclean; oven and hearth shall be broken down: they are unclean, and shall be unclean unto you.

36 Nevertheless, a spring or a well, a quantity of water, shall be clean. But he that toucheth their carcase shall be unclean.

37 And if any part of their carcase fall upon any sowing-seed which is to be sown, it shall be clean;

38 but if water have been put on the seed, and any part of their carcase fall thereon, it shall be unclean unto you.

39 And if any beast which is to you for food die, he that toucheth the carcase thereof shall be unclean until the even.

40 And he that eateth of its carcase shall wash his garments, and be unclean until the even: he also that carrieth its carcase shall wash his garments, and be unclean until the even.

41 And every crawling thing which crawleth on the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten.

42 Whatever goeth on the belly, and whatever goeth on all four, and all that have a great many feet, of every manner of crawling thing which crawleth on the earth -- these ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.

43 Ye shall not make yourselves abominable through any crawling thing which crawleth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby.

44 For I am Jehovah your God; and ye shall hallow yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy; and ye shall not make yourselves unclean through any manner of crawling thing which creepeth on the earth.

45 For I am Jehovah who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

46 This is the law of cattle, and of fowl, and of every living soul that moveth in the waters, and of every soul that crawleth on the earth;

47 to make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that is to be eaten and the beast that is not to be eaten.

Leviticus 11:1-47 World English Bible (WEB)

1 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying to them,

2 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'These are the living things which you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth.

3 Whatever parts the hoof, and is cloven-footed, and chews the cud among the animals, that you may eat.

4 "'Nevertheless these you shall not eat of those that chew the cud, or of those who part the hoof: the camel, because he chews the cud but doesn't have a parted hoof, he is unclean to you.

5 The coney, because he chews the cud but doesn't have a parted hoof, he is unclean to you.

6 The hare, because she chews the cud but doesn't part the hoof, she is unclean to you.

7 The pig, because he has a split hoof, and is cloven-footed, but doesn't chew the cud, he is unclean to you.

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

9 These you may eat of all that are in the waters: whatever has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, that you may eat.

10 All that don't have fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of all the living creatures that are in the waters, they are an abomination to you,

11 and you detest them. You shall not eat of their flesh, and you shall detest their carcasses.

12 Whatever has no fins nor scales in the waters, that is an abomination to you.

13 "'These you shall detest among the birds; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the vulture, and the black vulture,

14 and the red kite, any kind of black kite,

15 any kind of raven,

16 the horned owl, the screech owl, and the gull, any kind of hawk,

17 the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl,

18 the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey,

19 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe, and the bat.

20 "'All flying insects that walk on all fours are an abomination to you.

21 Yet you may eat these: of all winged creeping things that go on all fours, which have legs above their feet, with which to hop on the earth.

22 Even of these you may eat: any kind of locust, any kind of katydid, any kind of cricket, and any kind of grasshopper.

23 But all winged creeping things which have four feet, are an abomination to you.

24 "'By these you will become unclean: whoever touches the carcass of them shall be unclean until the evening.

25 Whoever carries any part of their carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening.

26 "'Every animal which parts the hoof, and is not cloven-footed, nor chews the cud, is unclean to you. Everyone who touches them shall be unclean.

27 Whatever goes on its paws, among all animals that go on all fours, they are unclean to you. Whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening.

28 He who carries their carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. They are unclean to you.

29 "'These are they which are unclean to you among the creeping things that creep on the earth: the weasel, the rat, any kind of great lizard,

30 the gecko, and the monitor lizard, the wall lizard, the skink, and the chameleon.

31 These are they which are unclean to you among all that creep. Whoever touches them when they are dead, shall be unclean until the evening.

32 On whatever any of them falls when they are dead, it shall be unclean; whether it is any vessel of wood, or clothing, or skin, or sack, whatever vessel it is, with which any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the evening; then it will be clean.

