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 clovenfooted, 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 clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.

8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase 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 carcases 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 cuckow, 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 carcase of them shall be unclean until the even.

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

26 The carcases of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, 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 carcase shall be unclean until the even.

28 And he that beareth the carcase 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 carcase 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 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 any water be put upon the seed, and any part of their carcase fall thereon, it shall be unclean unto you.

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

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

Commentary

Verse 1

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
From the laws concerning the priests, he now comes to those which belong to all the people. God spake to both of them, because the cognizance of the following matters belonged to both: the priest was to direct the people about the things forbidden or allowed, where any doubt or difficulty arose; and the magistrate was to see the direction followed.
McArther Bible Commentary
Prescriptions for uncleanness are covered in this section. God used the tangible issues of life which He labeled clean/unclean to repeatedly impress upon Israel the difference between what was holy and unholy. "Clean" means acceptable to God; "unclean" means unacceptable to God. Leviticus 11-15 details the code of cleanness; Leviticus 16 returns to sacrifices on the Day of Atonement.
Bible Cross References
Genesis 7:2 Genesis 8:20 Leviticus 10:20 Leviticus 11:2 Leviticus 20:25

Verse 2

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
These are the beasts - Though every creature of God be good and pure in itself, yet it pleased God to make a difference between clean and unclean, which he did in part before the flood, (Genesis 7:2) , but more fully here for many reasons; as, To assert his own sovereignty over man, and all the creatures which men may not use but with God's leave. To keep up the wall of partition between the Jews and other nations, which was very necessary for many great and wise purposes. That by bridling their appetite in things in themselves lawful, and some of them very desirable, they might be better prepared and enabled to deny themselves in things simply and grossly sinful. For the preservation of their health, some of the creatures forbidden being, though used by the neighbouring nations, of unwholesome nourishment, especially to the Jews, who were very obnoxious to leprosies. To teach them to abhor that filthiness, and all those ill qualities for which some of these creatures are noted.
Bible Cross References
Hebrews 9:10 Leviticus 11:1 Leviticus 11:3 Deuteronomy 14:3 Deuteronomy 14:4

Verse 3

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Cloven - footed - That is, divided into two parts only: This clause is added to explain and limit the former, as appears from (Leviticus 11:26) , for the feet of dogs, cats &c. are parted or cloven into many parts. And cheweth the cud - Heb. and bringeth up the cud, that is, the meat once chewed, out of the stomach in the mouth again, that it may be chewed a second time for better concoction. And this branch is to be joined with the former, both properties being necessary for the allowed beasts. But the reason hereof must be resolved into the will of the law - giver; though interpreters guess that God would hereby signify their duties, by the first, that of discerning between good and evil; and by the latter, that duty of recalling God's word to our minds and meditating upon it.
McArther Bible Commentary
This section is repeated in Deu 14:3-20 in almost exact wording. The subject matter includes animals (Lev 11:3-8), water life (Lev 11:9-12), birds (Lev 11:13-19), and insects (Lev 11:20-23).
Bible Cross References
Leviticus 11:2 Leviticus 11:4 Leviticus 11:5 Leviticus 11:6 Leviticus 11:7 Leviticus 11:26 Deuteronomy 14:6 Deuteronomy 14:8

Verse 4

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
The camel - An usual food in Arabia, but yielding bad nourishment. Divideth not the hoof - So as to have his foot cloven in two, which being expressed, (Leviticus 11:3) , is here to be understood. Otherwise the camel's hoof is divided, but it is but a small and imperfect division.
McArther Bible Commentary
camel. The camel has a divided foot of two large parts, but the division is not complete and the two toes rest on an elastic pad.
Bible Cross References
Acts 10:14 Leviticus 11:3 Leviticus 11:5

Verse 5

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
As for the names of the following creatures, seeing the Jews themselves are uncertain and divided about them, it seems improper to trouble the unlearned readers with disputes about them.
McArther Bible Commentary
rock hyrax … hare. While not true ruminating animals, the manner in which these animals processed their food gave the distinct appearance of "chewing the cud."
Bible Cross References
Leviticus 11:3 Leviticus 11:4 Leviticus 11:6 Deuteronomy 14:7 Psalm 104:18 Proverbs 30:26

