Leviticus 11

Leviticus 11 details the laws concerning clean and unclean animals, which played a significant role in ancient Israel's daily life and worship. These laws not only regulated dietary practices but also symbolized the holiness and separation of the Israelites from other nations. The chapter outlines the creatures that could be eaten and those that were forbidden, marking a distinction between what is pure and impure in the sight of God.

Leviticus 11:1-3 (NKJV)
1 Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them,
2 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘These are the animals which you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth:
3 Among the animals, whatever divides the hoof, having cloven hooves and chewing the cud—that you may eat.

God is giving instructions to Moses and Aaron concerning the dietary regulations for the Israelites. He begins by identifying which land animals can be consumed: animals that both chew the cud and have divided hooves. These criteria ensured that the people ate only those animals considered clean by God's standards, setting them apart from other nations. This separation not only had practical health benefits but also reinforced their distinct identity as God’s chosen people.

Leviticus 11:4-6 (NKJV)
4 Nevertheless these you shall not eat among those that chew the cud or those that have cloven hooves: the camel, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you;
5 the rock hyrax, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you;
6 the hare, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you;

Here, God specifies exceptions to the general rule. Although the camel, rock hyrax, and hare chew the cud, they do not have cloven hooves, making them unclean. This distinction teaches that partial compliance with God's commands is insufficient; animals had to meet both conditions to be considered clean. By following these dietary restrictions, the Israelites demonstrated obedience and acknowledged God's authority in all areas of life, including what they consumed.

Leviticus 11:7-8 (NKJV)
7 And the swine, though it divides the hoof, having cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud, is unclean to you.
8 Their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch. They are unclean to you.

The swine, or pig, is declared unclean because although it has cloven hooves, it does not chew the cud. The Israelites were forbidden to eat its flesh or touch its carcass. This prohibition extends the concept of ritual purity to include not just diet but physical contact. The swine became symbolic of impurity and was a clear boundary marker for the Israelites in separating themselves from other cultures who consumed pork regularly.

Leviticus 11:9-12 (NKJV)
9 These you may eat of all that are in the water: whatever in the water has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers—that you may eat.
10 But all in the seas or in the rivers that do not have fins and scales, all that move in the water or any living thing which is in the water, they are an abomination to you.
11 They shall be an abomination to you; you shall not eat their flesh, but you shall regard their carcasses as an abomination.
12 Whatever in the water does not have fins or scales—that shall be an abomination to you.

God sets forth the rules for aquatic life, declaring that only fish with both fins and scales are permissible for consumption. Creatures without fins or scales, such as shellfish or other marine animals, are considered abominable and unfit for eating. These distinctions not only promoted health but also represented spiritual purity, reminding the Israelites to separate themselves from what God deemed impure. The repetition of the word "abomination" stresses the seriousness of adhering to these dietary laws.

Leviticus 11:13-19 (NKJV)
13 And these you shall regard as an abomination among the birds; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, the vulture, the buzzard,
14 the kite, and the falcon after its kind;
15 every raven after its kind,
16 the ostrich, the short-eared owl, the seagull, and the hawk after its kind;
17 the little owl, the fisher owl, and the screech owl;
18 the white owl, the jackdaw, and the carrion vulture;
19 the stork, the heron after its kind, the hoopoe, and the bat.

God lists the birds that are considered unclean and should not be eaten, many of which are birds of prey or scavengers. These birds feed on carrion or other animals, and their inclusion among the unclean may symbolize death and moral impurity. By avoiding these birds, the Israelites were again reminded to steer clear of corruption, both physically and spiritually. The attention to detail in listing specific birds emphasizes the importance of holiness in every aspect of life.

Leviticus 11:20-23 (NKJV)
20 All flying insects that creep on all fours shall be an abomination to you.
21 Yet these you may eat of every flying insect that creeps on all fours: those which have jointed legs above their feet with which to leap on the earth.
22 These you may eat: the locust after its kind, the destroying locust after its kind, the cricket after its kind, and the grasshopper after its kind.
23 But all other flying insects which have four feet shall be an abomination to you.

God extends the dietary laws to include flying insects. Most insects are considered unclean, but exceptions are made for locusts, crickets, and grasshoppers, which could be eaten. These permitted insects were likely viewed as clean because they feed on plants rather than decaying matter or other insects. The distinction here reflects the general principle that clean creatures are those that sustain themselves in ways that align with the natural order God established.

Leviticus 11:24-28 (NKJV)
24 By these you shall become unclean; whoever touches the carcass of any of them shall be unclean until evening;
25 whoever carries part of the carcass of any of them shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening.
26 The carcass of any animal which divides the foot, but is not cloven-hoofed or does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. Everyone who touches it shall be unclean.
27 And whatever goes on its paws, among all kinds of animals that go on all fours, those are unclean to you. Whoever touches any such carcass shall be unclean until evening.
28 Whoever carries any such carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. It is unclean to you.