33 Every earthen vessel, into which any of them falls, all that is in it shall be unclean, and you shall break it.

34 All food which may be eaten, that on which water comes, shall be unclean; and all drink that may be drunk in every such vessel shall be unclean.

35 Everything whereupon part of their carcass falls shall be unclean; whether oven, or range for pots, it shall be broken in pieces: they are unclean, and shall be unclean to you.

36 Nevertheless a spring or a cistern in which water is a gathered shall be clean: but that which touches their carcass shall be unclean.

37 If part of their carcass falls on any sowing seed which is to be sown, it is clean.

38 But if water is put on the seed, and part of their carcass falls on it, it is unclean to you.

39 "'If any animal, of which you may eat, dies; he who touches its carcass shall be unclean until the evening.

40 He who eats of its carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. He also who carries its carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening.

41 "'Every creeping thing that creeps on the earth is an abomination. It shall not be eaten.

42 Whatever goes on its belly, and whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet, even all creeping things that creep on the earth, them you shall not eat; for they are an abomination.

43 You shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creeps, neither shall you make yourselves unclean with them, that you should be defiled thereby.

44 For I am Yahweh your God. Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am holy: neither shall you defile yourselves with any kind of creeping thing that moves on the earth.

45 For I am Yahweh who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

46 "'This is the law of the animal, and of the bird, and of every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps on the earth,

47 to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the living thing that may be eaten and the living thing that may not be eaten.'"

Leviticus 11:1-47 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron,

2 Say to the children of Israel: These are the living things which you may have for food among all the beasts on the earth.

3 You may have as food any beast which has a division in the horn of its foot, and whose food comes back into its mouth to be crushed again.

4 But, at the same time, of those beasts, you may not take for food the camel, because its food comes back but the horn of its foot is not parted in two; it is unclean to you.

5 And the rock-badger, for the same reason, is unclean to you.

6 And the hare, because the horn of its foot is not parted in two, is unclean to you.

7 And the pig is unclean to you, because though the horn of its foot is parted, its food does not come back.

8 Their flesh may not be used for food, and their dead bodies may not even be touched; they are unclean to you.

9 These you may have for food of all things living in the water: anything living in the water, in the seas or rivers, which has special parts for swimming and skin formed of thin plates, may be used for food.

10 All other things living and moving in the water, in the sea or in the rivers, are a disgusting thing to you;

11 They may not be used for food, and their dead bodies are disgusting to you.

12 Anything in the water which has no special parts for swimming and no thin plates on its skin is disgusting to you.

13 And among birds these are to be disgusting to you, and not to be used for food: the eagle and the gier-eagle and the ospray;

14 And the kite and the falcon, and birds of that sort;

15 Every raven, and birds of that sort;

16 And the ostrich and the night-hawk and the sea-hawk, and birds of that sort;

17 And the little owl and the cormorant and the great owl;

18 And the water-hen and the pelican and the vulture;

19 The stork and the heron, and birds of that sort, and the hoopoe and the bat.

20 Every winged four-footed thing which goes on the earth is disgusting to you;

21 But of the winged four-footed things, those which have long legs for jumping on the earth you may have for food;

22 Such as all the different sorts of locust.

23 But all other winged four-footed things which go on the earth are disgusting to you.

24 By these you will be made unclean; anyone touching their dead bodies will be unclean till evening:

25 Whoever takes away the dead body of one of them is to have his clothing washed, and will be unclean till evening.

26 Every beast, in the horn of whose foot there is not a complete division, and whose food does not come back, is unclean to you: anyone touching one of these will be unclean.

27 Any four-footed beast which goes on the ball of its foot, is unclean to you: anyone touching the dead body of one of these will be unclean till evening.

