Moses receives these dietary laws alongside Aaron—the only time in Leviticus where both brothers jointly receive detailed ritual legislation, emphasizing the dual priestly-prophetic authority needed for Israel's holiness code.
Leviticus 11
Clean and Unclean Land Animals and Insects
1The LORD 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.
3Whatever 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 it chews the cud but doesn’t have a parted hoof, is unclean to you.
5The hyrax, because it chews the cud but doesn’t have a parted hoof, is unclean to you.
6The hare, because it chews the cud but doesn’t have a parted hoof, is unclean to you.
7The pig, because it has a split hoof, and is cloven-footed, but doesn’t chew the cud, is unclean to you.
8You shall not eat their meat. You shall not touch their carcasses. They are unclean to you.
9“‘You may eat of all these that are in the waters: whatever has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, that you may eat.
10All that don’t have fins and scales in the seas and rivers, all that move in the waters, and all the living creatures that are in the waters, they are an abomination to you,
11and you shall detest them. You shall not eat of their meat, and you shall detest their carcasses.
12Whatever has no fins nor scales in the waters is an abomination to you.
13“‘You shall detest these among the birds; they shall not be eaten because they are an abomination: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture,
14the red kite, any kind of black kite,
15any kind of raven,
16the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk,
17the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl,
18the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey,
19the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe, and the bat.
20“‘All flying insects that walk on all fours are an abomination to you.
21Yet you may eat these: of all winged creeping things that go on all fours, which have long, jointed legs for hopping on the earth.
22Even of these you may eat: any kind of locust, any kind of katydid, any kind of cricket, and any kind of grasshopper.
23But all winged creeping things which have four feet are an abomination to you.
Purification from Contact with Unclean Animals
24“‘By these you will become unclean: whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening.
25Whoever carries any part of their carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening.
26“‘Every animal which has a split hoof that isn’t completely divided, or doesn’t chew the cud, is unclean to you. Everyone who touches them shall be unclean.
27Whatever 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.
28He 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,
30the gecko, and the monitor lizard, the wall lizard, the skink, and the chameleon.
31These are they which are unclean to you among all that creep. Whoever touches them when they are dead shall be unclean until the evening.
32Anything they fall on when they are dead 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.
33Every earthen vessel into which any of them falls and all that is in it shall be unclean. You shall break it.
34All food which may be eaten which is soaked in water shall be unclean. All drink that may be drunk in every such vessel shall be unclean.
35Everything 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.
36Nevertheless a spring or a cistern in which water is gathered shall be clean, but that which touches their carcass shall be unclean.
37If part of their carcass falls on any sowing seed which is to be sown, it is clean.
38But 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.
40He 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.
42Whatever 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.
43You shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creeps. You shall not make yourselves unclean with them, that you should be defiled by them.
44For I am the LORD your God. Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any kind of creeping thing that moves on the earth.
45For I am the LORD 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,
47to 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.’”
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Theme
Leviticus 11 establishes comprehensive dietary laws distinguishing between clean and unclean animals for the Israelites. God provides specific criteria for determining which land animals (split hoof and cud-chewing), sea creatures (fins and scales), birds, and insects may be consumed, while prohibiting contact with carcasses of unclean animals. These regulations serve to set Israel apart as a holy people, emphasizing ritual purity and obedience to divine commandments in daily life.
Context
Following the sacrificial regulations in chapters 1-10, this chapter begins the holiness code that will govern Israel's daily life and ritual purity.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-8 Clean and Unclean Land Animals Establishes criteria of split hooves and cud-chewing, with specific examples of prohibited animals like camels, hyrax, hares, and pigs.
- 9-12 Clean and Unclean Sea Creatures Permits eating only aquatic animals with both fins and scales, declaring all others abominations.
- 13-19 Prohibited Birds Lists specific birds that are detestable and forbidden for consumption, primarily birds of prey and scavengers.
- 20-23 Clean and Unclean Insects Forbids most flying insects but permits locusts, katydids, crickets, and grasshoppers with jointed legs.
- 24-28 Purification from Unclean Contact Details ritual contamination from touching carcasses and required purification procedures.
- 29-47 Additional Unclean Creatures and Summary Covers remaining prohibited animals and concludes with the purpose of distinguishing clean from unclean.
Clean and Unclean Land Animals and Insects
11:1–11:23 law instruction contemplative
God provides detailed dietary laws distinguishing between clean and unclean animals, birds, and insects that the Israelites may or may not eat. The laws establish criteria for determining ritual purity in food consumption.
person_contrast
Moses receives these dietary laws alongside Aaron—the only time in Leviticus where both brothers jointly receive detailed ritual legislation, emphasizing the dual priestly-prophetic authority needed for Israel's holiness code.
Purification from Contact with Unclean Animals
11:24–11:47 law instruction contemplative
Continuation of dietary laws focusing on purification procedures after contact with unclean animal carcasses. The passage details how touching dead unclean animals renders people and objects ritually impure until evening.
structural
The Hebrew word "nefesh" (soul/life) appears uniquely in verse 43, making this the only dietary law passage where ritual impurity is described as affecting one's very soul, not just ceremonial status.