Verse 6

Bible Cross References
Leviticus 11:3 Leviticus 11:5 Leviticus 11:7

Verse 7

Bible Cross References
Leviticus 11:3 Leviticus 11:6 Leviticus 11:8 Isaiah 65:4 Isaiah 66:17

Verse 8

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Ye shall not touch - Not in order to eating, as may be gathered by comparing this with (Genesis 3:3) . But since the fat and skins of some of the forbidden creatures were useful, for medicinal and other good purposes, and were used by good men, it is not probable that God would have them cast away. Thus God forbad the making of images, (Exodus 20:4) , not universally, but in order to the worshipping them, as Christian interpreters agree.
Bible Cross References
Leviticus 5:2 Leviticus 11:7 Leviticus 11:9

Verse 9

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Fins and scales - Both of them; such fishes being more cleanly, and more wholesome food than others. The names of them are not particularly mentioned, partly because most of them wanted names, the fish not being brought to Adam and named by him as other creatures were; and partly because the land of Canaan had not many rivers, nor great store of fish.
McArther Bible Commentary
fins and scales. Much like the cud and hoof characteristics, the "no fin and scales" guidelines ruled out a segment of water life commonly consumed by ancient people.
Bible Cross References
Leviticus 11:8 Leviticus 11:10 Deuteronomy 14:9

Verse 10

Bible Cross References
Genesis 1:20 Leviticus 11:9 Leviticus 11:11 Deuteronomy 14:10

Verse 11

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Unto you - This clause is added to shew that they were neither abominable in their own nature, nor for the food of other nations; and consequently when the partition - wall between Jews and Gentiles was taken away, these distinctions of meat were to cease.
Bible Cross References
Leviticus 5:2 Leviticus 11:10 Leviticus 11:12 Leviticus 11:13

Verse 12

Bible Cross References
Leviticus 11:11 Leviticus 11:13

Verse 13

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Among the fowls - The true signification of the following Hebrew words is now lost, as the Jews at this day confess; which not falling out without God's singular providence may intimate the cessation of this law, the exact observation whereof since Christ came is become impossible. In general, this may be observed, that the fowls forbidden in diet, are all either ravenous and cruel, or such as delight in the night and darkness, or such as feed upon impure things; and so the signification of these prohibitions is manifest, to teach men to abominate all cruelty or oppression, and all works of darkness and filthiness. The ossifrage and the osprey - Two peculiar kinds of eagles, distinct from that which being the chief of its kind, is called by the name of the whole kind.
McArther Bible Commentary
among the birds. Rather than unifying characteristics as in the hoof-cud and no fin-scales descriptions, the forbidden birds were simply named.
Bible Cross References
Leviticus 11:11 Leviticus 11:12 Leviticus 11:14 Deuteronomy 14:12 Zechariah 5:9

Verse 14

Bible Cross References
Leviticus 11:13 Leviticus 11:15 Deuteronomy 14:13

Verse 15

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
After his kind - According to the several kinds, known by this general name, which includes, besides ravens properly so called, crows, rooks, pyes, and others.
Bible Cross References
Leviticus 11:14 Leviticus 11:16

Verse 16

Bible Cross References
Leviticus 11:15 Leviticus 11:17 Deuteronomy 14:15 Isaiah 34:11

Verse 17

Bible Cross References
Leviticus 11:16 Leviticus 11:18 Deuteronomy 14:17

Verse 18

Bible Cross References
Leviticus 11:13 Leviticus 11:17 Leviticus 11:19 Deuteronomy 14:17

Verse 19

Bible Cross References
Leviticus 11:18 Leviticus 11:20 Deuteronomy 14:18 Psalm 104:17 Isaiah 2:20 Zechariah 5:9

Verse 20

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
All fowls - Flying things that crawl or creep upon the earth, and so degenerate from their proper nature, and are of a mongrel kind, which may intimate that apostates and mongrels in religion are abominable in the sight of God. Upon all four - Upon four legs, or upon more than four, which is all one to the present purpose.
Bible Cross References
Acts 10:14 Leviticus 11:19 Leviticus 11:21