28 Anyone who takes away the dead body of one of these is to have his clothing washed and be unclean till evening.

29 And these are unclean to you among things which go low down on the earth; the weasel and the mouse and the great lizard, and animals of that sort;

30 And the ferret and the land crocodile and the lizard and the sand-lizard and the chameleon.

31 All these are unclean to you: anyone touching them when they are dead will be unclean till evening.

32 The dead body of any of these, falling on anything, will make that thing unclean; if it is any vessel of wood, or clothing, or skin, or bag, whatever it is, if it is used for any purpose, it will have to be put into water, and will be unclean till evening; after that it will be clean.

33 And if one of them gets into any vessel of earth, whatever is in the vessel will be unclean and the vessel will have to be broken.

34 Any food in it, and anything on which water from it comes, will be unclean: any drink taken from such a vessel will be unclean.

35 Any part of the dead body of one of these, falling on anything, will make it unclean; if it is an oven or a cooking-pot it will have to be broken: they are unclean and will be unclean to you.

36 But at the same time a fountain or a place where water is stored for use will be clean; but anyone touching their dead bodies will be unclean.

37 If any part of the dead body of one of these gets on to any seed for planting, it is clean;

38 But if water is put on the seed, and any part of the dead body gets on to it, it will be unclean to you.

39 And if any beast which may be used for food comes to a natural death, anyone touching its dead body will be unclean till evening.

40 And he who makes use of any part of its body for food is to have his clothing washed and be unclean till evening; and anyone taking away its body is to have his clothing washed and be unclean till evening.

41 Everything which goes flat on its body on the earth is disgusting, and is not to be used for food.

42 Whatever goes on its stomach or on four feet or has a great number of feet, even all those going flat on the earth, may not be used for food, for they are disgusting.

43 You are not to make yourselves disgusting with anything which goes about flat on the earth; you may not make yourselves unclean with them, in such a way that you are not holy to me.

44 For I am the Lord your God: for this reason, make and keep yourselves holy, for I am holy; you are not to make yourselves unclean with any sort of thing which goes about flat on the earth.

45 For I am the Lord, who took you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God; so be you holy, for I am holy.

46 This is the law about beasts and birds and every living thing moving in the waters, and every living thing which goes flat on the earth:

47 Marking out the unclean from the clean, and the living thing which may be used for food from that which may not.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Leviticus 11

Commentary on Leviticus 11 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill   Keil & Delitzsch   Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible  

Chapter 11

The ceremonial law is described by the apostle (Heb. 9:9, 10) to consist, not only "in gifts and sacrifices,' which hitherto have been treated of in this book, but "in meats, and drinks, and divers washings' from ceremonial uncleanness, the laws concerning which begin with this chapter, which puts a difference between some sorts of flesh-meat and others, allowing some to be eaten as clean and forbidding others as unclean. "There is one kind of flesh of men.' Nature startles at the thought of eating this, and none do it but such as have arrived at the highest degree of barbarity, and become but one remove from brutes; therefore there needed no law against it. But there is "another kind of flesh of beasts,' concerning which the law directs here (v. 1-8), "another of fishes' (v. 9-12), "another of birds' (v. 13-19), and "another of creeping things,' which are distinguished into two sorts, flying creeping things (v. 20-28) and creeping things upon the earth (v. 29-43). And the law concludes with the general rule of holiness, and reasons for it (v. 44, etc.).

Lev 11:1-8

Now that Aaron was consecrated a high priest over the house of God, God spoke to him with Moses, and appointed them both as joint-commissioners to deliver his will to the people. He spoke both to Moses and to Aaron about this matter; for it was particularly required of the priests that they should put a difference between clean and unclean, and teach the people to do so. After the flood, when God entered into covenant with Noah and his sons, he allowed them to eat flesh (Gen. 9:3), whereas before they were confined to the productions of the earth. But the liberty allowed to the sons of Noah is here limited to the sons of Israel. They might eat flesh, but not all kinds of flesh; some they must look upon as unclean and forbidden to them, others as clean and allowed them. The law in this matter is both very particular and very strict. But what reason can be given for this law? Why may not God's people have as free a use of all the creatures as other people?