Insights
The Hebrew word "nefesh" (soul/life) appears uniquely in verse 43, making this the only dietary law passage where ritual impurity is described as affecting one's very soul, not just ceremonial status.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Leviticus 11:3 3 references
Lexicals 3
Deuteronomy 14:6 Lexical
Every animal that parts the hoof, and has the hoof split in two and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat.
Deuteronomy 14:7 Lexical
Nevertheless these you shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of those who have the hoof split: the camel, the hare…
Deuteronomy 14:8 Lexical
The pig, because it has a split hoof but doesn’t chew the cud, is unclean to you. You shall not eat their meat. You shal…
Leviticus 11:4 3 references
Lexicals 3
Deuteronomy 14:7 Lexical
Nevertheless these you shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of those who have the hoof split: the camel, the hare…
Deuteronomy 14:8 Lexical
The pig, because it has a split hoof but doesn’t chew the cud, is unclean to you. You shall not eat their meat. You shal…
Deuteronomy 14:6 Lexical
Every animal that parts the hoof, and has the hoof split in two and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat.
Leviticus 11:5 3 references
Lexicals 3
Deuteronomy 14:7 Lexical
Nevertheless these you shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of those who have the hoof split: the camel, the hare…
Deuteronomy 14:8 Lexical
The pig, because it has a split hoof but doesn’t chew the cud, is unclean to you. You shall not eat their meat. You shal…
Deuteronomy 14:6 Lexical
Every animal that parts the hoof, and has the hoof split in two and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat.
Leviticus 11:6 3 references
Lexicals 3
Deuteronomy 14:7 Lexical
Nevertheless these you shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of those who have the hoof split: the camel, the hare…
Deuteronomy 14:8 Lexical
The pig, because it has a split hoof but doesn’t chew the cud, is unclean to you. You shall not eat their meat. You shal…
Deuteronomy 14:6 Lexical
Every animal that parts the hoof, and has the hoof split in two and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat.
Leviticus 11:7 3 references
Lexicals 3
Deuteronomy 14:6 Lexical
Every animal that parts the hoof, and has the hoof split in two and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat.
Deuteronomy 14:8 Lexical
The pig, because it has a split hoof but doesn’t chew the cud, is unclean to you. You shall not eat their meat. You shal…
Deuteronomy 14:7 Lexical
Nevertheless these you shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of those who have the hoof split: the camel, the hare…
Leviticus 11:8 4 references
Lexicals 4
Deuteronomy 14:8 Lexical
The pig, because it has a split hoof but doesn’t chew the cud, is unclean to you. You shall not eat their meat. You shal…
Leviticus 5:2 Lexical
“‘Or if anyone touches any unclean thing, whether it is the carcass of an unclean animal, or the carcass of unclean live…
Leviticus 7:19 Lexical
“‘The meat that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten. It shall be burned with fire. As for the meat, everyone wh…
Leviticus 7:21 Lexical
When anyone touches any unclean thing, the uncleanness of man, or an unclean animal, or any unclean abomination, and eat…
Leviticus 11:9 2 references
Leviticus 11:10 2 references
Leviticus 11:12 2 references
Leviticus 11:13 1 reference
Leviticus 11:14 1 reference
Leviticus 11:15 1 reference
Leviticus 11:16 1 reference
Leviticus 11:17 1 reference
Leviticus 11:18 1 reference
Leviticus 11:19 1 reference
Leviticus 11:24 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 17:15 Lexical
“‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner…
Leviticus 15:19 Lexical
“‘If a woman has a discharge, and her discharge in her flesh is blood, she shall be in her impurity seven days. Whoever…
Numbers 19:22 Lexical
“Whatever the unclean person touches shall be unclean; and the soul that touches it shall be unclean until evening.”
Leviticus 15:23 Lexical
If it is on the bed, or on anything she sits on, when he touches it, he shall be unclean until the evening.
Leviticus 15:7 Lexical
“‘He who touches the body of him who has the discharge shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclea…
Leviticus 11:25 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 17:15 Lexical
“‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner…
Leviticus 15:7 Lexical
“‘He who touches the body of him who has the discharge shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclea…
Leviticus 15:22 Lexical
Whoever touches anything that she sits on shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the e…
Leviticus 15:27 Lexical
Whoever touches these things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and be unclean unt…
Leviticus 15:17 Lexical
Every garment and every skin which the semen is on shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the evening.
Leviticus 11:26 5 references
Lexicals 5
Deuteronomy 14:6 Lexical
Every animal that parts the hoof, and has the hoof split in two and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat.
Deuteronomy 14:7 Lexical
Nevertheless these you shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of those who have the hoof split: the camel, the hare…
Deuteronomy 14:8 Lexical
The pig, because it has a split hoof but doesn’t chew the cud, is unclean to you. You shall not eat their meat. You shal…
Haggai 2:13 Lexical
Then Haggai said, “If one who is unclean by reason of a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean?” The priests…
Numbers 19:13 Lexical
Whoever touches a dead person, the body of a man who has died, and doesn’t purify himself, defiles the LORD’s tabernacle…
Leviticus 11:27 5 references
Lexicals 5
Numbers 19:22 Lexical
“Whatever the unclean person touches shall be unclean; and the soul that touches it shall be unclean until evening.”