Verse 21

McArther Bible Commentary
This describes the locust (Lev 11:22), which was allowed for food.
Bible Cross References
Acts 10:12 Leviticus 11:20 Leviticus 11:22

Verse 22

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
The locust - Locusts, though unusual in our food, were commonly eaten by the Ethiopians, Lybians, Parthians, and other eastern people bordering upon the Jews. And as it is certain the eastern locusts were much larger than ours, so it is probable they were of different qualities, and yielding better nourishment.
Bible Cross References
Matthew 3:4 Leviticus 11:21 Leviticus 11:23

Verse 23

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
All other - That is, which have not those legs above and besides their feet mentioned, (Leviticus 11:21) .
Bible Cross References
Acts 10:12 Leviticus 11:22 Leviticus 11:24 Leviticus 22:5

Verse 24

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Unclean - And such were excluded both from the court of God's house, and from free conversation with other men.
McArther Bible Commentary
This section deals with separation from other defiling things.
Bible Cross References
Leviticus 11:23 Leviticus 11:25 Leviticus 22:4

Verse 25

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Beareth - Or, taketh away, out of the place where it may lie, by which others may be either offended, or polluted.
Bible Cross References
Hebrews 9:10 Leviticus 11:24 Leviticus 11:26 Leviticus 11:40 Leviticus 13:6 Leviticus 14:8 Leviticus 16:26

Verse 26

McArther Bible Commentary
These prohibited animals would include horses and donkeys, which have a single hoof, and lion and tigers, which have paws.
Bible Cross References
Leviticus 11:3 Leviticus 11:25 Leviticus 11:27

Verse 27

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Upon his paws - Heb. upon his hands, that is, which hath feet divided into several parts like fingers, as dogs, cats, apes, and bears.
Bible Cross References
Leviticus 11:26 Leviticus 11:28

Verse 28

Bible Cross References
Leviticus 11:27 Leviticus 11:29

Verse 29

Bible Cross References
Genesis 1:20 Leviticus 11:28 Leviticus 11:30 Leviticus 11:41

Verse 30

McArther Bible Commentary
gecko. A type of lizard.
Bible Cross References
Leviticus 11:29 Leviticus 11:31

Verse 31

Bible Cross References
Genesis 1:20 Leviticus 11:30 Leviticus 11:32

Verse 32

Bible Cross References
Leviticus 11:31 Leviticus 15:12

Verse 33

Bible Cross References
Leviticus 6:28 Leviticus 11:34 Leviticus 15:12

Verse 34

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
That on which such water cometh - That flesh or herbs or other food which is dressed in water, in a vessel so polluted, shall be unclean; not so, if it be food which is eaten dry, as bread, or fruits; the reason of which difference seems to be this, that the water did sooner receive the pollution in itself, and convey it to the food so dressed.
Bible Cross References
Leviticus 11:33 Leviticus 11:35

Verse 35

Bible Cross References
Leviticus 11:34 Leviticus 11:36 Job 39:8

Verse 36

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Of this no reason can be given, but the will of the law - giver and his merciful condescension to men's necessities, water being scarce in those countries; and for the same reason God would have the ceremonial law of sacrifices, give place to the law of mercy.
McArther Bible Commentary
a spring or a cistern. The movement and quantity of water determined the probability of actual contamination. Water was scarce also, and it would have been a threat to the water supply if all water touched by these prohibited carcasses were forbidden for drinking.
Bible Cross References
Leviticus 11:35 Leviticus 11:37

Verse 37

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Seed - Partly because this was necessary provision for man; and partly because such seed would not be used for man's food till it had received many alterations in the earth whereby such pollution was taken away.
Bible Cross References
Leviticus 11:36 Leviticus 11:38

Verse 38

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
If any water - The reason of the difference is, because wet seed doth sooner receive, and longer retain any pollution and partly because such seed was not fit to be sown presently, and therefore that necessity which justified the use of the dry seed, could not be pretended in this case.
Bible Cross References
Leviticus 11:37 Leviticus 11:39