  • 1. It is reason enough that God would have it so: his will, as it is law sufficient, so it is reason sufficient; for his will is his wisdom. He saw good thus to try and exercise the obedience of his people, not only in the solemnities of his altar, but in matters of daily occurrence at their own table, that they might remember they were under authority. Thus God had tried the obedience of man in innocency, by forbidding him to eat of one particular tree.
  • 2. Most of the meats forbidden as unclean are such as were really unwholesome, and not fit to be eaten; and those of them that we think wholesome enough, and use accordingly, as the rabbit, the hare, and the swine, perhaps in those countries, and to their bodies, might be hurtful. And then God in this law did by them but as a wise and loving father does by his children, whom he restrains from eating that which he knows will make them sick. Note, The Lord is for the body, and it is not only folly, but sin against God, to prejudice our health for the pleasing of our appetite.
  • 3. God would thus teach his people to distinguish themselves from other people, not only in their religious worship, but in the common actions of life. Thus he would show them that they must not be numbered among the nations. It should seem there had been, before this, some difference between the Hebrews and other nations in their food, kept up by tradition; for the Egyptians and they would not eat together, Gen. 43:32. And even before the flood there was a distinction of beasts into clean and not clean (Gen. 7:2), which distinction was quite lost, with many other instances of religion, among the Gentiles. But by this law it is reduced to a certainty, and ordered to be kept up among the Jews, that thus, by having a diet peculiar to themselves, they might be kept from familiar conversation with their idolatrous neighbours, and might typify God's spiritual Israel, who not in these little things, but in the temper of their spirits, and the course of their lives, should be governed by a sober singularity, and not be conformed to this world. The learned observe further, That most of the creatures which by this law were to be abominated as unclean were such as were had in high veneration among the heathen, not so much for food as for divination and sacrifice to their gods; and therefore those are here mentioned as unclean, and an abomination, which yet they would not be in any temptation to eat, that they might keep up a religious loathing of that for which the Gentiles had a superstitious value. The swine, with the later Gentiles, was sacred to Venus, the owl to Minerva, the eagle to Jupiter, the dog to Hecate, etc., and all these are here made unclean. As to the beasts, there is a general rule laid down, that those which both part the hoof and chew the cud were clean, and those only: these are particularly mentioned in the repetition of this law (Deu. 14:4, 5), where it appears that the Israelites had variety enough allowed them, and needed not to complain of the confinement they were under. Those beasts that did not both chew the cud and divide the hoof were unclean, by which rule the flesh of swine, and of hares, and of rabbits, was prohibited to them, though commonly used among us. Therefore, particularly at the eating of any of these, we should give thanks for the liberty granted us in this matter by the gospel, which teaches us that every creature of God is good, and we are to call nothing common or unclean. Some observe a significancy in the rule here laid down for them to distinguish by, or at least think it may be alluded to. Meditation, and other acts of devotion done by the hidden man of the heart, may be signified by the chewing of the cud, digesting our spiritual food; justice and charity towards men, and the acts of a good conversation, may be signified by the dividing of the hoof. Now either of these without the other will not serve to recommend us to God, but both must go together, good affections in the heart and good works in the life: if either be wanting, we are not clean, surely we are not clean. Of all the creatures here forbidden as unclean, none has been more dreaded and detested by the pious Jews than swine's flesh. Many were put to death by Antiochus because they would not eat it. This, probably, they were most in danger of being tempted to, and therefore possessed themselves and their children with a particular antipathy to it, calling it not by its proper name, but a strange thing. It should seem the Gentiles used it superstitiously (Isa. 65:4), they eat swine's flesh; and therefore God forbids all use of it to his people, lest they should learn of their neighbours to make that ill use of it. Some suggest that the prohibition of these beasts as unclean was intended to be a caution to the people against the bad qualities of these creatures. We must not be filthy nor wallow in the mire as swine, nor be timorous and faint-hearted as hares, nor dwell in the earth as rabbits; let not man that is in honour make himself like these beasts that perish. The law forbade, not only the eating of them, but the very touching of them; for those that would be kept from any sin must be careful to avoid all temptations to it, and every thing that looks towards it or leads to it.