Deuteronomy 14:8 Lexical
The pig, because it has a split hoof but doesn’t chew the cud, is unclean to you. You shall not eat their meat. You shal…
Leviticus 5:2 Lexical
“‘Or if anyone touches any unclean thing, whether it is the carcass of an unclean animal, or the carcass of unclean live…
Leviticus 17:15 Lexical
“‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner…
Numbers 19:13 Lexical
Whoever touches a dead person, the body of a man who has died, and doesn’t purify himself, defiles the LORD’s tabernacle…
Leviticus 11:28 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 17:15 Lexical
“‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner…
Numbers 19:19 Lexical
The clean person shall sprinkle on the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day. On the seventh day, he shall pu…
Numbers 19:21 Lexical
It shall be a perpetual statute to them. He who sprinkles the water for impurity shall wash his clothes, and he who touc…
Numbers 19:10 Lexical
He who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. It shall be to the chil…
Leviticus 15:8 Lexical
“‘If he who has the discharge spits on him who is clean, then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and…
Leviticus 11:29 3 references
Lexicals 3
Genesis 1:20 Lexical
God said, “Let the waters abound with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the sky…
Genesis 7:21 Lexical
All flesh died that moved on the earth, including birds, livestock, animals, every creeping thing that creeps on the ear…
Genesis 1:21 Lexical
God created the large sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed, after their kin…
Leviticus 11:31 5 references
Lexicals 5
Numbers 19:22 Lexical
“Whatever the unclean person touches shall be unclean; and the soul that touches it shall be unclean until evening.”
Leviticus 5:2 Lexical
“‘Or if anyone touches any unclean thing, whether it is the carcass of an unclean animal, or the carcass of unclean live…
Leviticus 22:5 Lexical
or whoever touches any creeping thing by which he may be made unclean, or a man from whom he may become unclean, whateve…
Numbers 19:13 Lexical
Whoever touches a dead person, the body of a man who has died, and doesn’t purify himself, defiles the LORD’s tabernacle…
Haggai 2:13 Lexical
Then Haggai said, “If one who is unclean by reason of a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean?” The priests…
Leviticus 11:32 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 13:58 Lexical
The garment, either the warp, or the woof, or whatever thing of skin it is, which you shall wash, if the plague has depa…
Leviticus 13:59 Lexical
This is the law of the plague of mildew in a garment of wool or linen, either in the warp, or the woof, or in anything o…
Leviticus 17:15 Lexical
“‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner…
Leviticus 15:17 Lexical
Every garment and every skin which the semen is on shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the evening.
Leviticus 13:51 Lexical
He shall examine the plague on the seventh day. If the plague has spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the w…
Leviticus 11:33 1 reference
Leviticus 11:37 1 reference
Leviticus 11:39 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 17:15 Lexical
“‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner…
Leviticus 5:2 Lexical
“‘Or if anyone touches any unclean thing, whether it is the carcass of an unclean animal, or the carcass of unclean live…
Leviticus 15:22 Lexical
Whoever touches anything that she sits on shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the e…
Leviticus 15:10 Lexical
Whoever touches anything that was under him shall be unclean until the evening. He who carries those things shall wash h…
Leviticus 15:21 Lexical
Whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
Leviticus 11:40 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 17:15 Lexical
“‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner…
Leviticus 15:27 Lexical
Whoever touches these things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and be unclean unt…
Leviticus 15:17 Lexical
Every garment and every skin which the semen is on shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the evening.
Leviticus 15:22 Lexical
Whoever touches anything that she sits on shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the e…
Leviticus 15:5 Lexical
Whoever touches his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
Leviticus 11:41 2 references
Leviticus 11:42 2 references
Leviticus 11:43 2 references
Leviticus 11:44 1 reference
Leviticus 11:46 5 references
Lexicals 5
Genesis 8:17 Lexical
Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh, including birds, livestock, and every creeping thin…
Genesis 7:21 Lexical
All flesh died that moved on the earth, including birds, livestock, animals, every creeping thing that creeps on the ear…
Genesis 1:21 Lexical
God created the large sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed, after their kin…
Genesis 7:14 Lexical
they, and every animal after its kind, all the livestock after their kind, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth…
Genesis 7:8 Lexical
Clean animals, unclean animals, birds, and everything that creeps on the ground
Leviticus 11:47 4 references
Lexicals 4
Leviticus 20:25 Lexical
“‘You shall therefore make a distinction between the clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean fowl and the…
Leviticus 10:10 Lexical
You are to make a distinction between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean.
Ezekiel 22:26 Lexical
Her priests have done violence to my law and have profaned my holy things. They have made no distinction between the hol…
Ezekiel 44:23 Lexical
They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and cause them to discern between the unclean…
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