Verse 39

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
If any beast die - Either of itself, or being killed by some wild beast, in which cases the blood was not poured forth, as it was when they were killed by men either for food or sacrifice.
Bible Cross References
Leviticus 11:38 Leviticus 11:40 Leviticus 22:4 Leviticus 22:8

Verse 40

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
He that eateth - Unwittingly, for if he did it knowingly, it was a presumptuous sin against an express law, (Deuteronomy 14:21) , and therefore punished with cutting off.
Bible Cross References
Leviticus 11:25 Leviticus 11:39 Leviticus 16:26 Leviticus 17:15 Leviticus 22:8 Deuteronomy 14:21 Ezekiel 44:31

Verse 41

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Every creeping thing - Except those expressly excepted, (Leviticus 11:29-30) .
Bible Cross References
Genesis 1:20 Genesis 7:21 Leviticus 11:29 Leviticus 11:42

Verse 42

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Upon the belly - As worms and snakes, Upon all four - As toads and divers serpents.
Bible Cross References
Genesis 1:20 Leviticus 11:41 Leviticus 11:43

Verse 43

Bible Cross References
Genesis 1:20 Genesis 7:21 Leviticus 11:42 Leviticus 20:25

Verse 44

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Ye shall be holy - By this he gives them to understand, that all these cautions about eating or touching these creatures was not for any real uncleanness in them, but only that by diligent observation of these rules they might learn with greater care to avoid all moral pollutions, and to keep themselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, and from all familiar and intimate converse with notorious sinners.
McArther Bible Commentary
consecrate yourselves … be holy; for I am holy. In all of this, God is teaching His people to live antithetically. That is, He is using these clean and unclean distinctions to separate Israel from idolatrous nations who have no such restrictions, and He is illustrating by these prescriptions that His people must learn to live His way. Through dietary laws and rituals, God is teaching them the reality of living His way in everything. They are being taught to obey God in every seemingly mundane area of life, so as to learn how crucial obedience is. Sacrifices, rituals, diet, and even clothing and cooking are all carefully ordered by God to teach them that they are to live differently from everyone else. This is to be an external illustration for the separation from sin in their hearts. Because the Lord is their God, they are to be utterly distinct. In verse Lev 11:44, for the first time the statement "I am the Lord your God" is made, as a reason for the required separation and holiness. After this verse, that phrase is mentioned about fifty more times in this book, along with the equally instructive claim, "I am holy." Because God is holy and is their God, the people are to be holy in outward ceremonial behavior as an external expression of the greater necessity of heart holiness. The connection between ceremonial holiness carries over into personal holiness. The only motivation given for all these laws is to learn to be holy because God is holy. The holiness theme is central to Leviticus (see Lev 10:3; Lev 19:2; Lev 20:7, Lev 20:26; Lev 21:6-8).
Bible Cross References
1 Peter 1:16 Exodus 6:7 Exodus 16:12 Exodus 19:10 Exodus 22:31 Exodus 23:25 Leviticus 18:2 Leviticus 19:2 Leviticus 19:3 Numbers 15:40 1 Samuel 6:20 Isaiah 43:3 Isaiah 51:15

Verse 45

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
That bringeth you up out of Egypt - This was a reason why they should chearfully submit to distinguishing laws, who had been so honoured with distinguishing favours.
Bible Cross References
1 Peter 1:16 Genesis 17:7 Exodus 6:7 Exodus 19:10 Exodus 20:2 Leviticus 11:46 Leviticus 19:2 Leviticus 22:33 Leviticus 25:38 Leviticus 26:45 Numbers 15:40 1 Samuel 6:20

Verse 46

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
This is the law - It was so, as long the Mosaic dispensation lasted. But under the gospel we find it expressly repealed by a voice from heaven, (Acts 10:15) . Let us therefore bless God, that to us every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused.
Bible Cross References
Genesis 1:20 Genesis 1:21 Leviticus 11:45 Leviticus 11:47

Verse 47

Bible Cross References
Leviticus 10:10 Leviticus 11:46 Leviticus 12:1 Ezekiel 22:26 Ezekiel 44:23 Daniel 1:8