Lev 11:9-19

Here is,

  • 1. A general rule concerning fishes, which were clean and which not. All that had fins and scales they might eat, and only those odd sorts of water-animals that have not were forbidden, v. 9, 10. The ancients accounted fish the most delicate food (so far were they from allowing it on fasting-days, or making it an instance of mortification to eat fish); therefore God did not lay much restraint upon his people in them; for he is a Master that allows his servants not only for necessity but for delight. Concerning the prohibited fish it is said, They shall be an abomination to you (v. 10-12), that is, "You shall count them unclean, and not only not eat of them, but keep at a distance from them.' Note, Whatever is unclean should be to us an abomination; touch not the unclean thing. But observe, It was to be an abomination only to Jews; the neighbouring nations were under none of these obligations, nor are these things to be an abomination to us Christians. The Jews were honoured with peculiar privileges, and therefore, lest they should be proud of those, Transeunt cum onere-They were likewise laid under peculiar restraints. Thus God's spiritual Israel, as they are dignified above others by the gospel-covenant of adoption and friendship, so they must be mortified more than others by the gospel-commands of self-denial and bearing the cross.
  • 2. Concerning fowls here is no general rule given, but a particular enumeration of those fowls that they must abstain from as unclean, which implies an allowance of all others. The critics here have their hands full to find out what is the true signification of the Hebrew words here used, some of which still remain uncertain, some sorts of fowls being peculiar to some countries. Were the law in force now, we should be concerned to know with certainty what are prohibited by it; and perhaps if we did, and were better acquainted with the nature of the fowls here mentioned, we should admire the knowledge of Adam, in giving them names expressive of their natures, Gen. 2:20. But the law being repealed, and the learning in a great measure lost, it is sufficient for us to observe that of the fowls here forbidden,
    • (1.) Some are birds of prey, as the eagle, vulture, etc., and God would have his people to abhor every thing that is barbarous and cruel, and not to live by blood and rapine. Doves that are preyed upon were fit to be food for man and offerings to God; but kites and hawks that prey upon them must be looked upon as an abomination to God and man; for the condition of those that are persecuted for righteousness' sake appears to an eye of faith every way better than that of their persecutors.
    • (2.) Others of them are solitary birds, that abide in dark and desolate places, as the owl and the pelican (Ps. 102:6), and the cormorant and raven (Isa. 34:11); for God's Israel should not be a melancholy people, nor affect sadness and constant solitude.
    • (3.) Others of them feed upon that which is impure, as the stork on serpents, others of them on worms; and we must not only abstain from all impurity ourselves, but from communion with those that allow themselves in it.
    • (4.) Others of them were used by the Egyptians and other Gentiles in their divinations. Some birds were reckoned fortunate, others ominous; and their soothsayers had great regard to the flights of these birds, all which therefore must be an abomination to God's people, who must not learn the way of the heathen.

Lev 11:20-42

Here is the law,

  • 1. Concerning flying insects, as flies, wasps, bees, etc.; these they might not eat (v. 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, v. 21, 22.
  • 2. Concerning the creeping things on the earth; these were all forbidden (v. 29, 30, and again, v. 41, 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, v. 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 (v. 32), and if they were earthen vessels they must be broken, v. 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, Zec. 14:20, 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, v. 35. The exceptions also are very nice, v. 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.

