← All chapters Leviticus 11

Fins, Scales, and a Split Hoof

The food laws, and they are stated as a test rather than a list: a land animal must both part the hoof and chew the cud, and water creatures must have fins and scales. The chapter then works through the near-misses by name — the camel, the coney and the hare chew but do not part; the pig parts but does not chew. It gives the pig one verse and the same formula as the others; its later status as the forbidden food comes from the Maccabean crisis, not from here. And the chapter offers no reason for any of it except the one at the end: be holy, for I am holy. The archaeology is unusually good and unusually awkward — pig bones are absent from Iron Age highland sites and abundant at Philistine cities, but they also turn up in the northern Kingdom of Israel and not in Judah.

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

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

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

4Nevertheless 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.

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

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

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

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

9These 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.

10And 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:

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

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

13And 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,

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

15Every raven after his kind;

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

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

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

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

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

21Yet 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;

22Even 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.

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

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

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

26The 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.

27And 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.

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

29These 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,

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

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

32And 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.

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

34Of 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.

35And 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.

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

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

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

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

40And 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.

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

42Whatsoever 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.

43Ye 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.

44For 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.

45For 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.

46This 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:

47To 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.

1Yahweh 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.

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 Yahweh 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 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,

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.'"

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

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

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

4Nevertheless 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.

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

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

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

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

9These 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.

10And 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,

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

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

13And 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,

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

15every raven after its kind,

16and the ostrich, and the night-hawk, and the sea-mew, and the hawk after its kind,

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

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

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

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

21Yet 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;

22even 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.

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

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

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

26Every 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.

27And 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.

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

29And 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,

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

31These 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.

32And 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.

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

34All 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.

35And 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.

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

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

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

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

40And 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.

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

42Whatsoever 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.

43Ye 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.

44For 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.

45For 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.

46This 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;

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.

1And 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:

3any 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;

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

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

7and 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;

10and 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;

11yea, 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,

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

15every raven after its kind,

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

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

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

19and 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;

22these 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;

23and 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;

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

26even 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;

28and 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,

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

31these 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;

33and 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;

35and 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;

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

38and 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;

40and 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;

42any 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;

43ye 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;

45for 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,

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

Scripture text public domain: KJV (1611) · WEB (2020) · ASV (1901) · YLT (1862).

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