Here, God establishes the rules regarding physical contact with unclean animals. Simply touching the carcass of an unclean animal renders a person ceremonially unclean until evening, requiring them to wash their clothes. This command underscores the symbolic importance of cleanliness, as physical defilement from touching the carcass represented moral and spiritual defilement. The ritual cleansing was a reminder of the need for purity and separation from unclean influences in both the physical and spiritual realms.

Leviticus 11:29-31 (NKJV)
29 These also shall be unclean to you among the creeping things that creep on the earth: the mole, the mouse, and the large lizard after its kind;
30 the gecko, the monitor lizard, the sand reptile, the sand lizard, and the chameleon.
31 These are unclean to you among all that creep. Whoever touches them when they are dead shall be unclean until evening.

This section covers the unclean status of various small creatures that creep on the ground, such as moles, mice, and certain types of lizards. God declares these animals unclean, reinforcing the principle that creatures with low or sneaky movements are symbolic of impurity. Anyone who touches their carcasses is rendered ceremonially unclean until evening, requiring purification. This regulation further emphasizes the concept of being set apart from all forms of defilement, even through indirect contact.

Leviticus 11:32-35 (NKJV)
32 Anything on which any of them falls, when they are dead shall be unclean, whether it is any item of wood or clothing or skin or sack, whatever item it is, in which any work is done, it must be put in water. It shall be unclean until evening; then it shall be clean.
33 Any earthen vessel into which any of them falls you shall break; and whatever is in it shall be unclean:
34 in such a vessel, any edible food upon which water falls becomes unclean, and any drink that may be drunk from it becomes unclean.
35 And everything on which a part of any such carcass falls shall be unclean; whether it is an oven or cooking stove, it shall be broken down. They are unclean, and shall be unclean to you.

These verses detail how objects that come into contact with the carcasses of unclean animals also become impure. Items such as wood, clothing, or skin can be cleansed with water and remain unclean until evening, while earthen vessels (like clay pots) must be broken, symbolizing their permanent defilement. The idea behind this is that holiness permeates every aspect of life, including material objects, and contamination by unclean animals had to be taken seriously. This also symbolizes the pervasive nature of impurity and the effort required to maintain purity.

Leviticus 11:36-38 (NKJV)
36 Nevertheless a spring or a cistern, in which there is plenty of water, shall be clean, but whatever touches any such carcass becomes unclean.
37 And if a part of any such carcass falls on any planting seed which is to be sown, it remains clean.
38 But if water is put on the seed, and if a part of any such carcass falls on it, it becomes unclean to you.

Water sources, such as springs or cisterns, are declared clean even if a carcass touches them, possibly because of the flowing nature of water, which symbolically cleanses itself. However, anything directly touching the carcass becomes unclean. Seeds for planting remain clean if a carcass touches them, but if they have been moistened with water, they become unclean. These laws show God's concern for maintaining a balance between practicality and purity, ensuring that life can continue while adhering to divine commands.

Leviticus 11:39-40 (NKJV)
39 And if any animal which you may eat dies, he who touches its carcass shall be unclean until evening.
40 He who eats of its carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. He also who carries its carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening.

Even clean animals, when they die naturally, become a source of impurity. Those who touch or carry the carcass of a clean animal that has died on its own, or even eat it, become unclean until evening. They must wash their clothes as part of the cleansing process. This highlights that death, even of a clean animal, was a defiling force. The requirement to wash clothes symbolizes the need for spiritual purification after encountering the corruption associated with death.

Leviticus 11:41-43 (NKJV)
41 And every creeping thing that creeps on the earth shall be an abomination. It shall not be eaten.
42 Whatever crawls on its belly, whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet among all creeping things that creep on the earth—these you shall not eat, for they are an abomination.
43 You shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creeps, nor shall you make yourselves unclean with them, lest you be defiled by them.

God reinforces the unclean status of all creeping things, especially those that crawl on their bellies (like snakes) or have many feet (like centipedes). These creatures are considered abominable, and consuming them would result in spiritual defilement. The command serves as a reminder that purity before God requires avoiding not only physical contamination but also practices and behaviors symbolized by these unclean creatures. It teaches Israel that holiness is comprehensive and requires attention to detail.

Leviticus 11:44-45 (NKJV)
44 For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth.
45 For I am the Lord who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

Here, God reveals the fundamental reason for the dietary laws: His own holiness. The Israelites are called to reflect God's holiness by consecrating themselves and avoiding defilement from unclean creatures. Their unique identity as God’s people, having been delivered from Egypt, demands that they maintain purity in all areas of life, including diet. God’s character becomes the standard for the Israelites, and their obedience to these laws symbolizes their covenant relationship with Him.

Leviticus 11:46-47 (NKJV)
46 This is the law of the animals and the birds and every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps on the earth,
47 to distinguish between the unclean and the clean, and between the animal that may be eaten and the animal that may not be eaten.

These concluding verses summarize the purpose of the dietary laws. God provides these laws to help the Israelites distinguish between what is clean and unclean, what may be eaten and what may not. This distinction is not merely about food but about the broader concept of holiness and purity before God. By observing these regulations, the Israelites express their dedication to God's will and their desire to maintain spiritual and physical integrity in their covenant relationship with Him.