Lev 11:43-47

Here is,

  • I. The exposition of this law, or a key to let us into the meaning of it. It was not intended merely for a bill of fare, or as the directions of a physician about their diet, but God would hereby teach them to sanctify themselves and to be holy, v. 44. That is,
    • 1. They must hereby learn to put a difference between good and evil, and to reckon that it could not be all alike what they did, when it was not all alike what they ate.
    • 2. To maintain a constant observance of the divine law, and to govern themselves by that in all their actions, even those that are common, which ought to be performed after a godly sort, 3 Jn. 6. Even eating and drinking must be by rule, and to the glory of God, 1 Co. 10:31.
    • 3. To distinguish themselves from all their neighbours, as a people set apart for God, and obliged not to walk as the Gentiles: and all this is holiness. Thus these rudiments of the world were their tutors and governors (Gal. 4:2, 3), to bring them to that which is the revival of our first state in Adam and the earnest of our best state with Christ, that is, holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. This is indeed the great design of all the ordinances, that by them we may sanctify ourselves and learn to be holy. Even This law concerning their food, which seemed to stoop so very low, aimed thus high, for it was the statute-law of heaven, under the Old Testament as well as the New, that without holiness no man shall see the Lord. The caution therefore (v. 43) is, You shall not make yourselves abominable. Note, By having fellowship with sin, which is abominable, we make ourselves abominable. That man is truly miserable who is in the sight of God abominable; and none are so but those that make themselves so. The Jewish writers themselves suggest that the intention of this law was to forbid them all communion by marriage, or otherwise, with the heathen, Deu. 7:2, 3. And thus the moral of it is obligatory on us, forbidding us to have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; and, without this real holiness of the heart and life, he that offereth an oblation is as if he offered swine's blood (Isa. 66:3); and, if it was such a provocation for a man to eat swine's flesh himself, much more it must be so to offer swine's blood at God's altar; see Prov. 15:8.
  • II. The reasons of this law; and they are all taken from the Law-maker himself, to whom we must have respect in all acts of obedience.
    • 1. I am the Lord your God, v. 44. "Therefore you are bound to do thus, in pure obedience.' God's sovereignty over us, and propriety in us, oblige us to do whatever he commands us, how much soever it crosses our inclinations.
    • 2. I am holy, v. 44, and again, v. 45. If God be holy, we must be so, else we cannot expect to be accepted of him. His holiness is his glory (Ex. 15:11), and therefore it becomes his house for ever, Ps. 93:5. This great precept, thus enforced, though it comes in here in the midst of abrogated laws, is quoted and stamped for a gospel precept, 1 Pt. 1:16, where it is intimated that all these ceremonial restraints were designed to teach us that we must not fashion ourselves according to our former lusts in our ignorance, v. 14.
    • 3. I am the Lord that bringeth you out of the land of Egypt, v. 45. This was a reason why they should cheerfully submit to distinguishing laws, having of late been so wonderfully dignified with distinguishing favours. He that had done more for them than for any other people might justly expect more from them.
  • III. The conclusion of this statute: This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, etc., v. 46, 47. This law was to them a statute for ever, that is, as long as that economy lasted; but under the gospel we find it expressly repealed by a voice from heaven to Peter (Acts 10:15), as it had before been virtually set aside by the death of Christ, with the other ordinances that perished in the using: Touch not, taste not, handle not, Col. 2:21, 22. And now we are sure that meat commends us not to God (1 Co. 8:8), and that nothing is unclean of itself (Rom. 14:14), nor does that defile a man which goes into his mouth, but that which comes out from the heart, Mt. 15:11. Let us therefore,
    • 1. Give thanks to God that we are not under this yoke, but that to us every creature of God is allowed as good, and nothing to be refused.
    • 2. Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and take heed of those doctrines which command to abstain from meats, and so would revive Moses again, 1 Tim. 4:3, 4.
    • 3. Be strictly and conscientiously temperate in the use of the good creatures God has allowed us. If God's law has given us liberty, let us lay restraints upon ourselves, and never feed ourselves without fear, lest our table be a snare. Set a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite; and be not desirous of dainties or varieties, Prov. 23:2, 3. Nature is content with little, grace with less, but lust with nothing.